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Powerless
Nothing Can Prepare You. . .
It strikes without warning. A massive geomagnetic solar storm that destroys every power grid in the northern hemisphere. North America is without lights, electricity, phones, and navigation systems. In one week, the human race is flung back to the Dark Ages.
Nothing Can Save You. . .
In Boulder, Colorado, weather technicians watch in horror as civilization collapses around them. Planes are falling out of the skies. Cars are dead. Pandemonium and terror grip the Northern Hemisphere. As nuclear reactors across North America face inevitable meltdowns, the U.S. President remains powerless in a heavily guarded White House. From London to Boston to Anchorage, there is no food, no water, no hope. It's every man for himself. . .and it will only get worse.
Survival Is Everything.
Only one man--army veteran Zeke Marshall--is prepared to handle a nightmare like this. But when he tries to reunite with his family in Dallas--across a lawless terrain as deadly as any battlefield--he discovers there are worse things in life than war. And there are terrible and unthinkable things he'll have to do to survive. . .
It strikes without warning. A massive geomagnetic solar storm that destroys every power grid in the northern hemisphere. North America is without lights, electricity, phones, and navigation systems. In one week, the human race is flung back to the Dark Ages.
Nothing Can Save You. . .
In Boulder, Colorado, weather technicians watch in horror as civilization collapses around them. Planes are falling out of the skies. Cars are dead. Pandemonium and terror grip the Northern Hemisphere. As nuclear reactors across North America face inevitable meltdowns, the U.S. President remains powerless in a heavily guarded White House. From London to Boston to Anchorage, there is no food, no water, no hope. It's every man for himself. . .and it will only get worse.
Survival Is Everything.
Only one man--army veteran Zeke Marshall--is prepared to handle a nightmare like this. But when he tries to reunite with his family in Dallas--across a lawless terrain as deadly as any battlefield--he discovers there are worse things in life than war. And there are terrible and unthinkable things he'll have to do to survive. . .
464 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 25, 2015
94 people are currently reading
542 people want to read
About the author
Tim Washburn
9 books73 followersAfter graduating with a Journalism degree from the University of Oklahoma, Tim Washburn spent several years working in the television business. He's worked as a photographer, producer, special projects director, and programming director both in Oklahoma City and Little Rock, Arkansas.
Shortly After the birth of their first child, he and his wife made the decision that Tim would be a stay-at-home dad, while doing some freelance journalism jobs on the side. Tim's been president of the PTA, a soccer coach, a volleyball coach, and a life coach.
Tim knew from a young age that I wanted to write, but it wasn't until several years ago that he turned his focus to writing and founds his passion.
Tim hopes his novel entertains you and that some of that characters may linger long after the book is finished .
Shortly After the birth of their first child, he and his wife made the decision that Tim would be a stay-at-home dad, while doing some freelance journalism jobs on the side. Tim's been president of the PTA, a soccer coach, a volleyball coach, and a life coach.
Tim knew from a young age that I wanted to write, but it wasn't until several years ago that he turned his focus to writing and founds his passion.
Tim hopes his novel entertains you and that some of that characters may linger long after the book is finished .
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
October 25, 2018
A massive solar flare kills all electronics on earth. As civilization quickly collapses, one survivalist was ready. He braves bandits and assorted other obstacles to find his family.
Not bad, but not one of the best of the genre.
Not bad, but not one of the best of the genre.
December 2, 2015
I won this book in a giveaway from the publisher.
This was our Thanksgiving Day read. The husband and I (Ok, mainly the husband) read this book aloud to each other all day. We started in the afternoon and finished at 2 am. Success!!
Confession time: I am such a sucker for bad disaster movies. Make that terrible disaster movies. The worse, the better. Remember The Day After Tomorrow? Yeah, that movie is my jam. What’s a better T-Day read than a giant earth changing disaster book??
This book is about a solar coronal mass ejection. When describing the premise of the book to the husband I said, “Some big kind of solar flare creates a disaster.” The husband replied, “Oh, like the Carrington event.” Apparently, that’s a real thing. Yeah. He may know stuff about science and space and politics, but I can achieve perfect winged liquid eyeliner lines in under thirty seconds and play an E-chord on the ukulele. We all have our areas of expertise. ;-)
Aaaannnnyywaaaay, I really like how each chapter is just a short vignette. The constantly changing stories and points of views really works when reading the book aloud. It definitely keeps the story moving forward at a nice pace. This is probably my favorite thing about the book. Very Dumas-esque.
The story follows two weather technicians in Boulder, CO, one of the technician’s parents in NY, a family in OK/Dallas, and the President in DC. There’s also some stupid Iran invading Israel sub-plot that I could have 100% done without.
I was definitely hoping for more widespread stories of survival. As it is, the stories are pretty limited. But, because there are so few stories, it’s easier to remain interested in the survival of the people.
The book is divided up into three sections: pre-disaster, during the disaster, and three years after the disaster. The issue is that each section decreases in length. That means there is more of the book devoted to pre-disaster than to during the disaster. The three years after the disaster section is no more than an epilogue. Half of the book is pre-disaster.
