by K.S. Carter

Created on: June 24, 2008

First published in 2000, Angels and Demons is the exciting prequel to Dan Brown's best-known work to date, The Da Vinci Code. Angels and Demons features Robert Langdon, hero of The Da Vinci Code and renowned doctor of religious symbology, on a fast-paced trip around Rome solving a centuries-old Illuminati code in order to prevent the group's ultimate triumph over organized religion: a ticking time-bomb of anti-matter poised to blow up Rome.

Like many readers, I read The Da Vinci Code before ever hearing of Angels and Demons. I loved The Da Vinci Code for its well-laid trail of conspiracy and intrigue grounded in historical fact and knitted together with centuries of well-researched speculation. Angels and Demons lived up to my expectations in that regard, too. In fact, I enjoyed it even more than The Da Vinci Code.

Robert Langdon is not a suave spy or macho ex-military powerhouse, but instead is an aging yet athletic academician with a healthy respect for and knowledge of history. He's just an average college professor who gets wrapped into the modern-day chapters of very stories that he has researched throughout his academic career. Does that sound familiar? It sounds a lot like Indiana Jones, the archaeology professor who keeps getting pulled into all sorts of adventurous exploits in blockbuster after Hollywood blockbuster.

Despite the similarities to Indiana Jones and the more recent National Treasure movie franchises, the character of Robert Langdon in Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code manages to stay intriguing and intelligent without becoming too much the action hero clich. Angels and Demons hooks the reader immediately, and keeps them tuned in all the way through to the last page.

The puzzle laid out for Langdon to follow through Rome leads to some close calls and heart-thumping suspense. One can imagine the pivotal monuments that Langdon visits in Rome all being tied into the Illuminati conspiracy that is central to the plot. Dan Brown must have spent huge amounts of time and effort in researching this story. It takes place in modern-day Rome, but the history of the city is living very much hand-in-hand with the present. Dan Brown weaves them together seamlessly for an adrenaline rush and history lesson rolled into one.

The Da Vinci Code was made into a major motion picture and released in 2006. At the time, there were rumors that Angels and Demons would be made into a movie as well. I sincerely hope so and will line up at the theater to see it. I cannot wait to see what else Dan Brown has in store for Robert Langdon, and eagerly look forward to their next adventure.

Learn more about this author, K.S. Carter.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.