‘Code to Zero’ – Ken Follett

“GRIPPING” – The New York Times.
Gripping is possibly one word which describes ‘Code to Zero’ the best. The espionage story makes you turn the pages continuously, and never lets you put the book down for long.
The story moves back and forth between the 1940s and the latter part of 1950. It revolves around Dr. Claude Lucas, or Luke, a NASA rocket scientist who has discovered a secret so terrible; his enemies wipe off his memory to keep themselves safe.
The future of the American space research lies in the just-to-be-launched Explorer I and the Russians are trying their best to keep America from gaining supremacy in the area of space research. And the Explorer I is the de facto hero of the story, who everyone is either trying to protect or destroy.
The story also describes friendships at Harvard, friendships whose definitions are forever changing. Luke’s relationships with Anthony (his roommate), Elspeth (a Radcliff redhead, his girlfriend) and Billie (Bilhah Josephson, who he has fallen for) and their relationships with each other, all play major roles in the story.
The book traces the lives of these people and how they change over the years under the influence of the cold war and emerging communism. All these converge in a very fast ending, which is too convenient, but not entirely unrealistic.
The best thing about the book is how the story keeps moving into flashback, but still never confuses you. And a major minus point is that, it doesn’t spring any surprises. It is not a ‘whodunnit’ but a ‘howdunnit’. And Follett succeeds in making you read the book in spite of that.
Trust, betrayal, love, loyalty, patriotism, all find a place in the book. ‘Code to Zero’ is ingenious and entertaining. It makes good reading.