That’s just too much for me. I want the bulk of my disaster book to actually BE about the disaster. I want the survival. I want the struggle. I want every gruesome detail about cannibalism. Unlike Jamestown, there were no cannibals in this story. There’s also no cannibalism in the British Navy and by none, I mean there’s a certain amount.
This was our Thanksgiving Day read. The husband and I (Ok, mainly the husband) read this book aloud to each other all day. We started in the afternoon and finished at 2 am. Success!!
Confession time: I am such a sucker for bad disaster movies. Make that terrible disaster movies. The worse, the better. Remember The Day After Tomorrow? Yeah, that movie is my jam. What’s a better T-Day read than a giant earth changing disaster book??
This book is about a solar coronal mass ejection. When describing the premise of the book to the husband I said, “Some big kind of solar flare creates a disaster.” The husband replied, “Oh, like the Carrington event.” Apparently, that’s a real thing. Yeah. He may know stuff about science and space and politics, but I can achieve perfect winged liquid eyeliner lines in under thirty seconds and play an E-chord on the ukulele. We all have our areas of expertise. ;-)
Aaaannnnyywaaaay, I really like how each chapter is just a short vignette. The constantly changing stories and points of views really works when reading the book aloud. It definitely keeps the story moving forward at a nice pace. This is probably my favorite thing about the book. Very Dumas-esque.
The story follows two weather technicians in Boulder, CO, one of the technician’s parents in NY, a family in OK/Dallas, and the President in DC. There’s also some stupid Iran invading Israel sub-plot that I could have 100% done without.
I was definitely hoping for more widespread stories of survival. As it is, the stories are pretty limited. But, because there are so few stories, it’s easier to remain interested in the survival of the people.
The book is divided up into three sections: pre-disaster, during the disaster, and three years after the disaster. The issue is that each section decreases in length. That means there is more of the book devoted to pre-disaster than to during the disaster. The three years after the disaster section is no more than an epilogue. Half of the book is pre-disaster.
That’s just too much for me. I want the bulk of my disaster book to actually BE about the disaster. I want the survival. I want the struggle. I want every gruesome detail about cannibalism. Unlike Jamestown, there were no cannibals in this story. There’s also no cannibalism in the British Navy and by none, I mean there’s a certain amount.
October 11, 2015
It has been a very long time since I have read a thriller that scared me so much. That is one reason I believe everyone should read it. I enjoyed reading this book so much that I read it straight through. I couldn't put it down.
This book will make you think about how much our society is so dependent on electricity in our everyday lives. We get up everyday taking for granted the world around us. Everyone gets out of bed, takes a shower,eats breakfast,watches some news on a TV, checks their cell phones and computers for emails from loved ones or work. What would happen if one day you got up and you weren't able to do any of these normal everyday things? Would you be prepared or would you be lost and helpless?
This book takes you through the lives of different people from scientists to the everyday joe's living in rural America. It shows how each of them is able to or not able to live in a world turned upside down when we no longer have electricity. I loved how the author gave us all of these different story lines and the different struggles and triumphs of our society as a whole including how our government would deal with the situation.
I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
This book will make you think about how much our society is so dependent on electricity in our everyday lives. We get up everyday taking for granted the world around us. Everyone gets out of bed, takes a shower,eats breakfast,watches some news on a TV, checks their cell phones and computers for emails from loved ones or work. What would happen if one day you got up and you weren't able to do any of these normal everyday things? Would you be prepared or would you be lost and helpless?
This book takes you through the lives of different people from scientists to the everyday joe's living in rural America. It shows how each of them is able to or not able to live in a world turned upside down when we no longer have electricity. I loved how the author gave us all of these different story lines and the different struggles and triumphs of our society as a whole including how our government would deal with the situation.
I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
October 28, 2015
Review: POWERLESS by Tim Washburn
I collect stories about EMP's and power grid/infrastructure failure, because that is a very real possibility. If not by an electromagnetic pulse weapon wielded by a hostile foreign power with a bad attitude, then due to Solar flares or the Sun's coronal mass ejections--it can happen, and the consequences would be catastrophic. You need only read Tim Washburn' s excellent and terrifyingly vivid POWERLESS to find out exactly how tremendous. POWERLESS frightened me; it's a thriller, yes; powerful in family drama, agreed. But foundationally, POWERLESS is realistic, bringing-it-home Horror.
I collect stories about EMP's and power grid/infrastructure failure, because that is a very real possibility. If not by an electromagnetic pulse weapon wielded by a hostile foreign power with a bad attitude, then due to Solar flares or the Sun's coronal mass ejections--it can happen, and the consequences would be catastrophic. You need only read Tim Washburn' s excellent and terrifyingly vivid POWERLESS to find out exactly how tremendous. POWERLESS frightened me; it's a thriller, yes; powerful in family drama, agreed. But foundationally, POWERLESS is realistic, bringing-it-home Horror.
