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48 Hours : Book summary and reviews of 48 Hours by William R. Forstchen

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by William R. Forstchen

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Published Jan 2019 336 pages Genre: Thrillers Publication Information

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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.

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"Starred Review. Fans of apocalyptic thrillers such as the movie Deep Impact will be engrossed." - Publishers Weekly

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William R. Fortstchen is the New York Times bestselling author of One Second After , One Year After , and The Final Day. He holds a Ph.D. in history from Purdue University, with specializations in military history and the history of technology. Forstchen is currently a faculty fellow and professor of history at Montreat College, near Asheville, North Carolina.

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48 Hours (William Fortschen)

I’ve read all of William Fortschen’s books.  They’re among the best of apocalypse fiction, a genre dominated by potboilers, so naturally, I preordered this book.  My big question was if the author could write something new, especially since at first glance it appears the apocalypse in 48 Hours is very similar to the EMP found in Fortschen’s most famous book, One Second After .  Without giving the story away, I can tell you this book is quite original.  And to me, the most interesting matter that Fortschen covers, indeed the plot driver of the entire book, relates to a long-running apocalypse concern of mine.  Namely, that the government, at any level, is not our friend, and would be our enemy in any real crisis where someone has to lose.

It’s entirely obvious, upon a moment’s reflection, that in any crisis today, whether a pandemic that requires medicine, a nuclear attack that requires shelter, a famine that requires food, or an alien attack where the aliens demand human flesh to eat, that our rulers would save themselves and their cronies first, along with, to the extent possible, their own property, and certainly, as much as possible, their own power.  I think this is mostly a new thing, the result of the rot of our ruling classes , including the disappearance of duty, virtue, and noblesse oblige.   George Washington wouldn’t save himself first, but I am certain that both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton would (the latter more certainly than the former).  Oh, sure, they’d make noises about how important it was that there be “continuity of government,” and that it was all for the future greater good, but the reality is that they’d make sure they got theirs, and so would their friends.

And it’s not just the President.  For no reason I can comprehend, other than naked self-interest,  Congress strongly believes that saving Congress is important, so they, their families, their staffers, and their hangers-on would get to the front of the line.  Bureaucrats of all stripes, the poisonous fruit of the grasping administrative state , would also get served first.  After all, how could we live without a fully staffed EEOC?  And it’s not just the federal government: as Fortschen paints a vivid picture, it would be state governments as well.  Not to mention that local governments would also get in on the act.  Municipal governments mostly wouldn’t have bunkers or stockpiled food (although I bet New York and Chicago do, hidden and reserved for Bill de Blasio and Rahm Emanuel, along with their toadies).  But I’m pretty certain, for example, that if the food in the stores ran out, in most municipalities the city government, allied with the police, would use the military equipment that the federal government has stupidly handed out, to go around to homes collecting it “for equitable distribution.”  Which is one reason I occasionally run the thought experiment of how to deal with the armored personnel carrier my local police department operates. Did you know that modern APC’s can be easily pierced by standard .50 caliber rounds?  I didn’t.

It’s unfortunate that today government is not to be trusted.  Perhaps it never could have been trusted, but the difference today is that the government has enormously more power.  Power to know what’s coming, power to build to protect the people who control it, power to defend what it builds.  But that’s where we are, and at least the view of government as the enemy in a zero-sum crisis is something that people all across the political spectrum can get behind, although conservatives and libertarians are probably more inclined to this realization.  That is, it might take liberals more time to realize that when government workers and their families go to the front of the line, there won’t be a back of the line, whatever promises are being made.  And those promises would be made—and perhaps even believed, because history shows that average people will swallow almost any story if accepting it makes them able to put off the choice to fight.  A strange inertia seems to overcome most people.  Rather than shooting their way to the front of the line when the fat EPA clerk waddles, along with his family and cousins, back into the “Government Workers Only” food line for seconds, then thirds, they’ll more likely wait for the promised crumbs to be dribbled to them through the barbed-wire-topped fence.  That’s stupid.  Shoot first.

I suppose you can’t really blame government workers for putting themselves at the front.  It’s a natural human response, after all.  Self-sacrifice to benefit others is largely, or exclusively, a Western concept derived from Christianity, and an aspirational one at that.  For example, during famines in China, including those caused by Mao, it was common for parents to kill and eat their children (although often by swapping their children with others’, so they didn’t have to do it themselves), something essentially inconceivable in the West, though perhaps not any longer in these post-Christian days.  The same thing happens in North Korea today, and I suspect would be true of any culture that is not Christian (or Jewish or Muslim, who have a similar self-sacrificing ethos, though without the applicable-to-everyone demand of the Golden Rule).  Why is it inconceivable to us, though, given that sacrificing others makes utilitarian sense?  It’s because of our superior culture, where parents would rather die than contemplate such an action, and everyone knows his duty is to take one for the team.  But I don’t think this principle extends, at least today, to limit governmental self-dealing in a crisis where someone has to lose—and that’s what this book illustrates with dramatic impact.

I don’t think that this is necessarily an argument for a minimalist state.  True, certainly, the state we have now is terrible, and a minimalist state would solve the problem of self-dealing by our ruling class in a crisis.  But I am not a libertarian; the governmental structure I would prefer is not one that necessarily maximizes personal liberty, certainly not in the way of modern “liberal democracy,” but a strong state based on principles of practicality and virtue—strong, that is, in those few areas that matter, and either non-existent in most areas of life, or based around rigorous principles of subsidiarity in any matters not essential to the central government.  Albert Jay Nock would hate my vision of government, but he would entirely agree with my point about modern governmental self-protection in crises.

Still, even my Augustan-type state would be susceptible to this problem, of the human beings who make up government acting purely in their own self-interest.  Our governmental heroes, or those who used to be our governmental heroes, like George Washington, were exceptional men.  In more recent times, I suppose, there are examples of leaders in government who refused to exempt themselves from risks faced by the common people, such as Churchill and King George VI staying in London during the Blitz, or even Stalin refusing to leave Moscow in 1941 (though he kept his fast train ready). But you can’t get exceptional men, reliably at least, without a virtuous society to generate them, and so getting that society is the key to solving the problem. I can’t think of any self-sacrificing or risk taking by any member of a Western government in many decades, but I can remember the entire United States government scurrying like rats to protect themselves on 9/11, and then turning Washington, and every federal building in the universe, into a fortress, at the cost of hundreds of billions, while grabbing massive amounts of fresh power for themselves. Maybe I’d be surprised by how our government reacted in a crisis.  But I doubt it.

