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One Second After

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One Second After

Written by: William R. Forstchen
Narrated by: Joe Barrett
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About this listen

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. Fantasy Fiction Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction Suspense Technothrillers Thriller & Suspense Thriller Dystopian Technology War Survival Natural Disaster Military Emergency Preparedness

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

Not bad

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

sobering

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To be honest, I was a bit apprehensive after listening to Newt Gingrich in the Foreward. I'm not a big fan of Newt.

Fortunately, the story line was pretty good. Pretty realistic from the perspective of how things gradually built up around a One-Star General and an author who has some Threat Analyses background.

I wasn't that into the main character, he seemed to be less charismatic than Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan but was a good protagonist nonetheless. <spoiler alert> I did like the explanation of how the EMP was generated and how not one nation/individual could be found responsible. With all our "global-ness", I can see how the ending of this book was highly plausible.

I'm not really interested in reading the follow up books if that tells you anything about this book. This book was good enough on its own. I may be a bit curious in about a year or so when I've had more time to digest this one but overall, I'm ok with just reading this one and passing up on the follow up books.

I enjoyed the book Gray by Lou Cadle a bit more than this one from a Post-Apocalyptic story line. This one was just an ok, post-apocalyptic book, IMHO but a fun read nonetheless.

Review of One Second After.

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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!!!!!

Unbelievably well written and performed book.

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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.

Good first book

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

Very good book!!!

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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.

Apocalyptic dystopia

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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.

by far the most realistic post apocalyptic novel

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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.

Eye opening

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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.

A very sobering read

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