from NoveList PlusForstchen, W. R. (2009). One second after. New York: Forge.

ISBN:  9780765317582

Rating: 3Q3P

Readers' Annotation:  A small North Carolina town must come together in order to survive An Electro Magnetic Pulse (EMP) device.

Summary:  The enemies of the United States used an Electromagnetic Pulse device to cripple anything that uses electricity, anything with a microchip.  John Matherson is a veteran and military historian living in Black Mountain, North Carolina.  John and his family moved to Black Mountain after his wife was diagnosed with cancer.  He retired from active duty military service taking a position at the local college so that they could be closer to her family in the place where she grew-up.  Four years after her death, John continues to live there with his daughters and dogs.  Black Mountain community leaders rely heavily on John's military background to develop a plan for survival.  With each new discovery, John and the community leaders face they must reset their priorities and do things they would never have imagined doing before.

Evaluation:  The author, William R. Fortschen, creates a believable world in which readers can be horrified along with the characters as their new life unfolds.  I felt like I could emerse myself in this book.  The one thing that was unbelievable was that there so many people in the area with the needed skills and expertise to make the tough and wise decisions.  I think this novel could be a gateway for readers to other Apocalyptic Fiction.  The book would make a great group discussion choice with a multitude of topics to discuss.

Genre:

• Science Fiction - Apocalyptic Fiction
• Horror - Apocalyptic Fiction

If you like Apocalyptic Fiction try...

• Pure by Julianna Baggott 
• The Drought (also known as The Burning World) by J.G. Ballard
• Without Warning by John Birmingham
• The Postman by David Brin
• The Pesthouse by Jim Crace
• Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank
• World Made By Hand by James Howard Kenstler
• Our American King by David Lozell Martin
• Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse
• Download Apocalyptic Fiction Bookmark [PDF] compiled by Becky Rech

cover art from NoveList Plus

Baxter, S. (2009). Flood. New York: Roc.

ISBN:  9780451462718

Rating: 3Q3P

Reader's Annotation:  The Earth's ocean water levels are rising at an unexplainable pace, four hostage survivors do whatever it takes to survive the flood.

Summary:  Lily, Piers, Gary and Helen survive five years as hostages in Spain where climate change is causing the country to change before the world's eyes.  Lily, Piers, Gary, Helen and her baby, Grace, are rescued by Nathan Lammockson, owner of AxysCorp.  Their rescue begins their new adventures into a changed world.  Shortly after returning to England, London suffers a devastating flood.  Lily and her family survive and adapt.  Piers returns to work for the British military.  Gary joins another climatologist, Tandi Jones, searching for the reason of the flooding worldwide.  During the rescue, Helen's baby is taken away.  She continues to look for her as the waters rise.  Each survivor's path separates after their rescue, but they each promise to look out for one another.  Nathan Lammockson continues to look out for the survivors as the world changes and the water rises.  He makes it his business to create products that will survive and help him and his son to survive the changing world.  Flood follows the stories of each of the survivors as they face the new challenge of surviving in a world where land is at a shortage.

Evaluation:  Flood takes on environmental change head on.  Author Stephen Baxter imagines a world where land is a commodity only the rich can afford.  People begin moving to higher elevations and living on rafts and boats.  Baxter’s imagination seems limitless when it comes to imagining the technologies needed to survive on in a world covered in water.  Baxter goes into great detail describing these technologies, which may cause some readers to lose interest, which sometimes slows the story down.  He tells the stories of each of the survivors and includes the most detail on Lily and Gary.  Readers will be motivated to read on to discover how each person attempts to survive the flood.

Genre: 

• Science Ficiton - Eco Fiction
• Science Fiction - Apocalyptic Fiction
• Suspense

Series:

1. Flood (2009)
2. Ark (2010)

If you liked Flood try...

Books  

• One Second After by William Forstchen
• Blowback by Brad Thor

Movies

• Waterworld