A man with no memory. A race with no rules.
--This text refers to an alternate
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Code To Zero
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Amazon Review
A man wakes up in ragged clothes in a back-alley with a headache, no memory and an equally shabby companion who assures him that this is an everyday occurrence. What distinguishes Luke, hero of Ken Follett's effective new thriller Code to Zero, is that he realises so very rapidly that the absence of any desire for alcohol means that he is being lied to. Smart and resourceful, but no superman, Luke's personal memories are gone, but his skills are still there--skills he realises he learned in WW2. Follett's sense of the conflicts and loyalties of the late Eisenhower 50s, with Sputnik in the sky and its American equivalent about to launch, is spot on; he is excellent on the game of shadows played by the early CIA men like Luke's old friend turned enemy Anthony, and the reasons why some people retained treasonable allegiance to Stalinism for so long. His management of shifts of time and viewpoint is slick and professional, but he also remembers what all this is for; the back story of Anthony, Luke, Luke's wife Elspeth and Billy, the woman whom Luke once loved and who holds the key to his mind, is intensely credible and moving. --Roz Kaveney
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Book Description
Three days that could change the world's political landscape . . . A man wakes up to find himself lying on the ground in a railway station, his mind stripped bare of all recollection. He has no idea how he got there. He does not even know his own name. Convinced he is a drunken down and out, it isn't until a newspaper report about a satellite launch catches his eye that he begins to suspect all is not what it seems . . . The year is 1958, and America is about to launch its first satellite, in a desperate attempt to match the Soviet Sputnik and regain the lead in the space race. As Luke Lucas gradually unravels the mystery of his amnesia, he realizes that his fate is bound up with that of the rocket that stands ready on launch pad 26B at Cape Canaveral. And as he relearns the story of his life, he uncovers long-kept secrets about his wife, his best friend and the woman he once loved more than life itself . . .
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 35 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Having been a long-time fan of Mr Follett's early work, I was a bit disappointed by his last two novels (The Third Twin & The Hammer of Eden).
"Code to Zero", which is again set in the Eastern US, starts off quite well and is an entertaining read over all, but after finishing it (which doesn't take very long at barely 300 pages net) I found it suffered from the same flaws that Ken Follett's other recent novels had: it's just too superficial.
The lost memory idea is not really new, but a gifted author like Mr Follett should have made so much more out of a pretty simple storyline. Like its two predecessors, "Code to Zero" reads like a TV-thriller script which includes a strangely shallow love interest sideline.
I'd rather wait two or even three years for a new Follett novel that's up to the standards of "The Pillars of the Earth", "Night Over Water" or "Eye of the Needle" than be slightly disappointed again by another rush-job like the new book.
I really wish this review could've been more positive, but in comparison to earlier Follett classics "Code to Zero" is a terribly flat affair.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Espionage is at the core of this Cold War era thriller and the suspense sizzles. The time is 1958 when the space race was young and the Soviets seemed to be outdistancing the America. The protagonist is an inventive, complex study - he's Dr. Claude Lucas, an important cog in a new space launch. However, he's also a victim of amnesia, an apparent vagrant in Washington D.C.'s Union Station. Toss in the CIA, a covey of spies, and an old college buddy of Lucas's who is more foe than friend. Some might deem this a classic take on chased and chasers - not so. Thanks to the deft Mr. Follett, it's a no-holds-barred, riveting epic. And, so are the readings. Frank Muller, who has been featured on over 150 audiobooks, offers a splendid rendering of crisp, character driven dialogue in the two abridged versions on cassette and CD. While Obie award-winner George Guidall, an actor for 40 plus years, reads the unabridged version. He takes sinister and dramatic to their zenith.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
This book had me reading it at all hours wanting to know what was going to happen next. This is the first Ken Follett book I have read so I can not compare it to others but I will certainly be reading others. The book at nearly "400" pages may have been a little short for some people but over all a good read and gets my thumbs up!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Code To Zero
Any Ken Follett book is worth picking up! His story telling is gripping and exciting and you will find it pulling you back for a repeat read
Published 16 days ago by Mr. R. Evans
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just could not put the book down
What an excellent story, it had my heart racing many times over, I read this one whilst I was unwell
It certainly took my mind off of my health problem. Read more
It certainly took my mind off of my health problem. Read more
Published 27 days ago by Alan Coutts
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good story creative plot
Cold war tale of espionage in the US space programme. Creative story telling well constructed plot,, definitely worth a read.
Published 1 month ago by Paul Unsworth
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another great read from Ken Follett
After reading some of Ken Follet's blockbusters including Fall of Giants and Winter of the World, I was hooked. Read more
Published 1 month ago by F. Thomas
5.0 out of 5 stars
Code to Zero
An excellent book, as expected from Ken Follett. His research is always well carried out and the story really makes you want to keep on reading.
Published 2 months ago by Mrs E Coney
3.0 out of 5 stars
Okay
Not the most riveting Ken Follett I have read, it is about average for a spook book. Lots of twists but I think the baddie is pretty obvious from the beginning.
Published 3 months ago by Janet Stuckey
4.0 out of 5 stars
Ripping Thriller!
Another good book by Mr. Follett. Fast paced and entertaining. Good characterisation and a gripping plot. I enjoy this author's work immensely.
Published 3 months ago by Chris
3.0 out of 5 stars
Average
Ken Follett's books are always light relief: a good read. I chose this one because of the low price (I think I got it as a special offer) and the 4 star average rating by reviewers... Read more
Published 4 months ago by W. Tegner
3.0 out of 5 stars
Very enjoyable
Good read this one. Fast moving and unpredictable. Interestingly set during the height of the Cold War. Recommended to all Follett followers
Published 4 months ago by brian chard
2.0 out of 5 stars
I can't remember the detail!
The fact I can't remember it does not speak well of this book. You should not give much weight to this assessment!
Published 5 months ago by Mrs Penelope Mitchell
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