Just Finished Lights Out.

[Gregoriev]

Can you please explain to me about the "real physics" of how an EMP blast will affect the US? I'm dying to hear what in the story is completely false and can never happen.

I'm talking about the huge plot holes dude. After reading the article there, I can see how an EMP blast could theoretically knock out a lot of electronics here in the states, however, by that same definition the way the story was executed left much to be desired.

In other words, dont have the VP address the nation by saying exactly what happened 27 minutes after it happened. The government just don't work that smoothly even when the lights dont go out.

Don't flame me for not reading the whole book cover to cover, but I honestly just couldn't stand it after about 50 pages. I skipped to the last 10 pages to get the gist of the conclusion.

Was I right in assuming that Texas seceeded from the union? It looked like that was the case, but I never read the whole thing to be sure.

[zXzGrifterzXz]

Was I right in assuming that Texas seceeded from the union? It looked like that was the case, but I never read the whole thing to be sure.

Thanks prick. How about a spoiler warning next time.

[Bald Chihuahua]

Was I right in assuming that Texas seceeded from the union? It looked like that was the case, but I never read the whole thing to be sure.

Thanks prick. How about a spoiler warning next time.

They didn't secede from the Union... I don't think the words "secede" and "union" are even used in the story.

[zXzGrifterzXz]

Was I right in assuming that Texas seceeded from the union? It looked like that was the case, but I never read the whole thing to be sure.

Thanks prick. How about a spoiler warning next time.

They didn't secede from the Union... I don't think the words "secede" and "union" are even used in the story.

Oh good, I was having a flashback to the "Serenity" thread where someone ruined the ending for me.

[Bald Chihuahua]

Alright, the word "union" is used twice, so I was wrong about that tidbit, but Texas doesn't secede from the Union.

[artyboy]

You sure do like to cling to the VP thing. I don't consider that a "gaping hole that turns it from fiction into fantasy". What you're saying is that all he has to do is change the 27 minutes to 2 hours and you'd be happy (at least up to that point).

Maybe the premise just seems a little too scary for you? Maybe it made you ask yourself the question "what if that could really happen?" In that case I can definately understand why you'd want so badly to write it off as fantasy rather than accept the possibility. Once you start to realize that we don't live in a perfect society and that it wouldn't take much for it to collapse I'm sure you'd enjoy the story a little more. I can accept the fact that you don't like the book. What I can't accept is your reasons for not liking it. It just seems like you're grasping at straws looking for reasons why not to like it.

[randomusername]

Don't flame me for not reading the whole book cover to cover, but I honestly just couldn't stand it after about 50 pages. I skipped to the last 10 pages to get the gist of the conclusion.

That statement right there eliminates any allowance for you to bitch about this story.

[Gregoriev]

No, it's plenty of allowance. It was that bad for me. My mind analyses everything that is put forth in a story, and I am sorry if it just set off my bullshit detectors too often for me to stand.

Maybe the premise just seems a little too scary for you? Maybe it made you ask yourself the question "what if that could really happen?" In that case I can definately understand why you'd want so badly to write it off as fantasy rather than accept the possibility. Once you start to realize that we don't live in a perfect society and that it wouldn't take much for it to collapse I'm sure you'd enjoy the story a little more. I can accept the fact that you don't like the book. What I can't accept is your reasons for not liking it. It just seems like you're grasping at straws looking for reasons why not to like it.

I dont go around trying to dig into your phyche. The only thing it made me ask was "Did this guy even do his research?" and once I had gathered the extent the author wanted the disaster to be, "Why isn't he sticking to the scope of the disaster he put forth in this story?" which was soon followed by "Why isn't he even trying to hide the cliche plot devices?"

I'm not tearing the man down because his scinario "Scares" me, I am tearing it down because he didn't stick to the scope and physics of the disaster he himself conceived. The radio in the desk should have been fried, since a metal desk that isn't grounded, in an office building, will not protect a handheld radion which has the bateries inside it. If the batteries were outside, then I can see it possibly surviving. The scope of his disaster, however, is very very large. Also, with it's tremendous size, I doubt even the older cars would start, because they still have an electric starter. I am no expert, but it became rediculous when I could be reading and predict exactly what devices would work while others would not based solely upon who was trying to use them.

I understand we have a difference of opinion; however, there is no purpose in attacking my phyche or reasoning for disliking a story. Those are my own to keep, and my own to share as I have been doing so. I could blame your combativeness on many contrived basis, but that would just be rude, wouldn't it?

[zindragon]

The book, in the form I read it (pdf download) could do with a serious amount of editing. His characters are sort of robotic, but I enjoyed a plot setting in an area I'm very familiar with.

Great story idea and it was a fun, quick read, though.

[PistolPete]

I just finished the story and I thought it was quite good. The editing was clean, the characters easy to follow, and the plot engaging.

If anything, the book could be made longer. At times it seemed to gloss over days or weeks and could be fleshed out to make a great novel. As it stands, I was very impressed. The author has made a great effort.

[Glockmeister]

Here's what to do for all the people that don't like, or think the "science" is wrong,...Sit down at your computer, and write a better novel!! I think that it's probably a lot easier to "pick nits" then to take the time to get involved in this kind of effort. As such,...lights out is not perfect,..nothing is! Still...Everyone here has the opportunity to do it "Better",..So..Have at It! Show us the "Perfect" novel.
I can't wait to read it.

[FredGavioes]

finished reading months ago, one hell of a book, the writing was great.

[zXzGrifterzXz]

Just finished reading it about 2 weeks ago. I loved the story and the characters. This is now in my top 5 favorite PAW books. I hope HalfFast decides to publish this, I would buy it.

