-DAN BROWN
Dan Brown is an American author of thriller fiction, best known for his bestselling novel, The Da Vinci Code. Brown's novels, which are treasure hunts, set in a 24-hour time period, feature the recurring themes of cryptography, keys, symbols, codes, and conspiracy theories. Brown's novels that feature the lead character Robert Langdon also include historical themes and Christianity as recurring motifs, and as a result, have generated controversy.
The novel ‘Angels and Demons’ discusses the conflict between religion and science which is continuing for centuries. Brown in his usual twenty four hour narrative filled with suspense, twists and turns, and an ever enthralling plot takes the readers on a journey through Rome and Vatican. Dan Brown provides a vivid description of the Vatican churches, the conclave; St. Peter’s Basilica and acquaints the readers with the customs and tradition of the Vatican. Moreover, CERN and the scientists there arouse the curiosity of man in matter and antimatter.
The American symbologist and cryptologist, the Harvard fellow, Robert Langdon is the protagonist. He is called on in the middle of the night by the director of CERN, Maximilan Kohler, to come over to the CERN immediately. Langdon reaches Switzerland in an extraordinarily fast aircraft. At CERN Langdon is faced with the dead body of a senior scientist at CERN, Leonardo Vetra, with a brand on his chest ‘Illuminati’ written in illuminati ambigram. Also they realize that one of the retinas of Vetra has been removed. From Kohler Langdon comes to know of the adopted daughter of Vetra, Vittoria Vetra, their secret lab and their experiments. Kohler also informs that the murder of Vetra has been kept a secret from fellow CERN scientists and the authorities.
Soon Vittoria who has been on a scientific venture arrives hearing the news of her father’s demise. On insistence of Kohler she shows them the secret laboratory protected accessible only by the father- daughter duo. Soon they are come to know of the antimatter, opposite of matter, which essentially is a great source of energy. Leonardo Vetra believed that this invention will definitely bridge the gap between religion and science. At this point Langdon is forced to believe that Vetra’s murder is very much related to their invention and he also anticipates the resurrection of the illuminati.
Vittoria is not prepared to accept this as she asserts that the only people who knew of the antimatter were she and her father. Soon to the horror of Vittoria it is realized that the specimen of anti-matter has been stolen. A call from the Vatican demanded the presence of a CERN representative there. Vittoria Vetra and Robert Langdon fly to Vatican. They are received by the Swiss- Guard. It is the day of conclave at Vatican and there is huge crowd of tourists and media at St. Peter’s Basilica square. Though antimatter is in Vatican its exact location in unidentifiable as the antimatter is immune to all possible weapon detectors, the advanced security system of the Vatican was unable to locate the antimatter.
A phone call to the chamberlain worsens the situation as the caller informs that the four missing cardinals, the prefereti, are with him, and they are soon to be murdered. Also he claims to have murdered the pope and Vittoria’s father Leonardo Vetra. Robert Langdon and Vittoria Vetra suspect it to be the illuminati and with the permission of chamberlain they enter the secret vaults of Vatican library. They find the clue to their puzzle in the ‘Digrammia’ by Galileo. The four pillars of illuminati cult are identified as earth, air, fire and water. In their venture they realize that Bernini is the master behind illuminati architecture. But in each of their attempts they miss the hassassin by a fraction.
In the meanwhile, a BBC reporter, Gunther Glick and his camerawoman Mecri also gets involved. Thereafter all the happenings are aired live. Towards the end of their quest, Vittoria is kidnapped by the Hassassin and taken to the church of illumination which is the St. Angelo’s church under the Vatican. the shortcut to Vatican, the Passetto is also traced.
At Vatican, Kohler has arrived and eventually the readers conclude that Kohler is the illuminati leader Janus. The chamberlain is branded with the illuminati diamond, and Kohler is shot dead. The trail for antimatter begins and the chamberlain soon has a heavenly revelation as to where the antimatter is. The chamberlain saves the Vatican and manages to escape the antimatter explosion whereupon he is believed to be representing the god on earth, but Robert Langdon goes missing.
In the meantime, Langdon in a hallucinated state of mind remembers how he had been abandoned by the chamberlain to be burnt to ashes with the antimatter. He by the decree of god reaches a hospital and recovers soon. He moves to St. Peter’s Basilica with the recorder and there unveils the truth behind all the happenings.
Finally, Mortati, the officer in charge of the conclave is made the Pope and the revelations of the eve are kept a secret between the cardinals, Langdon and Vittoria for the sake of the church. Langdon and Vittoria are happy that they are part of this quest and Vittoria is relieved to have found the murderer of her father.
The novel provides a beautiful and serious discussion of the relation between science and religion. It mocks at the claim of science to be all powerful. It also questions the strength of the supreme power. At one point in the novel it is said that today science is trying to solve the problems of man which has been caused by science itself. The characters in the novel have been given a space to develop by brown, by not limiting them within the boundaries laid by the novelist.
The novel has been made into a movie in 2009.
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