Code to Zero

Amazon.com Review:
Veteran thriller writer Ken Follett (Eye of the Needle, The Third Twin, The Key to Rebecca) turns in another nifty story of espionage, deceit, and betrayal, a fast-paced read with "bestseller" written allover it. A man wakes up in a Washington, D.C., train station in 1958,shortly before the launch of Explorer I, America's first spacesatellite, with no idea who he is or how he got there. And in less thana few hours, it's clear that someone doesn't want him to find out. He'sdressed like a bum, and he looks like he's been on a bender. But he'sremarkably skillful at evading pursuit, obscuring his tracks, stealing acar, and breaking into a house. He's not sure how he came by thosetalents, and it worries him:

"I wonder if I'm honest?" Maybe it was foolish, he thought, topour out his heart to a whore on the street, but he had no one else. "Am Ia loyal husband and a loving father and a reliable workmate? Or am I somekind of gangster? I hate not knowing."

"Honey, if that's what's bothering you, I know what kind of guy you arealready. A gangster would be thinking, am I rich, do I slay the broads, arepeople scared of me?"

That was a point. Luke nodded. But he was not satisfied. "It's one thing towant to be a good person--but maybe I don't live up to what I believein."

But he does, and it's that firm interior moral compass that keeps him ontrack through the novel's most fascinating pages as he solves the puzzleof who he really is: Claude "Luke" Lucas, a renowned rocket scientist whowas en route from Cape Canaveral to Washington to warn someone in thePentagon about something he also can't remember, even with the help ofsome of his oldest friends. Like Anthony Carroll, a CIA agent who apparently has proof that Luke's been sabotaging the fledgling American space program and working for the Russians. And Billie Josephson, the woman Luke once loved, who happens to be an expert in brainwashing and memory loss. And Elspeth, Luke's mathematician wife, who'll do almost anything to save his life.

This is one of Follett's strongest books in years. The flashbacks bring thestory of the idealistic young collegians from World War II into 1958,nicely setting up the action in an exciting, solidly plotted, andsuspenseful read that grabs the reader by the throat in the first paragraphand doesn't let up until the last. --Jane Adams

Product Description:
At Cape Canaveral, a countdown has begun in January 1958. On launch pad 26B sitsExplorer 1, America's best hope to match the Soviet Sputnik and regain the leadin the race for the skies above. In the meanwhile, a man wakes to find himselflying on the ground in a railway station. And until he remembers who he is, hemay be left powerless to save the launch of Explorer and with it, America'sfuture.

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Customer Reviews

Rating: - Not bad -- five stars for writing style, three for plot and storyline
This one is a page turner, no doubt of that.However, the way the storyline turns out is completely unconvincing.I do not want to write a "spoiler" review, so I cannot be too specific.Suffice to say, the actions of Elspeth and Anthony make no sense whatsoever--none, nada.The story feels like Follett decided to begin with the mystery of Luke losing his memory, and then, after about 100+ pages, decides how to tie all of the facts together.But the way he accomplishes this conclusion is, quite ... Read More
Rating: - Another Great Follett Story
I love Ken Follett, he is probably my favorite author.This one doesn't disappoint in any way.It kept me wanting to keep reading!Keep writing Ken...we love your books!
Rating: - Engaging!
Great story and characters. And it is so well written that I forget I am reading. Ken Follett's writing in general has that quality...meaning, his words don't get in the way. I can get lost in these things. I loved it.
Rating: - When nice girls were virgins, gentlemen wore hats and Hudsons were not relics
This review is for the New American Library (Division of Penguin) softcover edition, December 2005, 372 pages. CODE TO ZERO was on the USA Today's Top 150 Best-Selling books list for twenty-two weeks achieving the peak position to fifteen. Ken Follett has ten novels on this best-seller list, which has tracked book sales since October 1993. Follett had other best sellers before then.

Around five in the morning, on January 29, 1958, a man wakes up in the men's room at Union Station, Washington ... Read More
Rating: - Now you know why this wasn't made into a HOLLYWOOD movie!
The story is about 5 people from Harvard University and their relationships with the governments of the two super powers. And it is also about the love triangle between the protagonist(Luke), Elspeth, and Billie.

Negative points about the story:
1. Elspeth used to work for the CIA, she gets angry over the actions of the CIA on Guatemala. She comes to a decision that she should deceive the US government, which I assume, in this case, is the CIA. But she works for the KGB(Russian spy agency) ... Read More