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BLACKOUT - Morgen ist es zu spät by Marc Elsberg book cover
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Fiction

BLACKOUT - Morgen ist es zu spät

Roman - Der SPIEGEL-Bestseller verfilmt als Serie mit Moritz Bleibtreu in der Hauptrolle

Photo of Marc Elsbergby Marc Elsberg
Pages
📄 641
Published
📅 2012
Read time
⏱️ ~18h
Language
🌐 EN
ISBN
🔖 9783641074319
✅ Who should read this: Fans of techno-thrillers, cyber-security enthusiasts, and anyone interested in realistic disaster scenarios and modern infrastructure.

📘 About This Book

„800 Thriller-Seiten vom Feinsten, auf denen Elsberg es versteht, ein erschreckendes und erschreckend realistisches Bild eines Blackouts zu zeichnen.“ ntv.de An einem kalten Februartag brechen in Europa alle Stromnetze zusammen. Der totale Blackout. Der italienische Informatiker Piero Manzano vermutet einen Hackerangriff und versucht, die Behörden zu warnen – erfolglos. Als Europol-Kommissar Bollard ihm endlich zuhört, tauchen in Manzanos Computer dubiose Emails auf, die den Verdacht auf ihn selbst lenken. Er ist ins Visier eines Gegners geraten, der ebenso raffiniert wie gnadenlos ist. Unterdessen liegt ganz Europa im Dunkeln, und der Kampf ums Überleben beginnt ... Von Bild der Wissenschaft zum spannendsten Wissensbuch des Jahres 2012 gekürt — »Elsberg flicht vier Handlungsfäden zu einem atemberaubenden Spannungsstrang zusammen.« Lesen Sie auch den aktuellen Thriller von Marc Elsberg: EDEN - Wenn das Sterben beginnt Außerdem erhältlich: BLACKOUT als Premiumausgabe – mit einer exklusiven Kurzgeschichte von Marc Elsberg und weiteren Extras! ZERO: Sie wissen, was du tust HELIX: Sie werden uns ersetzen GIER: Wie weit würdest du gehen? Der Fall des Präsidenten °C – Celsius EDEN - Wenn das Sterben beginnt

📖 Summary

Blackout - Morgen ist es zu spät by Marc Elsberg is a gripping and meticulously researched 2012 techno-thriller that plunges readers into a modern nightmare: the complete and sudden collapse of Europe's electrical grid. Set on a cold February day, the novel unfolds across 641 pages to reveal how utterly dependent contemporary society is on continuous power. The story kicks off when power grids across the continent fail simultaneously, plunging millions into darkness, freezing temperatures, and chaos. Traffic lights fail, communication networks collapse, water purification plants grind to a halt, and hospitals struggle to maintain emergency power. Amidst this spreading panic, an Italian computer scientist and former hacker named Piero Manzano notices a terrifying pattern in the grid's failure and suspects a coordinated cyberattack. Manzano attempts to sound the alarm and warn the authorities, but he is initially met with bureaucratic indifference and skepticism. It is only when Europol investigator Bollard finally listens to his warnings that the true gravity of the situation begins to emerge. However, the plot thickens dangerously when suspicious emails suddenly appear on Manzano's own computer, framing him as the mastermind behind the catastrophic cyberattack. Having inadvertently fallen into the crosshairs of a ruthless and highly sophisticated adversary, Manzano must race against time to prove his innocence while dodging capture. Meanwhile, the narrative weaves together multiple compelling threads, tracing the harrowing grassroots struggle for survival across a paralyzed Europe. Ordinary citizens, emergency workers, and political leaders must navigate escalating crises as food supplies dwindle, heating fails, and social order begins to disintegrate. Awarded the title of most exciting science book of the year in 2012 by Bild der Wissenschaft, Elsberg's novel transcends standard thriller tropes by grounding its terrifying scenario in rigorous scientific and infrastructural reality. The book forces readers to confront the fragile nature of modern civilization, demonstrating how quickly society can unravel when the electricity goes out. Through its breathless pacing, intricate plotting, and realistic depiction of grid vulnerability, Blackout delivers an unforgettable cautionary tale about the unseen networks that sustain our daily lives and the catastrophic consequences when they fail.

🎯 Key Lessons

1Modern civilization is dangerously dependent on a continuous and uninterrupted electrical supply.
2Critical infrastructure is vulnerable to sophisticated and coordinated cyberattacks.
3Bureaucracy and skepticism can severely delay necessary responses to impending technological crises.
4Social order can disintegrate rapidly within days of a major resource or power failure.
5Interconnected modern systems mean that a failure in one region quickly cascades across international borders.

⚖️ Pros & Cons

✅ Pros

Erschreckend realistic and well-researched depiction of infrastructural vulnerability

Fast-paced narrative with multiple engaging plot threads

Thought-provoking exploration of society's dependence on technology

High-stakes mystery involving a clever framed protagonist and a ruthless adversary

⚠️ Cons

Can be terrifying and anxiety-inducing for readers concerned about real-world infrastructure

Lengthy page count may be daunting for casual thriller readers

✍️ About the Author

❓ FAQ

Who is the author of Blackout? +

The book was written by Marc Elsberg and published in 2012.

What triggers the events in the book? +

The story begins when electrical power grids across Europe suddenly and simultaneously fail on a cold February day.

Who is Piero Manzano? +

Piero Manzano is an Italian computer scientist and former hacker who suspects a cyberattack and tries to warn authorities.

How long is the book? +

The German edition of the novel spans 641 pages.

Did the book win any awards? +

Yes, it was voted the most exciting science book of the year in 2012 by Bild der Wissenschaft.

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