Code to Zero

Ken Follett

Nov 2010 · Pan Macmillan

About this ebook

Code to Zero is a fast-paced thriller about the satellite space race in the Cold War, from the master of suspense and author of The Pillars of the Earth, Ken Follett.

A Man with No Memory
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 suspects all is not what it seems . . .

A Race for the Future
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.

A World on the Brink
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. But even more terrifying is the dark secret they tried to make him forget, a secret that threatens America’s survival.

Ratings and reviews

Unputdownable. My wife hates this book, because I sat down to read it and didn't move for 10 hours until I'd finished it.

This had me gripped from page one to the last page. The short chapters and constantly moving pace of the story held my attention throughout.

Absolutely brilliant. As always with Ken Follet masterfully written and researched. Didn't want it to end.

About the author

Ken Follett was born in Cardiff, Wales. Barred from watching films and television by his parents, he developed an early interest in reading thanks to a local library. After studying philosophy at University College London, he became involved in centre-left politics, entering into journalism soon after. His first thriller, the wartime spy drama Eye of the Needle, became an international bestseller and has sold over 10 million copies. He then astonished everyone with his first historical novel, The Pillars of the Earth, the story of the building of a medieval cathedral, which went on to become one of the most beloved books of the twentieth century. One of the most popular authors in the world, his many books, including the Kingsbridge series and the Century trilogy, have sold more than 178 million copies. A father and husband, Ken lives with his wife in England and enjoys travelling the world when he can.