Rocketgirl's Full Review: Ken Follett - Code to Zero
That's a saying we use, when we want to say something isn't as difficult as we make it out to be. But in the case of this book, rocket science is exactly what we're talking about. It's the 1950s and America is behind in the space race. Russia has already sent a satellite into space. America is anxious to catch up, even though we aren't even sure yet what we hope to gain by sending rockets into outer space.
Claude Lucas is a NASA scientist with a secret regarding the latest American rocket. The only trouble is, he doesn't remember what it was. In fact, he doesn't even remember who he is. He wakes up one morning, in rags, in a train station in Washington D.C. He does not know who he is, how he got there, or where he was going.
Luke, as he is known, only knows his name is Luke because a fellow bum (actually an undercover CIA agent) called him that. And he sees a couple men who seem to be following him and so must know who he is. He tries to catch them following him, but cannot. Following a series of assumptions he makes about himself, he finds himself at a library. He reads some books about memory to try to understand what has happened to himself. He finds that basic knowledge is still remembered to victims such as himself, so starts scanning different subjects in the library. He finds the math is very easy. He starts looking at various scientific texts and comes across astronomy and eventually rocketry. He understands the texts completely and actually spots errors in the books. Through more hypothesis Luke gradually finds out more information about himself, including the fact that he has a secret that someone doesn't want revealed. Follow the quest as Luke tries to remember his past while trying to save the future.
Having read "Night over Water" and "The Third Twin" by Ken Follett I was prepared to enjoy this one too. And I did. Previously I had never picked up a book by Follett because I was under the impression they were spy novels, which I don't particularly enjoy. However, these three at least, are strictly suspense novels. This one was particularly suspenseful because of the fact that someone was after Luke the whole time. He did not know who, but the reader did, though not why. The reader gets to cheer on Luke, hoping he stays one step ahead of the bad guy.
Luke is helped by Billie, his old friend, who became a psychologist. It so happens she became an expert on memory. He doesn't remember his former relationship with her either. He is also helped by Bernie, Billie's ex-husband and his old friend from when they served in the army. There is plenty of background on these two and on Anthony and Elspeth, friends they all grew up with. In fact, there is too much, given through a series of flashbacks. This could have been shortened or eliminated altogether and just given in a couple pages. Suspense novels don't need endless characterization.
The plot was especially unique. A guy with important knowledge, suddenly forgets what that knowledge is. Then someone wants to make sure he never remembers. I don't think I've ever come across such a plot before. Three cheers for coming up with something unique. Also, setting this during the Cold War 1950s is unique for these post-Cold War times. The modern threat isn't Russia any more, so it was interesting that a book written in 2000 used such a setting.
My biggest complaint would be the ending. It seemed a bit rushed as if the author ran out of steam and hurried up to end it. I will say that I did not guess who the accomplice was until the end. I was also cheated out of the bad guys getting their just desserts. They needed to get hauled away by the police and publicly humiliated but that didn't happen.
All in all, though, I enjoyed the book very much. It was fast-paced and an easy ready. I just scanned over the flashback parts to make sure I wasn't missing something critical and I wasn't. There is a fair amount of dialogue and very short chapters, which helps make the book a quick read. There is no sex or profanity, described or implied, in the book. There is one violent scene but it isn't graphically described. A good adventure yarn with the good guys winning in the end. I'll be looking for others by Ken Follett. His novels really do run the gamut with many types of action/suspense. Try one.
In January, 1958, America's best hope to catch up with the Russians in the space race sits on a pad at Cape Canaveral. But the launch of the "Explorer...More at HotBookSale
In this classic Cold War thriller, #1 New York Times bestselling author Ken Follett puts his own electrifying twist on the space race between the U.S....More at Buy.com Marketplaces
In January, 1958, America s best hope to catch up with the Russians in the space race sits on a pad at Cape Canaveral. But the launch of the Explorer ...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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