You won’t feel good when you’ve finished this book.  But you’ll have learned something that may be very useful to you someday, that those who should protect us will do nothing of the sort, so it’s probably worth reading.

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48 Hours: A Novel Mass Market Paperback – Oct. 27 2020

From the New York Times bestselling author of the smash hit One Second After series comes William R. Forstchen's 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? Forstchen is at his best in 48 Hours, a tale of the resilience of American citizens when faced with a crisis.

• Print length 464 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Forge Books
• Publication date Oct. 27 2020
• Dimensions 10.8 x 3.14 x 18.85 cm
• ISBN-10 0765397935
• ISBN-13 978-0765397935
• See all details

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Product description

“William R. Forstchen is the master of real-world apocalyptic fiction, and his latest 48 Hours is a story that should be read by all―not just as a riveting piece of fiction but also as a cautionary tale of humanity at the edge. Here is a book that should be on everyone’s shelf, a guidebook to the end of the world.” ―James Rollins, New York Times bestseller of The Demon Crown “When you’re done with this one, you’re going to ask yourself: Is this possible? Can it really happen? Here’s the scary part. Not only can it happen, it already has, only this time it’s going to be far, far worse. A surreal treat.” ―Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author “When the sun blasts the earth with two life-extinguishing explosions of solar rays, humanity is suddenly brought to the brink of utter annihilation. What will we do? The reader will race through this stunning, electrifying novel all the way to its final, shocking conclusion and come back begging for more. I’m definitely hoping for a sequel.” ―William S. Cohen, New York Times bestselling author and Former Secretary of Defense “[Forstchen’s] best book to date. . . . Fans of apocalyptic thrillers such as the movie Deep Impact will be engrossed.” ― Publishers Weekly , starred review

About the Author

Product details.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Forge Books (Oct. 27 2020)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 464 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0765397935
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0765397935
• Item weight ‏ : ‎ 286 g
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 10.8 x 3.14 x 18.85 cm
• #473 in Technothrillers (Books)
• #1,223 in Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction (Books)
• #2,663 in Thriller & Suspense Action & Adventure

About the author

William r. forstchen.

William R. Forstchen has a Ph.D. from Purdue University with specializations in Military History and the History of Technology. He is a Faculty Fellow and Professor of History at Montreat College. He is the author of fifty books including the New York Times bestselling series One Second After, the Lost Regiment series, and the award-winning young adult novel, We Look Like Men of War. He has also authored numerous short stories and articles about military history and military technology.

Dr. Forstchen's interests include the Civil War, archaeological research on sites in Mongolia, and the potential of space exploration. As a pilot he owns and flies an original World War II "recon bird." Dr. Forstchen resides near Asheville, North Carolina with his dog Maggie.

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48 hours book review.

48 Hours by William R. Forstchen was another can’t put it down until finished book. Forstchen’s writing is compelling. He makes the reader think about the moral issues while weaving a fascinating tale. Furthermore, political nuances are incorporated throughout the novel.

The premise of 48 Hours is that the Earth is in line for an ELE (extinction level event) from a powerful solar flare. For those readers who have not tuned into the many Discovery Channel shows explaining CME (Coronal Mass Ejection) and other solar disturbances, Forstchen does an outstanding job weaving the science into his fictional story. He strikes a balance between education and entertainment.

48 Hours Settings

The author uses a dual setting in 48 Hours. The story opens up in Southwest Missouri. But an equally important thread takes place in Washington, D.C. with a second storyline. The two plots are stand alone, with a thin tie at the end.

Springfield, Mo.

The lead characters in Missouri are Darren and Darla Brooks. Both are in their second marriage with grown children. The blended family includes a sprinkling of grandchildren. They have ties to military. Darren served in the Mideast and Darla had recently sold a company supplying the military.

A previous CME from a few weeks ago is the current reality. A second hit is the basis of the plot. Darren is head of security for a cavernous underground site with sections either owned or leased by both governmental and private entities. This factor puts him at the center of the story.

Washington, D.C.

Dr. Richard Carrington V is the central character of the 48 Hours storyline based in the United States capitol. His interest in solar flares came naturally as the descendant of the first Richard Carrington. Both the solar event of 1859 and Carrington V are namesakes.

Moral Issue

Key to the novel is the various characters’ moral struggles brought on by the ELE. In a scenario where only one percent survive, who belongs in the continuity of mankind? Forstchen explores this concept, balancing altruistic efforts with the need to plan for future existence.

48 Hours contains individuals within the government and other positions of authority that “do the right thing.” But alas, they are more the exception than the rule. William R. Forstchen has once again written a fictional novel based in science that will give the reader pause. If there truly are a number of these underground facilities, how do we select in advance the survivors?

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• Book Reviews
• Clarion Reviews
• General Fiction

David Halfpenny AuthorHouse ( Mar 21, 2018 ) Softcover $18.99 ( 282pp ) 978-1-5462-9060-5

Clarion Rating: 2 out of 5

A retiree-cum-international-spy finds himself zipping around the world in this wish-fulfillment thriller.

David Halfpenny’s spy novel 48 Hours crisscrosses the globe from England to continental Europe and Afghanistan.

The narrative moves quickly, beginning with the fast, transformative forty-eight-hour span in which a retired middle-aged businessman, Dexter Campbell, unexpectedly finds a new lease on life. He identifies a terrorist bomber at Gatwick airport and is whisked away by MI5 for his own protection.

Recruited to be an agent in the wake of the 9/11 attacks and compelled to change his name and appearance, Campbell soon finds himself at the forefront of antiterrorist activities, whether it’s rooting out a mole at MI5 headquarters in London or tracking down international terrorists in Afghanistan’s war zones. Taking part in top-secret operations and sporting James Bond–style weaponry such as a walking cane that shoots darts, Campbell also finds his love life revived. He’s romanced by a trio of women: the spy who initially recruits him, the nurse who cares for him after he changes his face and name, and the buxom RAF lieutenant who works alongside him in Afghanistan.

48 Hours has the bones and fast pace of an engrossing spy thriller, and every so often the narrative hints at psychological complexity, as when Campbell feels guilt over an adulterous affair. In most other respects, however, the book is an implausible wish-fulfillment fantasy that is dimensionless in its presentation.

Campbell’s adventures are related in a flat, one-thing-after-another fashion, without the details or style that could invigorate the story. As a hero, Campbell is none too compelling; all that’s related about him is that he’s a goodhearted bloke who takes to his new life of spycraft all too easily. He never encounters a problem he can’t solve with a bit of planning or firepower. Like a glamorous secret agent, he attracts every woman who comes into contact with him, even though nothing about him is extraordinary. Likewise, the other characters are barely-sketched-in types: the maternal boss, the friendly colleague, the supportive wife.

