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Blackout #1

36 Hours

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WHAT WOULD YOU DO
if a voice was screaming in your head - GET READY . . .
for a catastrophic event of epic proportions . . .
with no idea where to start . . .
or how, or when?

This is a true story, it just hasn't happened yet.

A new dystopian, post-apocalyptic fiction series from six-time best-selling author Bobby Akart (The Boston Brahmin series and the Prepping for Tomorrow series).

The characters depicted in The Blackout Series are fictional. The events, however, are based upon fact.

This is not the story of preppers with stockpiles of food, weapons, and a hidden bunker. This is the story of Colton Ryman, his stay-at-home wife, Madison, and their teenage daughter, Alex. In 36 Hours, the Ryman family and the rest of the world will be thrust into the darkness of a post-apocalyptic world.

A catastrophic solar flare, an EMP--a threat from above to America's soft underbelly below--is hurtling toward our planet.

The Rymans have never heard of preppers and have no concept of what prepping entails. But they're learning, while they run out of time. Their faith will be tested, their freedom will be threatened, but their family will survive.

An EMP, naturally generated from our sun in the form of a solar flare, has happened before, and it will happen again, in only 36 Hours.

This is a story about how our sun, the planet's source of life, can also devastate our modern world. It's a story about panic, chaos, and the final straws that shattered an already thin veneer of civility. It is a warning to us all ...

never underestimate the depravity of man.

What would you do when the clock strikes zero?

Midnight is forever.

Note: This book does not contain strong language. It is intended to entertain and inform audiences of all ages, including teen and young adults. Although some scenes depict the realistic threat our nation faces from a devastating solar flare, and the societal collapse which will result in the aftermath, it does not contain graphic scenes typical of other books in the post-apocalyptic genre.

Audiobook

First published July 23, 2016

991 people are currently reading
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About the author

Bobby Akart

99 books406 followers
International bestselling author, Bobby Akart, one of America's favorite storytellers, delivers up-all-night thrillers to readers in 245 countries and territories worldwide. He's achieved Amazon Top 5 Author status in both fiction and non-fiction genres, Amazon Kindle All Star and Top 50 Amazon Author (#35) and Top 25 Best Selling Book on Amazon Charts (Yellowstone #25).

"He's right up there with James Patterson, David Baldacci, Brad Thor and others that write thrillers. To me he actually surpasses them.”

He has written more than 80 novels in the disaster, survival, medical and political thriller genres.

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5 stars
755 (49%)
4 stars
476 (31%)
3 stars
203 (13%)
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60 (3%)
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30 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
Profile Image for B Kevin.
452 reviews6 followers
January 10, 2024
Right-wing christian prepper porn"

Prepare to be bombarded with right wing propaganda as the world ends. It is not even a complete story, not that I have any intention of subjecting myself to any more of this. Now I need to shower!
Profile Image for Byron.
73 reviews1 follower
June 15, 2017
This book was OK but I thought the proselytizing became heavy. I did order Book #2 (Zero Hour) to give myself another opportunity to appreciate Akart's work.

I started 36 Hours based on its premise "What would non-preppers do facing TEOTHWAWKI". I see myself falling into that category and felt Akart's vision might be enlightening. And to a certain extent I believe Akart accomplished that goal.

However, I felt bombarded with conservative pulpit pounding. While I agree with virtually all of Akart's conservative views I felt like a good church-goer sitting through a "fire and brimstone" sermon (no offense intended to any religion). If it is Akart's goal to spur non-preppers like me to action, he is doing a decent job. If it's his intention to convert Bernie Sanders to Ayn Rands' philosophy, I'm afraid his words will fall on deaf ears no matter how noble his cause may be. And it becomes wearing for those of us who do agree to rehash it repeatedly.

