One Second After

One Second After

By William R. Forstchen

Narrated By Joe Barrett

Post Man-made Apocalypse Novel

This is a fairly realistic treatment of what life in a small New England town might become in the aftermath of an Electro-Magnetic Pulse (EMP) attack on the USA.  The story starts out with immediate interest because we can all imagine what would happen it the power went outone day and just never came back on. As the novel progresses, however, the story disintegrates into a typical disaster novel. It reminds me of DIES THE FIRE, by S.M. Stirling or even a Harry Turtledove book. There are many characters and none of them are well enough drawn to garner interest. I recommend the introduction by Newt Gingrich. He does a passable job of warning of the danger in failing to prepare for an EMP attack. The novel I do not recommend.