As 48 Hours unfurls, the implausibilities mount: the sixty-year-old Campbell aces spy training, and he ferrets out a traitor simply by eyeing suspicious-looking employees during lunch. Without breaking much of a sweat, he becomes a master agent and war hero. Plausible real-world scenarios arise, but everything from the plotting to the character work is unpersuasive. By the time Campbell’s adventures end, one would be hard-pressed to remember anything of impact or consequence.

Too bland to be convincing and not pulpy enough to be fun, 48 Hours is a spy thriller that seems to know little about spying.

Reviewed by Ho Lin August 24, 2018

Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

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Book details

Author: William R. Forstchen

PART I Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I’ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice. —Robert Frost, “Fire and Ice” 1 DAY ONE LAKE OF THE OZARKS, MISSOURI DARREN Brooks fumbled as he tried to slap the alarm clock into silence, knocking it off the nightstand. The two little bells on top of the clock, with a tiny clapper between them, slamming back and forth, continued to ring, its tinny sound nerve-jarring. “Oh, for God’s sake, Darren, turn that damn thing off,” Darla moaned from the other side of the bed. He leaned over, groped around. It must have slid under the bed. “Darren!” “Okay, okay, I got it,” he mumbled, pulling back the heavy wool blankets and cursing softly as his feet hit the cold floor. Getting down on his hands and knees, he reached under the bed and grabbed the annoying antique, jamming a finger between the clapper and bells to silence the little annoying monstrosity at last. The switch—where was the damn switch? He poked around the back, feeling for the lever, then his finger slipped off the clapper and, though muffled, the damn thing rang again. “Darren!” A memory hit of all those old cartoons where Elmer, Daffy, whomever, tormented by an alarm clock, just threw it out the window. He found the switch and flicked it down, and the devilish machine fell silent. He was still tempted to throw it against the wall, but wisely decided to just put it back on the nightstand. Now half-awake, he stumbled to the bathroom and out of force of habit flicked the switch. And of course, no lights came on. “Damn. Power is still off.” He sighed. “It’s freezing in here,” Darla said. “I kind of figured it’s down again.” There was no need for lights to just relieve himself. At least the water supply was gravity fed from the town’s storage tank—that was, as long as they pumped it full while they had power, which had been on for several hours the previous evening. He scurried across the freezing-cold floor and scrambled back under the covers, Darla muttering an affectionate curse as he pressed his cold feet up against the backs of her legs, but then she sighed as he snuggled in closer. She stood not much more than five foot two at a 110 pounds or so, and he was more than double her weight, six foot four, and bearlike. He wrapped his arms around her, the two nuzzling closer for a moment. “Don’t fall back to sleep,” she whispered. “Yeah, I know.” Absolutely content with life at that moment, he held her tight, kissing her on the back of the neck. “You need a shave.” She laughed softly as he rubbed his chin stubble against her upper back, a hint of a seductive note in her laughter. “No, stop it,” she finally said. “You’ve got to go to work.” “Later, then,” he whispered into her ear. “Promises, promises,” was her sleepy reply as she pulled the heavy blankets back over her shoulder as he drew away, turned, and put his feet on the still-icy floor. He fumbled in the dark for his slippers, put them on, picked up his heavy bathrobe from the corner of the bed, and trekked out to the living room. The fire was still going. He opened the glass doors, fed in several more logs, closed the doors after opening the flue wider, then went into the kitchen, turning on the battery-powered lamp he had rigged up to the kitchen chandelier. For southern Missouri in December, it was damn cold, well below freezing outside, frost glistening on the deck railings and on the cover of the hot tub, which they had shut down and drained three weeks earlier when the problems had started. Always efficient and thinking ahead, Darla had set out the night before, a two-pound can of coffee and an old-fashioned percolator that had been stored in what they called their “prepper stash,” down in the basement. Filling up the pot with water, Darren now spooned coffee into the basket to be placed at the top of the percolator, put the lid on, and turned on the kitchen stove. At least that still worked because it was propane. They used to have a tank topped off with five hundred gallons of the stuff, but in the weeks after power had gone on the blink, they had been far too profligate in burning it up with their home generator to power and heat their four thousand–square-foot house, figuring the grid would be back up soon enough. Once things got back to normal, they’d just order up a propane truck to come out and fill them back up again. But things had not come back to normal, and they realized they might be in for a long haul with a cold winter, and the fifty gallons left should be hoarded only for cooking. The woodstove could provide sufficient heat for the living room and kitchen area, and at least they could cook indoors, unlike more than a few neighbors who on cold evenings stood shivering outside, cooking on their barbecues. In the last few days, Darla had even passed out nine buckets of freeze-dried food from their emergency supply to neighbors who were coming up short, each bucket with enough food to keep a family of four going for a month. They had always factored in a thought regarding their neighbors and friends in a time of crisis—that was just part of their nature—but they could only give out a few more one-month buckets of food before having to think about their own long-term needs. Surely, though, they both hoped the damage to the power grid and overall infrastructure of the region from the solar storm of three weeks past would be repaired and life would soon return to some semblance of normalcy. Neither of them wanted to think about the grim mathematics of what might happen to their emergency food supply if things still were not repaired a couple of months from now, especially given the reports, starting yesterday, that another solar event might be brewing. The water in the coffeepot heated up, and there was the first hissing pop as it began percolating. Darren loved the sound of it. It reminded him of his grandmother’s home, a small farmstead, as if from another age, up in the back hills of the Ozarks. The soothing nostalgia-inducing sound from the coffeepot grew louder, the dark brew splashing up against the small clear glass globe atop the pot. When he spent weekends at his grandparents’ house, Darren always got the job of watching the pot until the coffee was jet-black, and they would then let him have a few warming sips, heavily laced with fresh cream from their cow tethered in the barn. The advent of the Mr. Coffee machines and then the little K-Cups had, in nearly all homes, resulted in relegating a percolator coffeepot to the basement or the trash pile. Buying one for use in an emergency had been one of many smart moves that were now paying off. And besides, he loved the sound of it, and somehow—maybe it was just psychosomatic—the coffee did seem to taste better. He went back into the living room, taking in the vista offered by the two-story-high glass windows of their home. Their house, a log cabin of contemporary design, was situated atop a high ridge rising nearly two hundred feet above the Lake of the Ozarks. It faced southeast and at this time of year provided a perfect viewing point for the sunrise, which was beginning to unfold, the deeper indigos giving way to scarlet and brilliant shades of pink. Darla shuffled out, bundled up in her oversized, rather funny-looking camouflage-pattern bathrobe with matching slippers—a Christmas present from him last year—went into the kitchen, pulled down two cups from the cabinet, and poured out their hot coffee, plain black, fresh cream no longer available. She then shuffled into the living room, handed him one of the cups, and put her arm around his waist. “Love you, Bear.” Bear, her affectionate nickname for him, pronounced on their first date when at her door he asked permission to kiss her good night, and she of course agreed. He effortlessly lifted her a foot off the ground, wrapped in his massive embrace, and gave her a good-night kiss that convinced her on the spot that though still gun-shy from her divorce, she would not let this one get away. “Wish you’d quit that damn job,” she announced. “We don’t need the money anymore now that we’ve sold our business, and you know it. Perfect morning to watch the sunrise, throw some more wood on the fire, and then back to bed.” The way she said “back to bed” had a suggestive tone in it that made him hug her in closer. She had been saying it nearly every morning of late, especially when what everyone was now calling “the Big Storm” had hit several weeks earlier. It had become a demarcation point, a dividing line between “before” and “after.” The before time was one of ease and luxury. After had been a wake-up call as to just how dependent all were upon limitless electricity, always available at the flick of a switch, a world with a global connection to friends, family, entertainment carried in the palm of a hand. All of that now limited at best in the southern tier of states, and according to the occasional news reports they could monitor, still entirely off-line farther north, where the impact of the solar storm had been more intense. The refrain punctuating most conversations now: “Once things are back to normal, we’ll…” But after three weeks that increasingly seemed like a fabled promised land that surely must return soon. Surely the ever-mentioned “they” had to get things back in order by the end of the year. He sipped his coffee and looked down at her snuggled in by his side. “Oh, come on. I was getting bored not doing anything. And, sweetheart, I’d drive you crazy within a month just hanging around here, and you know it. Besides, the benefits package is good—free medical insurance; you can’t sniff at that—and it keeps me out of your hair.” “Still, given how things are now, especially over the next few days if that next storm hits, at least think about it. Okay? If things get worse, I want you here.” He didn’t reply. It was ironic in a way to hear her concern. There was a touch of role reversal in their marriage. The military, police work, or security had been part of his life since high school. But Darla? Beyond her very feminine, petite exterior was someone with indeed a unique background. Definitely a tomboy raised by a single father who owned a gun-customizing business, she had taken it over in her early twenties after his passing and turned it into a thriving enterprise of providing customized weapons for the nation’s elite military units. So her appeal was not one of a nervous at-home wife feeling a need for her bear of a husband to be a protector. If anything, she was the one providing protection around this house and was deadly efficient with a multitude of weapons that her family business had manufactured until the sale of that firm a year ago. He found it amusing to say that if ever there were a situation that hit the fan, he’d be the backup for Darla. Quitting his job, especially now, struck him as an act of cowardice, which was never part of his playbook. He had a job that he could not just walk away from now. The sun was just breaking the horizon, usually a favorite moment for him of watching the long shadows interspersed with red and golden streaks of light spread across the lake. At times, though, this moment still made him think of how different it was from sunrise out on the ugly flatland deserts of Iraq. That glaring orb rising and within minutes the temperature soaring from a comfortable chill to another day of hundred-degree heat. He squinted, staring straight at the sun as it climbed above the pine trees rimming the ridge on the far side of the lake. It didn’t look any different. Some people claimed that right at sunrise you could stare at it for a moment and see the spots, the building eruptions. He couldn’t, and he finally turned away, blinking, spots dancing in his vision from having stared at the sun too long. “Drink your coffee and get out of here,” Darla chided him. “Bad example the head of security being late.” He drained his cup, handed it back to her, and leaned over to kiss her on the forehead. He glanced at the sun again, squinting, but it still didn’t look any different. But it was different. Just before going to bed shortly after midnight, they had listened to a BBC broadcast on a battery-powered shortwave radio and heard that another CME had exploded from the sun’s surface, perhaps more powerful than the December 1 incident, and would strike Earth in less than three days. Something was indeed going wrong, and holding Darla close, he felt a vague fear of what was to come. Copyright © 2018 by William R. Forstchen

