Audiobook: One Second After by William Forstchen

by:  William Forstchen
published by:  Forge Books
publish date:  March 17, 2009

A story which can be all too terrifyingly real...a story in which one man struggles to save his family and his small North Carolina town after America loses a war, in one second, a war that will send America back to the Dark Ages...A war based upon a weapon, an Electro Magnetic Pulse (EMP). A weapon that may already be in the hands of our enemies.

The book tells the story of retired army Colonel John Matherson.  He's widowed and living with his two daughters in a small town in North Carolina where he teaches military history at the local college.  Before the EMP his biggest problems are dealing with his youngest daughter's diabetes and his oldest daughter dating.

When the EMP hits their lives turn upside down.  He has to figure out how to get his daughter the medicine she will need.  How to take care of his father in law with terminal cancer?  How is he going to feed his daughters and mother in law?  Add to the fact that the entire town is looking to him for answers.

I listened to the audiobook version of this book.  It was pretty well done.  Not my favorite, but decent.  I read a lot of pretty harsh reviews as to the grammatical errors in this book, as I listened to the audiobook, it's pretty hard to pick up on those kinds of things.  Also, there were some comments about the structure of the book.  How a lot of the action took place "off screen", through recollection, not direct observance.  I think it kind of made sense in a way.  The main character wasn't a 20 something soldier.  He was an older man that had to be out of the way in order to help run the town.  It made sense to learn things second hand.

Overall, I thought it was a pretty good book.  It got a little bit preachy at times.  It was enlightening though.  With the popularity of shows like Doomsday Preppers I think this book will probably see a resurgence in interest.