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After the Fall #1

After the Fall: Jason's Tale

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In a world without power, Jason must fight for survival as he heads to the wilds of the Appalachian Mountains. In this story, ably narrated by Gabriel Zacchai, an electromagnetic pulse attack on the United States shuts down all power, communications and transportation. With no food deliveries, and no vehicles working, society begins to unravel. Starvation and death begin to reign and panic leads to violence. Marauding gangs roam the countryside, stealing, killing or worse and cities begin to wall themselves off from the danger outside. As society breaks down, Jason heads to the Appalachian Mountains to avoid the growing anarchy, hoping to wait out the chaos. The gangs threaten but loneliness becomes his biggest enemy as the solitude envelopes him. In a secluded mountain valley he finds a woman, Anne, and her two daughters struggling to survive. They are near starvation when Jason shows up. Violence soon follows him. Survival will mean fighting...and killing. The power hasn't returned, the country is still shattered and Jason and Anne must struggle for a new life in a dangerous world. If you like One Second After and other survival/post-apocalyptic stories, you will enjoy this personal story of trying to survive and thrive after an EMP attack. Gabriel's compelling narration brings this exciting tale to life.

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Published December 9, 2016

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David Nees

24 books53 followers

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5 stars
850 (49%)
4 stars
580 (33%)
3 stars
219 (12%)
2 stars
43 (2%)
1 star
24 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
Profile Image for Willow Brooks.
Author 3 books58 followers
April 26, 2016
I truly enjoyed this book. The plot was real and I could see something like this really happening to the USA.

So America is attacked with an EMP that brings the US to its knees. I mean the only thing running is old motor vehicles. The American way of life is literally thrown back into the nineteenth century where the daily way of life is not easy. You either grow food and hunt for every meal or you die, unless your like one of the gangs who's leader decided it was his job to take over a city by cruel means. When food is scarce the majority of this gang has no problems turning to cannibalism. (Wouldn't want to find myself on Big Jacks bad side).

Jason, the MC knew what had happened from the very beginning. After he had time to come to terms with all an EMP attack meant for society and their way of life, he proceeded to make his way to a safe remote place away from people, cities, and dangerous humans who thought nothing of the lives they took and the women they hurt.

Jason's journey was not easy. He ran into people of every kind. Good people, bad people, People he knew he couldn't help, and people that needed killing. In this story you could feel Jason's desperation and his longing for things the majority of people take for granted every day. Well that all ended the day he came across a shabby little house on a remote farm where a lady named Anne resided with her two children. For me, this is where the story really takes off.

I think this is this authors first book and as far as i'm concerned, I think he did a good job bringing us a new story of survival where the economy has collapsed and the true, whether good or bad, character of men and women shines through. It also shows how the attack may have been on the US, but how attacking the US can have a negative reaction on nations all over the world.

Let me warn you really quick. There is a WTH moment that takes place before this book ends. Don't get outraged and quit. I promise everything turns out well.

David is almost finished with the second book, according to the information given at the end of this first book. There is a nice sample of the next story, too bad it starts with a typo. Just ignore it. I typo all the time when using my phone.
Profile Image for Heather.
160 reviews
May 26, 2016
Should have ended sooner

I probably would have given this book 3 or 4 stars had it ended after the fight with the big gang on the bridge. The relationship with Catherine & Jason was quite unnecessary. It added nothing to the story whatsoever. Neither did the Billy Peeping Tom part. Add in the lack of grammar editing and you get 3 stars
83 reviews1 follower
September 30, 2017
A story told rather than experienced

Some stories are experienced by leading the reader from dialogue to dialogue and event to event. This story felt told instead where you watch most of the development as an outsider. I did not feel emotionally engaged and while keeping I can see how others may like it as a basic book in the genre I am surprised by the overall reviews.
Profile Image for Byron.
73 reviews1 follower
January 29, 2021
I haven't finished this one yet but I like it. I would normally give it three stars because, in my rating system, three stars is "good - recommend" and four stars is "outstanding - must read". Five stars only goes to works on the Olympian strata of authorship as Steinbeck's "Cannery Row". It's illiterate not to read them.

I'm about half way through "Jason's Tale". So far, Nees' writing is very readable and engaging. His editing department is doing a fine job, his story line is believable, his characters reasonably well fleshed out and his word-picture artistry bordering on excellent.