August 8, 2017
Powerless wasn't anything spectacular as far as grid-down type books go, but it wasn't bad, either. The fact it was written in present tense was a little awkward, but other than that it was well-written. Nothing really unexpected happened throughout the book, it was pretty predictable. Nonetheless, it kind of worked out the way you'd hope it would, so it's hard to get upset about it. I debated giving it three stars, but, unlike many stories it wasn't entirely unrealistic and the characters weren't constantly annoying me, so... four stars.
July 18, 2023
Second book Iv read from Tim Washburn and I can officially say I am a fan! This I believe was his very first release and in my opinion the best Iv read so far. I’d say this is a must read!
May 9, 2016
Before I read this book I never would have thought of a widespread power outage as a disaster scenario. But in Powerless a massive geomagnetic solar storm wipes out power and brings the United States and most of the world to its knees in a matter of hours.
Tim Washburn gives us the impact of this disaster from many points of view including the perspective of rich and powerful folks like the president, city dwellers who are ill-equipped to survive without cell phones, grocery stores and water, and from the perspective of country dwellers whose knowledge of things like hunting and guns gives them a leg up on survival. But even in rural America there is the ever present threat of desperate people who will do anything to survive. My favorite character was Zeke, a veteran, who lives in rural Oklahoma. Before the disaster he made beautiful polished wooden tables, and was struggling with grief over his late wife. This disaster both tests his survival skills and helps him to move forward from his loss. Powerless was not only a page-turning compelling novel, I also learned a lot about how much modern life depends on things that could vanish in an instant. A frightening and fascinating read!
Tim Washburn gives us the impact of this disaster from many points of view including the perspective of rich and powerful folks like the president, city dwellers who are ill-equipped to survive without cell phones, grocery stores and water, and from the perspective of country dwellers whose knowledge of things like hunting and guns gives them a leg up on survival. But even in rural America there is the ever present threat of desperate people who will do anything to survive. My favorite character was Zeke, a veteran, who lives in rural Oklahoma. Before the disaster he made beautiful polished wooden tables, and was struggling with grief over his late wife. This disaster both tests his survival skills and helps him to move forward from his loss. Powerless was not only a page-turning compelling novel, I also learned a lot about how much modern life depends on things that could vanish in an instant. A frightening and fascinating read!
August 17, 2021
It was okay...the politics and politicians were pretty silly, but it was very readable. I wish that there had been more distinction between the characters, as sometimes I'd have to go back and remember who was who. Most of the same "types" were almost indistinguishable from each other.
But a fun read overall.
But a fun read overall.
October 12, 2015
An edge of your seat thrill ride! You will be powerless in being able to put this book down from page one.
I was given an advance copy by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was given an advance copy by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 4, 2017
This was an exciting story that me turning the pages although I found the writing a bit stilted and lacking depth.
January 7, 2016
When I saw the title of this book and what it was about, I immediately purchased it so I could get a clear picture of what life would be like if Earth was hit with a massive Coronal Mass Ejections (CME). In moments this book was scaring the shit out of me.
Powerless, by Tim Washburn, did not disappoint. It's a very realistic depiction of what it would look like if the sun spit out a massive solar storm with CMEs that would knock out our satellites, transformers and electrical grid system. The entire Northern Hemisphere gets hit and within a very short period of time, life as we know it changes.
I've done a some reading on the subject and virtually every horrific event I've come across is mentioned by Washburn in Powerless. In a nutshell, this is what will happen.
* This massive solar storm will take place some day. It is what the sun does. It may not happen in our lifetime, but we know that it’s not science fiction. It merely comes down to how well mankind prepares for the situation. It has already happened in 1859, (The Carrington Event) and it happened in 1989 in Quebec where people lost power for 9 hours.
The Earth protects us with it’s own magnetic field, the magnetosphere. During a strong solar storm, the blast strips part of the Earth’s magnetic field back, compressing it, leaving very little remaining shield to protect us.
* The SOHO ACE satellite with a chronograph on board has telescopes that monitor the sun’s atmosphere. SOHO sees CMEs lifting off the sun, heading towards Earth and monitors the solar wind; magnetic field strength and magnetic orientation which are essential in predicting the strength of impact…but, it ACE only designed for research and is soon reaching the end of it’s life.
* Despite the size of the storm, there’s no way to know if it’s damaging until we know the storm’s polarity. Like a magnet, the storm has a North or Southward polarity. The ACE satellite can tell which way it’s oriented. Until the storm hits ACE, there’s no way of knowing the potential damage of a solar storm. If the field is Southward, that is considered bad.
* The units of measurement of the severity of the storm is in nanoteslas. The storm of 1859 is estimated to be about 200 nanotesla. Anything bigger than that will be a royal shit storm.
* Most CMEs bounce off the magnetosphere. But if they’re big enough they can push through. Remember, the stronger the solar storm, the more compromised our magnetosphere becomes.
* The storm will hit in three stages: not all at once. 1) The first part is the Solar Flare, which moves way ahead of the CME. Moving close to the speed of light, it will take about 8 minutes to hit Earth.
* Jets are in danger as x-rays within the flare can wipe out radio communications as well as knocking out engines while the jets are in flight.