[Steev]

Amazing story.. I just finished it..

The story was about the survival after the "burst" not about EMPs..

Amazing book, amazing writer, enough said..

oh.. AND IT WAS FREE...

I have paid a lot more for a lot worse..

[Halffast]

Wow! I read this thread back when it only had a few replies. I just found it again, and I am surprised at how much it has grown.

Thanks to all of you for your comments and criticisms. I really appreciate them. I am working on cleaning this story up and fixing some of the problems that have been pointed out.

This is my first real attempt at writing, and I have been very pleased with the overall reaction to it. I know it needs a lot of work, and hopefully the rewrite will correct all of the problems. If anyone has any suggestions, feel free to post them here, or email them to me. My email is dcrawford@email.com . Please put "Lights Out" in the title so I don't think it's someone trying to sell me Viagra or wanting me to buy some stock guaranteed to make me rich in just one week.

To answer a couple of questions, yes, I did research EMP. There is not a lot of hard data out there as to the effects of a high altitude nuclear explosion. There are many theories, but not many proven facts. From what I can tell, the experts either don't know or are not talking. The batteries being in or out of a device really have no effect on whether it will be harmed or not. Simple electric motors, such as a car starter, are not thought to be vulnerable to the EMP effect. It is mostly sensitive electronics, like computers, and items that have longs runs of wire to act as EMP antennas that we have to be concerned about. I wrote the story using a “worst case” scenario to make the story more dramatic.

That said, there are many things wrong in the original version. The characters knowing off the bat that it was an EMP is changed in the rewrite. Also, the radio in the desk is knocked out. Several other inconsistencies have also been fixed thanks to people helping me with their critiques.

I feel that the writing improved substantially after the first twenty chapters. I know that is a lot of bad writing to wade through to get to the better stuff, but I thank you if you stuck with it.

In addition to cleaning up Lights Out, I am writing a new story called "Lost and Found". It is posted in the Survival Forum at AR15.com. I would appreciate any comments on it as well as "Lights Out".

Just an aside, I have fallen prey to the Zombie phenomena, and I am outlining a Zombie novel that I plan to start once I finish "Lost and Found". I hope it lives up to the high standard you all have come to expect. Once done, someone owes me lunch money, I think.

Thanks again, I really appreciate all the help.

David

[zXzGrifterzXz]

In addition to cleaning up Lights Out, I am writing a new story called "Lost and Found". It is posted in the Survival Forum at AR15.com. I would appreciate any comments on it as well as "Lights Out".

Awesome, being a big fan of “Lights Out” I can’t wait to head over to Arfcom and check out “Lost and Found”.

Just an aside, I have fallen prey to the Zombie phenomena, and I am outlining a Zombie novel that I plan to start once I finish "Lost and Found". I hope it lives up to the high standard you all have come to expect. Once done, someone owes me lunch money, I think.

Welcome to the "zombie addiction", feel free to bounce ideas off of us once you start on the zombie novel. As I am sure you can tell, there is a rather large fan base for "zombie fiction" around here.

[JRod]

Well this thread went places! A zombie novel from HF? Could I be dreaming?

[tinfoil hat] Are you the real Halffast? [/tinfoil hat]

[Halffast]

[tinfoil hat] Are you the real Halffast? [/tinfoil hat]

You can take off your tinfoil hat. It's really me.

However, it is the Internet and you can't be too careful, so remember...shiny side out!

David

[ghostface]

David, I got past my initial dislike of some certain things that I read in the beginning and have been working my way through.

You can always polish and tighten things up later, flesh out some characters a bit more, etc. You've already done the hard part, and it's extremely commendable.

Keep up the good work!

[Halffast]

ghostface,

Thanks. I'm glad you're enjoying it.

David

[Plannin' Man]

I'm late in on this one. Did enjoy it, although found certain parts of it almost 'gunporn'esque if there is such an expression.

This is what I posted on my own site

Found a link to this on ZS. Read it, enjoyed it.

http://www.giltweasel.com/stuff/LightsOut-Current.pdf

I found it a tad Gunho but you have to remember the culture its set in. And the main characters are so damn fortunate..... It's an interesting read and the way the author has squeezed subtle (and some unsubtle) lessons in made me grin.

Have fun

Looking forward to the next one and thank you.

Plannin' Man

[Spartan20]

I cant believe there are so many negative thoughts on this thing?
I just finnished it and loved it.
This thing is free!!!!!!!!! There are so many other things out there that arent nearly this good, that you haver to pay for, sometimes a lot.
Being somehwat new to the prepardness world this thing is a great read and very very informative and helpful.
It can also be of great use to get people who dont really care about survival or prepardness interested, and that is always a good thing.

To me this get a 10 out of 10. Was it absolutely perfect in every way possible? Nothing ever is.

Was it absolutely fantastic considering it was free, and written by an amateur who obviously cares about this sort of thing? Most certainly.

And to all the ney-sayers; Im anxiously awaiting your fictional story based on the deciesive collapse of our country after a 100% factually correct EMP attack. If this is so bad yours ought to be out of this world.

[Ben]

Was I right in assuming that Texas seceeded from the union? It looked like that was the case, but I never read the whole thing to be sure.

Thanks prick. How about a spoiler warning next time.

They didn't secede from the Union... I don't think the words "secede" and "union" are even used in the story.

I guess I should write Spoiler so I don't tick off Grift.












Mr. David Turner
811 Silver Coin Road
Silver Hills, Texas
Republic of Texas

Sounds like they seceded

[nemesys]

anyone have a link to the story on arf? I can't find it