THE DEMONIC DISASTER!!. Review on Angels & Demons - Dan Brown

Hi Friends,

My first Dan Brown novel was The Da Vinci Code. After reading that one I was so impressed I decided to read all his novels. I finished it with ‘Angels and Demons’. And honestly I am least impressed with this novel.

In this review, I have not judged this work of Brown in light of ‘The Da Vinci Code’ or ‘Digital Fortress’. Because comparing to those two it is a boring work. But let’s see what this novel is all about.

The Satanic Verse!!

Robert Langdon – the Harvard symbologist is the creation of this novel. One fine morning Langdon gets a call from director of CERN (Conseil Europeen pour la Recherche Nucleaire), named Maximilian Kohler (Max). One of their fine researchers at the facility – Leonardo Vetra – has been murdered and on his chest is a stamped mark of The Illuminati.

The Illuminati was (or perhaps is, I am not sure) a secret brotherhood made was back in history by some enlightened scientists because they were forbidden by church to discuss science because it was considered satanic. The real reason being – it went against the church’s objectives.

So some of the finest scientists in Europe get together and make a secret brotherhood with a secret ‘Church of Illumination’. This brotherhood is considered Satanic by Church and now it’s back – to take its revenge.

The identification of Illuminati is their secret brand that has been embossed on the chest of deceased Vetra - the brand is perfectly ambigrammatic. And this is a fact – no computer of modern world has been able to make an ambigram of Illuminati.

So now the brother hood is back and they have got some secret plans for the church as well – they are gonna blow the whole Vatican City away!! Surprised?

By using an advanced technology that has been created by CERN – something so advanced that no metal or bomb detector can show it, no dog can smell it, no amount of security can stop it and not a single effort can search it. This weapon has no chemical trace, needs no ignition, needs no plane or chopper to fire it and once it has been set to detonate nothing can stop it.

This weapon is called – ANTIMATTER.

The Anti Social Antimatter

Let me just give you a brief outline of what antimatter is. When the Earth was created – Time Zero – The Big Bang, the matter was created that is all around us (Earth and the Solar System – the Universe – everything is matter). But scientists believe that something else was also created – The Antimatter. Leonardo Vetra at CERN was able to create that Antimatter on Earth.

But here’s the catch – the Antimatter can’t touch the matter or it will annihilate. Yeah, that’s the catch – when matter and Antimatter meet a large amount of energy is relieved – 100% energy, no by products, no radiation, no toxins, nothing – just 100% pure energy. And a drop of Antimatter can produce enough energy to vaporize the whole of Vatican City (that’s approximately 9 blocks – according to author). Without any radiation – it will leave a big large crater – like some rock from outer space has hit Earth.

The Thief of Illuminati

The secret brotherhood of Illuminati has stolen the Antimatter from CERN, murdered Vetra and now they are going to blow the Vatican away. And look at time timing of Illuminati – currently the voting for a new Pope is going on in the Vatican.

That means every Cardinal on Earth is currently in Vatican. So, in effect not only the Vatican is on target but by blowing up every Cardinal – Illuminati intend to destroy the existence of Christianity from Earth. Pretty Gutsy I say!!

The Savior – Robert Langdon

Nah, I ain’t gonna tell you this part. That’s what’s boring in the novel. Robert Langdon comes, along with daughter of Leonardo Vetra – Vittoria Vetra and saves the world. He comes to Vatican – solves some puzzles (those puzzles which haven’t been solved in hundreds of years – Langdon solves them in a matter of hours!!) and after that some fist fights and Langdon saves the world.

And he gets his prize too – the sexy Vittoria Vetra!!!!

The Anti Matter – What’s the matter?

I tell you friends I am fed up of reading these ‘saving-the-world-singlehandedly’ macho novels and I am fed up of watching such macho movies.

This novel is ordinary in terms of concept. Same old save-the-world stunts.

But it is good in terms of narration – it’s fast, the details of history are good and to the point – you can trust Dan Brown when he tells Illuminati existed and all that. But that’s it, you want to read early adventures of Robert Langdon go for this novel, but don’t expect the kind of kick you got from The Da Vinci Code and Digital Fortress.

Happy Reading,

Khagesh Gautam