# One Second After by William R. Forstchen

2 Hacker News commenters recommended One Second After by William R. Forstchen and 0 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 3 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Recommended as a grim, realistic depiction of how an EMP attack could collapse society, though readers are warned it is very depressing.

## Why people recommend it

- Realistic depiction of an EMP scenario (1 comments): "It's probably the best description scenario that could occur." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49610929))
- Good read for the right mindset (1 comments): "kinda fits the vibe. Warning: it's really depressing, but a good read if you're in the right head space for it." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48517616))

## What people warn about

- Very depressing to read (1 comments): "kinda fits the vibe. Warning: it's really depressing, but a good read if you're in the right head space for it." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48517616))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [1984 by George Orwell](https://hackerapproved.com/p/1984.md): 42 recommend
- [The Road by Cormac McCarthy](https://hackerapproved.com/p/road.md): 27 recommend
- [Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell](https://hackerapproved.com/p/nineteen-eighty-four.md): 24 recommend
- [We by Yevgeny Zamyatin](https://hackerapproved.com/p/we.md): 11 recommend
- [The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood](https://hackerapproved.com/p/handmaid-s-tale.md): 6 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0765356864?tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)
- [Bookshop.org](https://bookshop.org/a/130825/9780765356864) (affiliate link)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "One Second After by William R. Forstchen", https://hackerapproved.com/p/one-second-after/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).