Most Popular Books by William R. Forstchen

Book 1 in the "John Matherson" trilogy.

A major release in the New York Times bestselling One Second After series, set in an alternate America rebuilding after an electromagnetic pulse, this is William R. Forstchen''s The Final Day. Since the detonation of nuclear weapons above the United States more than two years ago, the small town of Black Mountain, North Carolina has suffered famine, civil war, and countless deaths. Now, after defeating a new, tyrannical federal government, John Matherson and his community intend to restore their world to what it was before the EMP apocalypse. For the most part, they are succeeding. This period of relative stability doesn’t last long. A new, aggressive government announces that it’s taking over and ceding large portions of the country to China and Mexico. The Constitution is no longer in effect, and what’s left of the U.S. Army has been deployed to suppress rebellion in the remaining states. John fears he and his town will be targets. General Bob Scales, John’s old commanding officer and closest friend from prewar days, is sent to bring John into line. Will John and his people accept the new, autocratic regime? Or will revolution rip the fledgling nation apart at the seams? Months before publication, William R. Forstchen’s novel One Second After was cited on the floor of Congress as a book all Americans should read. This third book in the series immerses readers once more in the story of our nation’s struggle to rebuild itself after an electromagnetic pulse wipes out all electricity and plunges the country into darkness, starvation, and death. At the Publisher''s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

One Year After is the New York Times bestselling follow-up to William R. Forstchen’s smash hit One Second After, the novel cited on the floor of Congress as a book all Americans should read The story begins one year after One Second After ends, two years since nuclear weapons were detonated above the United States and brought America to its knees. After months of suffering starvation, war, and countless deaths, the survivors of Black Mountain, North Carolina, are beginning to recover technology and supplies they had once taken for granted, like electricity, radio communications, and medications. When a “federal administrator” arrives in a nearby city, they dare to hope that a new national government is finally emerging. That hope quickly diminishes when town administrator John Matherson learns that most of the young men and women in the community are to be drafted into the “Army of National Recovery” and sent to trouble spots hundreds of miles away. He and the people of Black Mountain protest vehemently. But “the New Regime” is already tyrannizing one nearby community. Will Matherson’s friends and neighbors be next? The John Matherson Series #1 One Second After #2 One Year After #3 The Final Day Other Books Pillar to the Sky 48 Hours At the Publisher''s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

"A towering epic to rank with Douglas Preston''s Blasphemy and Michael Crichton''s Prey... Pandemic drought, skyrocketing oil prices, dwindling energy supplies and wars of water scarcity threaten the planet. Only four people can prevent global chaos. Gary Morgan--a brilliant, renegade scientist is pilloried by the scientific community for his belief in a space elevator: a pillar to the sky, which he believes will make space flight fast, simple and affordable. Eva Morgan--a brilliant and beautiful scientist of Ukrainian descent, she has had a lifelong obsession to build a pillar to the sky, a vertiginous tower which would mine the power of the sun and supply humanity with cheap, limitless energy forever. Gunther Rothenberg--the ancient but revered rocket-scientist who labored at Peenemunda with von Braun to create the first rockets and continued on to build those of today. A legend, he has mentored Gary and Natalia for two decades, nurturing and encouraging their transcendent vision. Franklin Smith--the eccentric Silicon Valley billionaire who will champion their cause, wage war with Congress and government bureaucracy and most important, finance their herculean undertaking. This journey to the stars will not be easy--a tumultuous struggle filled with violence and heroism, love and death, spellbinding beauty and heartbreaking betrayal. The stakes could not be higher. Humanity''s salvation will hang in the balance"--

From the New York Times bestselling author of the smash hit One Second After series comes 48 Hours, a nail-biting and prescient thriller about a solar storm with the power to destroy the world''s electrical infrastructure In 48 hours, the Earth will be hit by a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) from the Sun, a "Carrington Event" that has the power to shut down and possibly destroy the world''s electrical infrastructure. To try and prevent permanent damage, everything goes dark prior to the hit: global communications are shut down; hospital emergency generators are disconnected; the entire internet, media broadcasting, and cell phone systems are turned off. Will the world''s population successfully defend itself in the wake of the CME, or will mass panic lead to the breakdown of society as we know it? William R. Forstchen is at his best in 48 Hours, a tale of the resilience of American citizens when faced with a crisis. At the Publisher''s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