So why hesitation to give it four stars? He could do so much better. I mean to say he's talented but I sense an ability that could take his writing to the next level. There's not quite enough pain, nor anguish, nor deep abiding remorse that gives way to brilliant excitement nor orgasmic love. That is to say, the story is good but a bit too bland. I can see it in his style. Mr. Nees has the ability to wrench your heart from your chest, stomp on it and give it back to you. But he doesn't.

I'm hoping he improves as we go along together on his tale. I'll stay with this one to the end because I hold on to the faith he will prove me wrong. It will still be a good story in any case.
150 reviews1 follower
November 5, 2019
Good story

I enjoyed After the fall. It was a 'can't put it down' type of book that pulled me right into it.
I do think some of the writing could be a little smoother, but for a first book it was very good.
Profile Image for Ahw.
214 reviews3 followers
June 29, 2020
I've read far too many post apocalyptic Amazon Prime books lately. I'm beginning to grow ashamed of the number.
In some ways this was better than the others. It didn't have a "Mary Sue" problem. The characters were interesting and varied and ... they felt human. In their good qualities and their bad ones. There was a section late in the book with several scenes in a row where I thought it would turn weird but it didn't.
The people who disagreed with the protagonist might have been wrong but they were humanly wrong and wrong in different ways and to different degrees (I think I might be critiquing the last book I read a bit here :-)

I liked the story. I liked the people. So this story was better than the others. The editing was a little choppy. Now I can't write a paragraph without a dozen misspellings, some grammar errors, repetition and a few half formed thoughts, but I do notice them in a story I read and I want better.

Again, I *preferred* this story over ... the 4 or 5 others I read in the genre from Amazon Prime. But the action wasn't as "exciting" and there was more "tell" than "show" ... (You know I hate other reviews when they list that. Seems mean or cheap... but it really is a quick way to make a vague complaint clear. )

Overall, this was a better read than the others. I'd give it more than 3 stars but I sure wouldn't give it 4.
Profile Image for Dianne Kushniryk.
9 reviews
May 23, 2018
Good Enough for What it is

Good enough to make me want to read the sequel but only because it is a Kindle Unlimited choice. Doesn't always flow. Sometimes sappy and unrealistic. Characters can be flat and one dimensional. Author sometimes falls into the trap of writing the story in the tone of one of the characters i.e. the wording of the story takes on a hilly billy twang when he writes about Ray & Billy. But all in all not a bad read.
Profile Image for Johnny.
2,155 reviews76 followers
January 2, 2018
No depth

No meat to this story at all. How did this become a best seller?
Sure the surface story is decent, but for a book about surviving after an EMP I expected more on the how to front. Not just I went hunting, on and I gathered some edible plants.
Pass this one by, unless you've read all the good ones out there.
Profile Image for RJ.
2,044 reviews12 followers
February 17, 2017
One of these days several Middle Eastern freighters are going to steam their way towards the United States. Within each of their holds is a container containing a short range ballistic missile carrying a 20 megaton warhead. On a clear night early in the morning multiple missiles will launch like a shot in the dark, detonating in earth’s atmosphere creating massive EMPs across the majority of the North American continent known by its attackers as “The Great Satan”. Terrorist cells implanted and hidden within the United States for years rejoice as the results of their attack is realized and they are set loose upon the civilian population to create additional damage and chaos. One of these days this scenario may come to pass for real. This is Jason’s Tale. As the nukes detonate and the planes begin to fall our protagonist, Jason heads for higher ground. During his journey Jason will come upon a widowed woman, Anne with two teenage daughters, Catherine & Sarah who is alone, frightened, and low on food and supplies. Jason offers his labor, protection and military training in exchange for a place to stay. While extremely cautious Anne agrees and Jason gets to bunk in the barn. The group gets along with one another and eventually Jason and Anne begin a relationship. From here the tale chronicles the fortification of the house, training the women in self-defense and firearms, and introduction to the other homesteads in the valley. The family and the valley are subject to attacks by looters, gangs and the usual mix of ne’er-do-wells that crawl out of the woodwork during a disaster. The story is an intimate study of people, relationships and coping with stress and chaos in the midst of the apocalypse. The characters are well-developed and likable. Gabriel Zacchai did a fine job of narration. I understand there is another book coming “Catherine’s Tale”. I look forward to enjoying it.
Profile Image for Courtney Bassinger.
10 reviews
January 29, 2023
The storyline was good, but the writers voice was weak. Each character has the same linguistic traits as the others. Teenage girls have a very different vernacular than military people-it didn’t come through in this book. I also feel that it could have been much more powerful if it had been written in first person. As is, I didn’t feel connected to the characters. Like I said, the storyline was good. I liked the pace and major events, but there were major plot holes throughout the whole story that made me continually question the motives of the characters and the details of the fictional world-vehicles being a major issue! The sex scene along with the rape victim were painfully obvious that a man wrote it and were truly cringe worthy.

