Angels & Demons by Dan Brown Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Angels & Demons
Book Review: "Man is Not Ready to Hold the Power of Creation in his Hands!"
Summary: 3 Stars
I probably shouldn't have read this *after* Dan Brown's most famous novel "The Da Vinci Code", as in many ways "Angels and Demons" is the prototype version of Brown's bestseller, containing many of the plot-points that were used to better effect in "Code". Like his later novel, "Angels and Demons" stars Robert Langdon, deals with a dastardly secret plot, takes place in famous locations and includes dubious history `facts' about conspiracy theories. It all adds up to a fast paced thriller, which stretches the boundaries of even the most gullible reader's ability to suspend disbelief.
Just like in "The Da Vinci Code", the book opens with Robert Langdon being called in to provide specialised information on a murder; in this case a famous scientist who has been found with an astonishing ambigram branded onto his chest. Leonardo Vetra was killed in his office at CERN (a real-life research facility), apparently due to his work on producing a substance called antimatter. After discovering Vetra was a man who was working on a lifelong dream of reconciling science and faith, Langdon believes that his killers were part of the Illuminati, an ancient secret society that despises the Church.
Joining forces with Vetra's daughter Vittoria (beautiful, slim, tanned, intelligent, witty, etc) Langdon gradually becomes aware of a deeper plot to cripple Vatican City. Combining ancient clues and modern technology, the couple race around Rome's historical landmarks in order to track down the threat to the Catholic Church and save the day! It gets steadily more ridiculous (and as such, hilariously funny) as it goes on and ultimately throws in a surprise twist that is quite disconcerting and negates the shadowy threat that had been looming in the background throughout the book and was (for me) the most interesting part. To not only get rid of it, but make it so that it never existed in the first place, was a let-down.
Though the mastermind of the whole scheme remains shrouded in mystery till the end, Brown also includes a more direct villain who is known only as "the Hassassin" who is so disgustingly misogynist and sadistic (not to mention one-dimensional) that his chapters are difficult to read. Villains can be many things; intelligent, respectable, tormented, sympathetic, all of which can be used to garner the reader's interest, but the Hassassin is none of these, and instead is so repulsive I just wanted him to go away.
Brown includes the general theme of science-versus-religion throughout the story, and gives a reasonably balanced account of both sides of the argument (which may interest those who believed "The Da Vinci Code" was anti-Christian, as here the protagonists are racing against the clock to *save* Vatican City). Brown's ultimate message, that religion and science are not mutually exclusive and that the wisest among us are those that seek harmony between the two factions, is surprisingly relevant in today's day and age when tolerance and understanding seems to be a steadily-shrinking phenomena.
As always, Brown's use of "factual details" that he litters throughout the story have to be taken with a hefty pinch of salt. I was fascinated by the discussion Brown supplies on antimatter and the CERN institution, but knowing the unreliability of the author when it comes to such details (and spotting endless mistakes in his treatment of artwork, landmarks and history) I couldn't help but feel certain that he "coloured the facts" in this area too. That's a pity; but I do have to admit that one of my favourite Brown techniques is to slip these little titbits into his work, making it seem a richer and more satisfying read - the real work comes in sorting out the fact from the fiction.
Brown's writing techniques are on full display here: somewhat stilted dialogue, massive coincidences, vital information that is spoon-fed to the reader, short chapters that end on cliff-hangers; all of which race along at such a breathless pace that you hardly notice any of it! Good for a holiday read due to its chunky length, it's especially handy when you need to kill time on a long trip.
Book Review: "Wonderful intrigues, touch of madness & Hitchcock ending!"
Summary: 5 Stars
"Angels & Demons," by Dan Brown, NY, Pocket Star Books, 2001 ISBN 0-671-02736-0 (PB), 569 pg., author of prior best-selling novels. Brown renders a suspense novel using the main characters of Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon and the brilliant, single but enigmatic scientist Vittoria Vetra, our same Langdon starring in "The Da Vinci Code". So yes, there are rampant maniacal killings cleverly planned by a resurgent undergound Brotherhood, long considered vanished, and known as the Illuminata whose mission is to destroy Catholicism by targeting the Pope and Religiose, 165 Cardinals who must gather to elect new Papal authority.
Langdon is first called to Switzerland's CERN but then departs to Rome, convinced he is morally obligated to provide his academic symbological expertise to help solve the worst of impious assassinations by unraveling clues that furnish whereabouts of the Illuminati who'll kill by ancient means of Earth, Air, Fire and Water but have now turned to modern nuclear destructive devices. The intrigues are well played out and finalized with a Hitchcock ending.
Brown's command of technical, romantic, religious, historical and cryptographic matters is expertly handled. Two inveiglements, small maps, one of Modern Rome and the other of Vatican City, were teasers and I yearned for more illustrations of places and things detailed in this book. Comparatively, having just read "Trinity" by Wm. DeNesi and "Alone" by Lisa Gardner, Dan Brown's "Angels & Demons" impels us a step further and despite being drawn-out, I found it not only agreeable to read but left me with a delightful little "buzz" in the brain. Brown knows his material and in a nutshell, I say "damn but he's good!" Some Catholics will express their concerns on the matters Vatican, but this is a novel, not a decree. Hollywood should look at this one. Read it!
