Human Brain contains several different memory banks, the autobiographical memory which records events we have experienced personally labeled with time and place, the long term memory holds general knowledge and the stuff we learnt and practice, the short term memory holds information for few seconds where we keep a telephone number between looking it up in the directory and dialing it. Autobiographical amnesia is one in which the persons loses the first kind where he doesn’t know his identity and will not recognize his family and friends but remembers a great deal else. Don’t worry this is not a write-up on the Psychology of Memory, this is what forms the plot of Ken Follett’s CODE TO ZERO.
A man wakes up to find himself in the men’s room of an Union station. He is shocked to see himself in the mirror a dirty face with ragged clothes. He is not sure how he came there and realizes that he could not remember anything at all thus starts the story of Luke, Dr, Claude Lucas. In the search for his identity and the mystery behind his amnesia Luke uncovers the long kept secrets of his wife and his Harvard friend Anthony Carroll.
Dr Billie Josephson, a Psychologist by profession, a friend and a woman once loved by Luke helps him to unravel the mystery behind his amnesia which is linked to the America’s first Space Satellite rocket that’s stands ready on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral. Here starts the race to uncover the truth before the rocket is taken off.
An action packed exciting thriller with a nail biting climax will surely keep the readers on edge. The character of Luke who learns about himself in bits and pieces (the way he learns about his profession by browsing the books at the library) after losing his memory is well written, at one point when he says losing your memory is like a new start in life, like being born again its is appalling. Anthony Carroll who will do anything for the success of his mission keeps the reader guessing his moves.
Facts and Technical information on Explorer I and the Jupiter C missile at the beginning of each chapter is worth a read. This is my first book of Ken Follett, I liked his style of narration, the way he develops the characters and most importantly the suspense, which he maintains till the end is praise worthy wish to read more of his creations. Hope you would also enjoy this book so do try this next time when u want an electrifying suspense read.