* 2) The Radiation Storm: It is just 8 minutes after the Solar Flare. It causes more serious problems as radiation streams into the upper atmosphere, frying electronics with high energy protons. On the surface of the planet, we are protected by the combined forces of the magnetosphere and atmosphere. But astronauts that are outside the atmosphere and magnetosphere are at risk. They have only a few minutes to get to safety or they will get hit with a high dose of radiation.
* GPS satellites will be hit with the solar radiation, as circuits are overloaded and signals become bent, rendering GPS useless. Though inconvenient for car drivers, it will be lethal for airplane pilots. The solar radiation will wreck havoc up until the CME hits Earth.
* 3 )The CME hits: It's a billion ton electrified gas cloud traveling at over 2,000 miles per second. It's the final stage, carrying a massive solar magnetic field with it. It's basically a solar hammer that impacts the Earth’s magnetic field that will rip apart our electronic grid and destroy transformers, turning them into melted slag. The main problem is there’s no way to determine how fast the CME is traveling. We can’t track the CME, we can only guess.
* In preparation for the storm, emergency planners will attempt to shut down the local electrical grid to keep the electronics from being damaged, causing a deliberate blackout. If the power is not shut down, the worst case scenario is that transformers can blow, which takes months to a couple years to replace even just one.
* Transformers: Shutting down a power station “could” save the transformers attached to it. Normally, power stations send high voltage electricity to transformers that convert it into low voltage electricity for consumers. The US has about 2,000 large transformers throughout the country. They will be the critical vulnerable points during the solar storm.
* Around the world, there are tens of thousand of transformers that are equally at risk. We currently have the capability (not in the US) to create 70 - 100 transformers per year. A power station takes about an hour to shut down.
* Aurora Borealis: The Aurora is normally seen at the North and South poles. During a severe solar storm, the Aurora will be able to be seen all the way down to the equator. It will be visible on the dark side of the Earth as billions and billions of highly charged particles smash into the oxygen and nitrogen atoms of the atmosphere. As the particles collide, they release a burst of undulating light 100 miles high. The further towards the equator the Aurora Borealis can be seen, the larger the solar storm is pummeling the Earth.
* Without intentional blackouts, transformers will blow and power will be lost. Emergency services will not be able to help all the people stranded in elevators.
* The supply of food and water will eventually run out.
* Water and sewage treatment plants will fail, increasing likelihood of diseases, which will then affect the water supply.
* There will be a continuing cycle of deterioration. The population of sick will increase while the ability to provide care will decrease since the hospitals will cease to operate.
* Diseases like typhoid, cholera and hepatitis and dysentery will be quick to return.
* Transformers across the world will blow and burn while back up generators kick into effect (like at hospitals), but only as long as the fuel lasts, which is generally 3 days to a month depending on each location.
* It’s possible that only 200 transformers could be destroyed, but it would still take 2 years to replace them as newly produced transformers will go to the highest bidder. This means it could take up to a decade for the poorest countries to get back up on their feet. Unfortunately, production facilities need power and raw resources to build the damn things; chicken egg scenario.
* After the solar storm: As the blackout continues, the death toll will rise.
If this kind of stuff interests you, then get Powerless. It doesn't disappoint. The only reason why I gave it 3 stars is, technical facts aside, the relationship aspects of the book just seemed like a guy's version of a Harlequin Romance novel. It wasn't bad, it just seemed rather cheap romancy type. But, it wasn't much of a distraction because I specifically bought it to see what type of world Washburn envisioned.
I think Washburn nailed it there.
If you want to read more about CMEs, here are some links for you to chomp on. And oh, I suggest you put together a survival pack, not just for CMEs, but for real world events. If you don't even have a flashlight, extra batteries, extra food and water on hand then you're just begging to be a hapless victim. I'm not a survivalist, and I don't even have my own survival pack, but I am definitely stating on one soon.
- Smithonian: What Damage Caused by Massive Solar Storm
- National Geographic: Solar Flare: What If Biggest Known Sun Storm Hit Today?
- The difference between EMP & CME
- US Dept. of Energy PDF
- How to protect your home from solar storms
- Nasa: Protecting the Power Grid
- FOX New June 2015
- ScienceCasts: Carrington-class CME Narrowly Misses Earth, April 2014
- Nasa: Near Miss: The Solar Superstorm of July 2012
- The solar storm of 2012 that almost sent us back to a post-apocalyptic Stone Age
Powerless, by Tim Washburn, did not disappoint. It's a very realistic depiction of what it would look like if the sun spit out a massive solar storm with CMEs that would knock out our satellites, transformers and electrical grid system. The entire Northern Hemisphere gets hit and within a very short period of time, life as we know it changes.
I've done a some reading on the subject and virtually every horrific event I've come across is mentioned by Washburn in Powerless. In a nutshell, this is what will happen.
* This massive solar storm will take place some day. It is what the sun does. It may not happen in our lifetime, but we know that it’s not science fiction. It merely comes down to how well mankind prepares for the situation. It has already happened in 1859, (The Carrington Event) and it happened in 1989 in Quebec where people lost power for 9 hours.