Book Review: "Her cell phone had no dial tone..."
Summary: 1 Stars
Of course her cell phone had no dial tone--no cell phone does. His protagonist's claim that early Christians got the Eucharist from Aztec culture is just as preposterous--Christians and the Eucharist were around long before Europeans discovered Aztec culture. These are just a couple of examples of Dan Brown's lazy story telling. I'm with Stephen King on this one. The Da Vinci Code wasn't a good book and neither is this one. It's too bad a hack has gotten ahold of an otherwise fascinating genre.Book Review: (three and a half stars) Far fetched but effective thriller
Summary: 3 Stars
I have to say that I enjoyed reading the reviews of this book (I read the previous 70) as much as the book itself. As is usually the case, the most fun were the negative lengthier reviews. Throughout "Angels and Demons," I just tried to expel my disbelief ("suspend" was just not enough) and hold on for the ride. Dan Brown gives us more twists and turns then the rollercoasters of Six Flags.
Let's meet the cast of characters. First there's Robert Langdon, part Indiana Jones, part James Bond (think of the beginning sequence of "Moonraker"), part humble nerdy Harvard professor, who, of course, gets the pretty brilliant female marine biologist at the end (George Costanza she is not). Robert is not only proficient in symbology and ancient cults, but also has at his fingertips intimate knowlege of Renaissance Italian artworks, the architecture of the Vatican, and the ability to use a small piece of tarp to guide him safely, without a parachute, from a high-flying helicopter into a river. Oh yeah, and he's something of an escape artist.
Then there's beautiful brilliant "lithe" Vittoria Vestra, with her tight fitting shorts. Any knowledge that Robert might not possess, Vittoria thankfully fills in (what a Trivial Pursuit team these two would make!). Vittoria, adopted and raised by a billiant compassionate physicist/priest, is helping Robert to hunt down his father's vicious killer, presumably a member of the previously thought defunct Illuminati, as well as help Robert retrieve a ticking anti-matter device, that she and her father made, and which is now hidden somewhere in the Vatican.
Next we have the Hassassin, the ruthless Arabic killer with his own agenda. Here is Max Kohler, the head of CERN - think of a brilliant version of Raymond Burr in Ironside - who may or may not be evil. Next is the Carmelengo, the now deceased Pope's young assistant - God fearing, brave, and righteous to a fault - or is he? Finally we have the Vatican itself, the Vatican special forces, the Cardinals (including the four Preferetti - those most likely to be elected the new Pope), secret lairs, ultra-secret lairs, and double secret probation lairs.
Basically, Robert tries to save the kidnapped four Preferetti from being murdered at different secret Illumanati locations, and avert the disaster of the anti-matter device destroying The Vatican. Who's really behind it all? Hmm.
Sounds sort of ridiculous right? It may be, but Brown's real intention is to get the reader to turn pages and to read past his/her bedtime, and that is definitely accomplished. Brown's writing talents are above average for the thriller genre. Sometimes though, you roll your eyes like when he ends many short chapters with a cliff-hanger and writes something like "Robert hoped Vittoria was still alive, but if he had known where she was, he would have felt otherwise." There are many such examples.
Some other comments: First, I would think that with these kind of circumstances, half the Italian police force, with assistance from numerous other countries around the globe, would become involved (remember the attempted assassination on John Paul II?). Thousands (if not tens of thousands) of law enforcement officials might actually have a better chance of capturing the enemy then poor Robert running around in his tweed jacket.
Second, I kind of liked the "second" ending. I thought that if the "first" ending were the true one, one would have to conclude that the pursuit of science is amoral at best and immoral at worst, and must be "contained" by religion. (In my humble opinion, the real struggle is not between "science" and "religion" per se, but rather between rationality and the desire to advance, as opposed to extremism and the desire to be bound by the writings of a one ancient text or another).
In any event, I have started reading the "Da Vinci Code," which, so far, seems to be pretty much the same book. Oh well, I'll be finished with it in a few days.
Book Review: ***HISTORICAL,INTRESTING, LOVED IT!!!!! ( REVISED) *****
Summary: 5 Stars
A great mind is dead, murderers have stolen a canister of deadly antimatter, an ancient brotherhood has reappeared in Europe bent on destroying Vatican City and to handle all this, they've called in an American!? Well, not just any typical American, but symbologist Robert Langdon. Join Langdon and beautiful scientist, Vittoria Vetra, on a quest to discover the secrets of the Illuminati and save the Vatican along the way. The fact that a conclave, the meeting to elect a new Pope, is being held in the Sistine Chapel with reporters and 165 Cardinals, won't help one bit!
I think that Angels and Demons is an amazing book that combines science with religion, revolving around one question; can science put God into a testube? Don't pass by this exciting adventure and overall book, you won't EVEN THINK of putting down!!!!!
-Katie e...:D