The Final Day

By: William R. Forstchen

Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

Length: 12 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's Summary

The highly anticipated follow-up to William R. Forstchen's New York Times best-sellers, One Second After and One Year After, The Final Day immerses listeners once more in the story of our nation's struggle to rebuild itself after an electromagnetic pulse wipes out all electricity and plunges the country into darkness, starvation, and terror.

After defeating the designs of the alleged federal government, John Matherson and his community have returned their attention to restoring the technologies and social order that existed prior to the EMP (Electro-Magnetic Pulse) attack. Then the government announces that it is ceding large portions of the country to China and Mexico. The Constitution is no longer in effect, and what's left of the US Army has been deployed to suppress rebellion in the remaining states.

The man sent to confront John is General Bob Scales, John's old commanding officer and closest friend from prewar days. Will General Scales follow orders, or might he be the crucial turning point in the quest for an America that is again united? As the dubious Federal government increasingly curtails liberty and trades away sovereignty, it might just get exactly what it fears: revolution.

©2017 William R. Forstchen (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

The narrator didn't ruin it for me..

Ok, so Joe Barrett did an awesome job narrating the first book and I was hesitant about buying the second book but did and once I started listening the narrator became secondary. I pretty much felt the same way about this book. The book is so good and the narrator does a good job, it's not his fault he's not Joe!!
For anyone who doesn't know the series, this is the third book and probably would not make a whole lot of sense with out listening to the other two books in order beforehand.
About the book: WOW!!! This book is really good, it picks up right where the last one left off. The story continues with the hardships and the discoveries of older computers that had been stored away and were off line and off the electric grid when the EMPs went off. I'm talking old machines with the standard 14" screens. But the new powers that be don't like this and there is a final confrontation that makes you sit back and think that Yes, I can see this happening. Scary. The end is kind of melancholy but good.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
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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.

Jaw dropping conclusion to a chilling and dark potential future...

I read the first novel in this series based on a scary NPR piece about the potential risk that faces our power grid from EMP and what could happen and was unable to put it down... As was also true for the second installment, I could not stop myself from finishing this book. Thankfully with whisper I was able to sync up and keep on with it while working. Finishing it in a marathon read.
Stunning. A truly great story, superb performance and breathtaking experience as a whole. If you have not read the first novel you really should start there. I suggest, on and autumn or winter Friday night following work and call in Monday, because once you start you won't stop.
This is an eye opener work of fiction witch has all the terrible consequence of real world potential for actually happening. But be warned, it will rend your heart in two over and over again while the fate of your favorite characters play out.

Better than One Year After

This was better than the last novel but it definitely did not have the same heart as part one. One thing I really liked was revisiting a character from part one that was not in part two. I enjoy the narrator but little things bug me. One character's name is pronounced different than the forst two parts. Thankfully, though, New Jersey native John Matherson lost the Southern accent he developed between parts 1 and 2. The storyline had some plot holes and reality issues that gave the appearance that Mr. Forstchen is tired of this story and wants to move on. With all that said, I did enjoy it overall and find it a fitting end to the series. I hate to see it end but feel the passion ended with part one, which I listen to repeatedly.

Spends Too Much Time Thinking about the past

The book is interesting but it spends way too much time with the lead character thinking about how life used to be. Get on with the story already.

Mr. Forstchen does it again!

If you liked "One Second After" and "One Year After", "The Last Day" is a must to listen and/or read. It was the perfect ending to the series. Bronson, the narrator of "One Year After" is back and better then ever. His narration brings this story to life. Looking forward to listening to and reading all three books again soon.

A great ending/...

Classic story telling not far fetched as one with think with idiots who are plotting against our world.

Very good story and deliver

There are warnings signs in this story, and there not just from a foreign threat which is serious enough. It also contains a much more serious warning of domestic threats. Not all threats are premeditated threats of aggression or subversion. The most consequential are the passive threats of willful ignorance or denial. Those of refusing to recognize and react to personal responsibility and involvement in the shaping of our nation. You will recognize all of these threats here and the latter always proves to be the most consequential in the long run.

Very good. second book was the best of the 3

Story had a few too many predictable elements but I won't elaborate. well written and flawless narration

Excellent!

Loved this whole series and this book was a perfect ending. So glad I happened upon it!

Excellent

Sometimes I find the narrator a little slow in his telling of this story but that is literally my only criticism of the entire work.
Bill Forstchen takes the subject of an EMP and constructs a set of characters that engage.
The story is believable and I was able to empathise with many of those involved.
You have to listen to the two previous books in order to get the most from this.
I recommend it.

My first audible

The story became intense as the characteristics of each character unfold.
I never like reading, as I found myself tiring of reading and imaging as the same time.
I picked this story as my first audible. And hell no! My imagination ran wild !

A poor ending to a series that started so well.

A poor ending to a series that started so well.

I liked the premise of the first book but felt it fell a little short.

The second book was poor and, sadly, this finale is little better.

A great premise wasted in its poor plot.

Compulsive and believable.

At the end of each book you are already looking for the next. In the main, it is alien to a British way of life but then again is it?

Great narration & great story.

The Final Day..... Or is it! I hope not. Out of the ashes the rise of a new nation is reborn in this the third novel of this series. I couldn't stop listening. I hope you enjoy it too.

Disappointing end to declining trilogy

While I love a good trilogy, in this case the author really should have stopped after the first book.

Between the misogynistic attitude of the protagonist, illogical decision making of key "leaders", grating sexual stereotyping and maudlin sentimentality, it was a battle to claw my way to the end of this book. Lots of hot- tempered interactions that just didn't need to happen "balanced" by soppy broodiness and melodrama. Way too frequent use of the term "command voice". Story takes a long time to go nowhere. Do yourself a favour and pass on this one.

Loved this series.

Brilliant books, I couldn't put down. Very worrying as could easily be non fiction.

Excellent Series

Awesome insight into what may lay in store for us all and it's terrifying. May God keep us all from man's madness. Highly recommended. There are two books prior to this one.

fantastic end to the trilogy

it's nice to see a story wrap up so nicely covering so many individual characters and what happened to them.
my only criticism is the female voices are a bit quiet and hard to hear.

Outstanding Series is this the finale?

Great listen great series loved it, very easy to follow great story line good characters hopefully end up a TV series, it would be on par with TWD.