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About This Book

From the New York Times bestselling author of the smash hit One Second After series comes William R. Forstchen's 48 Hours, a nail-biting...

Book Details

From the New York Times bestselling author of the smash hit One Second After series comes William R. Forstchen's 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? Forstchen is at his best in 48 Hours, a tale of the resilience of American citizens when faced with a crisis.

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Forge Books

9780765397935

In The News

“William R. Forstchen is the master of real-world apocalyptic fiction, and his latest 48 Hours is a story that should be read by all—not just as a riveting piece of fiction but also as a cautionary tale of humanity at the edge. Here is a book that should be on everyone’s shelf, a guidebook to the end of the world.” —James Rollins, New York Times bestseller of The Demon Crown “When you’re done with this one, you’re going to ask yourself: Is this possible? Can it really happen? Here’s the scary part. Not only can it happen, it already has, only this time it’s going to be far, far worse. A surreal treat.” —Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author “When the sun blasts the earth with two life-extinguishing explosions of solar rays, humanity is suddenly brought to the brink of utter annihilation. What will we do? The reader will race through this stunning, electrifying novel all the way to its final, shocking conclusion and come back begging for more. I’m definitely hoping for a sequel.” —William S. Cohen, New York Times bestselling author and Former Secretary of Defense “[Forstchen’s] best book to date. . . . Fans of apocalyptic thrillers such as the movie Deep Impact will be engrossed.” — Publishers Weekly , starred review

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They would not reprint after THEIR error!

They printed several hundred books for me in small quantities as I made revisions and spread them around for input from friends. 48hr books people are not supportive or communicative. They made a huge error on my last cover and would not reprint the order. They do not pay attention to what they are doing. They are about speed and sequencing through their processes to get them out the door in 48 hours.

Date of experience : February 16, 2024

I hate to write this about 48hr…

I hate to write this about 48hr Books--their customer service is truly exceptional, as is the quality of the printing-- but seeing that the hard-cover copies that I had ordered were glue-bound was a let down. I wish that they had told me that they didn't offer stitch-bound. I feel as if I have partially wasted my money.

Date of experience : December 17, 2023

Always Excellent

I've been making books with 48 Hour Books for nearly a decade now. Their customer service is always thorough and excellent. They have a very quick turnaround time, and their prices can't be beat.