The Earth protects us with it’s own magnetic field, the magnetosphere. During a strong solar storm, the blast strips part of the Earth’s magnetic field back, compressing it, leaving very little remaining shield to protect us.
* The SOHO ACE satellite with a chronograph on board has telescopes that monitor the sun’s atmosphere. SOHO sees CMEs lifting off the sun, heading towards Earth and monitors the solar wind; magnetic field strength and magnetic orientation which are essential in predicting the strength of impact…but, it ACE only designed for research and is soon reaching the end of it’s life.
* Despite the size of the storm, there’s no way to know if it’s damaging until we know the storm’s polarity. Like a magnet, the storm has a North or Southward polarity. The ACE satellite can tell which way it’s oriented. Until the storm hits ACE, there’s no way of knowing the potential damage of a solar storm. If the field is Southward, that is considered bad.
* The units of measurement of the severity of the storm is in nanoteslas. The storm of 1859 is estimated to be about 200 nanotesla. Anything bigger than that will be a royal shit storm.
* Most CMEs bounce off the magnetosphere. But if they’re big enough they can push through. Remember, the stronger the solar storm, the more compromised our magnetosphere becomes.
* The storm will hit in three stages: not all at once. 1) The first part is the Solar Flare, which moves way ahead of the CME. Moving close to the speed of light, it will take about 8 minutes to hit Earth.
* Jets are in danger as x-rays within the flare can wipe out radio communications as well as knocking out engines while the jets are in flight.
* 2) The Radiation Storm: It is just 8 minutes after the Solar Flare. It causes more serious problems as radiation streams into the upper atmosphere, frying electronics with high energy protons. On the surface of the planet, we are protected by the combined forces of the magnetosphere and atmosphere. But astronauts that are outside the atmosphere and magnetosphere are at risk. They have only a few minutes to get to safety or they will get hit with a high dose of radiation.
* GPS satellites will be hit with the solar radiation, as circuits are overloaded and signals become bent, rendering GPS useless. Though inconvenient for car drivers, it will be lethal for airplane pilots. The solar radiation will wreck havoc up until the CME hits Earth.
* 3 )The CME hits: It's a billion ton electrified gas cloud traveling at over 2,000 miles per second. It's the final stage, carrying a massive solar magnetic field with it. It's basically a solar hammer that impacts the Earth’s magnetic field that will rip apart our electronic grid and destroy transformers, turning them into melted slag. The main problem is there’s no way to determine how fast the CME is traveling. We can’t track the CME, we can only guess.
* In preparation for the storm, emergency planners will attempt to shut down the local electrical grid to keep the electronics from being damaged, causing a deliberate blackout. If the power is not shut down, the worst case scenario is that transformers can blow, which takes months to a couple years to replace even just one.
* Transformers: Shutting down a power station “could” save the transformers attached to it. Normally, power stations send high voltage electricity to transformers that convert it into low voltage electricity for consumers. The US has about 2,000 large transformers throughout the country. They will be the critical vulnerable points during the solar storm.
* Around the world, there are tens of thousand of transformers that are equally at risk. We currently have the capability (not in the US) to create 70 - 100 transformers per year. A power station takes about an hour to shut down.
* Aurora Borealis: The Aurora is normally seen at the North and South poles. During a severe solar storm, the Aurora will be able to be seen all the way down to the equator. It will be visible on the dark side of the Earth as billions and billions of highly charged particles smash into the oxygen and nitrogen atoms of the atmosphere. As the particles collide, they release a burst of undulating light 100 miles high. The further towards the equator the Aurora Borealis can be seen, the larger the solar storm is pummeling the Earth.
* Without intentional blackouts, transformers will blow and power will be lost. Emergency services will not be able to help all the people stranded in elevators.
* The supply of food and water will eventually run out.
* Water and sewage treatment plants will fail, increasing likelihood of diseases, which will then affect the water supply.
* There will be a continuing cycle of deterioration. The population of sick will increase while the ability to provide care will decrease since the hospitals will cease to operate.
* Diseases like typhoid, cholera and hepatitis and dysentery will be quick to return.
* Transformers across the world will blow and burn while back up generators kick into effect (like at hospitals), but only as long as the fuel lasts, which is generally 3 days to a month depending on each location.
* It’s possible that only 200 transformers could be destroyed, but it would still take 2 years to replace them as newly produced transformers will go to the highest bidder. This means it could take up to a decade for the poorest countries to get back up on their feet. Unfortunately, production facilities need power and raw resources to build the damn things; chicken egg scenario.
* After the solar storm: As the blackout continues, the death toll will rise.
If this kind of stuff interests you, then get Powerless. It doesn't disappoint. The only reason why I gave it 3 stars is, technical facts aside, the relationship aspects of the book just seemed like a guy's version of a Harlequin Romance novel. It wasn't bad, it just seemed rather cheap romancy type. But, it wasn't much of a distraction because I specifically bought it to see what type of world Washburn envisioned.
I think Washburn nailed it there.
