2. "You mean the day they stop needing the church!"
And then she continues, “Doubt is your last
shred of control. It is doubt that brings souls
to you. Our need to know life has meaning.
Man’s insecurity and need for an enlightened
soul assuring him everything is part of a master
plan. But the church is not the only enlightened
soul on the planet! We all seek God in different
ways.
What are you afraid of? That God will show
Himself somewhere other than inside these wall
That people will find him in their own lives and
leave your antiquated rituals behind? Religions
evolve! The mind finds answers, the heart
grapples with new truths….
God is not some omnipotent authority looking do
from above, threatening to throw us into a pit
of fire if we disobey.
God is the energy that flows through the
synapses of our nervous system and the
chambers of our hearts!
God is in all things!”
3. Dan Brown (born June 22, 1964) is an American
author of thriller-fiction. Brown's novels feature the
recurring themes of cryptography, keys, symbols,
codes, and conspiracy theories. His books have
been translated into over 40 languages, and as of
2009, sold over 80 million copies. Two of them, The
Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons, have also
been adapted into feature films, both starring Tom
Hanks. Brown states on his website that his books
are not anti-Christian, and he is on a 'constant
spiritual journey' himself, and says that his books
are simply “entertaining stories that promote
spiritual discussion and debate" and
suggests that the books may be used "as a positive
catalyst for introspection and exploration of our
faith."
4. • Digital Fortress (1998)
•Angels and Demons (200
•Deception Point (2001)
•The Da Vinci Code (2003
•The Lost Symbol (2009
5.
6. Angels and Demons is the first of th
It’s about a bomb in the Vatican. The D
Vinci Code is the latter; it’s about a m
Left behind by a murdered man.
The most noticeable difference in s
the tension. Although the tension in th
Vinci Code is just about constant, Ange
Demons has an even higher tension ra
mostly because of the bomb and the
almost literally ticking away.
Another difference is the number o
The Da Vinci Code has more puzzles an
puzzles individually have been grant
room.
7.
8. Robert Langdon: A professor of
symbology at Harvard University and the
main protagonist of the novel. He is
flown to CERN to help investigate the
murder of Leonardo Vetra.
Leonardo Vetra: A scientist working at CERN and a priest.
He is researching on antimatter when he is murdered by the
Hassassin. He is also the adoptive father of Vittoria
Vittoria Vetra: The adopted
daughter of Vetra. She, like her
father, works with CERN. Her
research focuses on biology and
physics. The reader learns early in the
novel that Vittoria worked with her
father in their research of antimatter
Camerlengo Carlo Ventresca: The
camerlengo (Papal Chamberlain)
during the conclave. He murdered the
pope, who is later revealed to have
been his biological father.
9. Hassassin: The killer hired by
Janus, the Camerlengo in
disguise, to fulfill his plans. He is
of Middle Eastern origin
and displays his sadistic lust for
women throughout the novel.
He murders Leonardo Vetra,
the Preferiti, and Commander
Olivetti. He dies after being
pushed from a balcony by
Langdon.
Cardinal Saverio Mortati: The most senior cardinal in the
conclave, and the current Dean of the College of Cardinals. He
was the Devil's Advocate for the late pope.
Commander Olivetti: The commandant of the Swiss Guard. He is
initially skeptical on the claims of Langdon and Vittoria until he
talks with the Hassassin. He, along with other Swiss Guards, search
desperately for the missing antimatter hidden somewhere at the
Vatican. He is killed by the Hassassin at the church of Santa Maria
della Vittoria
Captain Rocher: The second in command after Commander
Olivetti. He is contacted by Max Kohler telling his knowledge on the
real cause of the events. He is killed by Lt. Chartrand, who was under
the impression that Rocher was an Illuminatus
Maximilian Kohler: The director of CERN. He is feared at CERN
despite his paralysis. He contacts Langdon to help him find the
killer of his friend, Leonardo Vetra. He blames the Church for his
paralysis, due to his highly religious parents denying him medical
care as a child, becoming a scientist as a way to rebel.