This biographical novel exploring America’s Revolutionary Era is “surely to become another popular book” for the New York Times–bestselling authors. The story follows three men with three very different roles to play in history: General George Washington, Thomas Paine, and Jonathan Van Dorn, a private in Washington’s army. The action focuses on one of the most iconic events in American history: Washington crossing the Delaware. Unlike the bold, courageous General in Emanuel Leutze’s painting, Washington is full of doubt on the night of December 25, 1776. After five months of defeat, morale is dangerously low. Each morning muster shows that hundreds have deserted in the night. While Washington prepares his weary troops for the attack on Trenton, Thomas Paine is in Philadelphia, overseeing the printing of his newest pamphlet, The Crisis. And Jonathan Van Dorn is about to bring the war to his own doorstep. In the heat of battle, he must decide between staying loyal to the cause and sparing his brother who has joined up with the British. Through the thoughts and private fears of these three men, Gingrich and Forstchen illuminate the darkest days of the Revolution. With detailed research and an incredible depth of military insight, To Try Men’s Souls is a novel that provides a rare and personal perspective of the men who fought for, and founded the United States of America.

From William R. Forstchen, the New York Times bestselling author of the One Second After series, comes Five Years After, a near-future thriller where John Matherson must contend with new threats to the fragile civilization that he helped rebuild. Five years after The Final Day, the Republic of New America has all but collapsed into regional powers and the world at large is struggling to remain stable as regional conflicts ravage the post EMP landscape. After several years attempting to lead a quiet life, John Matherson receives the news that the President is dying from a possible assassination attempt, and is asked to step in to negotiate with what appears to be a new military power hidden in the wreckage of the world. Pulled back into the fray, John struggles to hold the tottering Republic together. Facing threats on multiple fronts, he races against time to stop another EMP attack on the former United States and China, putting years of progress at risk. With so much of his work under threat, John must find the strength within to start over, so that he can save the country and the people that he holds dear from even greater calamity. At the Publisher''s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

The latest chapter in a unique, epic military science fiction series that sweeps from Civil War America to a time-warped world of horrifying conflict. The Civil War Yankees, lost in another world and time, find themselves part of a tactical retreat from the onslaught of the mysterious Merki hordes, reenacting the Russian retreats against the French and Germans.

"A New York Public Library recommended book for young readers."--P. [4] of cover.

Enjoy a sneak preview to One Year After, William R. Forstchen''s highly anticipated follow-up to the smash hit, One Second After. Nuclear weapons were detonated above the United States and brought America to its knees. After months of suffering starvation, war, and countless deaths, the survivors of Black Mountain, North Carolina, are beginning to recover technology and supplies they had once taken for granted, like electricity, radio communications, and medications. When a "federal administrator" arrives in a nearby city, they dare to hope that a new national government is finally emerging. But "the New Regime" is already tyrannizing one community. Will Black Mountain be next? At the Publisher''s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Download a FREE sneak peek of 48 Hours! From the New York Times bestselling author of the smash hit One Second After series comes 48 Hours, a nail-biting and prescient thriller about a solar storm with the power to destroy the world''s electrical infrastructure In 48 hours, the Earth will be hit by a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) from the Sun, a "Carrington Event" that has the power to shut down and possibly destroy the world''s electrical infrastructure. To try and prevent permanent damage, everything goes dark prior to the hit: global communications are shut down; hospital emergency generators are disconnected; the entire internet, media broadcasting, and cell phone systems are turned off. Will the world''s population successfully defend itself in the wake of the CME, or will mass panic lead to the breakdown of society as we know it? William R. Forstchen is at his best in 48 Hours, a tale of the resilience of American citizens when faced with a crisis. At the Publisher''s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

