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jenaje's review
4.0
I should have read this book years ago. I bought it probably 10 years ago and it's been sitting on my shelves unread ever since, for no good reason. Good story, reliant on some coincidences and luck to work.
tabea_sph_'s review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
rimahsum's review
1.0
Got this book thinking it'd be a great read - and how disappointed I was. (I'm writing this review 2 years after I read it by the way). But from my own reaction two years ago to the book, I remember being bored to death reading it, where the countdown was how fast I could just finish this book. Quite disappointing from a book I thought would offer more in terms of 'awe' and story line.
taetris's review against another edition
3.0
In this thriller, Luke wakes up in a public bathroom without his memory. He doesn't know his name or how he ended up there. As the story unfolds, he learns that his life is tied up with the launch of the first American satellite into space.
This story is immensly readable. The pages fly by. However, there are flaws. The memory-losing-trope is difficult to do, in my opinion. In this one, the reactions of characters finding out about Luke's memory loss were a bit off - they sounded too matter-of-fact. Also, information that the reader already knew was repeated, which was a bit jarring.
As concerns the plot:
Not Follett's best work, but entertaining.
This story is immensly readable. The pages fly by. However, there are flaws. The memory-losing-trope is difficult to do, in my opinion. In this one, the reactions of characters finding out about Luke's memory loss were a bit off - they sounded too matter-of-fact. Also, information that the reader already knew was repeated, which was a bit jarring.
As concerns the plot:
Spoiler
One of the main points is that communist spies in America have been feeding the Soviets information about the American space programme, which is why they sent a satellite up first. That seems a very American thing to say. The only way the Soviets could possibly have beat the US was by stealing their ideas. So if the US had this information that the Soviets supposedly used to get into space, why did they not use it to get into space sooner?Not Follett's best work, but entertaining.
amsbennet's review against another edition
4.0
I found the book highly entertaining ; very good writing but slightly disappointing in the last chapters.
They'll keep you on the edge of your seat alright, but once you find out the motives of the characters... It seems unjustified given the level of suspense and thrill .
However,still remains highly recommended and glad it was my first Follett.
They'll keep you on the edge of your seat alright, but once you find out the motives of the characters... It seems unjustified given the level of suspense and thrill .
However,still remains highly recommended and glad it was my first Follett.
russellcw's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
letizia22's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
racinghiro's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
alexctelander's review
3.0
Code to Zero is the latest from bestselling author, Ken Follett, who has brought us such greats as The Eye of the Needle and The Pillars of the Earth. Code to Zero involves the violent competition between the United States and the Soviet Union in the race to get rockets and manned spacecraft up into space. The year is 1958, the Soviet Union has already launched a rocket, Sputnik, and America is being left behind. Their only hope is the Explorer I rocket. Past rockets have all failed, and if this one fails, that will be it for the United States.
The book opens with the main character, Luke, waking up in the restroom at a train station in Washington DC. He is dressed in rags, reeks of booze, has no money, and his friend is a fellow hobo. He has no recollection of his past, how he got to be where he is, or who he is for that matter.
So begins this fast-paced novel of espionage, deceit, conspiracy and Soviet spies. As the story continues, Luke discovers, slow inch by inch, details of his past and who he is. Juxtaposed with this is the necessary launching of the Explorer I rocket. Luke discovers that is someone important, related to the Explorer 1 launching, and that there was something he trying to do to prevent a possible sabotaging of the Explorer 1.
As we pursue the present, we are given chapters in Luke’s past and his friends from Harvard. The girls in his life, and his best friend; none of which he can remember, but the read is made privy to these details.
It is not until the last fourth of the book that further details are revealed, where his best friend and even his wife are not who he thinks they are. The only help he has is from a girl who he loved at one point, but didn’t talk to for years due to an unmentioned aborting – the death of his son. But now this woman who he never trusted is his only help, the only one who is on his side and the one person he can use to prevent the launching of the Explorer 1 an make it a fantastic exploding firework display – the failure of the Capitalists and the triumph of the Communists.
Ken Follett does a great service to the spy novel of the Cold War, keeping true to the particular time frame, when the CIA was in its infant stages, the Korean War was over, and the Vietnam War had yet to begin.
If one has a penchant for faced-paced spy novels, with the Yanks against the Ruskies, this is the book for you.
Originally published on March 12th 2001 ©Alex C. Telander.
For over 500 book reviews, and over 40 exclusive author interviews (both audio and written), visit BookBanter.
The book opens with the main character, Luke, waking up in the restroom at a train station in Washington DC. He is dressed in rags, reeks of booze, has no money, and his friend is a fellow hobo. He has no recollection of his past, how he got to be where he is, or who he is for that matter.
So begins this fast-paced novel of espionage, deceit, conspiracy and Soviet spies. As the story continues, Luke discovers, slow inch by inch, details of his past and who he is. Juxtaposed with this is the necessary launching of the Explorer I rocket. Luke discovers that is someone important, related to the Explorer 1 launching, and that there was something he trying to do to prevent a possible sabotaging of the Explorer 1.
As we pursue the present, we are given chapters in Luke’s past and his friends from Harvard. The girls in his life, and his best friend; none of which he can remember, but the read is made privy to these details.
It is not until the last fourth of the book that further details are revealed, where his best friend and even his wife are not who he thinks they are. The only help he has is from a girl who he loved at one point, but didn’t talk to for years due to an unmentioned aborting – the death of his son. But now this woman who he never trusted is his only help, the only one who is on his side and the one person he can use to prevent the launching of the Explorer 1 an make it a fantastic exploding firework display – the failure of the Capitalists and the triumph of the Communists.
Ken Follett does a great service to the spy novel of the Cold War, keeping true to the particular time frame, when the CIA was in its infant stages, the Korean War was over, and the Vietnam War had yet to begin.
If one has a penchant for faced-paced spy novels, with the Yanks against the Ruskies, this is the book for you.
Originally published on March 12th 2001 ©Alex C. Telander.
For over 500 book reviews, and over 40 exclusive author interviews (both audio and written), visit BookBanter.
andreamallia's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75