Angels and Demons

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Dan Brown

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Pages: 619 (Paperback)

ISBN: 0552148717

Pub: Corgi Books

Pub date: 2001-06-30

Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 297998

Editorial Review:

The Illuminati were, allegedly, a secret society of artists and proto-scientists suppressed by the Church during the Counter-Reformation; they have featured in paranoid theories and thrillers ever since. Art historian Langdon is called in when a leading nuclear physicist is robbed, murdered and mutilated; along with the scientist's beautiful adopted daughter Vittoria, he finds himself involved in a treasure hunt against time. A lethal assassin has kidnapped four cardinals to torture them to death, and has planted an anti-matter bomb in the Vatican--at midnight, the Papal Conclave and the Sistine Chapel and the whole of Vatican City will go up in a flash of light, the vengeance of the Illuminati. Full of loopy conspiracy lore and some radical reinterpretations of the history of art and architecture, Angels and Demons is a switchback ride whose occasional absurdities never for a second reduce its high-adrenaline intensity. The bookish, brave Langdon, the clever Vittoria, the saintly young papal chamberlain who becomes their principal ally, the venal and yet oddly savvy BBC stringer who starts getting the killer's communiqués--all of these are involving and attractive characters who make us care about people and issues as much as we do about an ingenious plot. --Roz Kaveney

Reader Reviews:

Intrigue and Suspense (0/0 people found this helpful)

Science meets religion and art in a thrilling page turner. Found myself still reading when I should have been sleeping as the fast pace held my attention. With intrigue and suspense in every chapter with plenty of surprising twists. A very enjoyable read from an author I would probably never have considered, prior to hearing about The Da Vinci Code and its surrounding hype.. It was especially interesting as living near Rome it felt somehow more real. I will view the great monuments mentioned in a different light. I will also definitely be seeking out the best iced coffee in Rome.

I actually preferred this to The Da Vinci Code.

"A hundred thousand miracles are happening every day" (Flower Drum Song) (4/4 people found this helpful)

Robert Langdon a Harvard symbologist is woken in the middle of the night by a phone call that is going to change his life. This phone call may also change our lives.

Dan Brown weaves many story threads in to a tapestry of intrigue. The story takes place over a 24-hour period. A positive thing about this tale is that it is told in a linear fashion with very few flashbacks except when it is necessary for a back story. In this story he treats Robert Langdon's character like Langdon is not aware of many, well known technical items and theories; this may be true of Robert Langdon, but Dan Brown also irritatingly treats us like we don't know these things!

On the surface, we are treated to a "who did it" and "will we get there in time" story. However, we are also confronted with science versus religion. Is science and religion like oil and water or is science and religion just two of the facets of God?

Unputdownable, I'll give it that. (0/3 people found this helpful)

As other reviewers have stated, the depth of research Brown has made prior to writing this novel is extensive - definitely a must where credit is due.

However, the plot is weak. Clichéd characters, and a progressively over-the-top storyline pushes it beyond the boundaries of plausibility. It's a standard thriller - a love interest, a quest for answers, a twist or two at the end. There's nothing really new there.

Brown presents the reader with two sides of the ages-old debate; science vs religion. However, he seems to personally lead towards neither, but rather than provoke the reader's thoughts, which is the intention, the reader is left instead with an empty chasm. I pin it down to how lurid the tale becomes as it develops, as mentioned before. You finish reading it with a sense of "...Oh, right."

On a positive note, it's fast paced, and each new development (in the first five sixths of the novel, anyway) does keep you wanting to read on. It's definitely a page-turner. Three stars.

Best Page Turner Yet (0/2 people found this helpful)

This is a great story, easy to read to.
I have not read such a brilliant plot and story for quite sometime.
There are some great twists at the end and it is a roleer coaster ride through out.
My only criticism is that it is to easy a read, and some over fantastical bits in the book. Also I should point out That there is no link historically between the Illuminati and the Elite Hasassins of Medievel Jerusalem.
Page turner of the best kind.
This is a book readers MUST READ!