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Darkness After #1
The Darkness After
TWO TEENAGERS FIGHT TO SURVIVE IN AN AMERICA GONE DARK
When massive solar flares send an intense electromagnetic pulse to Earth, every electrical device is fried instantly. The modern world that sixteen-year-old Mitch Henley has always known comes crashing down. Anarchy, looting and chaos explode all around him. Stranded in New Orleans, Mitch escapes into the Mississippi backwoods he knows so well, hoping to stay alive using the survival and hunting skills he learned from his game-warden father.
Alone and on foot, Mitch sets out to make his way back to the family farm and his younger sister. Not knowing if his parents are dead or alive, nothing else matters . . . until he meets April Gibbs along the way. Smart, beautiful, lethal and alone, she is also making a treacherous trek to find her lost family. They decide to travel together for safety, but neither can begin to imagine the danger that awaits them in the woods.
Set in the same anarchy-and-desperation-reigned world of the author’s dystopian thriller: The Pulse, The Darkness After a frightening look at how fragile our technologically dependent lifestyle really is.
When massive solar flares send an intense electromagnetic pulse to Earth, every electrical device is fried instantly. The modern world that sixteen-year-old Mitch Henley has always known comes crashing down. Anarchy, looting and chaos explode all around him. Stranded in New Orleans, Mitch escapes into the Mississippi backwoods he knows so well, hoping to stay alive using the survival and hunting skills he learned from his game-warden father.
Alone and on foot, Mitch sets out to make his way back to the family farm and his younger sister. Not knowing if his parents are dead or alive, nothing else matters . . . until he meets April Gibbs along the way. Smart, beautiful, lethal and alone, she is also making a treacherous trek to find her lost family. They decide to travel together for safety, but neither can begin to imagine the danger that awaits them in the woods.
Set in the same anarchy-and-desperation-reigned world of the author’s dystopian thriller: The Pulse, The Darkness After a frightening look at how fragile our technologically dependent lifestyle really is.
- GenresYoung Adult
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 17, 2013
57 people are currently reading
366 people want to read
About the author
Scott B. Williams
133 books58 followersScott B. Williams has been writing about his adventures for more than twenty-five years. His published work includes dozens of magazine articles and twenty-five books, with more projects currently underway.
His interest in backpacking, sea kayaking and sailing small boats to remote places led him to pursue the wilderness survival skills that he has written about in his popular survival nonfiction books and travel narratives such as On Island Time: Kayaking the Caribbean, an account of a two-year solo kayaking expedition he undertook at age 25.
With the release of The Pulse: A Novel of Surviving the Collapse of the Grid in 2012, Scott moved into writing fiction full time. His post-apocalyptic and action & adventure stories draw heavily on his personal wilderness and ocean experiences to create believable scenarios often set in dire circumstances. To learn more about his upcoming books or to contact Scott, visit his website: www.scottbwilliams.com
His interest in backpacking, sea kayaking and sailing small boats to remote places led him to pursue the wilderness survival skills that he has written about in his popular survival nonfiction books and travel narratives such as On Island Time: Kayaking the Caribbean, an account of a two-year solo kayaking expedition he undertook at age 25.
With the release of The Pulse: A Novel of Surviving the Collapse of the Grid in 2012, Scott moved into writing fiction full time. His post-apocalyptic and action & adventure stories draw heavily on his personal wilderness and ocean experiences to create believable scenarios often set in dire circumstances. To learn more about his upcoming books or to contact Scott, visit his website: www.scottbwilliams.com
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
December 31, 2019
I had hoped for more from this book since it was an-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it story. A solar flare has knocked out the power and all civilized behavior in one fell swoop. We are introduced to two characters who are on the road trying to get back to loved ones. Unfortunately the characters were not believable and were very one dimensional. I learned more than I will even need to know about firearms. The ending was too quick, too unrealistic, and too contrived. Hence the one star.
October 6, 2020
Another entry into the "dangit, I really wanted to give another star" category. The story was fine. The characters were believable enough. The author knows his own back yard and wrote about it in such a way that I learned a thing or two.
