The Zero and the One

A bookish scholarship student, Owen Whiting has high hopes of Oxford, only to find himself immediately out of place. Then he meets Zachary Foedern from New York. Rich and charismatic, Zach takes Owen under his wing, introducing him to a world Owen has only ever read about.

From Oxford to the seedy underbelly of Berlin, they dare each other to transgress the boundaries of convention and morality, until Zach proposes the greatest transgression of all: a suicide pact. But when Zach's plans go horribly awry, Owen is left to pick up the pieces and navigate the boundaries between illusion and reality to preserve a hold on his once bright future.

Ruby draws us in to a mesmerizing tale which swaps the loss of innocence for the power of secrets and manipulation. A complex and engaging story full of suspense, twists and complex characters, Ruby has blended philosophy and narrative seamlessly to create an unforgettable experience.

Ryan Ruby was born in Los Angeles in 1983. He has written for The Baffler, Conjunctions, Lapham's Quarterly, n+1, and the Paris Review Daily among other publications, and has translated two novellas from the French for Readux Books. He lives in Berlin. Follow Ryan at www.ryanruby.info