Angels and Demons (Robert Langdon, #1)

by Dan Brown

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Da Vinci Code comes the explosive thriller that started it all.

An ancient secret brotherhood. A devastating new weapon of destruction. An unthinkable target. When world-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to his first assignment to a Swiss research facility to analyze a mysterious symbol -- seared into the chest of a murdered physicist -- he discovers evidence of the unimaginable: the resurgence of an ancient secret brotherhood known as the Illuminati...the most powerful underground organization ever to walk the earth. The Illuminati has now surfaced to carry out the final phase of its legendary vendetta against its most hated enemy -- the Catholic Church.

Langdon's worst fears are confirmed on the eve of the Vatican's holy conclave, when a messenger of the Illuminati announces they have hidden an unstoppable time bomb at the very heart of Vatican City. With the countdown under way, Langdon jets to Rome to join forces with Vittoria Vetra, a beautiful and mysterious Italian scientist, to assist the Vatican in a desperate bid for survival.

Embarking on a frantic hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and the most secretive vault on earth, Langdon and Vetra follow a 400-year-old trail of ancient symbols that snakes across Rome toward the long-forgotten Illuminati lair...a clandestine location that contains the only hope for Vatican salvation.

Critics have praised the exhilarating blend of relentless adventure, scholarly intrigue, and cutting wit found in Brown's remarkable thrillers featuring Robert Langdon. An explosive international suspense, Angels & Demons marks this hero's first adventure as it careens from enlightening epiphanies to dark truths as the battle between science and religion turns to war.

• ISBN10: 0743486226
• ISBN13: 9780743486224
• Publish Date: 1 July 2003 (first published 18 June 2001)
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Atria Books
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 572
• Language: English

Reviews

[adamfortuna]

I’ve always enjoyed alternate history expeditions. Indiana Jones, National Treasure and now also this series. Its hard not to enjoy a combination mystery and treasure hunt driven by clues sprinkled throughout history. I enjoyed this one more than I expected.

[boghunden]

I had really high expectations towards this book. I've heard so much about [a:Dan Brown|630|Dan Brown|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1399396714p2/630.jpg] and his books that it was impossible not to expect anything. That made this book a must read for me. It took me a while to get through the first few pages, but once I reached page 100 it picked up pace. Even though it's about conspiracy theories, religion, science etc. it was an easy read. It also got creepy enough for me to be uncomfortable at night if I turned off the lights.

The writing at first seemed quite hard, but as soon as I got used to it, it worked out pretty good. I'm not the biggest fan of history, and my knowledge on the field isn't really that good, so I have no idea whether the facts in this book are true or false, but I liked the way it made me doubt things.

This is a masterpiece.

[inlibrisveritas]

Overall I enjoyed it and it was a fairly quick read once I actually sat down and devoted time to it. The romance in this book however is kind of cliche...but it wasn't over bearing or anything.

Re-reading the book in preparation for the movie next month...

[jesstheaudiobookworm]

I read this back in 2006 (and I do mean read, as in the physical version) after immediately finishing (and adoring) The Da Vinci Code, which was being hyped like crazy then. When I first picked up The Da Vinci Code, I had no idea it was part of a series. You can imagine my delight upon learning of this installment and eventually coming to love it even more than The Da Vinci Code. I'm usually a stickler about reading a series in order (it's a serious pet peeve), but this series was written in such a way that each installment could almost be a standalone novel. I read it 10 years ago, so I won't do a detailed review. But suffice it to say that even though #1 and #2 are both worthy of 5 stars, this one edges out The Da Vinci Code by just a nose hair.

[Eve1972]

LOVED this book, even better then the Da Vinci Code.