It takes guts to write a novel that combines an ancient secret brotherhood, the Swiss Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire, a papal conclave, mysterious ambigrams, a plot against the Vatican, a mad scientist in a wheelchair, particles of antimatter, jets that can travel 15,000 miles per hour, crafty assassins, a beautiful Italian physicist, and a Harvard professor of religious iconology. It takes talent to make that novel anything but ridiculous. Kudos to Dan Brown (Digital Fortress) for achieving the nearly impossible. 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).
Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is shocked to find proof that the legendary secret society, the Illuminati--dedicated since the time of Galileo to promoting the interests of science and condemning the blind faith of Catholicism--is alive, well, and murderously active. Brilliant physicist Leonardo Vetra has been murdered, his eyes plucked out, and the society's ancient symbol branded upon his chest. His final discovery, antimatter, the most powerful and dangerous energy source known to man, has disappeared--only to be hidden somewhere beneath Vatican City on the eve of the election of a new pope. Langdon and Vittoria, Vetra's daughter and colleague, embark on a frantic hunt through the streets, churches, and catacombs of Rome, following a 400-year-old trail to the lair of the Illuminati, to prevent the incineration of civilization.

Brown seems as much juggler as author--there are lots and lots of balls in the air in this novel, yet Brown manages to hurl the reader headlong into an almost surreal suspension of disbelief. While the reader might wish for a little more sardonic humor from Langdon, and a little less bombastic philosophizing on the eternal conflict between religion and science, these are less fatal flaws than niggling annoyances--readers should have no trouble skimming past them and immersing themselves in a heck of a good read. "Brain candy" it may be, but my! It's tasty. --Kelly Flynn--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

I love Dan Brown! Da Vinci Code (DVC) was my first, and this is my second. I think Angels & Demons was a lot like DVC. If you liked DVC, you'll probably like this one too.

I started to read this novel but found it too much like the Da Vinci Code and therefore never finished. The content behind the story is very intriguing.

Angels and Demons in my opinion is better than the Davinci Code. It is more intense and thrilling.

I liked it better than The DaVinci code!

There is nothing I like better than a book that lives up to hype and expectations. This was was definitely a page turner! The story is so well-written that in my rush to devour it and find out what happens next, I barely even noticed the few things that annoyed me (like when characters don't notice obvious clues) as I usually do while reading a book. A great read!

great book

Intresting read.

By the author of the Da Vinci Code

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.....

there are several printings of this book, all with different ISBN numbers. If you're looking for it, look under more than one ISBN. I have a copy, and I'm keeping my "used" paperbacks for only a month after I decide I want them out of here. Its a shame if I list a book by title and author, keep it for a month or 2, and then send it to the Friends of the Library sale when there is a long line of swappers who also want a copy.

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Very far-fetched story! Very poor character development. Although many people recommended this book to me, I didn't really like it. Didn't like DaVinci Code by this author either, for the same reason. I only finished the book because of the sites in Rome that were mentioned.

Highly enjoyed reading this book. Very captivating!

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