And here comes that dreaded "but." But Williams did way too much expositing, when he could have either shown it or put it into dialogue with far greater effect. For example, "He knew such-and-such." occurred with excessive frequency. Moreover, much of the dialogue felt forced. To top it off, the resolution, while inevitable, lacked much surprise.
And here comes that dreaded "but." But Williams did way too much expositing, when he could have either shown it or put it into dialogue with far greater effect. For example, "He knew such-and-such." occurred with excessive frequency. Moreover, much of the dialogue felt forced. To top it off, the resolution, while inevitable, lacked much surprise.
September 18, 2013
This book was given through me free to review
The Darkness After by Scott B, Williams
The story Scott tells is so believable it is scary to think about. Very good job in showing what could and problem-able happen if a solar flare strong enough to
put the world in darkness and with no cells, phone, lights. car expect very old ones without high tech equipment.
Mitch had taken his parents to the air port before it hit and he could only hope the landed instead of crashing. Mitch needs to get back home in Mississippi to
his sister Lisa who neighbors were watching. Traveling on foot he encountered April trying to get to her daughter Kimberly who was with her boyfriend. They
join forces and encounter bad people wanting to kill or steal what little they have. Luck Mitch knows the back trails to avoid most and when he gets to his home
Lisa is missing and he must go find her but had promised April to help her get home. April agrees to help Mitch since he saved her life. Nothing is easy but all
they have is hope that Mitch's sister and Kimberly is found safe.
The Darkness After by Scott B, Williams
The story Scott tells is so believable it is scary to think about. Very good job in showing what could and problem-able happen if a solar flare strong enough to
put the world in darkness and with no cells, phone, lights. car expect very old ones without high tech equipment.
Mitch had taken his parents to the air port before it hit and he could only hope the landed instead of crashing. Mitch needs to get back home in Mississippi to
his sister Lisa who neighbors were watching. Traveling on foot he encountered April trying to get to her daughter Kimberly who was with her boyfriend. They
join forces and encounter bad people wanting to kill or steal what little they have. Luck Mitch knows the back trails to avoid most and when he gets to his home
Lisa is missing and he must go find her but had promised April to help her get home. April agrees to help Mitch since he saved her life. Nothing is easy but all
they have is hope that Mitch's sister and Kimberly is found safe.
June 27, 2018
I'm loving this series!
Author is very talented, presents a real-life example of what life would be like after a solar flare or other similar disaster. Excellent series and I can't wait to keep reading!
Author is very talented, presents a real-life example of what life would be like after a solar flare or other similar disaster. Excellent series and I can't wait to keep reading!
March 1, 2022
Like many of these Amazon b"books " it's not really a book:.
Not great and not terrible, just same old same old. Away from home when disaster strikes.
Biggest issue is it's not a book. It's just a group of chapters with an abrupt end like so many Kindle books.
Not great and not terrible, just same old same old. Away from home when disaster strikes.
Biggest issue is it's not a book. It's just a group of chapters with an abrupt end like so many Kindle books.
March 17, 2020
Review
Interesting YA book. I don’t usually like YA books but this one holds my interest. I recommend it to any age.
Interesting YA book. I don’t usually like YA books but this one holds my interest. I recommend it to any age.
July 15, 2022
i need closure!! Where is the next book! ?
January 1, 2024
Loved this dystopian book! It is a great read for anyone who loves books about living if things start failing with electronics!
October 24, 2024
Skip it.
Terrible dialogue. No world building. Naive characters. This is written like a first draft that never saw an editor to clean up the story. You can find better.
Terrible dialogue. No world building. Naive characters. This is written like a first draft that never saw an editor to clean up the story. You can find better.
April 2, 2025
2.5/3⭐️
February 23, 2014
This book had the potential for a 5-star rating. It was an interesting story, told with vivid descriptions, plenty of action and drama, and likable protagonists against very hate-able antagonists. However, I took away 1 star for the ending---seriously..... That was it?! I will give a star back if there's a sequel, but I am not holding my breath. I took away another star for the HUGE number of grammatical errors! When I find one in a book, I laugh. A couple of them is annoying and careless. When there are so many that I lose count... That means someone isn't qualified to do their job. It's embarrassing and unacceptable.
