.com It takes guts to write a novel that combines an ancient secret brotherhood, the Swiss Conseil Europen pour la Recherche Nuclaire, a papal conclave, mysterious ambigrams, a plot against the Vatican, a mad scientist in a wheelchair, particles of antimatter, 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 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, antimatter, 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 civilization. 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 humor from Langdon, and a little less bombastic philosophizing 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 my! It's tasty. --Kelly Flynn Look Inside the Motion Picture Angels Demons (Sony Pictures, 2009) Click on each image below to see a larger view Ewan MacGregor as Carlo Ventresca with College of Cardinals Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon and Ayelet Zurer as Vittoria Vetra Armin Mueller-Stahl as Straus and Ewan MacGregor as Carlo Ventresca Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon, Ayelet Zurer as Vittoria Vetra, and Ewan MacGregor as Carlo Ventresca Ewan MacGregor as Carlo Ventresca From Publishers WeeklyPitting scientific terrorists against the cardinals of Vatican City, this well-plotted if over-the-top thriller is crammed with Vatican intrigue and high-tech drama. Robert Langdon, a Harvard specialist on religious symbolism, is called in by a Swiss research lab when Dr. Vetra, the scientist who discovered antimatter, is found murdered with the cryptic word "Illuminati" branded on his chest. These Iluminati were a group of Renaissance scientists, including Galileo, who met secretly in Rome to discuss new ideas in safety from papal threat; what the long-defunct association has to do with Dr. Vetra's death is far from clear. Vetra's daughter, Vittoria, makes a frightening discovery: a lethal amount of antimatter, sealed in a vacuum flask that will explode in six hours unless its batteries are recharged, is missing. Almost immediately, the Swiss Guard discover that the flask is hidden beneath Vatican City, where the conclave to elect a new pope has just begun. Vittoria and Langdon rush to recover the canister, but they aren't allowed into the Vatican until it is discovered that the four principal papal candidates are missing. The terrorists who are holding the cardinals call in regarding their pending murders, offering clues tied to ancient Illuminati meeting sites and runes. Meanwhile, it becomes clear that a sinister Vatican entity with messianic delusions is in league with the terrorists. Packing the novel with sinister figures worthy of a Medici, Brown (Digital Fortress) sets an explosive pace as Langdon and Vittoria race through a Michelin-perfect Rome to try to save the cardinals and find the antimatter before it explodes. Though its premises strain credulity, Brown's tale is laced with twists and shocks that keep the reader wired right up to the last revelation. (May) Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. Dale Brown "New York Times" bestselling author of "Battle Born" "Angels Demons" is one hell of a book -- I had a hard time putting it down and I didn't get any work done until I finished it. Congratulations to Dan Brown for crafting an intriguing, imaginative, and very suspenseful read.Dale Brown"New York Times" bestselling author of "Battle Born""Angels Demons" is one hell of a book -- I had a hard time putting it down and I didn't get any work done until I finished it. Congratulations to Dan Brown for crafting an intriguing, imaginative, and very suspenseful read."A breathless, real-time adventure. . . . Exciting, fast-paced, with an unusually high IQ." -- "San Francisco Chronicle" what is the most sold book in the world Angels Demons: A Novel (Robert Langdon)
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A Real ThrillerBy R.E. WoodDetails and twists and turns move this plot along and will have you turning pages and not wanting to put it down.The amount of research that must have gone into this book in the locations alone must have been daunting. It turns a work of fiction into a believable, well plotted book.Have fun with this one.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. ... reading but having just returned from Rome it was amazing to relive all the locales we had just visitedBy susan schroeder liveraThis was my second reading but having just returned from Rome it was amazing to relive all the locales we had just visited. The history included by Dan Brown is really impressive adding to the richness of his writing. Anyone with an interest in history coupled with a riveting tale...you can't top Angels and Demons.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A mixed bag of goodies, but not sci-fi....By Steve MooreI finally got around to read this. I'd give it a 3.8, but I rounded up. I believe it predates Da Vinci, but that's not clear with this ebook release. It sure seems like that. Da Vinci showed some plot savvy; this one not so much. Especially at the beginning where somehow I was reminded of Moby Dick and its detailed exposition of butchering whales and turning their blubber into lamp oil. Of course, I don't share Langdon's fascination with symbols and Church history either.From the sci-fi POV, it's clear that Brown doesn't know much science. This is a trend, though--maybe he was responsible for starting it? I'm talking about "soft sci-fi" which nestles up to and often crosses the line into fantasy. If you're a purist, you'll stay away.Even with his 2D characters, though, Brown spins a good yarn that lets us peek into the machinations and intrigues of the Catholic Conclave. He says all the history stuff is "true," but he said that about stuff in Da Vinci too--and was proven wrong.You can't argue about success, though. Like with Harry Potter, readers often reward bad writing. That usually means they enjoy the novelty of the tale. I'll admit I enjoyed this one--maybe more than Da Vinci, because it has enough twists and turns to be called a mystery, or sci-fi/fantasy/mystery--a mixed bag of goodies, to be sure.