The New York Times–bestselling authors of Gettysburg continue their “original, dramatic and historically plausible ‘what if?’ story” of the Civil War (Publishers Weekly). Confederate General Robert E. Lee knows that a frontal assault against Washington, D.C., could devastate his army. But it is a price that must be paid for final victory. Lee must also overcome the defiant stand of President Abraham Lincoln, who vows that regardless of the defeat at Gettysburg, his solemn pledge to preserve the Union will be honored. Lincoln will mobilize the garrison of Washington to hold on no matter the cost. Meanwhile, Lincoln has appointed General Ulysses S. Grant as commander of all Union forces. Fresh from his triumph at Vicksburg, Grant races east to confront Lee. What ensues is a titanic struggle as the surviving Union forces inside the fortifications of Washington fight to hang on, while Grant prepares his counterblow. The defeated Army of the Potomac, staggered by the debacle dealt at Gettysburg, is not yet completely out of the fight, and is slowly reorganizing. Its rogue commander, General Dan Sickles, is thirsting for revenge against Lee, the restoration of his army’s honor, and the fulfillment of his own ambitions, which reach all the way to the White House. All these factors will come together in a climatic struggle spanning the ground from Washington, through Baltimore, to the banks of the Susquehanna River.

The New York Times–bestselling Civil War novel: a “well-executed alternative history [that] imagines a Confederate victory at Gettysburg” (Publishes Weekly). An action-packed and painstakingly researched novel by former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and historical fiction author William R. Forstchen, Gettysburg stands as the first book in a series to tell the story of how a victory for Confederate General Robert E. Lee would have changed the destiny of the nation forever. The year is 1863, and General Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia are poised to attack the North. Launching his men into a sweeping operation, Lee audaciously pursues his last best chance for ultimate victory. With renewed spirit, Lee’s lieutenants embark on the Gettysburg Campaign that many dream “should have been.” The soldiers in the line, Yank and Reb, knew as well that this would be the great challenge, the decisive moment that would decide whether a nation would die, or be created. Both sides were ready, willing to lay down their lives for their Cause.

THEY PLANNED ON A NICE WAR There had been a century of peace, and the politicians of Earth and its colonies were running on platforms of cutting “wasteful” military spending—all while Earth’s military tried to keep aging and obsolete ships flying and battle-ready. And while the swords rusted, war clouds gathered on the horizon… Contact had been made with the Kilrathi—a warrior race feline in appearance and deadly in combat. Yet, even though they had annihilated or enslaved scores of other races throughout the galaxy, and had attacked human colonies on the border worlds, the government was not taking them seriously, thinking that the Fleet could handle them with ease. Commander Winston Turner knew that the government was moving toward a declaration of war against the Kilrathi in response to demands from the border worlds. He also knew that the Fleet would be forced to operate under Plan Orange Five: limited action and punitive responses only. He only hoped that mankind would recognize its mistake before it was too late.

As the fighter-mages of the four great Houses prepare for their annual battle, a powerful stranger arrives and he is interested in the fifth House, destroyed a generation ago--but why is the Grand Master afraid of him? Original.

This discounted ebundle of the John Matherson Series includes: One Second After, One Year After, The Final Day “Forstchen is the prophet of a new Dark Age. The wise will listen.” —Stephen Coonts From New York Times bestselling author, William R. Forstchen: In the span of a single second, the United States is plunged into darkness as an Electro Magnetic Pulse (EMP) wipes out all electricity. Trains, planes, cars, phones, computers, power plants, electronics and electrical equipment—all comes to a screeching halt. The country is in chaos, and everyone wants to know why. Whatever the cause, looting, food riots, and global insurrection are the order of the day. The New Dark Ages are suddenly upon us in this series exploring the potential aftermath of a very real threat. One Second After — In the novel that was cited on the floor of Congress as a book all Americans should read, professor John Matherson struggles to save his family and his small North Carolina mountain town after America loses a war in one second, a war that will send the country back to the Dark Ages. One Year After — Two years after nuclear weapons were detonated above the United States and brought America to its knees, the survivors of Black Mountain, North Carolina, are beginning to recover technology and supplies they had once taken for granted, like electricity, radio communications, and medications. When a “federal administrator” arrives in a nearby city, they dare to hope that a national government is finally reemerging. But the new regime is beginning to look a lot like tyranny. The Final Day — Since the detonation of nuclear weapons above the United States more than two years ago, the small town of Black Mountain, North Carolina has suffered famine, civil war, and countless deaths. Now, after defeating a new, tyrannical federal government, John Matherson and his community intend to restore their world to what it was before the EMP apocalypse. For the most part, they are succeeding . . . but progress is halted when the national government overturns the Constitution and a terrible truth is revealed: the people in power may have seen the EMP strike coming all along. Other Tor books by William R. Forstchen Pillar to the Sky We Look Like Men of War At the Publisher''s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