All that aside, I did enjoy the story. The story begins in New Orleans, and there has been an event that has wiped out the power across the whole city, and likely most of the country. Things are getting worse with each passing day as reality and martial law set in, bringing out the good in some people--resilience and the will to survive--and the savage opportunistic side of others. This is the world April and Mitch find themselves in, and it is the world that eventually has them meet through traumatic events and bond together as they travel to find their families in Mississippi.
I found Mitch and April to be interesting, real characters, and the difficulties they encounter on their journey keep the plot moving and interesting, while also providing insight into human nature in a post-apocalyptic environment.
I wish I could have rated the book higher, and I wish the story hadn't ended so abruptly.
All that aside, I did enjoy the story. The story begins in New Orleans, and there has been an event that has wiped out the power across the whole city, and likely most of the country. Things are getting worse with each passing day as reality and martial law set in, bringing out the good in some people--resilience and the will to survive--and the savage opportunistic side of others. This is the world April and Mitch find themselves in, and it is the world that eventually has them meet through traumatic events and bond together as they travel to find their families in Mississippi.
I found Mitch and April to be interesting, real characters, and the difficulties they encounter on their journey keep the plot moving and interesting, while also providing insight into human nature in a post-apocalyptic environment.
I wish I could have rated the book higher, and I wish the story hadn't ended so abruptly.
September 30, 2013
I received this book from Goodreads.
The Darkness after is a quick read. If I were to judge this book by its supposed genre of Apocalypse and nothing else, I would give it a flat 0. There isn't much action and most of the book is more of what the charters are thinks then doing or talking.
So, why did I give it three stars then? The answer is simple. A different mind set.
I am thrilled when something I've never thought of before that is so blatantly obvious that you wounder; why I didn't think of that. Fallow the pipe lines. To me that is genius for an Apocalypse. Why the hell didn't I ever think of that myself?! Its out of the way, anyone can cut through forests, farms, lakes and nobody would likely be fallowing it but you.
It was interesting to read of the compared abilities of a dependent city dweller and a sufficient outdoors man.
I'd like to describe more but I can't seem to do that without spoilers. ^-^
The Darkness after is a quick read. If I were to judge this book by its supposed genre of Apocalypse and nothing else, I would give it a flat 0. There isn't much action and most of the book is more of what the charters are thinks then doing or talking.
So, why did I give it three stars then? The answer is simple. A different mind set.
I am thrilled when something I've never thought of before that is so blatantly obvious that you wounder; why I didn't think of that. Fallow the pipe lines. To me that is genius for an Apocalypse. Why the hell didn't I ever think of that myself?! Its out of the way, anyone can cut through forests, farms, lakes and nobody would likely be fallowing it but you.
It was interesting to read of the compared abilities of a dependent city dweller and a sufficient outdoors man.
I'd like to describe more but I can't seem to do that without spoilers. ^-^
September 16, 2013
The Darkness After
Scott B. Williams
This is one of the most amazing books I have read. The author draws you in from the very first page and doesn’t let go until the last sentence. I absolutely could not put the book down. A solar flare knocks out power to the U.S. Nothing works….what do you do? Who do you trust?
Two teenagers, Mitch and April, on separate journeys, are trying to get home to their families in Mississippi from Louisiana. They must make their way on foot with limited supplies while anarchy reigns.
The author really made me take a close look around my world at what would work and what would be lost if this really happened. How prepared are we for any type of disaster? I am anxiously awaiting a sequel for this book!!
This is a Goodreads First Read Giveaway book that I won.
Scott B. Williams
This is one of the most amazing books I have read. The author draws you in from the very first page and doesn’t let go until the last sentence. I absolutely could not put the book down. A solar flare knocks out power to the U.S. Nothing works….what do you do? Who do you trust?
