Angels & Demons
Author: Dan Brown
Date Published: May 2000Genre: Mystery thriller fiction
Characters:
Robert Langdon- Harvard Symbologist Professor
Vittoria Vetra- Scientist working at CERN
Leonardo Vetra- a Priest and scientist working at Cern; adopted Vittoria
Maximilian Kohler- Director of CERN
Camerlengo Carlo Ventresca- the Camerlengo during the conclave
Hassassin- hired killer
Analysis:
Angels & Demons is a mystery thriller written by Dan Brwon and was published on May 2000. It is the first installment of a four-book series the others being The Da Vinci Code (2003), The Lost Symbol (2009), and Inferno (2013), It is controversial for it divulges a very sensitive topic- religion and faith.
Contrary to common hearsay, this book is not anti-Christian but in fact a pro-Christian in its very essence.
The plot is about the never-ending clashes of science and religion, of Illuminati and the Catholic church. Four hundred years ago, scientists were called the Enlightened Ones, they composed the very first Illuminati. Some who are even familiar to us like Galileo Galilei. The church did not take very kindly the discoveries of science for they thought that it opposes religion. They killed the members of the Illuminati. Some fled away and pledged to get their revenge on the church. Four-hundred years later they come back, holding on the the pledge they made long ago.
The story happened when Leonardo Vetra was killed and the anti-matter was stolen. The anti-matter is a new discovery of Vetra that could prove that God is true and very much alive. It could create things just like the universe was created. And it could go bang! just like the universe did. It is a small but very destructive discovery. Vetra was killed and branded with a sign, an ambigram of 'Illuminati'. Robert Langdon was then called by Kohler believing that he had wide knowledge about Illuminati, and so Robert's quest begun. He and Vittoria went to Rome, Italy for there was a news that anti-matter was placed and hidden there. And so their quest begun.
I wouldn't go into much details about the summary and continue directly to the analysis.
The story was written with thrill right from the start. It was mind-blowing, the facts (or statements that seemed factual) can really hook you in reading the book. The adrenaline rush was so intense that you can't help but flip the book page by page. Dan Brown wrote wittingly with a spark of humor that keeps the book from getting boring. He described precisely what he intended to instill in the readers' imaginations that even by reading it, it's as if you too are in it.
It was unique. The point of view used is omniscient or spectator-like but in two completely different places. One for the protagonist, Robert Langdon and another for the antagonist, the Hassassin. This is good for it allows us, the readers to know the important events happening at the same time. The other unique thing is that this whole story happened in just a span of one day. So many life and death situations, so many details, so many turmoil of emotions for just one day.
From the very start of the story, there is the question of 'Who is behind the killing of Leonardo Vetra and theft of the anti-matter?' and as the story goes on we are given hints to know who. The readers make guesses and it's a perfect way to induce more mystery to the book.
The end was spectacular. You can never guess what will happen next with Dan Brown. He twisted and turned and wrapped the story all around yet it still makes sense. It makes the story even more attractive.
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