Thought-Provoking Thriller: Angels & Demons

Joy Fleishhacker -- School Library Journal, 5/20/2009

This time Langdon, an expert on religious symbols, is summoned to CERN, a Swiss nuclear research facility, to investigate a murder victim branded with a mysterious symbol. He soon uncovers evidence pointing to the resurgence of the Illuminati—an ancient secret society expelled from Rome in the time of Galileo and ruthlessly persecuted by the Catholic Church. Driven deep underground, the members of the organization vowed to one day take vengeance on their tormentors. When Langdon discovers that an Illuminati time bomb is ticking down to destruction for the Vatican, he travels to Rome, where he joins forces with Vittoria Vetra (Ayelet Zurer), a beautiful Italian scientist whose antimatter experiment has been stolen by the secret society. The two follow a 400-year-old path of clues that leads them to a series of famed historical sites, into numerous chapels and cathedrals, down spooky “demon holes,” and ultimately to their shrouded-in-secrecy destination: the Church of Illumination. It’s a race against the clock as they reveal hidden truths and unravel the details of the Illuminati’s conspiracy, but will they solve the puzzle in time to save the Vatican? Teens can visit the movie’s Web site (www.angelsanddemons.com) for an introduction to the characters, a taste of the plot’s twists and turns, photo galleries, previews, games, and more.

Book Tie-ins

Visual images reign supreme in this eye-grabbing film and Newmarket Press’s Angels & Demons: The Illustrated Movie Companion makes a fitting complement. The book begins with introductions by Brown, Howard, Grazer, and executive producer Todd Hallowell, and the text consists of commentary from the cast and crew. Real historical sites and works of art are presented, followed by remarks from the production staff about the challenges of faithfully re-creating locales such as the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, and Piazza Navona on soundstages and outdoor lots (a replica of St. Peter’s Square was built in a Hollywood racetrack parking lot) and sculpting models of well-known statues. Also covered are set and costume design, props, special effects (including some gnarly looking prosthetic bodies), and more. Brimming with over 270 full-color images, the pages feature period reproductions, production artwork, storyboards, movie stills, and behind-the-scenes photos. This handsome book reveals the artistry, research, and effort that go into moviemaking, demonstrating that in this case, God truly is in the details.

Film fans ready to plunge wholeheartedly into Robert Langdon’s adventures will want to go right to the source. Brown’s infinitely readable Angels & Demons has been reissued by Washington Square Press (2009) with an iconic and evocative movie tie-in cover: an elegant yet enigmatic statue—the half-angel and half-demon sculpture created for the film—is shown from behind, almost obscuring an aerial view of St. Peter’s Square. The images are presented in striking sepia tones and set against a dramatically lit backdrop of sky. An audio version of the novel, read by Richard Poe, is also available in both abridged and unabridged editions.

Brown’s intricate storyline is richly interwoven with historical sites, cultural symbols, and works of art, many of which are displayed on the creamy pages of Angels & Demons: Special Illustrated Edition (Washington Square Press, 2006). This elegant oversize trade paperback features 150 full-color images of locations, paintings, sculptures, religious icons, historical figures, and other elements that play an important role in the text, presenting a visual reference that adds greatly to the reading experience. This book makes an excellent choice for teens who may not be familiar with art history or the architectural wonders of Rome.

From the ages-old schism between science and religion to entanglement theory to secret societies, Angels & Demons—in both literary and motion picture format—introduces many thought-provoking ideas and raises questions that are fun to ponder over and debate. Inside Angels & Demons (Vanguard Press, 2009) helps readers to delve more deeply into the concepts presented in the novel’s fast-turning pages and to make the call about “what is fact and what is fiction.” In this unauthorized guide, a revised and updated edition of Secrets of Angels & Demons (2004), editors Dan Burstein and Arne de Keijzer gather together original essays, interviews, and published excerpts offered by journalists, scholars, and experts in a whirlwind of academic areas. Sections cover broad topics integral to the story: the Vatican, both past and present; Galileo; the science vs. religion debate; the novel’s take on the art and architecture of Rome; scientific and technological issues; and an examination of Brown’s writing style and plotting. Representing a wide variety of perspectives and approaches, Inside Angels & Demons is a fascinating, easy-to-dip-into resource for readers whose curiosity has been piqued as well as for teachers looking to connect the story to various curriculum areas or to stimulate debate.

Pub Info

Angels & Demons: The Illustrated Movie Companion. Newmarket Press. May 2009. Tr $29.95. ISBN 978-1-55704-834-9; pap. $19.95. ISBN 978-1-55704-833-2.

BROWN, Dan. Angels & Demons: Movie Tie-in Edition. Washington Square Press. 2009. Trade pap. $16. ISBN 978-1-4165-8082-9; Mass market pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4165-7874-1.

_____. Angels & Demons. Audio edition. Simon & Schuster Audio. 2009. Compact disk (abridged). $29.99. ISBN 978-0-7435-8045-8; Compact disk (unabridged). $49.99. ISBN 978-0-7435-8046-5. MP3 edition (unabridged). $29.99. ISBN 978-0-7435-9718-0.

_____. Angels & Demons: Special Illustrated Edition. Washington Square Press. 2006. pap. $24. ISBN 978-0-7432-7771-6.