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EMP Survival in a Powerless World #35
The Hidden Prepper: EMP Survival in a Powerless World
Civilization has finally reached the breaking point. After an EMP destroys the nation’s power grid, a family’s strength is tested.
An EMP means the end of the world as they know it for a family who fights to survive. When disaster strikes in the form of an EMP, Keith Jameson, and Ted Holder flee to their remote homestead with their families.
An EMP means the end of the world as they know it for a family who fights to survive. When disaster strikes in the form of an EMP, Keith Jameson, and Ted Holder flee to their remote homestead with their families.
- GenresDystopia
306 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 11, 2022
317 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 5, 2022
~Disclaimer: I received a free audiobook copy of this book. ~
I don’t think I’m the target audience for this book given the fact that I’m a millennial. A bit older than the “We’re the social media generation; we grew up with phones and tablets in our hands from the time we could walk.” (pg 113) group, but not by much. The description of this generation in the book is: “They sure as hell don’t know how to fix anything—except maybe kids who grew up poor, like me—and while they know how to do pretty much anything online, on a computer, they can’t even begin to wrap their heads around something as simple as, I don’t know, changing a bicycle tire or something. And now they have to try to survive in a world in which not only all tech is dead, but even basic stuff like electricity, cars, and running water are all things of the past. It’s just not going to happen.”. (pg 113) This book has a rather insulting take on how the younger generation would fare in an disaster situation.
There is a heavy focus on guns and brawn. When the girls are deemed to have toughened up it's because “ ...if I just yelled ‘hello’ from the darkness, I think those two girls would have pumped me full of lead!” (pg 164). Because obviously the correct response to other survivors is to kill them on sight, no questions asked. Survival after a bad situation shouldn’t be I’ll get mine and I’ll keep it with violence.
In actual survival situations, altruism is common and that sheer unadulterated panic isn’t actually the human response. The whole image of everyone else panicking while our group keeps a cool and collected head and survives is not reality. It is a rather dismissive take on society and we have years of disaster data to draw on (even if it isn’t EMP data, but plenty of disasters result in loss of communication and the electrical grid). Sure there will always be bad actors, but this book paints the bad guys as BAD GUYS that it feels very heavy handed and uninteresting. The book goes with the bad guys rape and sexually assault women trope. It is tiresome and overdone. And as a woman it getting so much focus in a story made me want to drop it. I just want to see more nuanced characters that don’t feel like walking tropes.
The cast we follow is VERY quick to accept that this EMP situation is nationwide and actually happening (when it easily could be regional especially early on). They also have way more skills than the average person and are preppers who are knowledgeable about EMPs.The dads terminal diagnosis could have been interesting, but it isn’t really fleshed out. I would have liked more time to be spent on his thought process throughout the book. One of the reasons I wanted to read this was because the idea of someone with a terminal illness fighting for his family seemed interesting. It just ends up feeling like a lost opportunity. The two women in the group find themselves multiple times in situations where they are threatened with rape and have to be rescued. Again trite, overdone and boring. It doesn’t add tension it just makes me tired.
Personally, I prefer EMP fiction that focuses on group dynamics and a cast of characters with a variety of skills and opinions. I find it more interesting to read about bringing people with different insights into the group: architects, nurses, or even hobby gardeners. The skills needed after a disaster which is long term are varied. You need people who can cook, make clothes, heal people, have administrative skills, have communication/negotiation skills and can grow food among many others. Books are more interesting when there is variety.
I don’t think I’m the target audience for this book given the fact that I’m a millennial. A bit older than the “We’re the social media generation; we grew up with phones and tablets in our hands from the time we could walk.” (pg 113) group, but not by much. The description of this generation in the book is: “They sure as hell don’t know how to fix anything—except maybe kids who grew up poor, like me—and while they know how to do pretty much anything online, on a computer, they can’t even begin to wrap their heads around something as simple as, I don’t know, changing a bicycle tire or something. And now they have to try to survive in a world in which not only all tech is dead, but even basic stuff like electricity, cars, and running water are all things of the past. It’s just not going to happen.”. (pg 113) This book has a rather insulting take on how the younger generation would fare in an disaster situation.
