Post-apocalyptic fiction exploring the societal collapse following an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack forms a distinct subgenre. William R. Forstchen’s One Second After serves as a prominent example, portraying the struggles of a small North Carolina town grappling with the sudden loss of technology and the ensuing breakdown of order. Readers drawn to this specific scenario often seek narratives that explore similar themes of survival, resilience, and the rebuilding of community in the face of devastating circumstances.
Such narratives provide compelling thought experiments, prompting reflection on the fragility of modern civilization and our dependence on technology. They explore fundamental questions about human nature, social structures, and the limits of individual and collective endurance. The rise in popularity of this subgenre reflects broader societal anxieties surrounding potential technological vulnerabilities and the precariousness of our interconnected world.