10. Cardinal Ebner: One of the
four Preferiti and a cardinal
from Frankfurt, Germany. He is
killed by asphyxiation, by
means of putting dirt and soil
into his mouth
Cardinal Lamassé: One
of the four Preferiti and a
cardinal from Paris, France.
He is killed by punctures to
his lungs, from which he
bled to death.
Cardinal Guidera:
One of the four
Preferiti and a cardinal
from Barcelona, Spain.
He is incinerated alive
Cardinal Baggia: One of the
four Preferiti and a cardinal
from Milan, Italy and the
favorite to succeed as the new
pope. He was drowned to death
11. One heck of a good
read. 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) -Amazon.com
(editor's pick)
"Dan Brown has to be one of
the best, smartest, and most
accomplished writers in the
country"-New York
Times bestselling author
12. "Dan Brown is a Master"-New York Times best-
selling author Vince Flynn
"Well plotted and explosively paced...Laced with twist
and shocks that keep the reader wired right up until the
final revelation"-Publishers Weekly
"One Hell of a book Intriguing, suspenseful, and
imaginative." - New York Times best-selling author
Dale Brown
Life-or-death cliff hangers, thrilling cat-and-mouse
manoeuvres, romance, religion, science, murder,
mysticism, architecture, and action."
-Kirkus Reviews
"Exciting, fast paced, with an unusually high IQ"- San
Francisco Chronicle
"A reading experience you will never forget. Dan
Brown has created another frantic paced thriller that
rivals the best works of Clancy and Cussler"- Midwest
Book Reviews
"A breathless and real time adventure."- The San
Fransisco Chronicle
13. An ancient secret
brotherhood.
A devastating new
weapon of
destruction.
An unthinkable
target...
14. Angels & Demons is a 2000 bestselling mystery-thriller novel
written by American author Dan Brown and published
by Pocket Books. The novel introduces the character Robert
Langdon, who is also the protagonist of Brown's subsequent
2003 novel, The Da Vinci Code, and 2009 novel, The Lost
Symbol.
In this book world-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert
Langdon is summoned 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 surfaced from the shadows 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 he
has 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 even to the heart of the
most secretive vault on earth, Langdon and Vetra follow a 400-
year old trail of ancient symbols that snakes across Rome
towards the long-forgotten Illuminati lair... a secret location that
contains the only hope for Vatican salvation.
15. Lenoardo Vetra , a scientist at CERN,
created the antimatter to simulate the Big
Bang. In his mind, this would show proof
that God exists, being able to create new
matter and antimatter in the same way
God created the universe. But Vetra is
murdered by a Hassassin & his murder
allows one of the anitmatter canisters to be
stolen. The question of who stole the
canister and what they planned to do with
it is soon answered. The canister is quickly
found on a security camera in Vatican City,
with its LEDs counting down the time until
the batteries run out. The security camera,
however, is nowhere to be found, leaving
the canister's whereabouts a mystery too.
Langdon and Vittoria Vetra are quickly
sent off to Rome and Vatican City, to help
find the canister and return it to CERN
before it explodes at midnight.
16. Not only does the canister threaten to destroy
Vatican City, but with the recent death of the
Pope, the cardinals of the Catholic Church are
all within the city for the conclave to choose the
new pope. They are all about to be locked within
the Sistine Chapel where, according to church
law, they must remain until a new pope is
chosen. They are awaiting the preferiti, the four
cardinals from four different European
countries who are the preferred candidates to
become the new pope. While Langdon and
Vittoria are trying to convince the captain of the
Swiss Guard and the camerlengo, the Pope's
chamberlain who leads the church until the new
pope is named, that the antimatter bomb is real,
a phone call is received from a man who claims
to be from the Illuminati. He has the four
cardinals, which he will murder one by one, and
then allow the bomb to destroy Vatican City,
which houses not only the church hierarchy, but
also its possessions and wealth. He has no
demands; his only wish is the destruction of the
Catholic Church in retribution for the church's
treatment of scientists and the Illuminati over
the centuries.
17. THE ILLUMINATI
A shadowy organization known as "The Illuminati" did meet
in secret with the goal of overthrowing a religious figurehead.
But it was actually established in Germany in 1776, not in
Italy nearly two centuries earlier as stated in "Angels &
Demons." Their intention was to overthrow the Catholic
monarchy of the Kingdom of Bavaria and replace it with a
secular republic. Contrary to the book, its members were
mostly bureaucrats and lawyers, with few if any scientists in
the mix. And their ranks certainly didn't include the great
sculptor Bernini, who died in 1680. The police uncovered
their plans, their leader fled the country, and the Illuminati
died out by 1790.
ANTIMATTER
CERN (Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire) is the
world's largest particle physics laboratory, where the World
Wide Web began and where the Large Hadron Collider is set
to start smashing protons. And they have produced
antimatter; in fact, they do so on a regular basis. But CERN
officials say that in the last 20 years, they have produced
about 10 billionths of a gram. Collectively, that would be
about as explosive as a firecracker. For a weapon as
destructive as a nuclear bomb, you'd need a half a gram of
antimatter, which would take about 2 billion years.
18. THE PATH OF ILLUMINATION
In the book and movie, Robert Langdon deduces that
Bernini left clues to the directions to the Illuminati's secret
meeting place in Rome within his statues. Inscribed in
"Diagramma," a secret text by Galileo (invented by Brown),
is a poem by John Milton (actually Brown) that holds the
instructions to finding the path. There are four signposts,
corresponding to the four natural elements, and the poem
concludes with the line "Let angels guide you on your lofty
quest." Brown gets some details right and many others
wrong about each of the four stops.
"EARTH" - Chigi Chapel
In the St. Maria del Popolo Church, you will find the Chigi
Chapel, which was designed by the Renaissance master
Raphael. Within the chapel there are two marble pyramids,
and there are two statues by Bernini. There is also a
"demon's hole," which is sealed now, but does lead to an
underground crypt. One of the statues, "Habbakuk and the
Angel," does feature an angelic figure pointing in a south-
westerly direction towards the Vatican. Of the four "Altars
of Science" laid out by Brown, this one is the closest to
reality as presented in the book and movie.
"AIR" - St. Peter's Square
Around the obelisk in the center of the square is the "Wind
Rose," a circle of 16 elliptical marble reliefs -- not just one
as in the book -- labeled with the names of the directions
of the wind. Langdon interprets the marker labeled
"West/Ponente" as his guide of where to go next. One
problem: Bernini designed St. Peter's Square, but not these
markers, which were added around 1852, over 170 years
after his death.
19. "FIRE" - The Ecstasy of Saint Theresa
The church of Santa Maria della Vittoria does lie to the west of St.
Peter's Square, and inside you will find Bernini's masterpiece "The
Ecstasy of Saint Theresa." That's about where the similarities to
reality end. The statue wasn't moved to the church because of
Vatican protests; it has always been there. Also, the church is much
smaller in reality than what is shown in the movie. Nearly all of the
interiors in the movie were built on soundstages in Los Angeles.
Most notably, the angel on the statue holds an arrow, and Langdon
follows the point of the arrow southwest to his next location. But in
reality, the angel's arrow points northeast.
"WATER" - The Fountain of the Four Rivers
Langdon arrives at the Piazza Navona, site of Bernini's "Fountain of
the Four Rivers," just in time to see the Illuminati killer drive up in
his van and dump his final kidnapped cardinal into the water. But
vehicles are blocked from driving in the piazza, and the fountain is
not much more than a foot deep. And there are no air hoses along
the bottom to produce bubbles (or keep a bound clergyman alive
underwater). Langdon uses the dove on the obelisk that rises out of
the fountain to point his way, and again it's pointing in the wrong
direction.
THE CHURCH OF ILLUMINATION
The trail leads Langdon to the Castel Sant'Angelo, the circular
structure built originally as a mausoleum and used by the Church as
a fortress and prison. A statue (not by Bernini) of an angel stands at
the top, pointing his sword downwards to where the villain hides.
Of course, the still-existing jail cells where he held the cardinals are
a feature of the tour that services hundreds of visitors a day, which
might have been a giveaway. At least in the movie they correct
Brown's mistake in the novel. He places the passageway from the
Castel to the Vatican as being underground, and in the film you see
Langdon run along the top of the wall between the two.
20. The Vatican had blocked Hollywood director Ron Howard
from filming in two churches essential to the plot of Dan
Brown's novel, "Angels and Demons," reports
the Telegraph.co.uk.
The churches, Santa Maria del Popolo and Santa Maria
della Vittoria, were recreated on a soundstage, though the
filmmakers were not forbidden to shoot the outsides of the
churches. Santa Maria della Vittoria is the setting for a
scene in the book when Mr. Langdon finds a cardinal
being set on fire.
A spokesman for the Vatican stated:
"Usually we read the script but in this case it wasn't
necessary. Just the name Dan Brown was enough. "
He also added that most movies are given permission,
provided that they respect "the traditions of the Church."
Following in the footsteps of sequel, "The Da Vinci Code,"
"Angels and Demons" very obviously does not respect this
request.
Hollywood and religion have always had a fickle
relationship. More often than not, Hollywood is accused of
forever "getting it wrong." Every now and then, a film will
surface that isn't blatantly religious, but definitely nods
that way. This nod is usually enough to satisfy viewers.
This is not so in the relationship between Catholicism and
Hollywood. Unless the film is about a purely religious
subject and done by a director willing to stay true to
Catholic beliefs (Mel Gibson's "The Passion" and Leonardo
Defilippis' "Thrse: The Story of Saint Thrse of Lisieux")
Catholicism and film simply don't mix.
21. Angels & Demons is is a 2009
American mystery-thriller film
directed by Ron Howard and
based on Dan Brown's novel by
the same name. It is a sequel to
the 2006 film The Da Vinci Code,
although the book was published
first in series chronology.
Filming of Angels & Demons took
place in Rome Italy, and the Sony
Pictures Studios in Culver
City, California. Tom
Hanks reprises the lead role
of Robert Langdon, while
producer Brian Grazer,
composer Hans Zimmer and
screenwriter Akiva
22. Dan Brown writes novels.
Fiction.
It says so right on the spine of
the books.
And yet he's able to weave
enough historical details into his
flights of fancy that it's nearly
impossible to tell what he
uncovered through exhaustive
research and what he just made
up!
23. Dan Brown, the author, has a way with using his
words. This novel, Angels and Demons, is not just
another novel. That once a person hears that Brown
has written it, everyone wants to read it. Anybody
could read this book regardless if Dan Brown wrote
the novel or not, but he did. The story can keep a
person on edge. As they read, the pages seem
endless, but if the reader has time and focuses on
mainly the book they will not want to stop until it is
finished. Angels and Demons contains a lot of
historical facts that actually cause the book to seem
more realistic. The religious beliefs, churches,
statues, cults like the Illuminati are all base off on
real life events. Dan Brown took a piece of history
and created a beautiful novel.
As I talk to people, I usually find that those who
have read Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci
Code usually prefer whichever book they read first.
Its the most effective page-turner I've ever read,
perhaps the best since some of Stephen King's early
stories. While some judicious editing might have
made it a tighter and more focused novel, Angels &
Demons is still a highly enjoyable read. For those
who love plot-driven novels, and for those who love
thrillers and mysteries full of strange bits of
information that tie everything together, grab a copy
of Angels & Demons and find a comfortable chair.
It's time well spent.
24. Pros
'Angels and Demons' is a fast paced page
turner.
The mix of religious and historical elements
adds a unique twist to the mystery.
Brown provides plenty of surprises.
Cons
If you are put off by graphic violence, some
descriptions may bother you.
The religious elements might offend some
people, especially Catholics.
Part of the ending is too far-fetched- like an
action movie.
Description
'Angels and Demons' by Dan Brown was first
published in 2000.
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
713 Pages
25. Plot: 5/5,
even with the slow start
and absurd ending.
Characters: 3/5,
they get the job done, but
are static and unoriginal.
Writing: 3/5,
I never noted anything
great, but it was
servicable.
Overall: 4.5/5.
I'd give it a 5/5, since I
really enjoyed 95% of it,
but it's got too many flaws
