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One Second After

By: William R. Forstchen
Narrated by: Joe Barrett
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Publisher's summary

A post-apocalyptic thriller of the after effects in the United States after a terrifying terrorist attack using electromagnetic pulse weapons.

In a small North Carolina town, one man struggles to save his family after America loses a war that will send it back to the Dark Ages.

Already cited on the floor of Congress and discussed in the corridors of the Pentagon as a book all Americans should read, One Second After is the story of a war scenario that could become all too terrifyingly real. Based on a real weapon—the electromagnetic pulse (EMP)—which may already be in the hands of our enemies, it is a truly realistic look at the awesome power of a weapon that can destroy the entire United States, literally within one second.

In the tradition of On the Beach, Fail Safe, and Testament, this book, set in a typical American town, is a dire warning of what might be our future and our end.

©2009 William R. Forstchen (P)2009 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"[An] entertaining apocalyptic thriller....fans of such classics as Alas, Babylon and On the Beach will have a good time as Forstchen tackles the obvious and some not-so-obvious questions the apocalypse tends to raise." ( Publishers Weekly)

Featured Article: The 20 Best Survival Audiobooks for the Prepper in All of Us


Whether we’re focused on the apocalypse or just an ill-timed breakdown on the side of a particularly remote road, there’s something about imagining survival scenarios that can be addictive. On some level, we all wonder if we would have what it takes to pit ourselves against the worst the world can possibly offer and make it out alive. That’s why it’s no surprise that survival literature is so popular, and that the stories in the genre are so diverse.

What listeners say about One Second After

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Scary but accurate

Amazing depiction of what could easily happen at any moment.
Warning: vulgar language and violent.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Read this and prepare!

Read this, all the way through. Fortunately we have been given a warning and time. I am an every day person, with no extreme beliefs, and I find the events described in this book, possible, in many cases.

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Eye-Opening

I heard about your book at a VOAD meeting with emergency management and had to check it out. So glad I did and can't wait to discuss it with them next meeting.

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Balanced and thought provoking

I’d say this story falls into the Goldilocks zone for duration, detail, and believability. Immersive, vulnerable and stark.

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A completel different take to the apocalyptic

Refreshingly different from what I have read in the past. It overall sounded believable and was overall suspenseful.

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Must read….

Wow!! The book was highly recommended to me and pass on my high recommendation for everyone to read this book.

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Scared me to death

I couldn’t stop listening to this book it it has really shook me up and has really scared me. I had already stocked up on survival food.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Worth the listen

If nothing else, a gratitude check for us all. That said, the threat is real. Explaining the domino effect of an EMP attack was excellent. The narration: Yikes. The women’s voices were awful. It would’ve been worth having a female narrator to assist. For this reason, I won’t be listening to the other two books.

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Entertaining work of post apocalyptic fiction

Great audio, good story about an EMP event and the post apocalyptic America. Some parts drag on a little long, but overall entertaining work of fiction. Recommend.

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Eye Opening

The world is in danger. If you need concrete proof of that, listen to One Second After and then starting getting your “what if” plan together. I did.

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