Date of experience : January 19, 2024

As a first-time author

As a first-time author, the terrain of publishing can seem like a labyrinth, each turn filled with uncertainty. Yet, the team at 48hour Books, particularly Alex, has been a beacon of guidance. The immediacy of their customer service has been nothing short of miraculous, meeting my countless inquiries not just with efficiency, but with genuine support and understanding. The artisans at 48hour Books excel not only in their craft but also in their remarkable spirit of helpfulness. In a world overrun by haste, they demonstrate that quality need not be the casualty of swiftness. Their commitment is akin to a skilled sower—every step from the first interaction to the final product is executed with utmost care and precision. Much like a tree is known by its fruit, the quality of their books— in paper, binding, and print clarity—announces their unparalleled dedication. For those embarking on the journey of sharing words, 48hour Books is a sanctuary where opportunity and skill coalesce, where the promise of today unfurls into the cherished keepsakes of tomorrow. Thank you, Alex, and the entire team, for making my first voyage into authorship not just successful, but profoundly enriching.

Date of experience : August 30, 2023

seemed a bit expensive but was a choice well made to use them

Date of experience : September 19, 2020

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Article updated on July 14, 2024 at 9:30 PM PDT

Amazon Prime Live Blog: The Best 100-Plus Deals We've Found So Far

Amazon's Prime Day event hasn't officially started yet, but there are already so many early deals coming in hot and we're rounding up all the best ones for you to shop.

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• Author of Taking your Android Tablets to the Max

CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.

As Amazon Prime Day approaches, with only a day to go, deals are coming in quickly. Leading up to the big event on July 16th and 17th, Amazon is dropping prices across the board. There are dozens of early Prime Day sales available, with more deals being added all the time. Competitors like Target and Walmart are also joining the fun, slashing prices on a wide range of items.

It can be overwhelming to keep track of all the deals out there, but our team of shopping experts is on hand to simplify the process for you. They're working around the clock to find the best deals, so you don't have to.

There are major savings on everything from smart home tech and everyday essentials to headphones and so many other items. And for the budget-conscious, we've organized a lot of our findings so you can shop for goodies  under $100  and even as low as  $10 or less . The best place to find the real Prime Day deals is right here. We'll constantly update this collection with great products that are actually on sale and not just cleverly marked up and back down. So stick with CNET and make the most of this shopping event. 

Our absolute favorite Prime Day deals

Sony WH-CH520: $36

Sony makes some of our favorite headphones right now. The WH-CH520 is budget-friendly and has excellent battery life, lasting up to 50 hours on a charge. It even has multi-point connectivity to connect to two devices simultaneously. And now you can snag a sweet deal on the headphones for just $35; that's a 55% saving over the $80 list price.

Amazon Echo Buds with ANC: $35

The Echo Buds offer solid all-around performance and compatibility with all major smart assistants. The earphones output crisp and balanced sound that can be tuned to your preference with an equalizer setting. Use the built-in Alexa support to initiate podcasts or stream music using just your voice. There's multi-point support too to connect to two devices simultaneously. Finally, enjoy long hours of music listening with five hours of playback on a single charge and fifteen hours using the case.

Apple AirPods (2nd gen): $80

When it comes to wallet-friendly earbud options, AirPods are our favorite to recommend . The audio quality is solid, but the real fun is all the features. These will seamlessly pair to all of your Apple gadgets, and the touch controls on each Pod make them super convenient to use anywhere. And for only $80, these second-gen AirPods are available at a staggering 47% off until they sell out. 

Read our Apple AirPods 2019 review .

Ninja Foodi Smart air fry oven: $180

The Ninja Foodi 13-in-one smart air fryer packs versatility into a compact space. Capable of temperatures up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, it can fry, sear, bake, toast and help you cook the best of dishes. Using up to 75% less fat, air frying is a healthy option and the Ninja Foodi's XL-sized capacity makes it a great investment for family-sized cooking. Available for a steep $150 discount off its usual $329 list price, the Ninja Foodi smart air fry oven is an excellent deal for just $179.

Echo Pop and Sengled Matter smart bulb: $20

Amazon's own Echo Pop is a great, small smart speaker with Amazon Alexa built in so you can stream music, catch the news or weather and control your smart home. And this free bulb is a great way to kick off smart lighting or expand an existing Matter system. This deal is exclusive to Amazon Prime members.

Theragun Relief: $126

This handheld massager uses percussion to target pain and offer relief to sore muscles. And right now its at the lowest price we've ever seen.

Amazon Kindle Scribe: $260

Amazon's Kindle Scribe currently sits on our list of best e-readers , and you can get it for less during the Prime Day event. "It's the best jumbo e-reader you can draw on," according to CNET's David Carnoy.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6: $1,100

The soon-to-be-released Galaxy Z Flip 6 can be preordered now with a $320 discount, just keep in mind you won't receive the phone until after the July 24 release date. Not only do you get the unlocked model at a discount, you'll also get a $200 Amazon gift card. 

You can learn more about this latest design in our comparison of specs between the new Z Flip 6 and the Galaxy Z Fold 6 . 

Prime Day headphone deals

If it's personal audio that you're interested in and you'd like to save some money on your new headphones or earbuds, these are the deals for you. These discounts aren't likely to hang around for long though. But if you want a comprehensive list of our favorite  Prime Day headphone deals , we're working hard around the clock to round those up too.