There is a heavy focus on guns and brawn. When the girls are deemed to have toughened up it's because “ ...if I just yelled ‘hello’ from the darkness, I think those two girls would have pumped me full of lead!” (pg 164). Because obviously the correct response to other survivors is to kill them on sight, no questions asked. Survival after a bad situation shouldn’t be I’ll get mine and I’ll keep it with violence.
In actual survival situations, altruism is common and that sheer unadulterated panic isn’t actually the human response. The whole image of everyone else panicking while our group keeps a cool and collected head and survives is not reality. It is a rather dismissive take on society and we have years of disaster data to draw on (even if it isn’t EMP data, but plenty of disasters result in loss of communication and the electrical grid). Sure there will always be bad actors, but this book paints the bad guys as BAD GUYS that it feels very heavy handed and uninteresting. The book goes with the bad guys rape and sexually assault women trope. It is tiresome and overdone. And as a woman it getting so much focus in a story made me want to drop it. I just want to see more nuanced characters that don’t feel like walking tropes.
The cast we follow is VERY quick to accept that this EMP situation is nationwide and actually happening (when it easily could be regional especially early on). They also have way more skills than the average person and are preppers who are knowledgeable about EMPs.The dads terminal diagnosis could have been interesting, but it isn’t really fleshed out. I would have liked more time to be spent on his thought process throughout the book. One of the reasons I wanted to read this was because the idea of someone with a terminal illness fighting for his family seemed interesting. It just ends up feeling like a lost opportunity. The two women in the group find themselves multiple times in situations where they are threatened with rape and have to be rescued. Again trite, overdone and boring. It doesn’t add tension it just makes me tired.
Personally, I prefer EMP fiction that focuses on group dynamics and a cast of characters with a variety of skills and opinions. I find it more interesting to read about bringing people with different insights into the group: architects, nurses, or even hobby gardeners. The skills needed after a disaster which is long term are varied. You need people who can cook, make clothes, heal people, have administrative skills, have communication/negotiation skills and can grow food among many others. Books are more interesting when there is variety.
July 28, 2022
Standard EMP plot of people stranded in the big city, surrounded by vile gangstas, crooked cops and bikers in the target town, brother with the "safe" compound. First, no doctor would ever give a patient such a grave diagnosis and prognosis over the phone; the patient would be asked to come in to see the doctor. This city goes bad very fast, albeit partly because some bombing campaign starts just after the EMP, though we never find out more than that. Erin has the good idea to leave "breadcrumbs" as she and her friend are accosted by gang members, but not sure how she expected her father to ever find the start since he thought she was with a friend (and incredibly, he does find her). Alex was supposed to be the hidden prepper, but since the corrupt sheriff and the nearby town all knew where he was, I don't think it was well hidden. He also gave no thought as to how to defend his place. The evil sheriff had been in that town and role for a while but did not know about an EMP; I'm pretty sure that most law enforcement, county agencies have some plans for that or at least information. There were some editing issues and the importance of commas (or in this case, should be the lack of one) is illustrated when Bob, very angry with the evil Sheriff Gretzky, says "'Shoot that asshole, Sheriff!' Bob roared." That comma means he is addressing the Sheriff and asking him to shoot. Not what Bob wanted. And for heroic Ted, why just leave him in the house and plan to return to retrieve him and bury him? At least move him to a spot to lay him out to make it easier once rigor mortis occurs.
April 17, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. ( really a 4.8 due to Doctors call) A look into a world taken over and destroyed and
“Survival of the fittest and prepared “. When communication is nothing to
Each other ….(we are of the automatic era ..instant everything) who do you trust?
Would you survive? Enjoy!
“Survival of the fittest and prepared “. When communication is nothing to
Each other ….(we are of the automatic era ..instant everything) who do you trust?
Would you survive? Enjoy!
June 15, 2022
Great story
I love that this was not a series I hate cliff hangers that have to wait for months to get next book, lots of fast pace action and hated to put it down could not wait to come back to see what happened next ,didn't like some of the dirty words but rest of story was so good I could over look them .will look for more books by this author.
I love that this was not a series I hate cliff hangers that have to wait for months to get next book, lots of fast pace action and hated to put it down could not wait to come back to see what happened next ,didn't like some of the dirty words but rest of story was so good I could over look them .will look for more books by this author.
August 4, 2022
I didn't want to put it down
I love it when I read a book that doesn't have many errors (only marked 2 in this book)! The first few pages made me think it was going to be a yawner, but it quickly picked up. Looks like this is a stand-alone book... Oh, and the characters were easy to envision as I read.
