The Power of One Second: How an EMP Weapon Could Destroy Civilization
One Second After Mobi Download Book: A Review of the Post-Apocalyptic Novel by William R. Forstchen
One Second After is a novel by William R. Forstchen that imagines what would happen if America was hit by a devastating electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack that wipes out all electronic devices and plunges the country into a new Dark Age. The novel follows John Matherson, a retired army colonel and history professor, as he tries to survive and protect his family and community in a small North Carolina town. The novel explores themes such as survival, leadership, morality, patriotism, family, faith, and hope in the face of overwhelming adversity.
one second after mobi download book
One Second After is a timely and important book that warns about the vulnerability of modern civilization and the potential threat of EMP weapons. The book has been cited on the floor of Congress as a realistic scenario that could happen in real life. The book also offers a compelling story that engages the reader emotionally and intellectually. The book raises questions about how people would react to such a catastrophe and what values and principles would guide them.
In this article, we will review One Second After by summarizing its plot, analyzing its characters, evaluating its writing style, comparing it with other similar books, and concluding with some key takeaways and lessons.
Summary of the Plot
The novel begins with John Matherson driving his daughter Jennifer home from college on a sunny day in May. He notices that his car's GPS system stops working, but he doesn't think much of it. He arrives at his home in Black Mountain, a small town near Asheville, North Carolina. He greets his other daughter Elizabeth, who suffers from type 1 diabetes, and his father-in-law Tom Brannigan, a former Navy admiral. He also meets his neighbor Makala Ferguson, a nurse who has a crush on him.
Soon, they realize that something is wrong. All phones, radios, TVs, computers, cars, planes, and other electronic devices have stopped working. They learn from a ham radio operator that an EMP attack has hit America, possibly by Iran or North Korea. The EMP has fried all electrical circuits and grids, rendering them useless. The attack has also disabled all nuclear power plants, which could lead to meltdowns and radiation leaks.
John and his neighbors quickly form a survival committee and try to organize the town. They face many challenges, such as food and water shortages, looting and violence, disease and infection, civil unrest and martial law, refugees and invaders, and psychological and emotional trauma. They also have to deal with the loss of many loved ones, such as John's wife who was on a plane that crashed, and Elizabeth who runs out of insulin and dies.
The novel spans over a year, showing how the town adapts to the new reality and how John becomes a leader and a hero. He leads the town's militia in defending against attacks from gangs, cannibals, and rogue soldiers. He also tries to establish contact and cooperation with other towns and regions. He learns that the EMP attack has killed over 90% of the American population and that the government and military are barely functioning. He also learns that China has invaded Taiwan and that Russia has invaded Eastern Europe.
The novel ends with John delivering a speech at a memorial service for the dead. He reflects on the past year and expresses his hope for the future. He says that America is not dead, but reborn. He says that the survivors have learned to appreciate the simple things in life, such as love, friendship, faith, and freedom. He says that they have also learned to fight for what they believe in, such as democracy, justice, and peace. He says that they have a duty to rebuild America and to honor the memory of those who died.
Analysis of the Characters
One Second After has a large cast of characters, each representing different aspects of human nature and society. Here are some of the main characters and their roles:
Name
Role
Characteristics
John Matherson
The protagonist and narrator of the novel
A retired army colonel and history professor who becomes the leader of Black Mountain. He is brave, smart, loyal, compassionate, and patriotic. He struggles with grief, guilt, anger, and doubt.
Jennifer Matherson
John's older daughter
A college student who majors in history. She is intelligent, independent, adventurous, and rebellious. She helps her father with various tasks and becomes his confidante.
Elizabeth Matherson
John's younger daughter
A high school student who suffers from type 1 diabetes. She is sweet, innocent, optimistic, and resilient. She dies from diabetic ketoacidosis after running out of insulin.
Tom Brannigan
John's father-in-law
A former Navy admiral who suffers from Alzheimer's disease. He is wise, experienced, authoritative, and honorable. He advises John on military matters and occasionally regains his lucidity.
Makala Ferguson
John's neighbor and love interest
A nurse who works at the local hospital. She is kind, caring, courageous, and resourceful. She helps John with medical issues and becomes his romantic partner.
Ken Bradley
The mayor of Black Mountain
A former lawyer who is elected as the mayor after the EMP attack. He is pragmatic, diplomatic, cooperative, and responsible. He works with John to manage the town's affairs.
