77 Days in September

By: Ray Gorham

Narrated by: Joseph Morton

Length: 9 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

On a Friday afternoon before Labor Day, Americans are getting ready for the holiday weekend, completely unaware of a long-planned terrorist plot about to be launched against the country. Kyle Tait is settling in for his flight home to Montana when a single nuclear bomb is detonated 300 miles above the heart of America. The blast, an Electro-Magnetic Pulse (EMP), destroys every electrical device in the country, and results in the crippling of the power grid, the shutting down of modern communications, and bringing to a halt most forms of transportation.

Kyle narrowly escapes when his airplane crashes on take-off, only to find himself stranded 2,000 miles from home in a country that has been forced, from a technological standpoint, back to the 19th century. Confused, hurt, scared, and alone, Kyle must make his way across a hostile continent to a family he's not even sure has survived the effects of the attack. As Kyle forges his way home, his frightened family faces their own struggles for survival in a community trying to halt its slow spiral into chaos and anarchy.

77 Days in September follows Kyle and his wife, Jennifer, as they are stretched past their breaking point, but find in their devotion to each other the strength to persevere.

What is an EMP?

An EMP (Electro-Magnetic Pulse) is a magnetic pulse that overwhelms, and thus destroys, all electronic devices exposed to it. It is the most serious threat faced by a technologically advanced society. An EMP can be human caused, through the detonation of a nuclear bomb high above the atmosphere, or natural, through a severe geo-magnetic storm. In multiple reports prepared for Congress, scientists predict the complete destruction of modern American society and question our ability to ever recover if we are the target of an EMP attack. Further, some predict the death toll in America in the aftermath of such an event to be in excess of 200 million.

About the author: Ray Gorham lives in the small farming community of Shepherd, Montana with his wife and five children. He runs his log-home business by day and writes in the evenings, on weekends, and whenever the weather keeps him inside.

©2011 Ray Gorham (P)2012 Sunny Day Audiobooks

A Hallmark Story

Is there anything you would change about this book?

This is more of ladies love story than an adventure book

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

The ending was ok for a very non realistic love story that just happened to be set in a dark and sad time.

Which character – as performed by Joseph Morton – was your favorite?

The hero and his wife (also a hero) seemed to be great people, just living in some kind of fairy tail instead of a dire situation.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No

Any additional comments?

This might be great for the ladies in the world who would value a girls love story, but very disappointing to those looking for some realism in what the country might be like after a major disaster. People crying "please don't hurt me, I just want us all to be friends", I don't think so.....

Survival and it’s best

This is one of the few books that doesn’t have gunfights and beatings on every chapter. It’s nice to be able to listen to this as a true survival story.

Outstanding and Thought Provoking Story!

What made the experience of listening to 77 Days in September the most enjoyable?

I put myself in the position of the main character. It is not too far fetched, and caused me to consider things I would never have thought. How far from home should one wander when there are people who count on us?

Who was your favorite character and why?

The main character was amazing - well written thoughts!

Which scene was your favorite?

The beginning.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely! A would be 'page turner' if by book. I wore my earbuds till finished!

Any additional comments?

A must listen!

Despressing and a Slow Listen

What did you like best about 77 Days in September? What did you like least?

The premise for the story, devastation caused by an EMP, was great, and I listened to the first couple chapters with great anticipation for ensuing elements which never were delivered.

What was most disappointing about Ray Gorham’s story?

Rather than develop a story on the after-effects of the atmospheric nuclear explosion, the author chose to focus on a single person in pursuit of his family in an unrealistic walk across the country. Would have liked to have known what was happening on the government level, who our allies might be in that situation, how the rest of the world might respond to the incident, etc.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Joseph Morton?

The narrator was slow and mundane. Monotone. Maybe he was cast for the job because of the dour nature of the book itself.

Could you see 77 Days in September being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Oh no. Too depressing for the reality-show mentality of today's audiences.

Not as good as patriot

Good start to book but I think Kyle's masculinity is is shy. I'm a woman and in my early 20's was stuck in a blizzard for 22 hours. 15 miles from the nearest town white out conditions, freezing cold. I had more common sense then this man who supposedly had been hunting. As for the wife total idiot. As a widowed mother I learned to take my kids safety seriously. When in a old restruant early one evening a bullet whizzed by my head. I got my kids under the table. The robbers were nervous and at the time I didn't have a concealed carry permit but I do now. It takes one time having your life at risk and your children, you smarten up. So this book doesn't make me feel like it's realistic at all.

Not a bad listen

What made the experience of listening to 77 Days in September the most enjoyable?

I like these type of survival stories, after the big one or a nuke, what the country might be like after a devastating event.

Would you recommend 77 Days in September to your friends? Why or why not?

It was a good listen, there were times I was really enjoying it and then there were some low points but I guess that is what the author intended so I would keep listening.

Have you listened to any of Joseph Morton’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not, but he did a pretty good job, male and female voices were noticeable along with accents and children.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No, it was a steady listen, I was getting ready for an emotional ending but it did not come

Any additional comments?

There were times when I felt there was to much details and then there were times I felt there was not enough details.

Narration awful

The narration was so bad that it regularly distracted my thoughts from the story. Even when emotions should have been evident, the boring monotone of the narrator wore on, which took me by surprise and then called for mental criticism, over and over. I never have had such to say about the narrator and my reviews aren't usually this critical, but I thought of this so many times while listening that I had to say it in my review.

A scary thought!

An interesting book about what may happen if an EMP attack occurred on the United States. The story takes place in two places, Montana and on the road with the main character trying to return home. The book does a good job of balancing time spent with the characters and action scenes of survival. The characters are likable (if a bit over righteous at times) and act as I think a normal person would which sometimes has you screaming “What are you thinking” but being under that kind of stress I would imagine would cloud anyone’s judgment. A good book if you like end of the world survival reads.

Also I really like Joseph Morton. Wish he would do more audio books!

Good but...

Good story but lacking in some technical aspects. Besides saying it was a Marlin .22, you never know what types of firearms are really being used. There are literally hundreds of variations if "handgun" but that's all he ever refers to them as. He also uses "clip" constantly instead of the correct term, "magazine" which is kinda a pet peeve of mine. The concept of the story is great but his character is wildly unprepared for a SHTF scenario. It was also infuriating how the author's characters are constantly placed in situations where they should not hesitate to act with speed & violence but instead they dither. Maybe the author is making a roundabout allusion to the need for training & mental preparedness. The truth is, you should never point a firearm or even own one for self defense purposes unless you are prepared to use it to kill an attacker. Other than that, I felt it was well written.

Loved it!

Great book! The narrator was pretty awkward at first. I couldn’t tell if it eas the text or the narrator. But once I got past that I really enjoyed. It wasn’t unnecessarily gory, or brimming with evil people. It was surprisingly uplifting. I mean completely unrealistic but I heartily enjoyed it.