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The Long Tomorrow; Life after an EMP
Topic Started: Sep 5 2011, 12:32 AM (870 Views)
Yorick
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Why didn't I think of this before?!

I was watching this Discovery channel show about a possible alien invasion and how the invaders would use an electromagnetic pulse to knock out all our devices and then it hit me: why not write a story set after an EMP sends humanity back 200 years?

Let's say this. A gigantic solar storm fries all unprotected electronic equipment. Everybody is physically fine but the clock has been set back over a century. This sets the stage for a story about the good and evil that exists in all of us. Don't understand? Follow me.

Some of my favorite books are "The Stand" by Stephen King and "Gone" by Michael Grant. The former is a about a plague that wipes out most of humanity and the survivors is divided into a group representing evil and another representing the forces of good. The latter is about a group of kids that struggle to survive in an adult-less world when a mysterious dome encapsulates their town and are menaced by a supernatural evil.

I want to explore the same theme that "Gone" explored which was the nonexistence of anarchy. Eventually someone will rise up to bring about order after total chaos breaks out. It's a question of which person takes the reigns: a tyrannical despot or a benevolent, democratically elected leader?

I'd also like to explore what "The Stand" did and show how man had to start over when all their devices couldn't save them and now they all have to rebuild civilization.

So which premise do you guys prefer? A. a story following the aftermath of the pulse immediately on a small town or B. we take a look at a town 10 or 20 years after the pulse.

And how would the world look like after all the power goes away?
Edited by Yorick, Sep 5 2011, 01:07 PM.
"I believe, that whatever doesn't kill you, simply makes you...stranger"

-The Dark Knight (2008)
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Yorick
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The Boeing VC-25 that is usually used as Air Force One does have a pretty impressive electronic warfare suite but I can't find any information about if it has EMP hardening.


From the 1997 movie "Air Force One" where Harrison Ford plays the president fighting off Russian terrorist hijackers all alone. A character giving a tour to the terrorists-dressed-up-as-journalists mentions that the plane is able to withstand the EMP of a nuclear blast.

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As for generally being able to survive EMPs? I'd look at old Cold War studies and reports.


Thanks. I'll do so.

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There's also coal powered trains...


Are they in popular commission?

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...the fact that we can rebuild rather quickly...


I don't think our civilization will be able to rebuild itself quickly enough without major riots and famines and plagues.
Edited by Yorick, Oct 2 2011, 11:01 PM.
"I believe, that whatever doesn't kill you, simply makes you...stranger"

-The Dark Knight (2008)
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Yorick
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"Emberverse" was one thing, "Revolution" was another but "One Second After" (I learned about this novel only yesterday) is the last straw.

I won't taking this concept any further now.

You good folks at Speculative Evolution are free to delete this entire thread.
"I believe, that whatever doesn't kill you, simply makes you...stranger"

-The Dark Knight (2008)
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