Fred Sutter
The sheriff of Black Mountain
A former police officer who becomes the sheriff after the EMP attack. He is tough, honest, loyal, and reliable. He works with John to maintain law and order in the town.
Ben Franklin
The owner of a general store
A wealthy businessman who owns a large stockpile of food and supplies. He is greedy, selfish, arrogant, and ruthless. He tries to exploit the situation by charging exorbitant prices or withholding goods.
Forrest Burnett
The leader of a gang called Posse Comitatus
A former soldier who becomes a warlord after the EMP attack. He is violent, sadistic, cunning, and charismatic. He leads a group of armed men who raid towns and kill people for fun or profit.
Morton Sanders
The leader of a group of cannibals called The Reivers
```html Evaluation of the Writing Style
One Second After is written in a simple and straightforward style that suits the genre and the topic. The author uses language and tone to create suspense and emotion, realism and research to make the scenario believable and accurate, and symbolism and imagery to convey deeper meanings and messages.
The author uses language and tone to create suspense and emotion. He uses short sentences, active verbs, and descriptive words to convey the urgency and intensity of the situation. He also uses dialogue, inner thoughts, and flashbacks to show the personality and feelings of the characters. He varies the tone of the narration depending on the mood and the theme of each chapter. For example, he uses a somber and solemn tone when describing the deaths and losses, a hopeful and optimistic tone when describing the resilience and courage, and a sarcastic and humorous tone when describing the absurdity and irony.
The author uses realism and research to make the scenario believable and accurate. He bases his story on scientific facts and historical events. He explains how an EMP attack works and what its effects are on different devices and systems. He also references real places, people, and organizations that are relevant to the plot. He shows his knowledge of military tactics, survival skills, medical procedures, and political issues. He also includes details that make the story more authentic and vivid, such as dates, names, brands, models, etc.
The author uses symbolism and imagery to convey deeper meanings and messages. He uses symbols such as the American flag, the Constitution, the Bible, etc. to represent the values and ideals of America. He also uses images such as fire, darkness, light, etc. to represent the themes of destruction, despair, hope, etc. He also uses metaphors and similes to compare the situation to other historical or fictional events or scenarios. For example, he compares the EMP attack to Pearl Harbor or 9/11, or to a zombie apocalypse or a nuclear war.
Comparison with Other Similar Books
One Second After is not the first or the only book that deals with the topic of post-apocalyptic survival after an EMP attack. There are many other books that have similar plots or themes. Here are some of them and how they differ from or resemble One Second After:
Name
Author
Similarities
Differences
Lights Out
David Crawford
Both books depict an EMP attack that destroys America's electrical grid and infrastructure. Both books follow a group of survivors who try to cope with the aftermath and defend themselves from various threats.
Lights Out focuses more on the practical aspects of survival, such as food storage, water purification, firearms training, etc. Lights Out also has more action scenes and less emotional drama than One Second After.
Alas, Babylon
Pat Frank
Both books depict a nuclear war that devastates America and most of the world. Both books follow a group of survivors who try to cope with the aftermath and rebuild their community in a small Florida town.
Alas, Babylon was written in 1959 during the Cold War era. Alas, Babylon portrays a more optimistic view of human nature and society than One Second After. Alas, Babylon also has less graphic violence and gore than One Second After.
The Road
Cormac McCarthy
Both books depict a post-apocalyptic world that is bleak and barren. Both books follow a father and his son who try to survive and find hope in a hostile environment.
The Road does not specify what caused the apocalypse or when it happened. The Road focuses more on the philosophical and existential aspects of survival, such as morality, faith, meaning, etc. The Road also has a more minimalist and poetic writing style than One Second After.
The Stand
Stephen King
Both books depict a pandemic that kills most of the world's population. Both books follow a group of survivors who try to rebuild civilization and fight against an evil force.
The Stand involves supernatural elements, such as a demonic figure, a prophetic old woman, and a divine intervention. The Stand also has a larger and more diverse cast of characters than One Second After. The Stand also has a longer and more complex plot than One Second After.
Conclusion
One Second After is a novel that explores the possibility and the consequences of an EMP attack that destroys America's electrical grid and infrastructure. The novel follows John Matherson, a retired army colonel and history professor, as he tries to survive and protect his family and community in a small North Carolina town. The novel explores themes such as survival, leadership, morality, patriotism, family, faith, and hope in the face of overwhelming adversity.
