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One Second After

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One Second After

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 Nuclear Weapon United States War Natural Disaster Military North Carolina

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)

What listeners say about One Second After

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scary

I found some elements of this title implausible however the vast majority was simply frightening in its simplicity.

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very good<br />

very moving pulling at the heart
strings thought provoking and scary all at the same time

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Powerful book

It's been along time since a book has moved me like this one has.
Very realistic and terrifying
Heartbreaking and soul crushing but well written and narrated
Even if your not into this genre it is a powerful novel that tells a very possible future
Obi

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

A Fair Warning

Well read drama though only an average piece of literature. The Author has a strong drive to bring his real concerns to his readership..

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Plan ahead

My husband and I both plan to prepare survival packs and start organising supplies and food in case of something like this happening. Its not If it will happen but When.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A frightning must read for everyone

This book should serve to warn, frighten and promped all who read it to prepair for this type of event. We all go about our luve blisfully unaware of how fragile out society is an event that simply turned the lights out for an extended period of time.
How much food do you have in your pantry right now? maybe 3 days worth... what happens them? ...think the govenment or your frends are goibg to feed you and your family until the light come back on?. when they are in the same boat.
start thinking about what you can do ti oreoair yourself for an extended period wuth no power and just see what it takes. only those that do this mught have a chance of riding it out or at least being in a more prepaired position to get through the furst few months until that vegy garden you alwats planed can start producing simething to eat at a minmum. 6-12 months if long range stirable food should be everyones goal in this age as well as a safe place to ride it out.
Think about it.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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Excellent Series.

Each book gets better.
Unfortunately the narration in first book let it down. But different Narrator in other 2.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Intriguing but comes up short

Story was good and well thought through. Performance was a bit lacking, and author struggled to describe any women in the story without taking about their attractiveness or weight, a bit on the nose when listened in 2024.

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Thrilling survival fiction

A bit slow at the beginning but a fantastic story overall. The narration is ok and the story line really makes you want to go home and pack some rations.

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First time I thought Uh Oh.

A little slow in the first 40mins setting it up and I thought I would put it down and then bang. Game on. If I ended up in the apocalypse tomorrow and suddenly had to get it together this would be my go to. Enough honest prep for the regular folk that dont have hordes of beans and rice under the house. Enough reality so that the characters were real. Real people died. Real people survived. Surprised but one of my favourite in the genre. Loved the narrator of the first book but you get used to the second one soon enough (I just listened back to back while doing the garden). Narrator did a great job of the voices in this one and thoroughly enjoyed the ride. Worth the read right to the end.

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