"Winner of the 1985 National Book Award—from the author of Zero K Winner of the National Book Award, White Noise tells the story of Jack Gladney, his fourth wife, Babette, and four ultra­modern offspring as they navigate the rocky passages of family life to the background babble of brand-name consumerism. When an industrial accident unleashes an ""airborne toxic event,"" a lethal black chemical cloud floats over their lives. The menacing cloud is a more urgent and visible version of the ""white noise"" engulfing the Gladneys-radio transmissions, sirens, microwaves, ultrasonic appliances, and TV murmurings-pulsing with life, yet suggesting something ominous."