One Second After

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 characters' 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. M.T.F. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

January 12, 2009
In this entertaining apocalyptic thriller from Forstchen (We Look Like Men of War
), a high-altitude nuclear bomb of uncertain origin explodes, unleashing a deadly electromagnetic pulse that instantly disables almost every electrical device in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world. Airplanes, most cars, cellphones, refrigerators—all are fried as the country plunges into literal and metaphoric darkness. History professor John Matherson, who lives with his two daughters in a small North Carolina town, soon figures out what has happened. Aided by local officials, Matherson begins to deal with such long-term effects of the disaster as starvation, disease and roving gangs of barbarians. While the material sometimes threatens to veer into jingoism, and heartstrings are tugged a little too vigorously, 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. Newt Gingrich provides a foreword.

Starred review from October 1, 2009
The explosion of nuclear bombs in space by an unknown adversary emits electromagnetic pulses (EMP) that instantly and permanently disable electronic devices throughout the United States, wreaking havoc. Forstchen's ("We Look Like Men of War") well-crafted and compelling story, which focuses on one man's struggle to protect his family in an isolated North Carolina town, reminds us of how helpless we'd be without modern technologya chilling thought, as EMP is a real threat to the industrialized world. Elegantly narrated by Joe Barrett ("The Lay of the Land"); a haunting, essential listen.R. Kent Rasmussen, Thousand Oaks, CA

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