ALEXANDER THE GREAT. NAPOLEON. THE 47 RONIN. LONG DEAD, BUT THE FUTURE STILL RIDES ON THEIR SUCCESSES AT WAR! First there was war, then there were wargames, growing more and more realistic until the games themselves surpassed war as mankind''s most popular sport. But with no blood, guts, or glory, boredom began to set in and strategy lost its edge. Something was needed to bring fresh excitement to an old, old game. And so the past was mined for the greatest warriors and generals history had to offer: Napoleon, Alexander, the forty-seven Ronin, assassins from ancient Persia--all brilliant at either combat or at tactics and strategy. It was just a game--until mock war turned real on an unimaginable scale, and only those legendary warriors could turn the tide... THE GAMESTER WARS: The Alexandrian Ring The Assassin Gambit The Napoleon Wager by William R. Forstchen, coauthor with Newt Gingrich of 1945

The action-packed first book in the new historical series by acclaimed authors Newt Gingrich and William R.Forstchen

Throughout the annals of history, the best of intentions—and sometimes the worst—have set in motion events with a vastly different outcome than originally intended. In this entertaining, fact-filled chronicle, William Forstchen and Bill Fawcett explore the watersheds of history that began as the best of ideas and ended as the worst of fiascoes. A Holy War—The Medieval Crusades for religious liberation become centuries of slaughter and destruction. Sibling Rivalry—Leif Erikson spares his sister''s life and delays the discovery of the New World for five hundred years. Big Guns—Emperor Constantine XI refuses to buy a new supercannon that would let him dominate his enemies, so its creator sells the cannon to the Turks, who then crush Constantinople. With casual wit and subtle insight, It Seemed Like a Good Idea...tucks tongue in cheek and rides out the fiascoes of history.

With To Make Men Free (originally published as The Battle of the Crater), New York Times bestselling authors Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen take readers to the center of a nearly forgotten Civil War confrontation, a battle that was filled with controversy and misinterpretation even before the attack began. June 1864: the Civil War is now into its fourth year of bloody conflict with no end in sight. James O''Reilly—famed artist, correspondent, and former companion of Lincoln—is summoned discreetly to a meeting with the President. His old friend gives him a difficult assignment: travel to the trenches outside of Richmond to be Lincoln''s eyes and ears amongst the men, sending back an honest account of the front. Meanwhile, General Ambrose Burnside, a hard luck commander out of favor with his superiors, has an ingenious plan to break through the closest point on the Confederate line by tunneling forward from the Union position beneath the fort to explode its defenses. The risks are high, and Burnside needs a brave division of the United States Colored Troops for one desperate rush that just might bring victory. As the battleground drama unfolds, this must-read work rewrites our understanding of one of the great battles of the war, providing a sharp, rousing and harshly realistic view of politics and combat during the darkest year of the Civil War. Praise for the works of Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen "Masterful storytelling." --William E. Butterworth IV, New York Times bestselling author of The Saboteurs "Compelling narrative force and meticulous detail." --The Atlanta Journal Constitution Previously published as The Battle of the Crater.

Risking everything to follow his dream of reaching for the stars, Justin Bell struggles to cope with Martian colonists demanding freedom from the paternalistic Earth government, while dealing with hostile aliens out to destroy all human civilization.