So if his rhetoric goes down a few notches and his descriptions of ingenuity in the face of adversity go up in this next work I'll give him more stars. As it is I have to rate this book as so-so.
Profile Image for Landpomeranze (so much to read - so little time).
703 reviews15 followers
April 30, 2017
Bluff package! Beware: the story ends after about two-thirds of the book! The last third is non-fiction information about different kinds of EMPs and several "prepper-lists". The story itself was nothing new and unfortunately very predictable :-( And it stops just when the EMP hits. A note to the author: I wanted to read a fictional story about people trying to survive. If I want to read a non-fiction book I can get one. On my own. I do NOT need sombody else selecting and providing information for me. So yes, I feel cheated somehow. Still, I will give the "second" book of the series a try...
10 reviews
January 5, 2018
What was I thinking, reading this book? It's science fiction for people who hate science.
Profile Image for BookLoversLife.
1,838 reviews9 followers
March 20, 2017
This was so scary because it's something that could happen. The summary above tells exactly what the book is about so I'm going to get straight to my thoughts.

While reading this, all that was going through my head was, if this happened now, I'd be screwed!! Lol. I live in the country, the nearest town isn't that far away but it isn't a massive one. We don't have a mall near us, the nearest being 40 miles away, we don't have a place where you can easily get some of the things needed to survive, plus I wouldn't have the money to go buy all the things needed, so like I said, I'd be screwed!!

But Alex and her family have the resources to get whats needed. Alex is a smart girl and knows that what the media aren't saying about the coming solar storm is just as important as what it is saying. She urges her mother to prepare but both her mum and dad think she is wrong. Yet 36 hours before the impact, they are warned to prepare. Can they pull it together in that time while panic is setting in every where and people are all trying to do the same. How do you prepare in the right way when you have no idea what you need? Can you and your mother do this while your father is hundreds of miles away, trying to get home?

This book reads both like a post apocalyptic book, but also a "what to do just in case" type of book, which I liked. It's also not bogged down with the language and gore of a lot of other books in this genre. There is enough in it to get you to realise exactly what life could be like and how humanity is tested, but it's suitable for younger kids to read.

Anyway, this was a fast paced, educational (you'll see why when you read it) and entertaining read. It really makes you think "what if". What if this happened, what would you do?? As the author says "The characters depicted in The Blackout Series are fictional. The events, however, are based upon fact."

Kevin Pierce was just as good as always. I've said it a few times before, he has a good voice for this type of book. He is always clear and concise and knows how to tell a great story.

*I received a copy of this for review. This in no way affected my thoughts.*
Profile Image for Cynthia Terrones .
193 reviews10 followers
March 18, 2018
SO WORTH RE-READING THE SECOND TIME AROUND.

This book is a re-read, as I did read it awhile back, but didn't leave a review as I should have. So now it's time to set it straight and leave a proper review. My fault entirely and all I can say is, a major mistake on my part, as I'm always in a hurry to move on to the next book, which I'm trying correct. But I will say that this book was So worth re-reading it for the second time. I like most everyone else think of an EMP attack coming in the form of an attack from another country, not from our own solar system. This book is definitely something that should be read, at least as an eye opener. It also shows that because we haven't seen it in our lifetime, we don't think it will happen. Also as in this book, will the people that are meant to protect us, do the same and ignore warnings that could help us survive in the long run? A must read book, if for anything else, as a warning of another place a disaster could come at us from.
Profile Image for Sittingduck.
121 reviews1 follower
January 7, 2019
If you like fox news, and find yourself moaning about "libtards", you'll love this author.
The premise of the book is good, and I found myself wanting to like it, but the constant "conservative" slant is quite off-putting. There's a reason less than 6% of scientists are republicans. They're regressive and pedantic, and should leave it to people with intelligence.
87 reviews
February 24, 2023
Wow!!! One of the best in the EMP genre of books!!

Best of the best!!! Very well written with great scientific explanations of CME's and EMP's. Great, realistic characters that really bring the story to life!! Awesome survival ideas are worked skillfully into the story... I highly recommend this book!!!
549 reviews6 followers
September 4, 2016
WARNING! This story is incomplete! An author should never expect a favorable review from an incomplete story.

This story has great potential. It's a bit predictable and preachy, but the characters are well developed and likable. The scientific descriptions are more than adequate. Kevin Pierce delivers an outstanding performance. But without a complete story, it's impossible to accurately rate it. It is good enough that I hope to have the opportunity to review the rest of the story.