Two teenagers, Mitch and April, on separate journeys, are trying to get home to their families in Mississippi from Louisiana. They must make their way on foot with limited supplies while anarchy reigns.
The author really made me take a close look around my world at what would work and what would be lost if this really happened. How prepared are we for any type of disaster? I am anxiously awaiting a sequel for this book!!
This is a Goodreads First Read Giveaway book that I won.
August 21, 2013
Really bad. I read The Pulse and thought it was average. This being a second book with different characters but the same event, I thought it would be better. To me it seems like this book was written first. I skinned through this book and I don't think I missed anything. The character, Mitch is 16 years old but the author gives him a voice that seemed more like a 60 year old man. It had red necks and guns and bows and arrows. Maybe 15 year old boys would like this. It is trash and won't look for this author again
April 1, 2016
Wow!!!
Finally, a truly realistic post apocalypse tale which does not have a bunch of whiny characters in it. I actually got to read a book where I did not end up grinding my teeth or feeling nothing but abject frustration at the words and deeds of weak people who just wander around, totally lost, and unable to step up to the plate and what would really need to be done to survive, no matter what it took. Thank you, Mr. Williams, for a truly enjoyable read.
Finally, a truly realistic post apocalypse tale which does not have a bunch of whiny characters in it. I actually got to read a book where I did not end up grinding my teeth or feeling nothing but abject frustration at the words and deeds of weak people who just wander around, totally lost, and unable to step up to the plate and what would really need to be done to survive, no matter what it took. Thank you, Mr. Williams, for a truly enjoyable read.
September 6, 2013
If I hadn't been required to read this for a review I would not have finished it. Everything about The Darkness After is a giant cliche. Characters are flat, dialogue is beyond terrible and is horribly repetitive. All of the adventures are predictable for the genre. Do not waste your time on this book, there are so many books in the apocalypse genre that are WAY better than this one.
May 28, 2014
Good book but the crazy-quick ending?
This was a really good book which went into great depth about what would happen if there was an EMP blast from a solar flare. This only problem I had was the ultra fast ending. It wrapped up way too quickly. If Williams had rewritten the ending I would have given it a 4.
This was a really good book which went into great depth about what would happen if there was an EMP blast from a solar flare. This only problem I had was the ultra fast ending. It wrapped up way too quickly. If Williams had rewritten the ending I would have given it a 4.
May 10, 2015
Ok. It didn't have the "wow" I was hoping for.
November 1, 2013
I won/received this book through Goodreads.
Very quick read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think that there could have been more to it and it could have been better developed, but still pretty good.
Very quick read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think that there could have been more to it and it could have been better developed, but still pretty good.
September 29, 2013
Good book with an ending that was way too short and anti climactic
January 20, 2014
Good SHTF book easy read
May 30, 2014
I enjoyed the book right up until the every sudden ending. I feel the author could have added a little more story to leave the reader with more than they got.
November 4, 2014
Not a bad book, but the author needs to work on developing character. I did not particularly care fore either teen. Very little character development in what could have been a decent book.
October 3, 2014
In this book " The Darkness After" is a fast pacing, a bit of a thrill and and amazing.
November 3, 2014
This is the worst book I have read in a long time. Shallow, static characters, predictable plot, ridiculously unrealistic dialogue... Cliché dystopia in a nutshell.
October 3, 2015
Awesome storytelling!
This book was a quick read and kept me entertained the entire time. Can't wait to read the next book in the series.
This book was a quick read and kept me entertained the entire time. Can't wait to read the next book in the series.
May 30, 2015
Definitely something for the Juvenile Shelf. More of a "Why We Prep" book. Sometimes very simplistic, but on the whole a decent first time book for the young prepper looking for thoughts and ideas.
April 14, 2016
loved this series
October 14, 2016
Good story
I like his writing style and the detail. He makes the story believable. Looking forward to the next book. Recommend this for everyone.
I like his writing style and the detail. He makes the story believable. Looking forward to the next book. Recommend this for everyone.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews