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A review by omarahmad
Zero K by Don DeLillo
4.0
Re Publica Mortis:
“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?”
Don Delillo's latest novel is centered around the theme of Death. 'Life' and 'Death' are posited as merely opposite sides of the same spectrum with either one affirming the other instead of siloing them into mutually exclusive entities that are forever opposed to each other (as per the treatment meted out by our everyday language) .
In line with this argument, the plot unfolds at a subterranean Cryonic facility where frozen bodies of the dead are preserved at a temperature of -273.15 degrees celsius until a future time when biomedical advances will prolong human life indefinitely, thereby allowing mankind to finally realize the dream of immortality.
In keeping with the central theme, the storytelling too is marked with dark destructive images of terrorism, floods, fires, famines and plagues countered against the “mingled astonishments of our time, here, on earth.” in the words of the protagonist. The characters are not well developed and, hence, one fails to sympathize with them.
This novel should only be recommended reading for those interested in the subjects of Death and Cryonics.
“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?”
Don Delillo's latest novel is centered around the theme of Death. 'Life' and 'Death' are posited as merely opposite sides of the same spectrum with either one affirming the other instead of siloing them into mutually exclusive entities that are forever opposed to each other (as per the treatment meted out by our everyday language) .
In line with this argument, the plot unfolds at a subterranean Cryonic facility where frozen bodies of the dead are preserved at a temperature of -273.15 degrees celsius until a future time when biomedical advances will prolong human life indefinitely, thereby allowing mankind to finally realize the dream of immortality.
In keeping with the central theme, the storytelling too is marked with dark destructive images of terrorism, floods, fires, famines and plagues countered against the “mingled astonishments of our time, here, on earth.” in the words of the protagonist. The characters are not well developed and, hence, one fails to sympathize with them.
This novel should only be recommended reading for those interested in the subjects of Death and Cryonics.