One Second After

By: William R. Forstchen

Narrated by: Joe Barrett

Length: 13 hrs and 17 mins

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)

Scary In a Real Life Way

Story is almost like a news reel with dialogue. Can't say that it is edge of your seat entertainment, but I certainly was educated after reading. I guess you just don't think about what would happen if we were suddenly were plunged back into the early 1800's. Thankfully and hopefully we won't ever have to think about it in real life.
Having said all of this - this is a great book! I'm glad I read it because I heard so much about it and it has given me a lot more respect for how easy my life is now.
This is the struggle for life of a small town in the mountains after an electromagnetic attack hits the United States. No medicine, no cars, no food, no trust and now they have to band together to defend themselves. Not a heart pounding action thriller but certainly a good listen.
Worth it.

Great book

I enjoy post-apocalyptic lit because I like to see which types of individuals have the will and skill to survive (i.e. the pizza delivery boy in Walking Dead series). This was a great novel and I look forward to starting the 2nd in the series today. Loved the narrator!

A very real scenario

this book is actually a training manual for a real life scenario. The method described of the attack on the United States is a very real possibility, especially after reading the Congressional EMP Commission's reports about their findings after 17 years of research.

If you discount this scenario as merely prepper fantasy, then you are either wilfully ignorant or guilty of deliberate ignorance. Either way, you are part of the problem and I pray you and your loved ones, as well as the 330 million Americans never actually experience such an attack on our nation.

If you take this story, and my recommendation to heart, read this book and then get involved by helping to wake up and inform our local, state and national leaders to work diligently to harden our critical infrastructure against such threats. If we harden them against and EMP, then the other threats, such as a massive Solar Storm or coordinated Cuber attacks will also be ineffective in taking down our grid.

I encourage everyone to prepare themselves for serious disasters and know that their are some who are working daily to do just what I have recommended above. Check out the information on the Secure the Grid Coalition for more information.

We are so unprepared.

This is a story that could happen anywhere across the US. The characters are well developed and so real. I thought it would be a tough read as my husband is type 1 diabetic, but the truth in how people faces the challenges of the book felt true. No storybook ending, but it did make me realize how vulnerable we are to such a threat.

a reality check of what could happen

I don't believe in living in fear, but I do believe in knowing what could happen. I believe this book is one of the most realistic I've read. it hits several key points. although the book is fiction, its story could become reality. Hopefully it will not of course.

A story that is terrifyingly probable.

I have read and heard of the impact of a nuclear attack and the impact of an Electronic Magnetic Pulse (EMP) on our country. This story addresses the science and real life effects of an EMP on a family, a community, a state and the entire country. Our leaders must act now to prepare and protect our infrastructure against such an attack. A thought provoking story and a wonderful performance.

Powerful!

This was a eye opening and powerful story. This story will remain in the back of my mind for years to come. well narrated and well written.

A millennial Anarchist's take.

I've read a lot of hate about this book. I see what the critics mean. Please note my five star review. The author tells a story about a very stereotypical "white" America having to deal with HARSH realities of the American Empire's collapse. Sometimes the story is cheesy. College kids singing the star spangled banner, the idea of city folk being sheep, and every race in community uniting together as Americans. The author clearly has no idea how to write female characters. The daughters and Mikayla are one dimensional. I also have some skepticism toward the city government's (Kate, Tom, Charlie, John, and Keller) effectiveness on maintaining authority for so long.

YET, critics need to remember that this is the author's perspective. The man wrote civil war historical fiction. He only knows what he knows and I will not fault him for that. If you consider this book as the perspective of ordinary, "unwoke" Americans to such a catastrophic event then it does make sense. The point of the book is that The Second After the lights go out all that political bullshit goes out the window.

The theme of this book is the only thing to expect from history is death. Untold horrors across the globe can happen here. We are not special. Government is not responsible for your safety. Any collapse in this extremely delicate infrastructure will lead to catastrophe. You may be reading this in the U.S., but right now Lebanon is experiencing historic inflation. People are eating people in Liberia and slaves are being sold in Libya. This book hit me harder than any other post-apocalypse book. I think because it's so real. The author contextualizes abstract historical violence into personal moments. You are not prepared. You and almost everyone you know will die.

The book is intended to shake up our government "leaders" to prepare for such an attack. One of my friend's said it's a book meant to "legitimize the existence of the system." It should be a wake up call for individuals to try and ween themselves from reliance on the globalized economy. Don't go and try to buy your way out of the apocalypse with canned food and guns. The Prepped trap is real. Learn a skill, get in shape, learn who is in your neighborhood. Don't assume that just because there is power that everything is under control. There never was any control. That was an illusion. Your life is in your hands.

Glad I got this one for sure

Been sitting in my wishlist for a while and I finally got it. It's a well written story. You never forget that this is a writer weaving possibilities of what could really happen into a story. Still, I finished it pretty quick as I listened when ever I could.

Good character and plot development.

This was a good listen. I thought that this story was well developed and unfolded in a way that keeps you interested. Well done. The small town's evolution thru this disaster is very relevant and telling. It may give you things to think about. I recommend it.