One Second After, William R. Forstchen
One Second After, William R. Forstchen
List: $22.95 | Sale: $16.07
Club: $11.47

One Second After

Author: William R. Forstchen, Newt Gingrich

Series: One Second After Series #1

Narrator: Joe Barrett

Unabridged: 13 hr 18 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 07/30/2009

Synopsis

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.

About William R. Forstchen

William R. Forstchen has a PhD from Purdue University with specializations in Military History and the History of Technology. He is a Faculty Fellow and Professor of History at Montreat College. He is the author of fifty books, including the New York Times bestselling John Matherson series, the Lost Regiment series, and the award-winning young adult novel We Look Like Men of War. He has also authored numerous short stories and articles about military history and military technology.

About Newt Gingrich

Newt Gingrich is a former Speaker of the US House of Representatives and 2012 presidential candidate. He is chairman of Gingrich 360, a multimedia production and consulting company based in Arlington, Virginia. He is also a Fox News contributor and author of forty-two books, including many New York Times bestsellers.

About Joe Barrett

Joe Barrett, an actor and Audie Award and Earphones Award–winning narrator, has appeared both on and off Broadway as well as in hundreds of radio and television commercials.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Alison on March 31, 2011

Preachy and abrasive, I imagine this book would only appeal to hard core fans of the End of the World novel. If the following bit of dialogue turns you off, please don't attempt to read this book: "Charlie, Americans were so damn unprepared...we spent a helluva lot of time wringing out hands about gl......more

Goodreads review by Matthew on July 08, 2016

This book is intense, heart-wrenching, and not for the easy-queasy! It is basically two books: 1. An essay on everything our society would deal with in a post-apocalyptic scenario 2. How a small community in North Carolina deals with that post-apocalyptic scenario. The detail from the "essay" is well re......more

Goodreads review by David on October 07, 2014

As much as I like post-apocalyptic novels, zombies, aliens, and supernatural horrors are entertaining but not scary, because we know those types of end-of-the-world scenarios are not going to happen. One Second After manages to be scary because it sounds very plausible. In fact, William Fortschen sup......more

Goodreads review by Sharon on April 22, 2009

The premise of the story is that an EMP (electronmagnetic pulse) is created by the detonation of 3 nuclear bombs above the earth's atmosphere, which renders all electronic, digital, computerized elements in the infrastructure of the U.S. inoperable, which leads to a complete and total breakdown of l......more

Goodreads review by Dez the Bookworm on February 23, 2025

This book is so interesting! It feels like I’m reading a non-fiction novel. The way it’s written feels so real! Kinda scary to think the logistics of this being possible, which also makes this completely terrifying. This book is absolutely wrecked me (in a good way)! 😭 At first I didn’t know if I was......more

Quotes

“The only thing more terrifying than this masterfully crafted story is the possibility of it actually happening—and not a damn thing being done to protect us.” W.E.B. Griffin and William E. Butterworth IV, New York Times bestselling authors

“Civilization slides into the abyss of a new dark age in this horrifying apocalyptic novel.” Stephen Coonts, New York Times bestselling author

“Forstchen’s work has flair and power.” Joel Rosenberg, New York Times bestselling author

“Good storytelling consists very simply of creating characters so believable that the reader forms a deep bond…Shortly after the first page, I had been reeled in hook, line, and, sinker.” David Hagberg, author of Dance with the Dragon

“[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 would happen in the U.S. in the event of an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) attack? The answer: Everything electronic—EVERYTHING—would be fried. That’s exactly what happens in this story, which centers on Colonel John Matherson, U.S. Army, retired, now a professor of history in Black Mountain, North Carolina. The character’s powers of ingenuity are challenged to the limit as they realize just how fragile the barrier between civilization and barbarism is. Joe Barrett’s baritone is steady and sometimes a bit gravelly, and his serious tone suits these events well. His vocal characterizations are not as good as his narrative, but they do not distract from the story overall.” AudioFile

“Forstchen’s well-crafted and compelling story…reminds us of how helpless we’d be without modern technology—a chilling thought, as EMP is a real threat to the industrialized world. Elegantly narrated by Joe Barrett; a haunting, essential listen.” Library Journal (audio review)

“Retired Army colonel and college teacher John Matherson’s stoic determination that his family survive the chaos is convincingly communicated through Barrett’s deep, brooding tones…Most compelling are his realistic enactments of Matherson’s deterioration from infection…A compelling, cautionary tale.” Booklist

Awards

  • iBooks bestseller
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