• Anker Soundcore P20i wireless earbuds: $20 (save $5 with on-page coupon) . For extremely low-cost everyday earbuds, snag this deal. Be sure to apply the 20% off Amazon coupon for the best deal.
• Apple AirPods Max: $430 (save $120) . Apple's popular over-ear headphones can be expensive, but if you opt for the green variant you'll save a chunk. Other variants are discounted, but not by as much. 
• Apple AirPods Pro 2nd generation: $190 (save $59) . Apple's premium AirPods support spatial audio and feature advanced active noise cancellation. 
• Apple AirPods 3rd generation: $140 (save $29) . The latest edition of Apple's standard AirPods.
• Beats Powerbeats Pro earbuds: $200 (save $50) . Beats' fitness-focused earbuds feature adjustable earhooks and sweat resistance.
• Skullcandy Crusher headphones: $157 (save $43) . These get up to 40 hours of playback and have built-in Tile tech so you can always find them.
• JBL Tune 770NC: $100 (save $30) . A pair with up to 70 hours of battery life.
• Bose Headphones 700: $349 (save $30) . Great audio quality.
• Amazon Echo Buds: $25 (save $25) . These sweat-resistant earbuds offer balanced sound and multipoint pairing.
• Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: $145 (save $85) . A top earbud option for Android users.
• Samsung Galaxy Buds 2: $88 (save $52) . A lightweight earbuds option that's perfect for runs and daily use.
• Beats Solo 3 wireless headphones: $119 (save $81) . A top brand with 40 hours of listening time.
• Beats Studio Plus wireless earbuds: $130 (save $40) . These sleek Beats earbuds feature active noise cancelation and work well for iPhone or Android users. 
• Beats Flex wireless earbuds: $50 (save $20) . These budget-friendly earbuds are comfortable, colorful and offer up to 12 hours of listening time.
• Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Headphones: $250 (save $130) . Enjoy great audio quality in a simple design, alongside added features like Bluetooth multipoint.
• Logitech H390 wired headset: $20 (save $5) . A cheap headset designed for everyday use with a PC or laptop. Nothing fancy but it will get the job done. 
• Turtle Beach Stealth 600 gaming headphones: $70 (save $20) . Ideal for online gaming with a 24-hour battery life, Sony 3D audio and support for PlayStation, PC and Nintendo Switch. 
• Boytond Ultra open earbuds: $25 (save $65 with on-page coupon and code K99AY83F) . A great option for those who prefer open wireless earbuds.

Prime Day tech deals

Whether it's a new tablet or a way to smarten up that old TV, Amazon Prime Day is always a good bet for those who want to get some new tech. The deals are already flowing and these are some of the best we've found to date. If you want more Prime Day tech finds, check our our hubs on the best Apple , gaming , and monitor deals.

• Samsung Galaxy Tab S9: $647 (save $153) . This is a solid tablet for Android fans.
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: $1,900 (save $420). . Preorder the newest Samsung Galaxy Fold and get a nice discount plus a $300 Amazon gift card to boot. 
• Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus portable power station: $1,299 (save $900) . Stay powered anytime. 
• Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max: $35 (save $25) . This fast 4K streamer is one of our favorite streaming devices.
• Apple iPad (10th gen): $321 (save $28) . Scroll, play games or stream with this iPad.
• Apple iPad Mini (6th gen): $400 (save $99) . A powerful iPad with a compact 8.3-inch display.
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 6: $210 (save $90) . The Watch 7 has been announced, but this previous-gen model is still solid.
• Apple AirTag (4-pack): $75 (save $24) . Never lose your keys again with these nifty trackers.
• Fire Max 11 tablet: $140 (save $90) . This tablet has a large screen and up to 14 hours of battery life per charge.
• Echo Show 5: $50 (save $40) . Stream, video call, display photos, control compatible devices and more.
• Maxshot V1 electric scooter: $229 (save $170) . Commute up to 21 miles with this foldable scooter.
• Apple Watch Series 9: $299 (save $100) . Nab Apple's latest iteration of its signature smartwatch.
• Apple Watch SE: $189 (save $60) . Save on Apple's budget smartwatch.
• Bluetti AC180 portable power station: $549 (save $450) . Off-grid charging is easy with this ultra-portable option already discounted by 45%, but if you clip the on-page coupon you'll save an extra $27. 
• TMY mini projector: $62 (save $38 with on-page coupon) . Turn your backyard into the ultimate outdoor entertainment spot with this mini projector.
• Mumba high fidelity earplugs: $14 (save $4) . Protect your ears in loud environments with the advanced noise-filtering technology packed into these tiny buds.
• LoveLedi 15000mAh power bank (2-pack): $24 (save $66) . Get two portable chargers for just $20 and keep all your devices juiced up while on the go.
• TP-Link AC1200 Wi-Fi extender: $23 (save $27) . Boost your internet up to 1500 square feet and connect up to 30 devices with this extender from TP-Link.
• Samsung 990 EVO 1TB SSD: $79 (save $71) . Load games or back up important files with this 1TB storage drive.
• Google Pixel 7 Pro smartphone: $450 (save $549) . Get an unlocked Google Pixel smartphone for over 50% off.
• Karaoke machine with two wireless microphones: $80 (save $820) . Get the party started with this portable karaoke machine with a 6.5-inch full-frequency speaker that connects to iPhones, iPads, TVs and PCs. 
• Roku Express: $17 (save $13) . Access Netflix, Disney Plus, Prime Video and over 400 free live TV channels with this HD streaming device
• Baseus mini power bank: $15 (save $11 with on-page coupon) . This portable USB-C charging bank fits in the palm of your hand. 
• Baseus 7-in-1 USB-C charging station: $51 (save $49 with on-page coupon and code 5I3PWT9F) . Organize your cords and cables with a high-power charging station.
• Soundcore Motion portable speaker: $40 (save $25 with on-page coupon) . Waterproof and ready to rock. 
• Anker Magsafe charger stand for iPhone/AirPods: $36 (save $10) . Recharge multiple Apple devices simultaneously. 
• Apple M4 13-inch iPad Pro (256GB): $1,199 (save $100 . There's a fine line between this device and a laptop and we're 100% okay with it. 
• Amazon Fire TV Stick: $18 (save $22) . Streaming is a just a touch, or a voice command, away. 
• Amazon Music Unlimited: 5 months free (save $50 . Get nearly half-a year of unlimited music and podcasts for free. 
• Musicozy sleep headphones mask: $24 (save $16) . Sleep anywhere with this wireless blackout mask that has built-in headphones so yo can listen to music while dozing off. 
• BolaButty portable Bluetooth speaker: $20 (save $40) . Get HD sound for indoor and outdoor parties.
• Norton 360 Deluxe antivirus software 2024: $15 (save $60) . Protect up to 3 PCs, Macs, iOS and Android devices from outside threats. 
• HP DeskJet 2855e all-in-one printer, scanner and copier: $50 (save $35). . Upgrade your office with this all-in-one productivity enhancer. 
• Eero 6+ mesh Wi-Fi router two-pack: $160 (save $80) . Blanket your home in high-speed Wi-Fi with this Wi-Fi 6 mesh router. 
• Bose SoundLink Flex: $99 (save $50) . High-fidelity audio on the go. 
• GoPro HERO11 bundle: $250 (save $130). . This bundles packs everything you need to start capturing your daily adventures. 
• Ultimate Ears WonderBoom 4: $80 (save $20) . A tiny Bluetooth speaker with giant sound.

Prime Day TV deals

Amazon Prime Day could be the perfect time to ditch that old and busted TV and upgrade to something a little more befitting the latest must-binge TV show. If none of these are working for you, check out our full list on the best Prime Day TV deals . 

