Mike's Reviews > One Second After

Do you rate a book only on the quality of the writing or on how it makes you think after you finish? This gets 5+ stars for provoking serious thought while the writing itself was just okay. Short recap: one spring day, 3 nuclear weapons are exploded over the US, generating an Electro Magnetic Pulse (EMP), frying everything digital. One second everyone is living in the digital wonderland of today and the next they are back in The Middle Ages, although that will take some time to become clear to everyone. There is no warning, no preparation for the attack, in the blink of an eye all things digital go out of existence. Do not read this book if you are seeking a pleasant read to pass the time. It is truly frightening to contemplate how life would change should this occur. And it is completely feasible for an attack like this to happen with absolutely no warning. We are so dependent now on computers and digital machines, we simply have no conception of life without. There were holes and gaps in the story, and I really wanted a better battle scene when the Posse appears. I also wanted better feel for the community and the people. He sketches very broadly. This is a book that will make you wonder how you would handle things if it happens. I just know I am not going to sell my 1964 Chevrolet C-10 pickup, not after reading this book.