One Second After Book Review

William R. Forstchen's One Second After is a dramatic story of power and relationship. The game of trust tests the characters throughout the novel keeping the reader captivated through every chapter. Forstchen uses strong understandings of the extremes of war to create a truly shockingly dramatic must read.  

In the peaceful town of Black Mountain in North Carolina, a retired Army Colonel, John Matherson, is living a calm and pleasant life as a married professor with 2 young children. However one day the power goes and doesn't come back. All electricity, vehicles and communication shut down. At first the citizens of Black Mountain think it is just something common like a power cut, but after a few days they realize a disaster much more greater than that has occurred. They learn to find out that multiple EMP’s have gone off over the globe. The town of Black Mountain has been sent back to medieval times. Food supplies, water, medicine, communications and all utilities immediately stop. Strong leadership and community spirit can bring the small town of Black Mountain together or they can let it break apart.

My favourite part about the book were the lessons of survival it taught you. The novel questions you on your ability to survive without the modern equipment, such as what would you do if stranded a long way from resources, what skills do you have that would benefit you, who can you go to for help, how to deal with medical resources, can you use self defence, would you be able to hunt or farm and finally could you manage to look after others as well as yourself. I found these interesting as it showed you how unprepared we actually are and how big a part of our life electricity is.

The most shocking factor of the storyline is that all of it is very easily capable of happening. The shock value creates a real sense of fear for the reader throughout the novel. This is backed up by the Forstchen's use of realism in the novel. He puts you into the body of John Matherson making him feel and think how you are, as if the pages are reading your mind. This encourages the sense of fear in the reader even forcing them to go to the length of plotting their own survival tactics!

Joy Of 6 Extended

It was 20 years since England had won the world cup and 20 years since England had beaten Argentina in a competitive match. It was the day England had been waiting for. Dedicated fans travelled over 5000 miles for a once in a lifetime opportunity, the quarter final of the World Cup. 51 minutes into the match, this seemed to be a fair game between the future rivals. However England's hopes and dreams were crushed as Diego Maradona left the stadium astounded as Argentina went up 1-0. The infamous hand of god. The referees allowed a clear violation of the game as Maradona punched the ball past an astounded Peter Shilton. Shilton and his teammates instantly signalled at the inexperienced Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser however the goal was still allowed. Terry Fenwick and Glenn Hoddle chased Bin Nasser back to the centre circle, but their protests fell on deaf ears.

After England's determination the game harshly ended 2-1 Argentina after his 2, a goal of the century by England's new villain Maradona, and a late consolation goal. Bobby Robson A photo which clearly showed Maradona using his fist to strike the ball was released after the match. Maradona could hardly claim that he had nothing up his sleeve "the goal was a little with the hand of Maradona and a little with the hand of god. I was waiting for my teammates to embrace me, and no one came... I told them, 'Come hug me or the referee isn't going to allow it". Tension had surrounded the match because it was the first time the new rivals had met since the Falkland War, the games spectators were playing this down, but the media certainly weren't. Before the game Maradona stated 'I want retribution against England for my countries defeat in the Falkland War. This is revenge'. Everyone knew something was up after the suspicious comment from the world star, but no one expected a violation as shocking as that. England coach Bobby Robson was in no mood for an embrace. "I saw the ball in the air and Maradona going for it, Shilton went for it as well but Maradona handled the ball into the net. You don't expect decisions like that at World Cup level".

After the West German referee, Rudolf Kreitlein, had sent off Antonio Rattin when they lost to England in the 1966 finals, some will argue that justice of a kind was done 20 years later. Shouts of the Falklands war echoed from the stands around the Azteca Stadium. There was a brief outbreak of arrests at the start of the second half but the rivalry English and Argentinian fans maintained a more peaceful atmosphere. For many Argentineans, pick-pocketing the English in this fashion was a deeply satisfying experience.

The phrase ‘hand of god’ has been used ever since as a term by for many football fans for a deliberate hand ball. Maradona says he loves the infamous quote and hopes it lives on after he dies. Maradona’s hand of god has gone down as one of the most controversial moments in sporting history. Maradona is still a big name in the sporting world having managed Argentina to the quarter finals of the 2010 world cup but ironically losing to Germany, England’s other rivals, in the quarter finals by a solid 4-0 defeat. Many Argentinians see Maradona as a role model because of his skill of football, despite the hand of god incident. Even the world’s number 1 player, Lionel Messi, looks up to Maradona as a role model and has even copied some of his most famous moments, including the hand of god. Pope Francis quoted ‘I am truly very happy and I am certain that my enthusiasm is shared by the whole Argentinian people’.

Maradona will live on from his infamous actions at the Azteca Stadium in 1986, however one thing is for sure that England will never forget this and their rivalry still lives on as well. 

Joy Of 6

It was the day England had been waiting for. Fans travelled over 5000 miles for a once in a lifetime opportunity, the quarter final of the World Cup. 51 minutes into the match, which seemed to be a fair game between the future rivals. However England's hopes and dreams were crushed as Diego Maradona left the stadium astounded as Argentina went up 2-1. The infamous hand of god. After Maradona scored the goal of the century, the referees allowed a clear violation of the game as Maradona punched the ball past an astounded Peter Shilton.

Fantasy

The cutting of frost taking over the body of every soul it came by. The day went dark. The world went quiet. Suddenly a voice, echoing through the vast forests and the fearful cities of Ayleirim, reaching into the ear of every helpless body. A weak glimmer of life was born, growing stronger and stronger overpowering any light of this world. A power to big for this world. A blinding flash of white swept across the land of Ayleirim, reflecting off the eye of every human, animal and creature. The voice came again, it was of no modern language, turning the spines of everything as still as solid stone.

Monologue

(John is sitting inside a church by himself on Christmas Eve)

What the hell has happened to me life. No friends, no job, no house, even me son hates me! Me family don't deserve this, to put up with is. Am a failure. Why couldn't a been a real dad, a role model instead of a pathetic waste of space. He'll end up just like is. People say Christmas is the happiest time of the year, not for me it ain't. Nothin' more heartbreakin' than the look of excitement and joy get washed away by the tears of misery and disappointment on me own sons face. He would be better off without is. I should never go back, let his gran take care of him because all am doin is gettin' in the way. A wasted my life and am not wastin' yours to! It ain't all me fault, it was his careless idiot of a mothers. I't was all going well until she left is scumbag! I could strangle him! tearing me family apart, a have nothing.