One Second After: A Book Review

      One Second After stands alone in the genre of apocalyptic novels. The author, Dr. William D. Forstchen, Professor of History at Montreat College near Asheville, North Carolina, is a military history and technology enthusiast whose previous titles include the novels: Gettysburg, Pearl Harbor (written with Newt Gingrich) and We Look Like Men of War. One Second After is a chilling fictional account that explores the consequences of an Electromagnetic Pulse Weapon (EMP) attack on modern-day U.S. soil. 

      The novel chronicles the trials of John Matterson, retired Army Colonel and Professor of History, his family, and the little town of Black Mountain, North Carolina in the aftermath of an EMP attack. In this post-EMP world, the characters must adopt a “survival of the fittest” mindset in order to endure in a planet where all electronic conveniences, tools and medical equipment are destroyed, social order is non-existent, the strong prey on the weak and people betray life-long neighbors, even friends, simply to survive another day. 

      Dr. Forstchen writes a powerful and eerily prophetic novel that gripes readers from the first page. However, the unusual and distinctive syntax used by Dr. Forstchen can be a strain on the reader and distract attention from the story. Another fault in this otherwise fantastic novel is the number of characters. Too many names and people can be very difficult to remember, especially when a lot of them start dying. If you hate flipping back pages trying to remember who’s who or what happened and would rather not be scared to death for a few days, I suggest you read a different novel. 

      Although One Second After has its faults, the storyline arrests the reader’s attention sufficiently to suspend disbelief. The most powerful element of the novel is its realism. The tense situation and circumstances are terrifying precisely because an EMP attack is entirely possible, at any moment. But the real power of the novel lies in its characters: their colorfulness and unique identities. Another arresting factor is how the setting paints vivid and striking pictures across the palette of the mind’s eye. 

      Overall, I would recommend you read One Second After, it is well worth your while. Not because it is an exciting, albeit terrifying read, but also because One Second After captures your attention and forces you to consider and plan for the possibilities of the future.