NOTE: I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for this unbiased review.
Profile Image for Val Shaw.
126 reviews3 followers
February 20, 2018
Scary good

I really like this genre and haven't read this series yet. So glad I've found it. Great read, can't wait to read the rest. I really appreciate that there's no bad language or unnecessary violence. As a believer, I also like that God is a part of the story. Who else but He could get use through THEOTWAWKI?
Profile Image for David.
664 reviews4 followers
April 6, 2023
Lights Out! The story counts down the hours until what will be a world wide lights out for all electronics, we focus on one family who tries their best to get ready, with a lot twists.
1 review
January 26, 2022
Decent story line, but too political

Overall story line was okay. A bit predictable, but reasonably well paced. I struggle with stories like these that are overtly political but try to appear as neutral. Conservatives are all good people and liberals are all spineless or morally bankrupt.
Profile Image for M.L. Banner.
Author 46 books159 followers
August 21, 2016
If you only had 36 hours to get yourself prepared for the end of the world, what would you do?

That’s the question prepper and author, Bobby Akart asks readers in 36 Hours, the first book in his new Blackout series. You see, thirty-six hours is the maximum amount of advanced warning each of us would have—if we’re lucky—before the feared and long expected Carrington-Event-sized CME would hit our earth. That is assuming we received these notifications on our phone. After this period—what Akart calls “Zero Hour” (also the name of the 2nd book in his series)—you’re on your own as everything powering the machinery of our economy and society has gone dead, probably for good.

So ask yourself what you would do if you knew this were about to happen?

The book’s main characters, the Ryman family, face this very question. They race against a silent clock, ticking down to Armageddon, to get home while they collect what they need to survive. And unlike most prepper fiction novels, this family has no survival skills or prior knowledge. Consequently, this scenario is much more likely than the know-it-all prepper/Special Ops super human that we've usually come to expect with this genre. This storyline is also much more instructional for the reader. By the end, you’ll know what you’ll need to possess to survive if you were given less than thirty-six hours before, the beginning of the end.

Akart’s science-based descriptions of what’s about to happen and why, is also a fresh twist to most apocalyptic thrillers that have habitually burned up their physics textbooks as the story unfolds. Initially, this style may seem a little plodding, but stick with it. The story quickly grabs you by the short hairs and pulls you in. Soon you’re racing along with the Rymans trying to get home, to get safe, and to prepare for the coming SHTF.

36 Hours is a fast-paced refreshing take on a theme (CME/solar storms taking down the American grid) of which readers can’t seem to get enough. No wonder why it’s the current #1 best-seller in Post-Apocalyptic fiction on Amazon.

This scary-real and necessary read will definitely have you asking yourself, “What would I do?” I highly recommend this book and I plan to read the series (I rarely say that).
Profile Image for Chris.
10 reviews6 followers
June 6, 2017
As an 'if you're interested in being a prepper, here are a few basics' book, 36 Hours is fine and short split between the main narrative and the behind the scenes stories of scientists and politicians. I finished it in one day; starting the Audible version on the drive to a family gathering, and finishing it on the way back and once after I got home.

In a 24ish style, this prepper tale main narrative follows an upper middle class family as their daughter picks up on the authors clues (and her parents don't brush her off as an impressionable teen panicking at the latest thing her teacher brought up, as most probably would have) as the clock ticks down to Zero Hour, when a massive CME will end the world as they know it by destroying the world's power grids. Throw in a few scuffles along the way for each member to test their resolve, a conveniently placed prepper author signing books as once character is passing time at the bookstore, and (literal) the Devine Automotive Rental having the only vehicle another character needs to make a rushed road trip back home to the family, and the majority of the story just comes out so many thin plot devices. And then there was the "Democrats will get us all killed" interpretation of the unnamed female president (hint, she's the wife of a former US President)...

I've read a number of stories that seemed only able to progress by thinly veiled plot devices, but this one took the cake. Had Akart stuck with a family that may have been worried about the news of a possible coming CME and been coached in the basics of prepping by a friend or family member as the clock ticked down, this would have probably been a better story. If one of the members of the family had not made it back home before Zero Hour, it could have been a better story. I liked the majority of the stuff going on in the background, but I never felt the family was ever in any real peril that wouldn't be easily resolved before moving on.
Profile Image for Sabrina.
452 reviews10 followers
July 24, 2016
A perfect book for young and older adults!

