One Second After

by William R. Forstchen
One Second After cover
Good Books rating 2.75
Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic
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  • ID: 4989
  • Added: 2025-10-22
  • Updated: 2025-12-22
  • ISBN: 9780765356864
  • Publisher: St. Martin's Press
  • Published: 2011-04-26
  • Reviews: 4

One Second After is the first book in the gripping John Matherson trilogy, set in the small town of Black Mountain, North Carolina. The story begins with an electromagnetic pulse attack that cripples the United States, leaving the town isolated and vulnerable. As the community struggles to adapt to the new reality, they must confront the harsh realities of survival in a world without modern conveniences. The book explores themes of leadership, community, and the human spirit in the face of adversity. /n/n Written by William R. Forstchen, this novel is a compelling exploration of what might happen if our modern infrastructure were to collapse. It's a story of resilience and the will to survive, set against the backdrop of a post-apocalyptic landscape. The author's attention to detail and realistic portrayal of the challenges faced by the characters make this a must-read for fans of dystopian fiction.

Reviews
AllSciFiAllTheTime · 2021-10-23
good 3.00

The reviewer appreciates the unique setting and well-written main character, but finds the story somewhat thin. They highlight the thoughtful and action-oriented protagonist as a strong point.

The reviewer at AllSciFiAllTheTime finds the novel's setting and main character to be its strongest assets. They praise the thoughtful and action-oriented nature of the protagonist, which makes the story engaging. However, they also note that the story itself is somewhat thin, which might leave some readers wanting more depth. Overall, they appreciate the effort and creativity put into the novel, but feel it could have benefited from more substantial plot development.

Quick quotes

    Decent storytelling and an interesting unique setting

    A thoughtful and action-oriented main character, mostly well-written

    Though the story is somewhat thin

Reddit · 2021-01-01
poor 1.50

The reviewer criticizes the book for its poor writing and contrived plot, finding it challenging to suspend disbelief. They suggest it might not be worth the read despite its popularity.

The Reddit reviewer is quite critical of 'One Second After', citing poor writing and a contrived plot as major drawbacks. They find the book's attempt to explore a post-apocalyptic scenario unconvincing and overly simplistic. The reviewer suggests that the book's popularity might be overstated and that readers might find it disappointing, especially given the high expectations set by its must-read status.

Quick quotes

    It's poorly written, and constantly telling and not showing

    So much of it is overly contrived

    Constantly challenging one's suspension of disbelief

The Storygraph · 2021-01-01
good 3.50

The reviewer acknowledges that the book is not well-written but praises its intense perspective and realistic responses, making it a must-read despite its literary shortcomings.

The Storygraph reviewer points out that 'One Second After' might not be the best-written book, but they still consider it a must-read due to its intense perspective and realistic portrayal of events. They appreciate the novel's ability to make the apocalyptic scenario feel tangible and relatable, which sets it apart from other books in the genre. The reviewer suggests that the book's strengths lie in its exploration of human responses to catastrophe, rather than its literary merit.

Quick quotes

    One Second After might not be the best written book

    It has claimed a spot as a must read due to its intense perspective

    Realistic responses

Inverarity's LiveJournal · Inverarity · 2013-12-06
engaging 3.00

It's a realistic, zombie-free apocalyptic novel that will make preppers happy and non-preppers nervous. While not a great work of literature, it's engaging.

Inverarity describes this book as a realistic, zombie-free apocalyptic novel that will resonate with preppers and make non-preppers nervous. They appreciate the unique setting and the action-oriented main character, though they note that the story is not a great work of literature. The reviewer finds the book engaging and thought-provoking, highlighting its ability to draw readers in with its realistic portrayal of an apocalyptic scenario.

Quick quotes

    A realistic, zombie-free apocalyptic novel that will make preppers happy and non-preppers nervous.

    While not a great work of literature, it's engaging.

    A thoughtful and action-oriented main character, mostly well-written.

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