It’s not an all together horrible book, I just feel like the editor really failed him on this one. A little more polish could have really made this a quality story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Mrs LB.
321 reviews15 followers
February 19, 2019
Newbie

Up until a year ago I was getting my books within this genre as audiobooks.That not only limited the amount of books I could find but also how quickly I could get them. I chanced subscribing to a free trial with Kindle unlimited and it has been a game-changer. Not only am I back to reading words rather than listening to them, but I've been able to expand on authors. This was my first introduction to David Nees and I can easily see why his book rated so high.
Jason was likeable for all the right reasons and I thought he paired well with his companions. The evolution from girls to warriors to women was intriguing also. I didn't quite know where the storyline was going to go for a short while, but I'm glad it worked itself out.
Profile Image for Big,Jon.
36 reviews
May 3, 2024
Some realism and some unrealistic

Story need a little more work ,The fine points, Developing the characters much bet better. Obviously This story was meant to continue., So the author should have put more effort Into the characters development
It was obvious he had a weapons Expert helping him but he didn't get it quite right. And using multiple shots To the head and chest to kill somebody who's not armed is close to insane. Bullets are more Valuable than food, And what about picking up the brass ? RELOAD. what about reloading nobody talks about it. reloading why?
I'm surprised his editor didn't pick on some of these obvious glaring mistakes. He Sure ain't near lee child.
14 reviews
April 13, 2019
If you like a good, well written book don't waste your money.

I have no idea how this book has a 4.5 star rating.... none at all. Did they read the same book I did? Maybe the reviewers just don't read very many books, I don't know, but it really doesn't make sense to me. The first half was ok but it quickly spiraled out of control and turned a little bizarre. The sexual situations with the teenage girls was completely unnecessary for the storyline and so was the peeping Tom tangent.

I love a good EOTWAWKI/SHTF story and over the past couple of years I have read a lot of them.... This one ranks almost completely at the bottom of my list of the worst.
10 reviews
December 31, 2020
Not my usual genre but tried to branch out by choosing this. I will say it was masterfully written & very believable for an apocalyptic tale so on that basis alone I gave it 4⭐️. However be warned that it is NOT a Christian book & there is a lot of violence (graphic killings) & sexual scenes. This would not be appropriate for young people & anyone who wants a clean tale. Perhaps the raw treatment of the story would be realistic if an EMP ever occurs. Let’s hope none of us have to live through this kind of scenario . It’s terrifying! If you don’t mind the gore, the survival aspects are believable , and many would find it appealing.
Profile Image for Sue.
3 reviews1 follower
March 1, 2018
Creepy

The first half of the book was mediocre but not too bad. The second half was creepy. I can understand a teenage girl's infatuation with a man who shows up to help protect the family, but then his return attraction and consideration of impregnating her while staying with her mother, was just plain creepy. Thank God that storyline did not play out and the mother put the kibosh on it real quick. I have absolutely no desire to read any further books in this series. Written as though this man has never met a woman.
810 reviews2 followers
September 1, 2020
America is attacked with an EMP. Electricity, telephones, cars, everything stops working. Jason's wife boarded a plane 1 hour before the EMP struck. He knows she did not have time to land. He packs the things he thinks he will need to hike and camp and sets off for the Appalachian Mountains. Along the way he meets dangerous gangs along with nice people. He enters a secluded valley and is taken in by a woman and her two teen aged girls. Interesting story of survival after the world falls apart. Very good!
14 reviews
December 1, 2020
A former Army Sniper who uses a Ruger Mini-14 and doesn't know the difference between a 'clip' and a 'magazine' were just a few of the negligent details in the book. The story itself has some merit but lack of research was honestly the reason I continued to complete the book as I wanted to see what else it was that the author had no apparent knowledge of. I was not disappointed but if you want to take the time to tabulate all the inaccuracies I leave it for you to read yourself with one more Easter egg... raw chicory root is minced, then roasted and brewed into coffee.
8 reviews
December 25, 2020
Good read

