Michael Reed has gone through a tragic, life-altering event - his wife and young daughter were killed in a car crash. He already works what he considers to be a dull job as a lecturer at a university, but this incident makes him lose almost every will to live. Indeed, Reed continues about his day-to-day life in a rather motionless way, admitting that he is practically numb to the world. He wishes that he could return to his own life, and is unable to accept his new reality.
Things start to pick up in the life of Michael Reed when he meets a young college student. Her name itself is an oxymoron: Flower Cannon. Reed doesn't appear too interest in the woman herself, instead remains transfixed on her name and what it means for him and the world. Through several internal monologues, Reed deduces that Flower Cannon is the "Name of the World" - that is, life gives both good and bad things simultaneously. Despite his newfound reality, Reed is still numb to the world.
In order to feel like he is alive again, Reed turns to a set of mischievous actions. First, he attacks a group of teenagers from the college, because they were celebrating. Reed feels that they do not deserve to be able to celebrate, especially after the events his life has witnessed. After doing this, he still feels a bit numb to the world, and needs even more action. In order to completely restart his life, he steals a car, and drives to Alaska.
After doing this, he feels that he has broken completely free from the chains of his past. He continues to think about Flower Cannon and what her name means, but feels that in Alaska he can make himself a new and better life. Since Alaska is such a remote place, he feels that people will be unlikely to discover his past identity, and he can fake his emotions is he ever becomes depressed again. The novel ends with Reed believing he is in store for a much better future, with lots of hope ahead.