If you want to read more about CMEs, here are some links for you to chomp on. And oh, I suggest you put together a survival pack, not just for CMEs, but for real world events. If you don't even have a flashlight, extra batteries, extra food and water on hand then you're just begging to be a hapless victim. I'm not a survivalist, and I don't even have my own survival pack, but I am definitely stating on one soon.
- Smithonian: What Damage Caused by Massive Solar Storm
- National Geographic: Solar Flare: What If Biggest Known Sun Storm Hit Today?
- The difference between EMP & CME
- US Dept. of Energy PDF
- How to protect your home from solar storms
- Nasa: Protecting the Power Grid
- FOX New June 2015
- ScienceCasts: Carrington-class CME Narrowly Misses Earth, April 2014
- Nasa: Near Miss: The Solar Superstorm of July 2012
- The solar storm of 2012 that almost sent us back to a post-apocalyptic Stone Age
October 20, 2017
I found this in a dollar store and picked it up for a quick read.
Surprise!.
The book is written by a young man from small town Oklahoma. He does the thing I like best from authors, he writes about what he knows.
The story is interesting, not attempting to cover all possibilities, but sticking to a small number of scenarios. Washburn picks a select group of characters who find themselves in a world without electrical power, not for a few minutes, but for the foreseeable future.
Except for a small few, the characters have no warning and have made no preparation. The exceptions have no time to prepare since they are involved in trying to prevent or mitigate the consequences of a massive power loss.
It isn't a terrorist assault that brings multiple nations to their knees, it is Mother Nature.
A massive solar storm destroys the entire electrical grid in the Northern Hemisphere
and slightly south of the equator. Washburn does not go into detail as to who is and is not affected. The United States, Mexico, Canada and great Britain are sent back, not to the dark ages as the blurb on the cover proclaims, but to the nineteenth century, with a total loss of electricity.
It is an under equipped nineteenth century admittedly. People do not have the tools and conveniences that nineteenth century homes would have been supplied with and there is no way to get them. Homes do not have items such as fireplaces, lanterns, or axes and saws. It is a pretty realistic picture. How many of us have enough supplies to last even a week without Walmart, or Home Depot.
Machines and communications systems, along with the knowledge of the last two centuries are still available, with no power to use them. A limited number of people in Great Britain, Israel, and the United States, among others represented in the book, still have adequate food, water, security and the ability to continue to communicate with each other. The government in Washington D C continues to operate. The President is able to direct some recovery and humanitarian aid to the country and control the Military scattered around the world.
That does not matter at all to the other characters who Washburn brings to life. They have no knowledge of what is going on even a few miles away from their homes. They have to find a way to save themselves and their immediate circle from death by thirst, hunger, or predation.
Washburn has written a story that is believable and stays within closely chosen limits. He is not attempting to make an overreaching study of world events. He creates a few sympathetic characters and tells their story.
His biggest accomplishment is leaving you with the questions,"What would I do if I found myself in a world where the normal sources of supply were gone.? Would I be able to survive and protect my loved ones in a catastrophe that lasted , not a week, but years? What if there was no one from the government or any agency to help me? What if everyone else was in the same shape and some were worse off than I, do I help them or do I take care of my own and let them die? Who can I trust?"
Washburn created characters that I found myself caring about. My favorite was Zeke, who can be described as the major character, "Hero" of the story. There were other's, Ruth, who is his sister, and her husband and children, the two scientists who first discovered the impending storm, and a very sympathetic physician who gives everything he has to save the sick and injured under impossible conditions.
The only "flaw", and it may be one only to me, is the manner in which the people in the story choose to interact with the people outside of their own doors. However the story only covers the period of, approximately, one month. So... I won't elaborate as that is too much of the story for a review.
I read the book in a matter of hours. It was engrossing and easy to read. I think this is a first for the author and I predict he will have more and better stories for us in the future.
Surprise!.
The book is written by a young man from small town Oklahoma. He does the thing I like best from authors, he writes about what he knows.
The story is interesting, not attempting to cover all possibilities, but sticking to a small number of scenarios. Washburn picks a select group of characters who find themselves in a world without electrical power, not for a few minutes, but for the foreseeable future.
Except for a small few, the characters have no warning and have made no preparation. The exceptions have no time to prepare since they are involved in trying to prevent or mitigate the consequences of a massive power loss.
It isn't a terrorist assault that brings multiple nations to their knees, it is Mother Nature.
A massive solar storm destroys the entire electrical grid in the Northern Hemisphere
and slightly south of the equator. Washburn does not go into detail as to who is and is not affected. The United States, Mexico, Canada and great Britain are sent back, not to the dark ages as the blurb on the cover proclaims, but to the nineteenth century, with a total loss of electricity.
It is an under equipped nineteenth century admittedly. People do not have the tools and conveniences that nineteenth century homes would have been supplied with and there is no way to get them. Homes do not have items such as fireplaces, lanterns, or axes and saws. It is a pretty realistic picture. How many of us have enough supplies to last even a week without Walmart, or Home Depot.
Machines and communications systems, along with the knowledge of the last two centuries are still available, with no power to use them. A limited number of people in Great Britain, Israel, and the United States, among others represented in the book, still have adequate food, water, security and the ability to continue to communicate with each other. The government in Washington D C continues to operate. The President is able to direct some recovery and humanitarian aid to the country and control the Military scattered around the world.
