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Angels and Demons

By Dan Brown

(1161)

| Hardcover | 9780593054864

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Book Description

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

Critics

Angels and Demons by Dan Brown

Leonardo Vetra had a mission - to reconcile the differences between science and religion. A physicist at Switzerland’s renowned Consiel Europeen pour la Recherche Nucleaire (CERN), Vetra, a Catholic priest, has discovered how to produce antimatter. B ... (read full critics)

themysteryreader published on Fri, 17 Sep 2010

67 Reviews

7 people find this helpful

How comes a book like this has all the quoting in italian wrong? not enough money for a professional translator?
I used to live close to the Vatican, everybody in Rome knows about passetto and many other "surprises" Dan Brown is trying to sell...american friends, visit the city and buy a good ... (continue)

How comes a book like this has all the quoting in italian wrong? not enough money for a professional translator?
I used to live close to the Vatican, everybody in Rome knows about passetto and many other "surprises" Dan Brown is trying to sell...american friends, visit the city and buy a good giude, but please forget about this book!

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Littlelakes said on Jun 21, 2009 about the Others edition | 3 feedbacks

3 people find this helpful

This is better than The Da Vinci Code and a wonderful read.

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KayParfait said on May 19, 2007 about the Mass Market Paperback edition | 1 feedback

2 people find this helpful

In my point of view, this is arguably better than Da Vinci Code. (I read Da Vinci Code first before I read this, don't think the ordering influenced my preference though). I personally find the storyline of Angels and Demons more gripping

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olivia said on Nov 29, 2007 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

<Angels & Demons> came before <Da Vinci Code>. The former is more breath-taking and coherent. I like it more.
The story began with the revelation of the death of purist Leonardo in the world-leading science research centre CERN, followed by the disappearance of the antimatter recent ... (continue)

<Angels & Demons> came before <Da Vinci Code>. The former is more breath-taking and coherent. I like it more.
The story began with the revelation of the death of purist Leonardo in the world-leading science research centre CERN, followed by the disappearance of the antimatter recently invented by him.
The Illuminati alleged that the antimatter had been placed secretly in the Vatican City, at which the New Pope was about to be elected the same day. They also announced that the four Cardinals were kidnapped and would be killed public before midnight.
Langdon and Vittoria, Leonardo's daughter, followed the path of illuminati to catch the killer and find the antimatter.
Camerlengo had been shaped by the author as a very Saint and very faithful. Towards the end, I have doubted why he was so relentless as to leave Langdon behind in the chopper. The ending that he was actually the boss-behind-the scene and his relation with the past Pope still surprised me.
This is a story about opposing science and religion. They have long been adversarial. Science can give us definite answers; but sometimes questions are more important to our souls. Religion rescues us from being disoriented; and yet those demanding unquestioning faith may be obsolete. God is everywhere, we could see His Power through science.
This illustrated edition has made me want to re-visit Vatican City again to adore the churches and the artifacts!
　
-----------------------------------------------------------　
Secret Vatican Archives, Borgia Courtyard, Vatican City
Diagramma by Galileo
From Santi's earthly tomb with demon's hole,
'Cross Rome the mystic elements unfold.
The path of light is laid, the sacred test,
Let angels guide you on your lofty quest.
　
Path of Illuminati :-
Pantheon (wrong)
EARTH - Habakkuk and the Angel, Chigi Chapel, Santa Maria del Popolo, Piazza del Popolo
AIR - West Ponente, St. Peter Square
FIRE - The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa, Santa Maria della Vittoria, Piazza Barberini
WATER - The Fountain of the Four Rivers, Piazza Navona
Castel Sant' Angelo (the Illuminati lair)
La tomba di San Pietro, Necrepolis, St. Peter's Basilica (Antimatter)
"He committed an act so out of character that he suspected his soul must now be possessed."
"Langdon took her hand, momentarily spellbound by the depth of her watery gaze"
"Religion is like language or dress. We gravitate toward the practices with which we were raised. In the end, though, we are all proclaiming the same thing. That life has meaning. That we are grateful for the power that created us."
"So although you have the power to interfere and prevent your child's pain, you would choose to show your love by letting him learn his own lessons? ... Of course. Pain is part of growing up. It's how we learn"
"Langdon rocketed downward, on the edge of a billowing shroud of light, feeling like a surfer trying to outrun a thousand-foot tidal wave."

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Candy said on Jan 6, 2012 about the Others edition | Add your feedback

i read it once fast,then again slowly then again slower...its awesome as usual dan doesnt disappoint on histiry lessons and i end up looking on stuff in encyclopedias and google but its all magic fun..and i hadnt guessed the enemy and thats what i love about Dan,keeps you guessing and atlast suprise ... (continue)

i read it once fast,then again slowly then again slower...its awesome as usual dan doesnt disappoint on histiry lessons and i end up looking on stuff in encyclopedias and google but its all magic fun..and i hadnt guessed the enemy and thats what i love about Dan,keeps you guessing and atlast suprises you

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Roniralph said on Oct 6, 2011 | Add your feedback

best thriller book ever read...it is far more better than other dan brown novels....starting from the gallieo's diagramma and ending with carmelego's act to save the religion....WOW

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Bhawesh Bhattarai said on Aug 20, 2011 about the Mass Market Paperback edition | Add your feedback