When our Sun decides to release its bottled up energy directly towards Earth, no one will ever be the same.

The Ryman family is separated. While Dad works on a business deal, Mom and young Alex are at home....just living a normal life. School and sports are the necessities and everyone just "goes with the flow". But an interesting subject in science class inspires Alex to look deeper...and what she finds is not good. But how do you convince your parents that something so severe is heading towards us? And even if they listen, will Mom and Dad react in time?

When the lights go out, humanity will be tested and survival will be come the new lesson of the day. Just figuring out what to do is always the hardest before any test.... And this might be the ultimate test, for the family and everyone around them.

A great tale! I was hooked from the first page and ended up reading the entire book in one sitting. My son (12 years old) also enjoyed it and has already passed it on to my 10-yr old! The story is exciting and intense, but with no language or graphic content. There's also a lot to learn (scientifically) and it was a great introduction to talks with my boys about being prepared and looking out for our whole family. A wonderful read! I highly recommend it.
Profile Image for S’s Reading World .
304 reviews12 followers
October 28, 2016
I confess--- I really enjoy novels about the apocalypse. Preferably an EMP kind. The threat is more real than zombies or a biological attack in my opinion. It also forces the issue of our dependence on anything electronic.

This book- 1 in a series - is fantastic. It takes a very good writer to entertain a reader whilst simultaneously weaving complicated science throughout the storyline. I love that I was both entertained and educated.

I do not want to spoil the story but the catastrophe is a solar flare creating a natural EMP. The book focuses on preparedness or the lack thereof, and most importantly the degradation of society during a panic.

Great fast moving plot.

And I respect that the author used a practicing Christian family as his characters because in chaos, moral questions will be raised, especially by those who aim to obey the law of both God and man. Already reading the second book!
Profile Image for Michelle Burns.
80 reviews4 followers
June 27, 2017
like a blueprint for peppers and those who believe that some of humanity will remain when the "end" finally happens. This book starts slow with lots of scientific jargon, but this guy knows his stuff. Everyone needs to read it, then read it again and take notes, then read it and gain and take action and let it all sink in. This is more like real life than any other dystopia book I've read. Right along the lines of Alas Babylon. It's a classic.
Profile Image for Pam Shelton-Anderson.
1,964 reviews67 followers
December 4, 2023
The whole of this first book is about how society reacts with an impending solar event. There is a lot of science, which I love and which adds to the overall believe-ability of the disaster. I found my own tension and anticipating rising with each page. I enjoyed this a lot and look forward to the next book where the actual event occurs.
Profile Image for Russ Hilton.
23 reviews
July 27, 2016
A home run!!!!

Knocked it out of the ballpark!
I made it last as long as I could. But kept ending up getting lost in the story and reading more / longer than I intended.
Cannot wait for "Zero Hour"!!!!!!!
Profile Image for Cherye Elliott.
3,397 reviews23 followers
July 25, 2016
Wow

What's the irony of this book coming out while temps in East Tennessee are in the high 90's? The sun blazing hot.

I was on pins and needles reading this book.....going from one intense situation to another. Now, I am going to wait impatiently for 36 hours for book 2.
8 reviews
January 31, 2018
A good, fun read that helps the reader to see how the possibility of a solar flare can be prepared for. The characters are believable, and the action scenes are exciting. I applaud the author for helping the public to see the need for preparation and how to execute.
Profile Image for Bob Platypire.
240 reviews7 followers
November 3, 2016
*I received a copy of this audio book for an HONEST review*

Okay, I usually talk about the narrator last, but I have to do it first this time. Why? Because, as soon as he started, I thought, "hey, I know that voice!" Looking back through my audible history, I found him! Hello, Mr. Pierce! Nice to hear you again! I love this guy. He has great pacing, puts emphasis just right, and has a perfect voice for this, in my opinion. I think I can officially call myself a fan.

As for the book! I love apocalyptic books, no secret there. And this one really made me think. See, I'm one of those weirdos who will randomly worry about the most random things possible. Making lists and plans is a way of reassuring myself. And this, with things happening in real time instead of after, showing the ladies' struggle to get simple supplies...I was pretty scared for them a time or two lol. I really got into it, great story telling! I dove right into the second as soon as I finished this one.