• Hisense U6 Series 65-inch 4K Google TV: $598 (save $202) . If you're a fan of the Google TV platform, this deal is a solid choice.
• Amazon Fire TV 2-Series 40-inch HD TV: $170 (save $80) . Perfect for a bedroom or other small space.
• LG B4 65-inch OLED TV: $1,597 (save $903) . Nab an OLED screen for under $2,000.
• LG C4 65-inch OLED TV: $1,800 (save $900) . This smart OLED TV features brightness boosting technology to give you a clear,  luminous view of your favorite shoes.
• Insignia 65-inch F30 Series 4K Fire TV: $330 (save $120) . Get the cheapest price on a big screen and get the Fire TV platform, too.
• Insignia 42-inch F20 Series HD TV: $130 (save $50) . If you're open to a smaller screen, this HD Fire TV offers a great value.
• Sony 65-inch 4K X90L series Bravia XR smart Google TV: $1,098 (save $202) . A great choice for fans of the Google TV platform.
• Sony 65-inch OLED 4K Bravia 8 smart Google TV: $2,298 (save $202) . Enjoy exclusive PlayStation 5 features like auto HDR tone mapping and genre picture mode. 
• Sony 43-inch 4K TV: $348 (save $80) . If Sony is your preferred brand but you want a smaller TV, this 43-inch model should be perfect for most bedrooms or for the kids.
• TCL 40-inch S3 LED with Roku smart TV: $160 (save $70) . Three HDMI inputs can connect to gaming consoles, set-top boxes, an AV receiver and more.
• Vizio 40-inch D-series 1080p smart TV: $160 (save $70) . Perfect for gamers with automatic game mode, variable refresh rate with AMD, a new gaming menu and more.
• Roku 55-inch select series 4K HDR smart TV: $330 (save $20) . Say goodbye to cable with access to just about every streaming service on our favorite interface. 
• Sylvox 43-inch outdoor waterproof 4K TV: $786 (save $213) . Have summer movie nights outdoors in any condition with this outdoor waterproof TV. 
• Amazon Fire 65-inch Omni Series smart TV: $560 (save $200) . Use the built-in Alexa voice assistant to turn on your TV and find content to watch.
• Samsung 65-inch 60D Series QLED TV: $900 (save $98) . Enjoy 3D surround sound and enhanced color accuracy with this QLED smart TV.
• TCL 85-inch QM8 QLED 4K Smart mini LED TV: $1,400 (save $300) . Down to its lowest price we've seen at the retailer, this model offers superb picture quality and brightness.
• Samsung S90C OLED smart TV: $1,598 (save $400) . A top OLED with great picture quality and Samsung's fast processor to help improve streaming shows/movies and playing games. 
• Amazon 32-inch Fire TV: $110 (save $90) . Whether for a second room or just to get the job done, it's hard to find a TV with this quality for less. 
• Hisense U8 65-inch ULED Google smart TV: $1,098 (save $402) . Mini-LEDs make backlighting clear and so you can literally see in the dark. 
• Insignia 32-inch F20 Fire TV: $80 (save $50) . A TV as cheap as they come capable of 720p and access to thousands of channels, apps and Alexa. 

Prime Day laptop and tablet deals

There are so many great laptops available today that it's very difficult to buy a bad one, but it never hurts when you also manage to pick one up at a discount as well. For more amazing savings on laptops, take a look at our hub of the hottest Prime Day laptop deals live now.

• Apple M2 MacBook Air: $799 (save $200) . This previous-gen model is a great option for budget-conscious buyers.
• Apple M3 MacBook Air: $999 (save $100) . If you have a little more cash to spend and want the M3 chip, you can save $100 off Apple's latest MacBook Air.
• M3 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro 512GB: $1,699 (save $300) . Sporting an M3 Pro chip, this is a solid and fast machine.
• M3 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro 512GB: $1,999 (save $500) . The massive 16-inch screen makes for a great workstation base.
• Lenovo 2-in-1 student laptop: $326 (save $43) . A super compact model for carrying anywhere.
• Acer Aspire A315 slim 15-inch laptop: $300 (save $22) . A low-cost option with a large screen.
• HP 14-inch HD laptop: $289 (save $100 with on-page coupon) . This budget-friendly laptop comes with a 1-year subscription to Microsoft 365 -- which makes it perfect for back to school.
• HP 17-inch HD+ laptop: $553 (save $77) . A solid laptop with a big screen and plenty of room for large files with 1TB of storage.
• Lenovo IdeaPad 15.6-inch laptop: $305 (save $54) . A portable, low-cost Windows laptop with large screen.
• Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro 16-inch laptop: $1,700 (save $350) . A high-end laptop sporting a premium AMOLED touchscreen display.
• Asus Vivobook 16 laptop: $500 (save $100) : This laptop offers great graphics with an AMD Radeon graphics card.
• AceMagic 16.1-inch laptop: $600 (save $1,100) . Well over a grand in savings to be had for this gaming laptop with an AMD Ryzen 7, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD and FHD display.
• ApoloSign 15.6-inch laptop: $350 (save $650) . A record-low price with an additional $50 coupon.
• Asus TUG Gaming F15: $785 (save $115) . 
• Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet: $70 (save $95) . The lowest price we've seen for the 2021 tablet, which comes with a  12-hour battery life, 32GB storage and a bright 1080p full HD display. 
• Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet: $160 (save $120) . An 11-inch screen capable of 2.4 million pixels, an octa-core processor, 14 hour battery and an aluminum design makes up this tablet. 
• Amazon 7-inch Fire tablet: $50 (save $30) . A great on-the-go tablet with a 10-hour battery life. 

Prime Day smart home deals

Smart lights, security cameras and so much more makes the world of smart home and technology more exciting than ever. Setting up a smart home can be costly, but these deals certainly help lighten the load. If you want to make your home the smartest one on the block. check out more Prime Day Amazon device deals to see what else you can add to your home. 