That does not matter at all to the other characters who Washburn brings to life. They have no knowledge of what is going on even a few miles away from their homes. They have to find a way to save themselves and their immediate circle from death by thirst, hunger, or predation.
Washburn has written a story that is believable and stays within closely chosen limits. He is not attempting to make an overreaching study of world events. He creates a few sympathetic characters and tells their story.
His biggest accomplishment is leaving you with the questions,"What would I do if I found myself in a world where the normal sources of supply were gone.? Would I be able to survive and protect my loved ones in a catastrophe that lasted , not a week, but years? What if there was no one from the government or any agency to help me? What if everyone else was in the same shape and some were worse off than I, do I help them or do I take care of my own and let them die? Who can I trust?"
Washburn created characters that I found myself caring about. My favorite was Zeke, who can be described as the major character, "Hero" of the story. There were other's, Ruth, who is his sister, and her husband and children, the two scientists who first discovered the impending storm, and a very sympathetic physician who gives everything he has to save the sick and injured under impossible conditions.
The only "flaw", and it may be one only to me, is the manner in which the people in the story choose to interact with the people outside of their own doors. However the story only covers the period of, approximately, one month. So... I won't elaborate as that is too much of the story for a review.
I read the book in a matter of hours. It was engrossing and easy to read. I think this is a first for the author and I predict he will have more and better stories for us in the future.
September 25, 2021
Published in 2015, this is a typical entry in the post-apocalypse survival genre. The descriptions of survival efforts, including road travel, are fairly good. The character presentation is quite limited. The science and pseudoscience explaining the disaster seem reasonable. There are a few negatives. SPOILERS: There are several brief sex scenes, which seems excessive for this genre. There is a whole sub-plot involving a war between Iran and Israel-USA. This seems rather awkward, simplistic, and unrealistic. Adds little to the book. The worst thing is a ridiculous sub-plot involving giant electric transformers. They are supposed to be the key to recover electric power(?), but somehow are only available from South Korea(?). The US president bullies the South Korean president into providing these transformers (free of charge!) to the US under threat of a US embargo on South Korean imports. The US president claims that South Korea will be forced back to the "rice paddy days" without the US importing their products. This claim is idiotic. Five minutes of research shows that in 2015, South Korea is in the top 15 of the world's largest economies. The US imports only 13% of South Korean exports, with China being a much larger trading partner. Not to mention how the apocalypse will affect world trade. The author should know better and do better. Later books by the author show significant improvement, in my opinion.
July 10, 2017
This was a decent, albeit a little trashy, quick read.
An unprecedented coronal mass ejection sends plasma hurtling towards Earth to wreak havoc on the majority of the world's electrical grids. The premise was exciting and I think Washburn did a great job balancing the science talk with layman's terms for people like me who are certainly not experts. Also, I'm a sucker for disaster stories and I appreciated the side storyline of global relations that distinguished this novel from many others.
My only real gripe with this book was the very shallow and superficial female character development. I can't think of a single character who was not almost immediate sexualized by the men around her, except for one department head who was very clearly called out as a lesbian. Even the President of the U.S. during a major, worldwide crisis takes the time for a nooner with his wife and tells her how good her ass looks in her jeans... Maybe it's realistic, but it was annoying to me.
An unprecedented coronal mass ejection sends plasma hurtling towards Earth to wreak havoc on the majority of the world's electrical grids. The premise was exciting and I think Washburn did a great job balancing the science talk with layman's terms for people like me who are certainly not experts. Also, I'm a sucker for disaster stories and I appreciated the side storyline of global relations that distinguished this novel from many others.
My only real gripe with this book was the very shallow and superficial female character development. I can't think of a single character who was not almost immediate sexualized by the men around her, except for one department head who was very clearly called out as a lesbian. Even the President of the U.S. during a major, worldwide crisis takes the time for a nooner with his wife and tells her how good her ass looks in her jeans... Maybe it's realistic, but it was annoying to me.
November 15, 2018
I just discovered Tim Washburn and this fast page turning book feed my twisted love of apocalypse books and movies. Everything about this book from the storyline to the characters to of course referencing my home state, kept me immersed from the beginning to the very last sentence. The story slaps you right in the face with what could very well happen with our reliability on electric devices. Throwing a military conflict in the mix is icing on th cake. A world plunged into darkness quickly finds out what it takes for survival. But unlike other doomsday novels the warning that it was to happen potentially saved many. Life went on and somewhat turned back to some type of normalcy within 3 years. Although much was lost, the preserverence of those left behind give he story a all is not lost feel. Mankind will triumph in all situations.
September 11, 2022
It was readable but unrealistic
The story starts out well and the writing isn't bad. It's not great and is predictable in spots. The ending, however, is absolutely unrealistic. There is no way the world, let alone the country could recover that well in that amount of time.