While EMP has been written about many times this is still a good read. The author did well with the characters and action. One thing I did NOT like was the explicit sexual encounter. Just one and a couple of innuendos but, nonetheless it really wasn't needed. Nor was the teen super crush. When I read, I like my smutt & apocalypse separate unless it's an apocalyptic romance, then at least I know what I'm in for. With that said, this is a good read and worth your time, just know this story may not be an appropriate read for under 18.
131 reviews
February 22, 2021
It's a beautiful spring

This is a story of the aftermath of an attack on the USA. The author presents the situation in a surprising true to live atmosphere. It is brutal at times but all believable. There are a few main characters that develop into people you become attached to and want to see prosper. The brutal ones seem to be true to the dark nature in the human race. It is amazing how it could happen in a pandemic situation. This is the first book in the series and I will read them all in the order they were written. Thanks for all the entertainment. On to the next one.
3,198 reviews27 followers
April 27, 2019
A DN. SYFY. Adventure Thriller (ATF. - JT1)/EMP/The Fall of the Grid in the USA

DN. has. penned a SYFY. novel about the first take after an apocalyptic world gone made because outsiders attacked the weak and stole from everyone. In this story one man goes on a walkabout to determined what the area he had chosen to live in came under the guns of a very serious gangsters. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
58 reviews
May 22, 2019
Ok I was reading it was mediocre to maybe ..when suddenly nope!

Second chapter in the ( in the army) part of the book where his step daughter ask for his kid and he is like ok...sorry nope ...was doing ok until then the book was half way ok ...but I stopped reading at that point and decided to share with you how disappointed I am. Just fair to begin with and was kinda just thinking maybe on reading the next book now not even finishing this one
Profile Image for Dani Cabrera.
124 reviews7 followers
November 15, 2021
Un poco decepcionada con esta historia. La primera mitad estuvo interesante, con muy buena dinámica, y prometía ser de esas que te agarran y no te sueltan... cosa que cambió a partir de la segunda. Se tornó bastante apresusado, y fueron ocurriendo cosas que se hizo más que evidente que las escribió un hombre, sin mucho conocimiento básico de cómo funciona el cerebro de una mujer hay que decirlo, lo cual resultó en un storyline que además de creepy no le encontré mucho sentido.
28 reviews1 follower
December 28, 2023
Couldn't rate lower

The book has been out for years so there is zero excuse for not fixing major errors. In the chapter 4-5 range after hiding from the bad guys he moves out after dark. The next morning he talks about the people he killed the night before only problems is he didn't kill anyone the night before. Chaper 9 he leaves his friends house and travels all day only to be close enough to see the house with binoculars and run to it within minutes. Don't waste your time
Profile Image for Pam Shelton-Anderson.
1,934 reviews66 followers
October 19, 2017
For the most part I enjoyed this book. The writing was decent with a few grammar and structural errors (such as, out of site instead of out of sight). Lots of action and character growth. The attraction of Catherine to Jason was kind of odd but I guess she viewed her prospects as being very narrow at that point. Not sure if this is part of a series as it left some room for another book.
67 reviews
March 26, 2019
Enjoyable

Good story. Well written, not complex, but I really enjoyed it. I enjoy strong families, and farmers, having grown up on a small self sustaining farm. Read it, you should enjoy it. It's not not all blood and guts, with doom and gloom as many post apocolatic stories are.
Profile Image for Judith Barrett.
Author 70 books50 followers
November 30, 2019
Almost lost me but...

The main character kept having to chamber a round or fill empty magazines before a fight. This is not what I would have expected from an US Army veteran or even a prepared civilian. I was worried the story would continue to have similar distractions but was pleasantly surprised.
Profile Image for Paul Madsen.
497 reviews4 followers
April 2, 2021
Fairly tame post-EMP saga

A young vet finds himself in a world without power. In a vacuum without order. Left on his own he decides to find a secluded area away from the bigger cities. He finds a young woman with two daughters and slowly earns their trust. With other members of the small valley they rebuff a viscous gang of thugs and start to rebuild their lives.
6 reviews
March 2, 2018
Pretty good

This book, like all other emp stories, follows a pattern. I would like to read something new. Overall it was pretty good but I doubt I'll read the rest of the series, they are just to predictable.
Profile Image for Velinda haywood.
78 reviews3 followers
March 1, 2019
Realistically Told

Jason is such a great character and I care what happens to him and his adoptive family. The girls are strong and bad ass little soldiers, can't wait to read the next installment.
2 reviews
May 21, 2019
Great read. Hard to put down

This book kept me riveted. I could not wait to pick up and read each day. Captured both the good and the bad side of humanity after society crumbled. Look forward to Book 2 in the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews

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