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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 & Suspense Thriller Nuclear Weapon Exciting Scary War United States Natural Disaster Military North Carolina

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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)
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Believable story with decent characters. One of the best post apocalyptic readings I have ever enjoyed.
Good narration.
Recommend :)

First audio book and I really enjoyed it.

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What did you like most about One Second After?

The book explores our modern dependency on technology and how vulnerable we become without it. The difficulties caused by an electronic meltdown were well explored, even down to areas such as those who are medication dependant as well as the more obvious issues such as food, water and power.

What other book might you compare One Second After to, and why?

The book revolves very much around the lead character his family and their town so in that respect, tends not to compare to other books of the genre I have read. This book explores the disaster at the local level. If it were to happen, we would all experience the same issues.

What about Joe Barrett’s performance did you like?

I loved this narrator for his soft accent, good diction and measured pace.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The book does tug at the heart strings but would have done so much more with less schmaltz and a big lid on the patriotic We are Americans stuff. I understood what the author was trying to say with it but it was too heavy handed especially as the people causing all the trouble were also Americans too!

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed the book but felt that it missed the opportunity to be taken a bit more seriously and that is a shame. As with so many books today, I felt some of the story and the writing was sacrificed for the movie the author was hoping for.

Thought provoking storyline

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Where does One Second After rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Best book I've listened to for a while. Perhaps ever.

What did you like best about this story?

This book must've been good as I found myself talking about its scenarios over dinner, wondering to myself what *I* would do in a similar situation and getting emotional more than once as the story progressed. I guess it's really immersive - perhaps more so as an audio book, aided partly by the narrator's performance, which never pulled me out of the story once.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Pray it never happens

Any additional comments?

I've seen reviews of the paper book criticising the grammar. But as a 'read' book I never noticed any of this so I'm glad that I listened to it!

Pray it never happens

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This is a really good book for people who like apocalypse type reads. The fact it could potentially happen makes things feel quite real. I was glad this was not narrated in the first person. Tissues may be needed at points in the story. Lots of things I could say about this book, strategy, emergency preparedness, people-management, small town relationships etc. Now going to find the next one in the series.

gripping read

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not the best I've read but it is up there with best. different to other books like this I've read as it focuses on one place and time moves quite slowly as day to day. Didn't like how the actual war was generalised and summarised as my emotions didn't get chance to connect and Mourne as big characters died they were just mentioned as an after thought. not my favourite book but I would recommend.

good book. recommended.

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Well thought out and executed. However I feel the narrator's voice and delivery was ill suited particularly for the female parts and lacked range and scope. For the European reader the American apple pie nature of the first fee chapters may grate, but once the disaster strikes the novel takes shape. Great listen.

Shocking and thought provoking

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An outstandingly well presented glimpse into a potential future should we not get ourselves back in check. The west has become weak, dependant on technology, and we're all too happy to carry on like there isn't a threat, or that we'll all be fine. This book is a glimpse into what could happen if the lights go out. It's emotional, depressing, hopeful, and scary all at the same time.

This isn't a story, it's a warning.

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Gripping, finished this in a few days. I found it to be an emotional listen and really connected with the characters. I truly hope we never have to live through anything like this.

A grim reality of what could happen in an emp attack.

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Funnily enough this was a recommendation off of Reddit, has turned out to be one of my favourite apocalypse styled books!
Great narration and loved the main protagonist, his background and career was really fitting and helpful haha!
I think what made this such a great book was that it gives you a good insight to how far and desperate people will go for just the basics.

Definitely recommend and what’s even better this is 1 of 3 books!!

Absolutely brilliant!

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If you could sum up One Second After in three words, what would they be?

Enthralling! Thought Provoking!

Who was your favorite character and why?

John - a normal, caring individual

What does Joe Barrett bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Makes John come to life.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Several moving moments - found myself crying as I drove

Superb listen!

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