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)

An excellent listen!

I really enjoyed this book!! I am very interested in history, anthropology, geopolitics and other topics. Because of my broad interests, I found this book compelling on several levels.

Too many people are getting uptight as they are strangled by their varied perspectives to evaluate this book fairly. The fact is that it is not only plausible, it could happen today. The time line laid out was both scary and fascinating.

I found the writing, narration, technical accuracy and of this novel to be excellent. Also, as a former infantry officer I can say the author has an impressive understanding of land warfare.

Happy driving!!

Sensational Eye Opener....A Must Listen.

I have literally lost count of how many titles I have purchased on audible. In all of those-this is my first review.
This story was incredible...poignant, heart-breaking, and shocking. All that took place in this book hit home so hard because deep down you know that it could possibly happen.
I cried when they suffered, smiled with them, and cheered when they triumphed over daunting challenges. I highly recommend this title...All in all-A Profoundly Moving 'What If' Story. It would be awesome to have a sequel!!

Very thought provoking

I'm very glad that I listened to this book. I actually had to take a day off from it at one point, because I found parts of the story very disturbing. Even if you don't think the premise is credible (a position I would find naive)- it is interesting to think about what the consequences would be of losing the communication, the flow of information, and the conveniences that we rely on daily.

Obamacare is no longer my worst worry

The only attraction in Mr. Forstchen's post apocalyptic America is that NBC, NPR, and The New York Times are gone. Unfortunately, so is everything else. This reasonably well written and rather entertaining novel does not have the full emotional drain of Neville Shute's On the Beach, but it approaches it.
One doesn't doubt the government would deny the possibility of an attack on our country, but a perusal of the EMP site in Wikipedia, and a reasonable skepticism of the competence and integrity of our elected officials may not be reassuring to all. In fact some may, when finished reading, wish to stock up on freeze dried food, fuel, medicine, and ammunition. Plenty of ammunition.

If war came to the USA. . .

The book was really quite amazing - it gripped me all of the way through, even though some parts I wanted to just unplug my earbuds until the part(s) in question would have passed. We have never lived in a world that looked anything like the one he describes - unlike much of the rest of the world.

My one problem - not ONCE do I remember Canada being mentioned in this book. Britain, Europe, Australia, China, North Korea, the Middle East - very many nations received a mention, but CANADA, the US's closest neighbour and ally did not so much merit a single mention. That kinda bothered me a bit. . . . maybe that alone has something to say on this subject. . . .?

This book will make you think.

The book is excellent and will make you think. It is scary on how vulnerable we are because of our dependence on technolgy and supply gain management of just in time inventories.

Read this book at your own peril

This book is a masterpiece but I wouldn't recommend it to just anyone. It truly is gut wrenching and emotional. I think this might be the scariest book I have ever read so people that are prone to get anxiety attacks should probably steer clear of this one, but it is so original and believable that it definitely deserves five stars. I was listening to it while driving through a small village in Iceland, I stopped at a gas station and suddenly the electricity went of the village and the brakes of my car got stuck at the same time, needless to say I got quite a spook. I wasn't quite sure it I should get this book but when I saw it was from Blackstone Audio I decided to give it a try and they delivered as usual.

Outstanding, touching, terrifying

I loved this book! I found it hard to listen to, however, as it was a terrifying scenario from my perspective. But I thought it was very well written, and very well spoken by the reader.

Don't listen to the negative reviews that complain about a 'conservative bias', I'm sure they'd have no problem with this book if it was about the end of the world due to global warming. This book is also not unimaginative, as it has been said - it's realistic. The author wasn't going for a creative, plot twisting novel, he was shooting for an eye opening portrayal of the events that could unfold if an EMP were to hit the United States.

If I had to levy a complaint, it would be that the author spends a bit too much time expounding on the main character's feelings about how things 'used to be' in his world. Too much time is spent thinking about how the soldiers 'are just kids', and so on, which can be a bit monotonous.

That being said, it's well worth your time (or your credit), so don't pass this one up!

Disturbing..I want to enroll in survival school

Believable story of what life would be like without law and order, a food and medicine distribution system and no electrical power. Scary.....but I couldn't put it down.

Wow..Just WOW

Having read this book...then bought the second...have to also read the last....With what is happening in this world of ours today....a great & real look into a very scary as well as truthful future.