Overall Bob says: 4 Platypires!
Profile Image for Gaute Hjartåker.
15 reviews2 followers
February 23, 2022
A fascinating insight into the paranoid mind of the right-wing conservative, where the incompetent and evil government is always out to get you, but love of God and enough guns will save you. Breakdown of society is the wet dream of these folks. In such a world, it would be back to survival of the strongest, instead of today’s civilised society, where those pesky smart liberals and scientists hold so much power.
If you're a conservative, this shouldn't be a problem of course. As for me (a libtard), I was still reasonably entertained by this, once I got past the totally different worldview presented here. Akart is a skilled writer, and he does deliver the post-apocalyptic goods... but Station Eleven this aint.
Profile Image for Brandon.
556 reviews37 followers
November 23, 2016
A short, but accurate look at what life would be like prior to a large-scale solar event. 36 Hours tells the tale of a family, split by distance, in the days leading up to a coronal mass ejection. In Akart's typical style, the book is a very realistic portrayal of the thoughts and feelings of people in this perdicament, and the behaviors throughout society as a whole. It is not over-exagerated or over-dramatized for the sake of making for more interesting fiction. The reality of it is in itself its best quality, making it hit that much closer to home rather than the feeling that such things would never happen for real.
3,198 reviews26 followers
January 7, 2019
A BA. SYFY Novel/Solar Storm/Panic by Humans/Preppers Prepared

BA. has. penned the first SYFY Novel in the Blackout Series. The Sun is unpredictable which is the basis of this novel. BA as usual has defined and explained the scientific events as they may or may not occur. If you do not believe this type event could occur then you should try something a little more tame. BE writes in the future present and is not afraid to scare you to death. When you choose to read a BA. novel you will hear a small voice in the back of your mind stating, "Here's BA" Kinda like "Here's Johnny". This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
19 reviews
June 14, 2021
Bobby’s cost me a LOT of sleep time! UNPUTDOWNABLE!!!

This is his forth series I’m starting( just finished Fifth Column/Texas country books). Love all of them. My biggest complaint if I have to chose one is I prefer books about 2x longer than he tends to write and I still want a 5-10 book series. But Mr. Akart is top3 post Apoc writers! I wish his books on the threats this country face were required reading in middle n high schools! And WE THE PROPLE NEED TO HELP SHINE A LIGHT ON THE EMP COMMISSIONS WORK! GOD HELP US ALL IF ITS AN EMP AND SAME WITH A SOLAR FLARE! Although I think I prefer the latter so long as it’s not extinction level! Be happy to go back to 1800s!
Profile Image for Joan.
1,132 reviews7 followers
July 28, 2023
A catastrophic solar flare, an EMP is going to hit Earth and the world will be changed. Colton Ryman is out of town while his wife Madison and daughter Alex are at home when rumours start to leak out. While at school one of Alex's teachers has a lesson about solar flares and the effect. Alex tries to get her Mom to listen about how bad it could become and finally she listens. Madison buys some prepper books, becomes a novice prepper and with the help of Alex starts loading up on supplies, filling the tub and numerous containers with water, gets a generator etc. while waiting for Colton to get home. Too many people don't take the threat seriously, they should have.
Profile Image for Jon Norgrove.
43 reviews
February 23, 2018
This was a very quick and surprisingly good book that not only quickly throws you in the action of impending doom but gets you invested in the characters at the same time. As bleak of a picture this book paints about humanity in times of crisis it does a good job at not pressing to hard or leaning into the "badness" of the way people are acting. I very much enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good apocalypse style book but with a bit of intelligence and a bend towards prepping.
Profile Image for Nancy Silk.
Author 5 books82 followers
November 18, 2018
"Another Great Catastrophic Reality Novel"

This is a story about true events which may happen in our world's coming days or years. It's the story of the Ryman family about to be thrust into a world of darkness. A catastrophic solar flare is heading toward Earth. It will happen in 36 hours. As usual, this is an awesome informational facts novel to engage you. Bobby Akart's novels are always well written and have many researched facts to engage you. His novels are always thought provoking. I really am always held captive by his stories.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews

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