Top 16 Books Like One Second After Updated 04 /2024

The consequences of losing all of your electronic devices could be devastating. In this case, I'm referring to having no cell phone, no television, no radio, and no internet. Nothing. How about electricity in general? Is it possible to live without electricity? Our world was thrown back into the 16th century in the space of a single nanosecond. Yes, I'd be able to. This is the subject of One Second Later. One area of the United States is devastated by an electromagnetic pulse (EMP). We can learn a lot about human nature by watching how the world reacts to its darkest moments.

This book, One Second After, is fantastic! What a fantastic piece of science fiction. Exploring the possibilities of a post-apocalyptic world and testing the very limits of human nature. So if you liked it, here is a list of books you might like.

Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank

A nuclear holocaust wipes the United States off the face of the Earth, and life as we know it is at an end. As a result, the land has been reduced to a desolate wasteland. With the exception of one small Florida town, there are no such restrictions. To survive the coming days, these courageous men and women will need to work together.

Lucifer's Hammer by Jerry Pournelle and Larry Niven

Just prior to the impact, the Earth came to a complete halt. A comet collided with Earth at a speed and force never before seen. The earth shook with such force that tidal waves up to 100 feet high engulfed the land. It was at this point that the few remaining survivors faced their most difficult battle for survival ever.

On the Beach by Nevil Shute

This time, World War III has gone nuclear. There are only a few people left alive, and they're preparing for the inevitable radioactive cloud and fallout. Bystanders include an American submarine captain who fears for his family back home in the States. That hope is revived, however, when a faint Morse code signal is picked up from Seattle. At this point, Captain Towers must assemble his crew and go on the hunt for any survivors.

Earth Abides by George R Stewart

A new and deadly disease has ravaged the planet. It leaves a death toll of millions. It's too late to save the human race. Save a single life. Survivor who appears to be unaffected by disease. What he discovers on his journey through a world by himself will rock him to his core.

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

When a meteor collides with Earth's moon in a freak accident, the consequences are far greater than expected. Earth's new characteristics include tsunami-like tides, large earthquakes, and skies thick with volcanic ash. In their sunroom, one family seeks refuge by the wood stove. Daughter Miranda tells the story of her family's struggle to hang on to their one and only remaining precious resource: Hope.

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks

Humanity was on the verge of extinction because of the Zombie War. There are those who have made it out alive, thanks to a miracle. As many as possible. The apocalyptic years of Max Brooks are documented in this book. Despite the horror and fear he describes, his words show the resiliency with which the human race has persevered. From Patient Zero, the first confirmed outbreak case, to the Redeker Plan, an unspeakable glimmer of hope for humanity, and how the tides began to turn west of the Rockies, he covers it all in his history—and more.

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

The Georgia Flu snuck up on the world and was on the verge of destroying all of us. An aging Hollywood actor named Arthur Leander was among those who succumbed. While performing King Lear on stage, Arthur tragically died. Old Arthur and the lives he impacted before and after the deadly plague are recounted.

The Borrowed World by Franklin Horton

In the end, it worked. ISIS terror attacks have brought the United States to its knees in a single night. Bridges and dams crumble, power grids go down, and fuel refineries spew thick smoke and flaming columns into the night sky. It's the fantasy of a terrorist. Among the many measures the US government took to counter this was the suspension of general public sales of fuel and transportation. Many exhausted travelers are left stranded and unable to return home. The weight and challenge of this new world is felt by one man, Jim, who focuses his drive on a single goal. We're leaving.

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Things are going downhill. The once-beautiful United States of America is now a desolate wasteland. However, it has become a home for a father and son. They take refuge in the ruins, avoiding vicious marauders and others who want to rip them apart, armed only with their simple possessions and a shopping cart. They live in this world.

The Stand by Stephen King

In the wake of a seemingly minor computer error at the Department of Defense, the world has been brought to a complete standstill. The end of the world is now only a matter of a single mistake. Those who are left must rebuild society from the ground up. It's important for them to pick a side first. Then there's the option of being selected.

 

The Passage by Justin Cronin

Amy is a hapless victim. With her mother gone and being held captive by unknown forces at the age of six, she was forced to participate in an experiment of apocalyptic proportions. Amy's arresting officer, Special Agent Wolgast, is moved by the young woman and helps her flee. However, something has gone horribly wrong with the experiment. Amy is saved, but the rest of society appears to be in ruins. Amy is all alone once more, the only hope for the shattered world resting with her.

I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

The last man on Earth is Robert Neville. But he's not the only one in this situation. Every other human being has been transformed into a vampire, and they're all vying for the last man on the planet. During the day, Robert is an undead hunter stalking his prey in the midst of a hunt. By the time dusk falls, the hunter is no longer in the driver's seat.

Joshua by John S. WIlson

The man had no choice but to keep moving forward. It didn't matter anymore. It was clear to him that he couldn't make it. He had to flee the lawlessness and brutal gangs that had descended on the United States following its demise. But what about the orphaned child he came across? Surely, he couldn't expect the boy to stick around. But, on the other hand, it's possible. Leaving him alone would be akin to homicide. They might be able to start over in the West, in the fabled land of milk and honey. That is, if they are able to make it.

Dust by Jacqueline Druga-Marchetti

Since the end of World War III, the United States has been reduced to a smoking ruin. To find out what has happened to her loved ones, Joanna uses the pages of a young woman's notebook to chronicle her experiences.

Cyberstorm by Matthew Mather

Mike Mitchell is a typical New Yorker who is trying to help his family cope with the challenges of today's city. A bustling metropolis would soon be brought to its knees, he had no idea. Mike and his family are separated from the rest of the world by a series of disasters, and he must do everything he can to save them.

How were these books like One Second After Selected?

For those who enjoy reading about the end of the world, this is an excellent place to start. Lists such as this one are often dominated by classics that will be familiar to science fiction fans. Through their film adaptations, some have become popular with the general public. This book should pique your interest no matter how familiar you are with One Second After or other post-apocalyptic works.

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