Listen free for 30 days

Preview

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

One Second After

Written by: William R. Forstchen
Narrated by: Joe Barrett
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $23.18

Buy Now for $23.18

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

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.
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What the critics say

"[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)

What listeners say about One Second After

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    156
  • 4 Stars
    37
  • 3 Stars
    11
  • 2 Stars
    10
  • 1 Stars
    7
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    136
  • 4 Stars
    42
  • 3 Stars
    14
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    5
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    144
  • 4 Stars
    27
  • 3 Stars
    8
  • 2 Stars
    8
  • 1 Stars
    12

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good first book

This was a good series, not my favourite TEOTWAWKI series, but certainly not the worst either. If you like this genre, this is probably one of the best series of books, though to me it fell flat the longer the story went on.
I do like this narrator, and the book kept my interest long enough to listen to the whole trilogy.
Just be aware, these books that are 2 or 3 pieces are never stand-alones, and if you like one book you sort of have to get the whole series.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Apocalyptic dystopia

It was a good story told from the perspective of the center of the action. Realistic in its prediction of an aftermath of the grid collapse. near the end it felt rushed. as though the author was in a hurry to wrap things up. the last few chapters can best be defined as a montage of a story and I wish it haddn't glazed over the final bit. Well worth listening.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very good book!!!

I really enjoyed this book with a really realistic plot. Very well written and amazing performance.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Not bad

Not bad. not my favorite.Maybe not as realistic as I would have liked. We will see what the next book has to offer.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

sobering

great book. if this really happens I imagine this would be an accurate portrayal of events

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Unbelievably well written and performed book.

I have 151 audiobooks. this one is by far the best performed and read one of them all. In addition, the story itself is incredibly believable and clearly founded in fact and experience. I was there....in BlackRock during this catastrophe. Every feeling, every sub-story and every heart wrenching and heartwarming moment. ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!!!!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Eye opening

I always thought I'd survive without question in a societal meltdown. This book has caused me to rethink that position. I realize now it would MUCH harder than I thought. A very thorough piece of reading. Seems a bit rushed in the last 25% of the book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A very sobering read

This book opened my eyes to the very possible outcome of an EMP attack. Set in small town North Carolina the author does a great job of balancing tragedy, love, and survival.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

by far the most realistic post apocalyptic novel

This author have successfully encompassed everything I love about the genre. It is realistic and scientifically well researched. The fact that it is not an ex special force or cop but rather a history teacher is a fantastic idea and it makes sense. ok, ok, it is an ex military but that is not what helps the characters to cope with the events.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Scarily realistic! A must read!!

I devour all types of apocalyptic literature, several books per month, this one was by far the most realistic and haunting of them all. Fantastically written and researched! Does not romanticize the apocalypse at all! And thankfully the main character doesn’t constantly do the wrong thing like most other books of this nature. A must read!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!