SPOILERS: For instance, he has the highway department simply towing cars off of roads that haven't been used in three years and has the roads being passable to cars. In three years those roads would be crumbled messes festooned with weeds and even young trees and shrubs. Roads stay passable because of daily usage and maintenance. Also the way he has the large transformers being supplied so quickly is not reasonable. It would take a lot longer than three years.
The story starts out well and the writing isn't bad. It's not great and is predictable in spots. The ending, however, is absolutely unrealistic. There is no way the world, let alone the country could recover that well in that amount of time.
SPOILERS: For instance, he has the highway department simply towing cars off of roads that haven't been used in three years and has the roads being passable to cars. In three years those roads would be crumbled messes festooned with weeds and even young trees and shrubs. Roads stay passable because of daily usage and maintenance. Also the way he has the large transformers being supplied so quickly is not reasonable. It would take a lot longer than three years.
February 11, 2017
I enjoyed this book. I liked the short chapters and how the story bounced back and forth between different characters and storylines. Occasionally I was bothered by the book being written in present tense, but it wasn't overwhelmingly distracting. The entire premise is pretty creepy and makes you wonder just what WOULD happen if the world lost electricity. Although the book only has a few sexual scenarios, there is one fairly explicit sex scene. I only mention it because it seemed out of place with the rest of the writing style and book content.
November 14, 2020
Love the premise, but the book fell flat.
The U.S. President is selfless and flawless. Iran is completely evil. South Korea is 100% selfish, and then roll over and get absolutely nothing for their product, as we cheer on the american president who gets it all done in a 5 minute phone call. The fellow with military training is able to take out anyone with hardly any effort at all. It's all so very shallow and jingoistic. There's a reason some people don't like movies like Independence Day, for the same reasons. This played out like that kind of movie.
The U.S. President is selfless and flawless. Iran is completely evil. South Korea is 100% selfish, and then roll over and get absolutely nothing for their product, as we cheer on the american president who gets it all done in a 5 minute phone call. The fellow with military training is able to take out anyone with hardly any effort at all. It's all so very shallow and jingoistic. There's a reason some people don't like movies like Independence Day, for the same reasons. This played out like that kind of movie.
October 15, 2021
It was... meh. A story about a worldwide power outage due to a massive solar flare resulting in several years of survival without electricity. Took 350 pages to describe one man's trek from rural Oklahoma to Dallas, Texas to retrieve his sister and her family. Okay, there was also a minor international skirmish between Iran (always the bad guys these days) against the U.S. and several middle eastern countries. And, there were a few other characters and their survival stories. But really, this story was rather uneventful. Should of have thrown in a few zombies to make it more interesting.
June 10, 2018
People get really, really hungry and crazy during two weeks without power. And obliterating Iran is somehow a priority during a global power outage.
This is a mediocre book for people who want their fearful stereotypes and paranoias and isolationist survivalist mentalities confirmed. It's basically a Michael Bay movie in book form.
This is a mediocre book for people who want their fearful stereotypes and paranoias and isolationist survivalist mentalities confirmed. It's basically a Michael Bay movie in book form.
November 3, 2016
All electricity goes down in most developed countries. An interesting and engaging take on this "what if" scenario. Very likable characters. Almost 400 pages, but I would have been ok with it being much longer. Or a series. Good book.
March 12, 2018
I got this book for $1 at a dollar general off a highway in rural North Carolina desperate for something to read in the car when my Nook died. My expectations were super low, but it was a good read that could have done without the Iranian crisis imho.
June 4, 2018
A very good book if we were without power. I like the fact that he deals with regular people and their issues all the way up the president of the US. The characters were likeable and the story flowed very easy. Next up is his volcano book.
October 22, 2018
2 1/2 stars, not really a full 3. The book had lots of potential but it just never really got going. Also seemed as though the author couldnt figure out an ending and just rushed through that piece.
February 10, 2021
This is a really good apocalyptic thriller which avoids much of the political bias of the EMP / Solar Flare genre. If you want end of the world scenarios without being bombarded with right-wing prepper propaganda, this is the book for you.
December 2, 2022
Told from several POV's, including the POTUS, the world is hit with a sudden electromagnetic storm from the sun that knocks out power every where, and the stories of some that survived and some that didn't.
February 11, 2024
worth your time to read
When the lights go out it changes almost everything.
Except the good and bad in people.
The battle brings out the best and the worst.
Who wins?
Read the book
When the lights go out it changes almost everything.
Except the good and bad in people.
The battle brings out the best and the worst.
Who wins?
Read the book
August 8, 2025
This was so good. I love how each chapter just changing perspectives and location to eventually all tie in and the ending was quick. The three years later was ideal great book slammed this bad boy in only a few days I couldn’t put er down
August 3, 2018
Fantastic story of survival
Top notch story of survival, hope, courage, love and family. An engaging plot and compelling characters will keep you engaged to the very last page.
Top notch story of survival, hope, courage, love and family. An engaging plot and compelling characters will keep you engaged to the very last page.
August 21, 2018
Well done
Plot line and delivery are great. One of the better post apocalyptic stories I've read. Well worth the time spent reading it.
Plot line and delivery are great. One of the better post apocalyptic stories I've read. Well worth the time spent reading it.
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