Zero K : A Novel

The wisest, richest, funniest, and most moving novel in years from Don DeLillo, one of the great American novelists of our time-an ode to language, at the heart of our humanity, a meditation on death, and an embrace of life. Jeffrey Lockhart's father, Ross, is a billionaire in his sixties, with a younger wife, Artis Martineau, whose health is failing. Ross is the primary investor in a remote and secret compound where death is exquisitely controlled and bodies are preserved until a future time when biomedical advances and new technologies can return them to a life of transcendent promise. Jeff joins Ross and Artis at the compound to say "an uncertain farewell" to her as she surrenders her body. "We are born without choosing to be. Should we have to die in the same manner' Isn't it a human glory to refuse to accept a certain fate'" These are the questions that haunt the novel and its memorable characters, and it is Ross Lockhart, most particularly, who feels a deep need to enter another dimension and awake to a new world. For his son, this is indefensible. Jeff, the book's narrator, is committed to living, to experiencing "the mingled astonishments of our time, here, on earth." Don DeLillo's seductive, spectacularly observed and brilliant new novel weighs the darkness of the world-terrorism, floods, fires, famine, plague-against the beauty and humanity of everyday life; love, awe, "the intimate touch of earth and sun." Zero K is glorious The Richest, Wisest, Funniest, And Most Moving Novel In Years From Don Delillo, One Of The Great American Novelists Of Our Time-- An Ode To Language, The Heart Of Our Humanity; A Meditation On Death And An Embrace Of Life. Jeffrey Lockhart's Father, Ross, Is A George Soros-like Billionaire Now In His Sixties, With A Younger Wife, Artis, Whose Health Is Failing. Ross Is The Primary Investor In A Deeply Remote And Secret Compound Where Death Is Controlled And Bodies Are Preserved Until A Future Moment When Medicine And Technology Can Reawaken Them. Jeffrey Joins Ross And Artis At The Compound To Say An Uncertain Farewell To Her As She Surrenders Her Body. Ross Lockhart Is Not Driven By The Hope For Immortality, For Power And Wealth Beyond The Grave. He Is Driven By Love For His Wife, For Artis, Without Whom He Feels Life Is Not Worth Living. It Is That Which Compels Him To Submit To Death Long Before His Time. Jeffrey Heartily Disapproves. He Is Committed To Living, To The Mingled Astonishments Of Our Time, Here, On Earth. Thus Begins An Emotionally Resonant Novel That Weighs The Darkness Of The World-- Terrorism, Floods, Fires, Famine, Death-- Against The Beauty Of Everyday Life; Love, Awe, The Intimate Touch Of Earth And Sun. Brilliantly Observed And Infused With Humor, Don Delillo's Zero K Is An Acute Observation About The Fragility And Meaning Of Life, About Embracing Our Family, This World, Our Language, And Our Humanity. Jeffrey Lockhart's Father, Ross, Is A Billionaire With A Younger Wife, Artis, Whose Health Is Failing. Ross Is The Primary Investor In A Secret Compound Where Death Is Controlled Until New Technologies Will Offer To Return The Patients To Life. Jeffrey Grapples With Artis's Choice To Enter The Compound, Instead Of Embracing The Life She Has Left. Don Delillo. A New York Times Notable Book A New York Times bestseller, "DeLillo's haunting new novel, Zero K #8212;his most persuasive since his astonishing 1997 masterpiece, Underworld " ( The New York Times ), is a meditation on death and an embrace of life. Jeffrey Lockhart's father, Ross, is a billionaire in his sixties, with a younger wife, Artis Martineau, whose health is failing. Ross is the primary investor in a remote and secret compound where death is exquisitely controlled and bodies are preserved until a future time when biomedical advances and new technologies can return them to a life of transcendent promise. Jeff joins Ross and Artis at the compound to say "an uncertain farewell" to her as she surrenders her body. "We are born without choosing to be. Should we have to die in the same manner? Isn't it a human glory to refuse to accept a certain fate?" These are the questions that haunt the novel and its memorable characters, and it is Ross Lockhart, most particularly, who feels a deep need to enter another dimension and awake to a new world. For his son, this is indefensible. Jeff, the book's narrator, is committed to living, to experiencing "the mingled astonishments of our time, here, on earth." Don DeLillo's "daring...provocative...exquisite" ( The Washington Post ) new novel weighs the darkness of the world#8212;terrorism, floods, fires, famine, plague#8212;against the beauty and humanity of everyday life; love, awe, "the intimate touch of earth and sun." "One of the most mysterious, emotionally moving, and rewarding books of DeLillo's long career" ( The New York Times Book Review ), Zero K is a glorious, soulful novel from one of the great writers of our time Don Delillo's finest novel since Underworld - An o de to language and humanity, a meditation on death and an embrace of life. Jeffrey Lockhart's father, Ross, is a billionaire in his sixties, with a younger wife, Artis, whose health is failing. Ross is the primary investor in a remote and secret compound where death is exquisitely controlled and bodies are preserved until a future time when biomedical advances and new technologies can return them to a life of transcendent promise. Jeff joins Ross and Artis at the compound to say "an uncertain farewell" as she surrenders her body. "We are born without choosing to be. Should we have to die in the same manner? Isn't it a human glory to refuse to accept a certain fate?" These are the questions that haunt the novel and its memorable characters, and it is Ross Lockhart, most particularly, who feel a deep need to enter another dimension and awake to a new world. For his son, this is indefensible. Jeff, the book's narrator, is committed to experiencing "the mingled astonishments of our lives, here, on earth." Don DeLillo's seductive, spectacularly observed and brilliant new novel weighs the darkness of the world - terrorism, floods, fires, famine, plague - against the beauty and humanity of everyday life, love, awe, "the intimate touch of each and sun." Zero K is a glorious, soulful novel from one of the great writers of our time. -- From dust jacket