Angels & Demons is a 2000 bestselling mystery-thriller novel written by American author Dan Brown and published by Pocket Books and then by Corgi Books. The novel introduces the character Robert Langdon, who recurs as the protagonist of Brown's subsequent novels. Angels & Demons shares many stylistic literary elements with its sequels, such as conspiracies of secret societies, a single-day time frame, and the Catholic Church. Ancient history, architecture, and symbology are also heavily referenced throughout the book. A film adaptation was released on May 15, 2009.

Background

The book contains several ambigrams created by real-life typographer John Langdon. Besides the "Angels & Demons" and "Illuminati" designs, the title of the book is also presented as an ambigram on the hardcover book jacket, and on the inside cover of the paperback versions. The book also contains ambigrams of the words Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, which served to bring the art of ambigrams to public attention by virtue of the popularity of the book. The "Illuminati Diamond" mentioned in the book is an ambigram of the four elements that are arranged in the shape of a diamond.

Aside from the explicit introduction, the book depicts various fictional experts explaining matters in science, technology, and history in which critics have pointed out inaccuracies. An example of this is the antimatter discussions, wherein the book suggests that antimatter can be produced in useful and practical quantities and will be a limitless source of power. CERN published a FAQ page about Angels & Demons on their website stating that antimatter cannot be used as an energy source because creating it takes more energy than it produces.

Angels & Demons Decoded, a documentary on the American cable television network, The History Channel, premiered on May 10, 2009, shortly before the release of the novel's film adaptation. The documentary explores the various bases of the novel's story, as well as its inaccuracies. A CERN official, for example, points out that over the last 20 years, approximately 10 billionths of a gram of antimatter had been produced at the facility, whose explosive yield is equivalent to that of a firecracker, far less than is needed for it to be the threat depicted in the novel, where the device holds 0.25 grams.

According to The Boston Globe language columnist Ben Zimmer, the position of Devil's Advocate, which is indicated in the novel to have a role in the selection of the pope, is in fact employed to present arguments against the proposed canonization of a person as a saint (which frequently is the case with former popes). While the background of papal candidates are presumably scrutinised, there is no particular office and not one bearing this title. Zimmer adds that the office was abolished by Pope John Paul II in 1983, 17 years before the novel was published. Further, election through acclamation, which plays a role in the climax of the novel, was in fact a method of electing the pope, but was abolished in 1996 by Pope John Paul II, four years before the novel.

See also

  • Draper–White thesis
  • Particle accelerators in popular culture
  • Gian Lorenzo Bernini

References

Sources

  • Burstein, Dan (ed). Secrets of Angels & Demons: The unauthorized guide to the bestselling novel, 2004, CDS Books. , Collection of many essays by world-class historians and other experts, discussing the fact & fiction of the novel
  • Angels and Demons Draws Tourists to Rome, January 20, 2005, NPR
  • CERN's own page about fact and fiction in the novel
  • Angels and Demons Movie News Site
  • Path of Illumination (with photos of the places of Angels & Demons)
  • Dan Brown's own page
  • Book 'Antimatter, The Ultimate Mirror'
  • Official website
  • Official UK website
  • CERN Angels-and-Demons website