Two years after an EMP attack on America, the country tries to regain its footing. John Matherson and his community in Black Mountain, North Carolina, finally have electricity, radio communications, and medicines. However, most of the youth in town, including John's daughter Elizabeth, are now being drafted into a new army that is tyrannizing communities. John and his friends and neighbors try to stand up to this new deadly regime.

"A Tom Doherty Associates book.". Sequel to: One second after.