In the bestselling tradition of "Flags of Our Fathers, " this is a memoir of World War II from a West Point graduate who saw it all.

New York Times bestselling authors Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen conclude their inventive trilogy with this remarkable answer to the great “what if” of the American Civil War: Could the South have indeed won? After his great victories at Gettysburg and Union Mills, General Robert E. Lee’s attempt to bring the war to a final conclusion by attacking Washington, D.C., fails. However, in securing Washington, the remnants of the valiant Union Army of the Potomac, under the command of the impetuous General Dan Sickles, is trapped and destroyed. For Lincoln there is only one hope left: that General Ulysses S. Grant can save the Union cause. It is now August 22, 1863. Lincoln and Grant are facing a collapse of political will to continue the fight to preserve the Union. Lee, desperately short of manpower, must conserve his remaining strength while maneuvering for the killing blow that will take Grant’s army out of the fight and, at last, bring a final and complete victory for the South. Pursuing the remnants of the defeated Army of the Potomac up to the banks of the Susquehanna, Lee is caught off balance when news arrives that General Ulysses S. Grant, in command of more than seventy thousand men, has crossed that same river, a hundred miles to the northwest at Harrisburg. As General Grant brings his Army of the Susquehanna into Maryland, Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia maneuvers for position. Grant first sends General George Armstrong Custer on a mad dash to block Lee’s path toward Frederick and with it control of the crucial B&O railroad, which moves troops and supplies. The two armies finally collide in Central Maryland, and a bloody week-long battle ensues along the banks of Monocacy Creek. This must be the “final” battle for both sides. In Never Call Retreat, Newt Gingrich and William Forstchen bring all of their critically acclaimed talents to bear in what is destined to become an immediate classic.

The last great hope. For a millennia after the accident, Earth lay cold and still, its small population punished by the dismal climate, harried by the plague, and impoverished by frequent bloody wars. Then, unexpectedly, the oppressed had reason to hope, for a leader stalked the frozen seas with great ice fleets and new ideas. . . In terrible battles he vanquished the forces of tyranny and brought promise of renewal to an otherwise miserable world. But nothing was quite as it seemed -- either to Michael Ormson or his followers.

"...Imagines a horrifying scenario where, in the course of one day, the terrorist group ISIS carries out massacres in schools and on highways across the United States. With a surprisingly small but well-organized and ruthless force, the nightmarish devastation brings America to a state of near paralysis"--Page [4] of cover.

Union Colonel Andrew Keane and his men discover that descendants of Roman soldiers, sixteenth-century corsairs from the Spanish Maine, and some of Ghengis Khan''s men have also been transported in time to the distant future.

A riveting, personal look at one of our country''s first heroes in the second captivating novel of the George Washington series by Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen, the New York Times bestselling authors of To Try Men''s Souls It''s the winter of 1777, a year after Washington''s triumphant surprise attack on Trenton, and the battered, demoralized Continental Army retreats from Philadelphia. At Valley Forge, they discover that their requests for supplies have been ignored by Congress. With no other options, for weeks the army freezes under tents in the bitter cold. The men are on the point of collapse, while in Philadelphia the British live in luxury. In spite of the suffering, Washington endures, joined by a volunteer from Germany, Baron Friederich von Steuben. With precious little time, von Steuben begins recasting the army as a professional corps capable of facing the British head-on—something it has never accomplished before—in the process changing the course of history. Valley Forge is a compelling, painstakingly researched tour-de-force novel about survival, transformation, and rebirth. It chronicles the unique crucible of time and place where Washington and his army, against all odds, were forged into the force that would win a revolution and found the United States of America.

In the frozen northlands of the embattled realm of Midkemia, fate can form strange alliances. It is nine long, bloody years into the ongoing Riftwar that is tearing Midkemia asunder. Having survived a disastrous encounter with their sworn enemy, the Tsurani, Dennis Hartraft''s cold, hungry, and exhausted Marauders arrive at a frontier garrison—at the same time as a Tsurani patrol. But a more devastating threat resides within the stronghold: moredhel, a migrating horde of dark elves so deadly and vicious that the only hope for survival is if bitter enemies band together and fight as one. Now two hostile groups must make their way to freedom, facing a common foe, braving the merciless elements, and haunted by the voice of conscience demanding, "what is more important, a man''s life . . . or his honor?"

