I loved the idea of One Second After. The concept is similar to the short-lived TV series, Jericho, which I also thought was a great idea.

Unfortunately, I'm not a big fan of the author's writing style. I think he did a fairly decent job of telling a story, but there were far too many lines of dialogue and actions that I felt were juvenile and not inline with what the characters would actually do or say.

The scale of the disaster, as told in this novel, is too small to really allow us to feel like we're a part of it. We never really get to know the secondary characters enough for us to even care about them. So, although I loved the idea, the book really fails to live up to its potential. ( )

The premise of the book was good -- the calamitous effects on our microchip society of an attack by electromagnetic pulse, or EMP. This is a very real threat, and within the capabilities of any number of folks who wish us ill. It only takes one warhead, and the means to light it into space over the country; the detonation will create an EMP that will fry anything based on modern electronics - and that means everything. It is worth reading to see what could very well result.

But don't expect great writing. There are grammatical lapses that some copy editor, somewhere, should have caught, and characterization is uneven. ( )

One Second After gives you a very interesting scenario; what would happen if an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) were to be detonated in your country? the question is answered through John Matherson as he struggles to survive and save his family through this huge life changing event as it plunges the US back into the Dark Ages and into, quite literally, utter chaos. John is a college history professor and has unwittingly became one of its' chief leaders of their little town of Black Mountain, North Carolina. He has to go through very tough decisions, very hard moments, and very dangerous ones in a country that's total anarchy and where survival is the only thing left on one's mind.

This was definitely mind blowing. It's just so realistic because it's true, we are so dependent on technology and with one simple EMP everything would just shut down. Nothing would work. It's just amazing what we take for granted and when it's not there, we panic and suddenly we feel so primitive. It was so interesting and I found myself turning page after page wondering what was going to happen next. Since everything was just shutting down, and John and some others in important positions were having to come together to make important decisions you wanted to know what choices one had to make when placed in a situation like this. It was just so interesting to see that just in a matter of weeks martial law sets in, decisions as to who gets the most rations, or what to do with those who are stealing and looting and get caught doing so. It was just an eye opener to see a well structured society as the one we are so used to just crumble and fall once something as catastrophic as an EMP happens.

Again I have to say what an eye opener this book is, the realism is there and everything is just so tragic especially when I read about what was happening in the senior's home. I nearly wanted to cry. Everything was well described and the emotion is so tense and raw, you could feel what John was going through, you can feel the desparation, the anger, and anguish as you see the events through his point of view. Given the theme of this book, it's definitely not a happy one, there were moments where you go get a chuckle or two but not so often. Even the ending, wasn't really a great one it left you with an empty feeling, because you still weren't sure what was going on out there, it certainly felt as if you were being kept in the dark, the same as the inhabitants of Black Mountain.

I loved the writing style of the book and the action. It just made me keep going. I wanted to see who survived and who didn't. I wanted the best out of the characters I liked but knew it wasn't going to end this way because the situation just seemed so bleak. You saw John from being a college professor with a specialty in military history (with military experience) to a hestitant leader who saw society crumble in days. I really did like John's character development. It was very real and emotion filled. The other characters played their part but they were in the background the majority of the time. It was really John you'd be following throughout this book.

There's a few things of the book I didn't like. There were scenes where I felt there was a corny sense of patriotism and it was starting to look like a real bad Hollywood movie. Some moments were eye rolling and it sort of ruined the reading experience of the book. Then there were parts where it was predictable (the scene with Elizabeth and Ben jeeeeezzzz give me a break). So in a way, it was like reading a Hollywood movie in a book which is unfortunate as the book was fine without those moments. Also, this book is not for the squeamish there are moments of graphic violence among other things mentioned.

Overall, an eye opening book, because this sort of thing could really happen to us. It makes you now wonder about what's being done to prevent this sort of thing. I great recommend this book for those that are into post apocalyptic fiction. ( )

Reviewed by Mrs. Foley
"After an electromagnetic pulse weapon destroys the United States' electrical grid, history professor John Matherson, a retired soldier, attempts to protect his family despite the breakdown of society and prevalence of starvation, disease, and roving gangs of barbarians." - summary from library record

Our faculty book group is reading this for our January meeting. It is a great book and would be even better if I could say it is only science fiction. Unfortunately, it rings all too true as to what could happen if the US were actually attacked in this way. Having recently seen a news story on this exact possibility, reading this book was quite disturbing. I am trying to appreciate the electricity, electronics, communication, and food availability we have now...

Review from Booklist:
In a Norman Rockwell town in North Carolina, where residents rarely lock homes, retired army colonel John Matherson teaches college, raises two daughters, and grieves the loss of his wife to cancer. When phones die and cars inexplicably stall, Grandma's pre-computerized Edsel takes readers to a stunning scene on the car-littered interstate, on which 500 stranded strangers, some with guns, awaken John's New Jersey street-smart instincts to get the family home and load the shotgun. Next morning, some townspeople realize that an electromagnetic pulse weapon has destroyed America's power grid, and they proceed to set survival priorities. John's list includes insulin for his type-one diabetic 12-year-old, candy bars, and sacks of ice. Deaths start with heart attacks and eventually escalate alarmingly. Food becomes scarce, and societal breakdown proceeds with inevitable violence; towns burn, and ex-servicemen recall "Korea in '51" as military action by unlikely people becomes the norm in Forstchen's sad, riveting cautionary tale, the premise of which Newt Gingrich's foreword says is completely possible. ( )

I adore apocalypse novels. I read them, I enjoy them. After I saw the Newt Gingritch recommendation, I cringed at the thought I'd picked up a propaganda novel. Yet I read it anyway.

Reading some references was like reviewing my parents' lives. Yet the book was well enough written that I didn't put it down. A few bits of god bless america and consumer living made me sigh as I skimmed them, yet there is a passing story in there for the apocalypse readers like me.

The book reads like how you feel camping out a few nights, to come home to the comforts of a flush toilet, refrigerator, and tub equipped with razor for shaving your legs. Not too much emotional content. Stale actually. You won't cry or feel sad when the main character's daughter dies. You won't care much. The book is not emotionally lively.

A thousand people die, and the main character gets more emotional at killing their golden retriever. Rather stale emotional content. The fresh content of the novel consisted of the detailed breakdown of the death of the disabled citizenry. Interesting in a fashion.

A break from 'subversive' novels. Take it as you will, with your will and a grain of salt. Apocolypse novel recommended by Newt Gingrich, the hypocritical worm who recommended impeaching the president of the United States for lying about having an affair while he himself was having an affair. ( )