O-Zone

More about the book

Paul Theroux’s enthralling new novel opens with a unique New Year’s Eve party: eight wealthy New Yorkers take their private rotors for a picnic in the contaminated O-Zone, the Ozark region affected by nuclear waste. As Owners, they bypass quarantine, captivated by the O-Zone’s “gloomy beauty.” Their lives take a dramatic turn when they encounter a group of aliens during their return to Manhattan. This meeting leads to profound changes: one picnicker embarks on a love affair with a free-spirited young woman, inspired by a single photograph. A brilliant but reclusive fifteen-year-old is kidnapped and struggles in the wilderness. Another becomes increasingly ruthless as a gunship vigilante. A woman embarks on an erotic journey to reconnect with a past lover, while her distant husband plots to control the O-Zone. These narratives unfold across New York, Africa’s luxurious enclaves, and California’s devastated landscapes, all centered in the beautiful yet menacing Zone. The story reflects a world shaped not by nuclear war but by the relentless realities of modern life, from the Third World to Times Square. Amid despair and chaos, the human spirit—resilient, inventive, and loving—endures. With its sweeping narrative and sharp insights, this novel delivers powerful storytelling in a grand tradition.