Point Omega : a novel

Writing about conspiracy theory in Libra , government cover-ups in White Noise , the Cold War in Underworld , and 9/11 in Falling Man , “DeLillo’s books have been weirdly prophetic about twenty-first century America” ( The New York Times Book Review ). Now, in Point Omega , he takes on the secret strategists in America’s war machine. .In the middle of a desert “somewhere south of nowhere,” to a forlorn house made of metal and clapboard, a secret war advisor has gone in search of space and time. Richard Elster, seventy-three, was a scholar—an outsider—when he was called to a meeting with government war planners. They asked Elster to conceptualize their efforts—to form an intellectual framework for their troop deployments, counterinsurgency, orders for rendition. For two years he read their classified documents and attended secret meetings. He was to map the reality these men were trying to create. “Bulk and swagger,” he called it. .At the end of his service, Elster retreats to the desert, where he is joined by a filmmaker intent on documenting his experience. Jim Finley wants to make a one-take film, Elster its single character—“Just a man against a wall.” .The two men sit on the deck, drinking and talking. Finley makes the case for his film. Weeks go by. And then Elster’s daughter Jessie visits—an “otherworldly” woman from New York—who dramatically alters the dynamic of the story. When a devastating event follows, all the men’s talk, the accumulated meaning of conversation and connection, is thrown into question. What is left is loss, fierce and incomprehensible.. Don DeLillo looks into the mind and heart of a "defense intellectual," one of the men involved in the management of the country's war machine. Don DeLillo has been "weirdly prophetic about twenty-first-century America" (The New York Times Book Review). In his earlier novels, he has written about conspiracy theory, the Cold War and global terrorism. Now, in Point Omega , he looks into the mind and heart of a "defense intellectual", one of the men involved in the management of the country's war machine. Richard Elster was a scholaran outsiderwhen he was called to a meeting with government war planners, asked to apply "ideas and principles to such matters as troop deployment and counterinsurgency". We see Elster at the end of his service. He has retreated to the desert, "somewhere south of nowhere", in search of space and geologic time. There he is joined by a filmmaker, Jim Finley, intent on documenting his experience. Finley wants to persuade Elster to make a one-take film, Elster its single character"Just a man and a wall." Weeks later, Elster's daughter Jessica visitsan "otherworldly" woman from New York, who dramatically alters the dynamic of the story. The three of them talk, train their binoculars on the landscape, and build an odd, tender intimacy, something like a family. Then a devastating event throws everything into question. In this compact and powerful novel, it is finally a lingering human mystery that haunts the landscape of desert and mind.

in This Potent And Beautiful Novel, The Writer the New York Times calls “prophetic About Twenty-first-century America” Looks Into The Mind And Heart Of A Scholar Who Was Recruited To Help The Mili­tary Conceptualize The War.

we See Richard Elster At The End Of His Service. He Has Retreated To The Desert, In Search Of Space And Geologic Time. There He Is Joined By A Filmmaker And By Elster’s Daughter Jessica—an “otherworldly” Woman From New York. The Three Of Them Build An Odd, Tender Intimacy, Something Like A Family. Then A Devastating Event Turns Detachment Into Colossal Grief, And It Is A Human Mys­tery That Haunts The Landscape Of Desert And Mind.

the New York Times - Michiko Kakutani

like Many Of Mr. Delillo's Earlier Books, omega Is Preoccupied With Death And Dread And Paranoia, And Like Many Of Those Books, It Has An Ingenious Architecture That Gains Resonance In Retrospect.

"Defense intellectual" Richard Elster, who was involved in the management of the countryś war machine, is at the end of his service and has retreated to the desert in search of space and geologic time. There he is joined by a young documentary filmmaker, Jim Finley, who is intent on documenting Elsterś experience. He wants to persuade Elster to make a one-take film, Elster its single character - "Just a man and a wall." Later Elsterś daughter Jessica, an "otherworldly" woman from New York, joins them and dramatically alters the dynamic of the story. The three of them talk and train their binoculars on the desert landscape of California and build an odd, tender intimacy, something like a family. Then a devastating event throws everything into question Three unusual people--"defense intellectual" Richard Elster, who was involved in the management of the country's war machine; young documentary filmmaker Jim Finley, who is intent on documenting Elster's experience; and Elster's daughter Jessica, who behaves like an "otherworldly" woman from New York--train their binoculars on the desert landscape of California and build an odd, tender intimacy, something like a family. Then a devastating event throws everything into question