• Kasa outdoor smart plug: $15 (save $5 with on-page coupon) . This plug has a dimmer for outdoor sting lights and is compatible with Alexa, Google and more.
• Kasa A19 smart light bulb: $7 (save $10 with on-page coupon) . No hub required for this dimmable smart bulb.
• TP-Link Tapo 2K pan tilt security camera: $22 (save $13) . An indoor cam packed with features including local storage.
• TP-Link Tapo Smart Plug Mini (3-pack): $21 (save $29 with on-page coupon) . Time your appliance's downtime with ease using these Wi-Fi plugs.
• Echo Show 15: $220 (save $60) . A massive smart display with both Alexa and Fire TV built-in.
• Nooie baby monitor 360-degree camera: $45 (save $25 with on-page coupon) . Keep an eye on your baby or toddler.
• Amazon smart plug: $13 (save $12) . Make any outlet smarter with this Alexa-enabled plug. 
• August Home smart lock: $166 (save $64) . Upgrade your deadbolt to this auto-locking model.
• Ring video doorbell: $50 (save $50) . Check who's at your door with motion alerts and two-way audio.
• Blink Outdoor 4 security camera (3-pack): $100 (save $160) . Grab three outdoor cameras to keep an eye on things.
• Blink Outdoor 4 floodlight camera: $65 ($65) . Improve your nighttime home security system at with this floodlight-plus-camera.
• Echo Dot (5th gen): $25 (save $25) . Powerful sound from a small smart speaker.
• Echo Spot: $45 (save $35) . A newly released smart alarm clock with Alexa built in.
• Blink Video doorbell: $30 (save $30) . Use wired or wire-free and get two-way audio, motion alerts and more.
• Amazon Echo fourth gen: $55 (save $45) . Get premium sound and access Alexa with this smart hub
• Chamberlain smart garage control hub: $17 (save $13 ). Open, close and monitor your garage door from an App. 
• Amazon smart air quality monitor: $47 (save $23) . Track and measure air quality for less than ever. 
• Amazon Eero 6+ mesh Wi-Fi router: $160 (save $80) . Gain faster internet speed throughout every corner of your house.
• Eve Energy Strip Apple triple outlet and power meter: $82 (save $18) . Never run out of plug space again for your iPhone and iPad. 
• Govee RGBIC LED strip lights: $10 (save $5 with on-page coupon) . Customizable lights for any mood.
• TP-Link Tapo indoor security camera: $15 (save $10) . The Tapo C100 offers a cheap and convenient way to monitor your home, pets and more while you're away.
• Shark AI Ultra robot vacuum: $295 (save $304) . Get this smart voice-controlled robot vacuum for over half price.

Prime Day home and kitchen deals

Whether you're looking to replace your old kitchen blender or upgrade your cleaning tools in your home there are many devices, and more importantly, deals, that can help you out. If none of these speak to you, check out the whole list we created of the best Prime Day deals under $100 , which we will obviously keep updated regularly. 

• Ninja Creami 7-in-1 ice cream smoothie maker: $150 (save $50) . Make ice cream, gelato, smoothies, milkshakes on the fly. 
• Olany memory foam bath mat: $6 (save $3 with on-page coupon) . Plush and gentle on the feet. 
• KitchenAid classic tilt stand mixer: $250 (save $79) . Available in black or white, baking has never been easier. 
• Breville Barista Express espresso machine: $550 (save $200) . Skip the line at Starbucks and have your espresso, cappuccinos and lattes in the comfort of your own kitchen. 
• Bissell CleanView compact upright vacuum: $65 (save $15) . Perfect for apartments and dorms. 
• Bedsure Double Stitch queen comforter set: $80 (save $50 with on-page coupon) . Includes two shams and a quilt. 
• Roborock S7 Max Ultra robot vacuum: $800 (save $500) . Nobody enjoys cleaning their own homes and this robot vacuum does it for you.
• Hatch Restore 2 sunrise alarm clock: $145 (save $55) . Slowly ease into your day with a gentle wakeup call instead of a jarring alarm.
• Gozney Roccbox outdoor pizza oven: $399 (save $100) . A gas-fueled pizza oven that can get you a piping-hot pizza in 60 seconds. 
• Nextmug self-heating coffee mug: $100 (save $30) . Keep your coffee piping hot with this smart mug.
• KitchenAid 9-speed hand mixer: $80 (save $30) . Combine ingredients with ease using this nine-speed hand mixer.
• Vegetable Chopper: $15 (save $19 with an extra 10% with coupon) . Reduce the time you spend chopping vegetables in the kitchen with this nifty tool.
• Stanley Quencer 30oz travel tumbler: $35 . Down to its lowest price at the retailer, this is now the number one best-selling item in kitchen and dining and is limited in stock. 
• KitchenAid soft silicone oven mitt: $15 (save $20) . Durable, heat resistance everyday oven mitts
• iRobot Roomba Combo i3: $330 (save $270) . This robot vacuum cleaner will keep your home clean, and automatically empty its bin for up to 60 days. 
• LivTee Car Seat Headrest Hook: $5 (save $6) . This car seat rest hook will let you hang anything from purses, to coats and even grocery bags with ease. 
• Wool Dryer Balls - XL: $12 (save $8) . Prevent wrinkles and reduce your drying time on a budget
• Calphalon 10-piece non-stick cookware set: $140 (save $70) . No kitchen is complete without good cookware, and it's even better when it's on sale.
• Dove beauty bars (8-pack): $8 (save $4) . You can never have too many bars of soap and you can't go wrong with Dove's shea butter and vanilla bars.

When is Amazon Prime Day?

Just about ever year, Prime Day happens mid-July. The tradition is continuing this year as well. The official Prime Day deals begin on July 16 and continue through July 17 . This year is 10th anniversary of the Prime Day sale. We still have a few days to go until the sale officially kicks off but the deals are already coming in super hot. 

What is Amazon Prime Day?

Prime Day is Amazon's annual shopping event that has exclusive deals for Prime members . If you're not a Prime member there still may be a few deals for you, but members get the best of the best deals on this day. If you're not a member yet don't worry, there's still time to sign up, possibly even for free . There will be deals in just about every category possible. This includes tech, home, kitchen, toys and more. Your favorite brands love to celebrate this unofficial holiday such as Apple , Roku , and more. 

How do I find the best deals during Prime Day?

With so many deals coming out left and right in honor of Prime Day, it can get difficult trying to chose which deals to run for and which ones to pass on. A few things to remember are to keep an open mind, grab what you want before it sells out, and don't be scared to branch out to other retailers. Competitors such as Best Buy and Walmart are trying to keep up with Amazon and are dropping some pretty great discounts as well. 

And most importantly, keep tabs on us. We have many different hubs for different types of deals. We update all of these hubs regularly, saving you the time and effort of digging through thousands of deals. Some of our hubs include the best Prime Day deals on headphones , TVs , Amazon devices , laptops , and even graphics cards . Plus so much more. And for the budget-savvy shopper, we have hubs for Prime Day deals under $50, under $25, and even under $10, helping you save some really big coin. Check out all of our Prime Day content so you don't miss anything. 

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