Angels and Demons

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Dan Brown

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Pages: 624 (Paperback)

ISBN: 0552150738

Pub: Corgi Books

Pub date: 2001-07-01

Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 2124

Editorial Review:

It takes guts to write a novel that combines an ancient secret brotherhood, the Swiss Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire, a papal conclave, mysterious ambigrams, a plot against the Vatican, a mad scientist in a wheelchair, particles of anti-matter, jets that can travel 15,000 miles per hour, crafty assassins, a beautiful Italian physicist and a Harvard professor of religious iconology. It takes talent to make that novel anything but ridiculous. Kudos to Dan Brown (Digital Fortress) for achieving the nearly impossible. Angels and Demons is a no-holds-barred, pull-out-all-the-stops, breathless tangle of a thriller--think Katherine Neville's The Eight (but cleverer) or Umberto Eco's Foucault's Pendulum (but more accessible).
Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is shocked to find proof that the legendary secret society, the Illuminati--dedicated since the time of Galileo to promoting the interests of science and condemning the blind faith of Catholicism--is alive, well, and murderously active. Brilliant physicist Leonardo Vetra has been murdered, his eyes plucked out and the society's ancient symbol branded upon his chest. His final discovery, anti-matter, the most powerful and dangerous energy source known to man, has disappeared--only to be hidden somewhere beneath Vatican City on the eve of the election of a new pope. Langdon and Vittoria, Vetra's daughter and colleague, embark on a frantic hunt through the streets, churches and catacombs of Rome, following a 400-year-old trail to the lair of the Illuminati, to prevent the incineration of civilisation.

Brown seems as much juggler as author--there are lots and lots of balls in the air in this novel, yet Brown manages to hurl the reader headlong into an almost surreal suspension of disbelief. While the reader might wish for a little more sardonic humour from Langdon and a little less bombastic philosophising on the eternal conflict between religion and science, these are less fatal flaws than niggling annoyances--readers should have no trouble skimming past them and immersing themselves in a heck of a good read. "Brain candy" it may be, but it's tasty. --Kelly Flynn, Amazon.com

Reader Reviews:

Demonically awful (1/1 people found this helpful)

I knew this was going to be a turkey when I got to the third page. Robert Langdon is wandering barefoot through his deserted Massachusetts Victorian Home nursing a mug of steaming cocoa whilst - "the April moon filtered through the bay windows and played on the oriental carpets."

Even worse - on the same page - "Although not overly handsome in a classical sense, the 45 year old Langdon had what his female colleagues referred to as an 'erudite' appeal....." .

And then on page 69 (after which I gave up) - the lithe & graceful Vittoria Vetra emerges - "not overly beautiful (sounds familiar)but possessing full earthy features that exude a raw sensuality....as the air currants buffeted her body, her clothes clung, accentuating her slender torso & small breasts."

A book stuffed with hackneyed cliches, it's worse than Mills & Boon or a 16 year old on a creative writing course.

Obviously for the less discerning reader yet it has sold millions. A literary snob? Damn right I am. There's enough junk in life these days as it is.

Avid reader (0/0 people found this helpful)

Central plot is quite believable and some what disconcerting especially when you realise how much personal information is now held electronically and how freely we use the internet and other electronic media, good yarn well spun, well worth reading.Angels and Demons

Great read (0/0 people found this helpful)

It goes without saying that this is a great book and of course, its much better than the film but you always find that. A good storyline and great characters.

Science v Religion, who wins (0/0 people found this helpful)

Dan Browns second novel, following nicely in the style of the first, Digital Fortress. Once again this is a story that is easy to read, runs very fast and somehow manages to be intelligent yet easy to access for any reader.

The basis of this story is CERN and science versus the Vatican and religion and it is pulled off very well. I am a whole hearted believer in science over religion, however, entirely against what was intended by the book, this story did convince me that there may be a place for religion in society, a role to play. For that reason if no other, its worth a read.

Angels and Demons (0/0 people found this helpful)

This is the second book I read from Dan Brown. Another religious thriller but this time the theme is about the conflict between science and religion. If you are a big fan of Robert Langton, you will notice that events mentioned in this story happened prior to the Da Vinci code. Therefore, the correct order is to read this one first before DVC.

A bomb in an underground vault of the most prestigious science institution in Europe and the papal conclave -two totally unrelated event-make a start to the story. What comes is a race against time for Robert and Victoria to find clues and hints that will lead them to the person behind this plot, and prevent disaster from happening.
Using similar techniques in DVC, Brown used a lot of historical facts and myths and put a connection between them. He spent a lot on elaborating the history of the church and her conflict with science in the past, including one of the main player in these events Galileo. For their search, they had to find the five signs of the element and race againist time to rescue the archibishops who were papal potentials. On the other hand, they had to find the way to disable the boob under the Vatican-well you cannot get anything better than this.

I have to say reading this is a breathtaking experience and you cannot help but get nervous for the characters. However, what I enjoy reading most is the final few chapters where Brown, through one of the characters, gave his arguement of science against religion.Where do we draw the line? What is your view on certain issues? This really makes me think of the issue. A highly recommended read.

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