One Second After is a timely and important book that warns about the vulnerability of modern civilization and the potential threat of EMP weapons. The book also offers a compelling story that engages the reader emotionally and intellectually. The book raises questions about how people would react to such a catastrophe and what values and principles would guide them.
One Second After is a book that challenges or inspires the reader to think or act differently. The book makes the reader appreciate the simple things in life, such as love, friendship, faith, and freedom. The book also makes the reader aware of the dangers and risks that lurk in the world, such as war, terrorism, or natural disasters. The book also makes the reader wonder what they would do in such a situation and how they would cope with it.
One Second After is a book that raises questions and issues for further discussion or exploration. Some of these questions and issues are:
How realistic is the scenario of an EMP attack? How likely is it to happen? How prepared are we for it?
How would an EMP attack affect different regions, sectors, or groups of people? How would it affect the economy, the environment, the health care system, the education system, etc.?
What are some of the ethical dilemmas or moral choices that the characters face in the novel? How do they resolve them? What would you do in their place?
What are some of the lessons or messages that the author wants to convey through the novel? Do you agree or disagree with them? Why or why not?
What are some of the similarities or differences between One Second After and other post-apocalyptic novels or movies? Which ones do you prefer or recommend? Why?
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about One Second After:
Where can I download One Second After mobi book?
You can download One Second After mobi book from various online sources, such as Sciarium.com or Archive.org. However, you should be careful about the legality and quality of these sources. You should also respect the author's rights and support his work by buying his book from authorized sellers.
Is One Second After based on a true story?
No, One Second After is not based on a true story. It is a fictional novel that imagines what would happen if America was hit by an EMP attack. However, the author did extensive research on the topic and consulted with experts on various fields. He also based some of his characters and events on real people and situations.
Is One Second After part of a series?
Yes, One Second After is part of a trilogy. The sequel is called One Year After and the third book is called The Final Day. The trilogy follows John Matherson and his community as they continue to survive and rebuild after the EMP attack.
What is an EMP attack?
An EMP attack is an attack that uses an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) to damage or destroy electronic devices and systems. An EMP is a burst of electromagnetic energy that can be caused by natural phenomena, such as lightning or solar flares, or by artificial sources, such as nuclear weapons or specialized devices. An EMP can affect a large area and cause widespread disruption and chaos.
What are some of the effects of an EMP attack?
Some of the effects of an EMP attack are:
All electronic devices and systems that are not shielded or hardened will stop working or malfunction. This includes phones, radios, TVs, computers, cars, planes, trains, etc.
All electrical grids and power plants will be damaged or destroyed. This means no electricity for homes, businesses, hospitals, schools, etc.
All communication networks and satellites will be disrupted or disabled. This means no internet, phone calls, GPS, etc.
```html FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about One Second After:
Where can I download One Second After mobi book?
You can download One Second After mobi book from various online sources, such as Sciarium.com or Archive.org. However, you should be careful about the legality and quality of these sources. You should also respect the author's rights and support his work by buying his book from authorized sellers.
Is One Second After based on a true story?
No, One Second After is not based on a true story. It is a fictional novel that imagines what would happen if America was hit by an EMP attack. However, the author did extensive research on the topic and consulted with experts on various fields. He also based some of his characters and events on real people and situations.
Is One Second After part of a series?
Yes, One Second After is part of a trilogy. The sequel is called One Year After and the third book is called The Final Day. The trilogy follows John Matherson and his community as they continue to survive and rebuild after the EMP attack.
What is an EMP attack?
An EMP attack is an attack that uses an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) to damage or destroy electronic devices and systems. An EMP is a burst of electromagnetic energy that can be caused by natural phenomena, such as lightning or solar flares, or by artificial sources, such as nuclear weapons or specialized devices. An EMP can affect a large area and cause widespread disruption and chaos.
What are some of the effects of an EMP attack?
Some of the effects of an EMP attack are:
All electronic devices and systems that are not shielded or hardened will stop working or malfunction. This includes phones, radios, TVs, computers, cars, planes, trains, etc.
All electrical grids and power plants will be damaged or destroyed. This means no electricity for homes, businesses, hospitals, schools, etc.
All communication networks and satellites will be disrupted or disabled. This means no internet, phone calls, GPS, etc.
All nuclear power plants will be at risk of melting down or leaking radiation. This means potential environmental and health hazards.
All social order and civil services will collapse or deteriorate. This means no law enforcement, emergency response, health care, education, etc.
All food and water supplies will be scarce or contaminated. This means potential starvation and disease.
71b2f0854b