It''s 150 years in the future, and times have changed. The long-stalled space program finally went private and got off the ground. Now the big issue lies with the United Nations of Earth, which refuses to grant independence to the colonies on Luna, Mars, and in the Belt. Civil war could be the result--threatening to tear the elite Star Voyager Academy apart.

Twin Flame is a novella about a man meeting, courting and marrying his twin flame. Departing from his usual work in the realm of history and best-selling technological thrillers, Forstchen writes an account of finding true love later in life. Co-authored with Nora D''Ecclesis, a non-fiction writer who defines the holistic concept of twin flames in relationships, Twin Flame is a blending of views about faith, love and perseverance from a universal spiritual perspective. The fiction chapters are interwoven with introspective analysis of how all twin flames endure the process as they quest toward equanimity. The narration includes insights from her expertise in Zen, meditation, Reiki and Christianity. The book embraces the concept that there is a higher plan for everyone and that twin flames are created long before birth. "Bill Forstchen''s works have flair and power." - Joel Rosenberg, author of the GUARDIANS OF THE FLAME series on ONE SECOND AFTER "A riveting, cautionary tale." - Booklist on the LOST REGIMENT series: "A parallel world novel of majestic sweep and gripping intensity." - L. Sprague de Camp, author of LEST DARKNESS FALL and THE ANCIENT ENGINEERS "Guided visualizations for me are a life changer and Nora''s knowledge is second to none! I can''t thank Nora enough for the personal help she has given me." - "Chio Tim Acosta, "Chio" in the Morning - Philadelphia Radio Personality 106.1 The authors: William R. Forstchen is the author of over forty books, has a Ph.D. in history from Purdue University and is a Faculty Fellow at Montreat College. His broad spectrum of writing includes science fiction and fantasy, historical fiction, alternate history, several scholarly works, numerous short stories and articles and near-future thrillers ONE SECOND AFTER, ONE YEAR AFTER, THE FINAL DAY, and PILLAR TO THE SKY. Nora D''Ecclesis is an American bestselling non-fiction author, best known for her international #1 bestseller, THE RETRO BUDGET PRESCRIPTION. Nora holds post-graduate degrees in administration and education from Kean University. Her books focus on stress reduction and cover topics ranging from Haiku poetry and Zen meditation to time management, gratitude and equanimity. She enjoys kayaking, hiking and skiing. Nora lives with her family and dogs in a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

MORE WAR… A desperate attack on the Kilrathi homeworld had succeeded in destroying the entire planet, including the Emperor and his warlords. The surviving Kilrathi, on warships and on their colony worlds were hopelessly demoralized and had sued for peace. The catlike warrior race was no longer a threat to Earth and its colonies. Thirty-five years of war had finally come to an end, bringing peace in our time. They thought… The reality was more ominous. There were still plenty of independent Kilrathi warlords surviving, commanding a formidable array of warships and weaponry. Some wanted revenge on the apes who had destroyed the sacred homeworld, some wanted to set up their own new empires, and some were simply content to go pirate, raiding human colonies at will. But back on Earth, the war-weary people and their leaders turned a deaf ear to reports of Kilrathi belligerence, preferring to look forward to a peaceful and prosperous future. But it was only the calm before a new story… At the publisher''s request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).

From the endlessly inventive mind of one of fantasy''s all time greats comes a spellbinding new adventure of high magic, treachery and bloody war.

A Union regiment marches aboard a transport ship only to be buffeted through space and time and shipwrecked in an alien land, where these Civil War soldiers introduce unheard-of ideas of freedom, equality, and democracy.

Dr. Ian Lacklin, a history professor, is selected to lead a translight expedition to find the distant colonies that abandoned the Earth during the Final War