One Second After

By: William R. Forstchen

Narrated by: Joe Barrett

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)

Couldn’t stop even if I wanted to

As a former nuclear power sailor, I’m familiar with the Compton effect and emp. This is a thought provoking venture into what would happen to our communities were we to be hit with an emp. It’s an emotional roller coaster, and an all too real threat. It will make you want to stockpile food, medicine, fuel, guns, ammunition, and every pre-80s era vehicle you can get your hands on.

Best AudioBook I have listened to.

I found this audiobook absolutely riveting and terrifying. I couldn't stop listening to it, and lost lots of sleep as a result. The narrator absolutely brought this book to life, and did a great job conveying the emotions of the characters. Now that I have finished the audibook, I can't stop thinking of how horrific this potential scenario would be.

What a Bore!

I must have taken leave of my senses. I used a precious credit to download this turkey, without lookiing at the many reviews on here that warned about how bad it was. If you like made-for-TV movies about volcanos, earthquakes, tsunamis, and atomic bombs, then perhaps you'll love this one. Otherwise, steer clear. I toughed it out for 6 hours and then couldn't take it any more. I fast-forwarded and sampled what was going on about every 30 minutes or so, and then listened to the last 20 minutes (not counting the author's self-serving epilogue). To my astonishment, you never find out who supposedly launched the EMP attack. Worst of all: we supposedly nuked several of the usual suspects without any evidence they were responsible, just for the principle of it. Actually, I really gave up the ghost during the scene where the "hero" and his Marine chum execute a couple of druggies to send a message to the rest of the town. Jeezzz. What right wing freak wrote this??? The whole thing reads like he got ahold of some end of days military assessment of what EMP could do and proceeded to try and make a doomsday novel out of it. I have no idea whether a nuke set off at 25 miles up could have such an extreme impact (but I'm skeptical) but the endless hours of people keeling over from starvation, plane crashes, militia shoot-outs, diseases and so on gets played out for WAY too long. I've listened to books here for years, including many wonderful selections. This was the most boring, bar none. And the coup de gras at the end is listening to the author tell us how he was inspired by such classics as On The Beach. I want my book credit back.

Profound

My wife got this audiobook and I listened to it as well. I knew bits and pieces of most of what is found in the writing but I know with certainty that my confidence in myself to survive is ill placed. I have young children and the loss of them is utterly paralyzing to me. This book, rather the sobering realities Mr. Forstchen smacks you in the face with, are scary. it could all end and I could do little to save my family. I do not have confidence in our leadership, but then, the more one gets (material items) the more one wants and the more complacent we become. As a psychologist I see the flaws in our attitudes, but I don't need to have this degree to see we are taking the world, and life for granted. I am not a religious person but I feel as though I am in a fox hole because I damn near want to pray that our leadership in this country wakes up. Perhaps not what one wants to read in a book review. It's the only one I have ever written. This book changed me, and not for better or worse, but in terms of awareness. I believe everyone needs to read this. Andrew

Riveting and way to realistic to ignore!m

After listening to this book I did some research and found the threats represented in the story are not only credible but probable. At least now we have been warned!

The narration is excellent, he nails the southern accents of North Carolina and small town NC as well.

The story is riveting, gut wrenching and frightening. It's not a feel good story, but don't let that turn you away. It is an important book to read!

All throughout the adventure I tried to imagine how I would act under the circumstances laid out by Fortschen. Perhaps this is why I am so moved by his work. I'd love to think I'd survive, but I simply can't imagine that would be the case.

Forgive it the right wing bias and it's quite good

As many others have commented, this book does have a very obvious right wing bias, but if you can look past this it's an enjoyable read. It's not the most sophisticated piece of writing you'll ever face, and the suggestion that the money the US spends on combatting global warming might be better spent on defense left me gobsmacked, but ignore the 'this-could-really-happen' scaremongering and you've got a solid work of fiction.

On the other hand, if you believe every home should have a gun rack, that they don't make cars like they used to, that folks should have more respect for the military and their elders, and that city-folk ain't got nuthin' on us, then this book is your dream ticket.

Either way, it's quite good.

best dystopian trilogy ever

Any additional comments?

I've read many a dystopian novel & trilogy in my 80 years, but never one so well written as this by a master storyteller, read by a narrator who so richly conveyed the various characters, and a cast of characters to care about. This story brought me to tears several times, but is far from maudlin. Again, the very best dystopian story ever. Read all three books. They're well worth the time.

Chilling, and thought provoking.

Quite simply, a must read. What an amazing discussion starter for any civic, school, or social group!

Living outside Washington, DC, I've grown up hearing murmurings about the havoc that an EMP attack could provoke. This novel brings the resulting scenario to life.

My electrical engineer husband was a skeptic, until he looked further into just how damaging EMP is/will be to ALL the electronic underpinnings of our modern society. Until 9/11, no one imagined that a commercial airliner could be used as a guided missile...

If an EMP attack were to happen today, our college age daughter, just 90 minutes away (by car), would most certainly be lost to us. Far flung extended family would lose all connections. Heaven forbid I or my husband should be at work... 30+ miles from home. At least our son can walk home from school.

Society truly would disintegrate into "every man/woman for themselves." I know very few of my neighbors would have a clue how to respond. I'm only somewhat confident that my family would survive for any length of time.

Narration issues aside. Don't be swayed by the political commentary, decide for yourself.

Wake Up People!

Very well written, lots of research with a great story line. The only draw back, the voices of the daughters. One too many "Daddy" for me! The girls sounded too whiney!

A frightening look at a new threat

This book starts off like any other day, with an event that happens to all of us sooner or later. The lights go out and the power is gone. But this time, it stays off...

A scenario that has rarely been considered, an EMP attack, knocks the U.S. back about 200 years, struggling for survival in a world that we became all too comfortable being pampered by. No food, no electronics, and too few who remember how to farm or build old-style machinery.

With moments that truly wrench your heart, give you significant pause for consideration, this book, and its amazing nararrator, take you on journey that shows you just how easily our comfortable and convenient lives can be reduced, within weeks, to fighting for food, medications and our very own survival.

An outstanding book, one of the best I have listened to in a long while...