Angels and Demons

Inhoud

Special Illustrated Collector's Edition

When a world renowned scientist is found brutally murdered, a Harvard professor, Robert Langdon, is summoned to identify the mysterious symbol seared onto the dead man's chest. His conclusion: it is the work of the Illuminati, a secret brotherhood presumed extinct for nearly four hundred years - now reborn to continue their bitter vendetta against their sworn enemy, the Catholic church.

In Rome, the college of cardinals assembles to elect a new pope. Yet somewhere within the walls of the Vatican, an unstoppable bomb of terrifying power relentlessly counts down to oblivion. While the minutes tick away, Langdon joins forces with Vittoria Vetra, a beautiful and mysterious Italian scientist, to decipher the labyrinthine trail of ancient symbols that snakes across Rome to the long-forgotten Illuminati lair - a secret refuge wherein lies the only hope for the Vatican.

But, with each revelation comes another twist, another turn in the plot, which leaves Langdon and Vetra reeling and at the mercy of a seemingly invincible enemy...

Angels and Demons is a breathtakingly briljant thriller which catapults the reader through the antiquity of Rome, through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals and even the most secret vault on earth. As the prequel to Dan Brown's worldwide bestseller, The Da Vinci Code, it has the distinction of introducing his readers to Harvard symbologist, Robert Langdon.

This exclusive edition allows the reader behind the scenes of the novel which now incorporates over 150 photographs and illustrations throughout the text showing the rich historical tapestry from which Dan Brown drew his inspiration. The visual sources which provide both the backdrop and the stimulus for the novel's action are revealed for the first time and uniquely complement the reading experience.

Bespreking

Well-crafted thriller in an amazing setting

In CERN, the renowned Swiss research facility, a scientist is found murdered. His body is branded with a symbol that refers to the Illuminati, a secret brotherhood that was assumed to be disbanded at the end of the 18th century. Robert Langdon is summoned to Switzerland to help in interpreting this ritual killing. Soon it turns out that this crime serves a bigger purpose, one that is closely intertwined with the ongoing papal election in Rome. It is up to Robert to find out what the hidden agenda of the Illuminati is all about, before one of the cornerstones of our society is getting scattered.

With Angels and Demons Dan Brown pulls off the tour-de-force of supporting a decent thriller plot with an historical relevant background. The setting of this thriller is simply amazing. It brings the reader to places most laymen will never be allowed to visit. Through excellent research the author succeeds in introducing us to the hidden parts of Vatican City. If you do not get charmed by the plot of the novel, you at least get an enjoyable guided tour of one of the most secretive places on earth.

The framework of the story is a classic thriller with a build-up to a well crafted finale that unveils some smart twists. The plot is fair because an alert reader will be a able to find some clues early in the novel that will hint at the outcome of the story. Nevertheless the main action is far from unpredictable. After one action sequence, the reader is well aware that three similar actions will follow. This gives a few serious blows to the momentum of the story. To call the middle part tedious is a bit harsh, but it certainly is not the most exhilarating read you can imagine. Luckily the denouement compensates a bit for this hick-up.

This book is certainly an interesting read, certainly if you compare it to The Da Vinci Code in which Dan Brown clearly succeeded in refining the narrative formula he first applied in Angels and Demons.