I love it when I read a book that doesn't have many errors (only marked 2 in this book)! The first few pages made me think it was going to be a yawner, but it quickly picked up. Looks like this is a stand-alone book... Oh, and the characters were easy to envision as I read.
June 6, 2023
People who prepare for the unthinkable, usually survive that event.
I love to read stories that show how people can come together
and build something out of nothing. The hero of this story was Ted.He was smart and courageous. The others were brave but Ted was the ultimate leader.
I love to read stories that show how people can come together
and build something out of nothing. The hero of this story was Ted.He was smart and courageous. The others were brave but Ted was the ultimate leader.
February 19, 2024
I can't say I didn't enjoy the read, but it was littered with flaws. From grammatical issues to pacing. The characters at times seem to be able to read each others minds. It feels like the writer struggled to tie together the plot points they wanted to hit. I love the idea of this book and it had some really good moments, but I can't recommend it.
April 15, 2022
Wow!
Having read EMP novels and scaring myself, this one is up there with the best. There is a thin layer of civilization and then the animals take over. Well written and pulls no punches. Enjoy
Having read EMP novels and scaring myself, this one is up there with the best. There is a thin layer of civilization and then the animals take over. Well written and pulls no punches. Enjoy
May 14, 2022
Simply stated it was a good book
You definitely would not regret reading it. It could have been made into more book so it’s surprising when it ended how it did however you aren’t left guessing
You definitely would not regret reading it. It could have been made into more book so it’s surprising when it ended how it did however you aren’t left guessing
June 13, 2022
Intrigued the whole way
I decided to try something new, something completely different than what I typically read. I loved it! I will be looking into more of his work, Mr. Walker was a surprise delight.
I decided to try something new, something completely different than what I typically read. I loved it! I will be looking into more of his work, Mr. Walker was a surprise delight.
July 8, 2022
If it brings a tear...
Then the author made that connection to the characters. The only con was it fit a lot into a small book. But left a lot out too. Mightve been even better as a 2 or 3 book series. To flesh out the story more
Then the author made that connection to the characters. The only con was it fit a lot into a small book. But left a lot out too. Mightve been even better as a 2 or 3 book series. To flesh out the story more
July 31, 2022
A Short Story
Not much new in this tale, and little background as to who started the destruction or how widespread it was. However the story did hold together and follow a logical sequence.
Not much new in this tale, and little background as to who started the destruction or how widespread it was. However the story did hold together and follow a logical sequence.
September 11, 2022
parts are riveting and parts are redundant.
The story line has been written before and was done better. Much of the story gives information that wasn’t needed and leaves out what was needed. I won’t read anything else from this writer, I just can’t.
The story line has been written before and was done better. Much of the story gives information that wasn’t needed and leaves out what was needed. I won’t read anything else from this writer, I just can’t.
January 15, 2025
good story, few errors
I like the story a lot, it had a few slight differences from the average EMP story. Very few grammatical errors, or typos. I really appreciated that it’s worth a read if you’re reading the whole series.
I like the story a lot, it had a few slight differences from the average EMP story. Very few grammatical errors, or typos. I really appreciated that it’s worth a read if you’re reading the whole series.
April 21, 2022
not hidden enough
Not hidden enough.
Bad guys always come out of woodwork.
Not hidden enough.
Bad guys always come out of woodwork.
Not hidden enough.
Bad guys always come out of woodwork.
Not hidden enough.
Bad guys always come out of woodwork.
May 30, 2022
good
A EMP is let loose on US soil. Survivors must run the gauntlet of desperate people, gangs and bikers. Read how they travel to find safety and the dangers that they face.
A EMP is let loose on US soil. Survivors must run the gauntlet of desperate people, gangs and bikers. Read how they travel to find safety and the dangers that they face.
July 5, 2022
Another EMP story
This one dragged on. Maybe I have read too.many EMP books but this one did nothing for me. Hiding in a subway in a small city. Really not
This one dragged on. Maybe I have read too.many EMP books but this one did nothing for me. Hiding in a subway in a small city. Really not
February 8, 2023
The Hidden 0430034 EMP
This is not one of favorite. Books by a long shot. It had way to many swear words for my taste.
This is not one of favorite. Books by a long shot. It had way to many swear words for my taste.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews