http://www.slate.com/id/2228327/
QuoteWhen renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to Fenway Park to analyze a mysterious geometric form—imprinted on a gold ring lying next to the disemboweled corpse of the head docent—he discovers evidence of the unthinkable: the resurgence of the ancient cult of the Baalinistas, a secret branch of the Sierra Club that has surfaced from the shadows to carry out its legendary vendetta against its mortal enemy, the Vatican.
Langdon's worst fears are confirmed when a messenger from the Baalinistas appears at Paul Revere's grave to deliver a grim ultimatum: Turn over the archbishop, or one cherub will disappear from the Sistine Chapel every day. With the countdown under way, Langdon joins forces with the lupine and charming daughter of the murdered docent in a desperate bid to crack the code that will reveal the cult's secret plan.
Embarking on a frantic hunt, Langdon and his companion follow a 1000-year-old trail through Boston's most venerable statues and sacred churches, pursued by a Norwegian assassin the cult has sent to thwart them. What they discover threatens to expose a conspiracy that goes all the way back to John Muir and the very founding of the Sierra Club.
QuoteWhen renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to the Obelisk in Plaza de la Republica to analyze a mysterious geometric form—drawn on a calling card next to the mangled body of the head docent—he discovers evidence of the unthinkable: the resurgence of the ancient cult of the Baalifori, a secret branch of the International Olympic Committee that has surfaced from the shadows to carry out its legendary vendetta against its mortal enemy, the Vatican.
Langdon's worst fears are confirmed when a messenger from the Baalifori appears at the Colon Theatre to deliver a deadly ultimatum: Turn over the archbishop, or one cherub will disappear from the Sistine Chapel every day. With the countdown under way, Langdon joins forces with the Amazonian and firm-minded daughter of the murdered docent in a desperate bid to crack the code that will reveal the cult's secret plan.
Embarking on a frantic hunt, Langdon and his companion follow a 600-year-old trail through Buenos Aires's most historic churches and exalted buildings, pursued by a one-handed assassin the cult has sent to thwart them. What they discover threatens to expose a conspiracy that goes all the way back to Demetrius Vikelas and the very founding of the International Olympic Committee.
better then the actual books
Incidentally, I now want to cock-slap Dan Brown until his teeth fall out and then cock-choke him to death.
He has, in one single chapter, fucked up physics, gave support to "the Secret", mythologized DC gridlock, and castrated Jewish mysticism. And I'm only a third of the way through the book so far.
Its wonderful, isn't it?
He's like a modern-day Cadmus; he sows the Dragon's Teeth of interesting things, and breeds a legion of moronic soldiers.
Just wait for the Crowley namedropping later on in the book.
This rules :lulz:
QuoteWhen celebrated Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to the Shrine of the Book to analyze a mysterious ancient script—etched into the floor next to the disfigured form of the head docent—he discovers evidence of the unthinkable: the resurgence of the ancient cult of the Quintifori, a secret branch of the Scientologists that has surfaced from the shadows to carry out its legendary vendetta against its mortal enemy, the Vatican.
Langdon's worst fears are confirmed when a messenger from the Quintifori appears at the Israeli Parliament to deliver a deadly ultimatum: Turn over the archbishop, or one cherub will disappear from the Sistine Chapel every day. With the countdown under way, Langdon joins forces with the bedroom-eyed and brilliant daughter of the murdered docent in a desperate bid to crack the code that will reveal the cult's secret plan.
Embarking on a frantic hunt, Langdon and his companion follow a 900-year-old trail through Jerusalem's most venerable libraries and sacred statues, pursued by a near-sighted assassin the cult has sent to thwart them. What they discover threatens to expose a conspiracy that goes all the way back to L. Ron Hubbard and the very founding of the Scientologists.
When renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to the Statue of Liberty to analyze a mysterious rune—drawn on a calling card next to the disemboweled corpse of the head docent—he discovers evidence of the unthinkable: the resurgence of the ancient cult of the Destifori, a secret branch of NAMBLA that has surfaced from the shadows to carry out its legendary vendetta against its mortal enemy, the Vatican.
Langdon's worst fears are confirmed when a messenger from the Destifori appears at the Apollo Theater to deliver a grim ultimatum: Deposit $1 billion in NAMBLA's off-shore bank accounts or the exclusive clothier of the Swiss Guards will be bankrupted. As the city braces for disaster, Langdon joins forces with the dewy and firm-minded daughter of the murdered docent in a desperate bid to crack the code that will reveal the cult's secret plan.
Embarking on a frantic hunt, Langdon and his companion follow a 700-year-old trail through New York City's most venerable churches and historic buildings, pursued by a one-handed assassin the cult has sent to thwart them. What they discover threatens to expose a conspiracy that goes all the way back to Allen Ginsberg and the very founding of NAMBLA.
Quote from: Cain on September 21, 2009, 09:06:46 PM
Just wait for the Crowley namedropping later on in the book.
Oddly enough, I was okay with that. Not because it was accurate, but because when some psycho goes off the rails and obsesses about the "left hand path", he usually ends up getting Crowley completely wrong.
Even a stopped clock is right twice a day...
I'm just about done, incidentally. I'm dreading how bad the Reveal is going to be.
It struck me as cliche as fuck. Sure, its accurate, but maybe I'm just jaded, and would like to see Kenneth Grant get credited for once. The old bastard wanted to open stargates to let the Old Ones through, after all. I'd call that pretty evil, by comparison. Crowley was just ushering in the Age of Horus and shit.
I think after getting bludgeoned for half the book with his schlock, any halfway-appropriate character development/backstory was welcome.
But yeah, Brown should have done a lot more digging. I mean, he used Albrecht Dürer as a set piece, he could have at least name-checked Carl Kellner.
Never read a Dan Brown book.
Still not going to.
Incidentally, I WILL KILL A MOTHERFUCKER.
Of all his books, including Digital Fortress, this was the worst written of the lot.
THANKS, DAN BROWN, AND IMMA LET YOU FINISH, BUT UMBERTO ECO HAD THE BEST CONSPIRACY NOVEL OF ALL TIME. OF. ALL. TIME.
Mrs Mang' read 'The da Vinci Code' when it first came out and said it was a fun read. She told me a bit about it and so I picked it up in the bookstore. As soon as had I read the 'Priory Of Scion' is real schitck, I put it down and walked away.
Having read 'code', Mrs Mang' thought she would try Digital Fortress. I think it was one of her 'plane books' she purchased when she was flying to the UK. Anyways, she said that in one part of the book a main character's eyes were described as being one colour and then a few chapters later, have miraculously changed into another. She felt that if Dan Brown didn't care enough to keep that part consistent, then she didn't care enough to read it. Thus her interest in his works came to a screeching halt, never to be resumed.
So is this some kind of literary masochism? Is it the reader's equivalent of 'OMG, this tastes/smells disgusting.....here, you try it!'?
Incidentally, I have it on good authority that compared to the novels of Raymond Buckland, Dan Brown is Ernest Hemmingway.
One of the most head-slappingly ridiculous parts was near the end... The Nemesis is defeated, the Government has been protected, and the victims have been freed and reunited.
So, one of the victims takes Langdon to show him the secret the entire novel revolves around, and they chat pleasantly about history, symbology, mysticism... but this guy had gotten his hand chopped off 24 hours earlier, with no medical attention or pain killers anywhere in sight. That's right, "Stumpy the Freemason" is actually the Black Knight from Monty Python's Holy Grail.
I'm going to read this latest Dan Brown, but more in the same spirit as Rasputin ate a little poison with his breakfast everyday.
If you want a copy, pm me your email.
Awesomeness:
QuoteOh, so apparently some guy named Dan Brown has written some new book? The extract soon gets to the point:
QuoteThe thirty-four-year-old initiate gazed down at the human skull cradled in his palms.
Mmm, beautiful. "Cradled in his palms". One can feel the reverence with which the initiate is delicately holding this human skull. But tell us more about the skull, Mr Brown!
QuoteThe skull was hollow,
That is useful information, for now I am no longer visualizing one of those solid skulls?
Quotelike a bowl,
Even better — hollow like a bowl, not hollow like, I don't know, a syringe, or an asteroid hollowed out by aliens. The image is now irresistibly vivid! A human skull, hollow like a bowl!
But wait, Mr Brown, why are you telling us that this particular skull is "hollow, like a bowl"? Are you subtly setting up the idea that the skull contains some liquid?
Quotefilled with bloodred wine.
Ah — now this is why Dan Brown is Dan Brown. A lesser author would have been satisfied with a lesser liquid — having the human skull (hollow like a bowl) contain, I don't know, some gazpacho soup or Ready Brek. No one but Dan Brown could have thought of filling the human skull (hollow like a bowl) with "bloodred wine".1 It is an image of menacing ingenuity, through which Mr Brown is really beginning to establish a kind of superior Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom atmosphere.
The author then types on with some description of a big room, but it is no shame for us to admit that his best work is already accomplished: the concept of an initiate holding a human skull (hollow like a bowl) filled with bloodred wine and cradled in his palms is a kind of chorus that insists on being heard again, and it is not long before the reader is thus pleasured:
QuoteThe initiate had been told every room in this building held a secret, and yet he knew no room held deeper secrets than the gigantic chamber in which he was currently kneeling with a skull cradled in his palms.
A skull cradled in his palms. Imagine! Almost as though it were a human infant. I must admit my eyes glazed over again after this at the further description of the big room and whatever, but only because I was aching to see what the author would do with his inevitable third treatment of the concept "skull cradled in his palms". I was not disappointed:
QuoteSteeling himself for the last step of his journey, the initiate shifted his muscular frame and turned his attention back to the skull cradled in his palms.
Only a second-rate writer would vary such a winning formula. The first-rate writer knows the true value of incessant repetition. Indeed, I suspect this stunning symbol-sequence, "skull cradled in his palms", must owe its majestic power to some actual black sorcery, because when I had finished reading the entire extract, I found myself cradling my own skull in my palms?
1. Later on we are told that "The crimson wine looked almost black in the dim candlelight", but that's the lighting director's problem, so fuck you.
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Unspeak/~3/NM__ci0WCnI/
My guess is that the galleys never made it to the Editor's desk, they just sent it through spellcheck once, and said "skip all" when it got to "Ma'lak".
Quote from: LMNO on September 25, 2009, 01:13:42 PM
One of the most head-slappingly ridiculous parts was near the end... The Nemesis is defeated, the Government has been protected, and the victims have been freed and reunited.
So, one of the victims takes Langdon to show him the secret the entire novel revolves around, and they chat pleasantly about history, symbology, mysticism... but this guy had gotten his hand chopped off 24 hours earlier, with no medical attention or pain killers anywhere in sight. That's right, "Stumpy the Freemason" is actually the Black Knight from Monty Python's Holy Grail.
Of course, it is worth noting that
Monty Python and The Holy Grail contains significantly more legitimate information about the Holy Grail than
The DaVinci Code did :D
Speaking of
The DaVinci Code, the one thing that bothered me most of all about
The DaVinci Code was that "San Gréal"/"Sang Réal"
* bullshit, and let me tell you why:
Even if we assume that this etymoogy is legitimate and correct, the change between one phrase and the other doesn't have any meaningful effect on the meaning of the term, as both versions of the term are derived from the same biblical phrase, which appears (in slightly modified forms) in three of the standard canonical gospels as well as at least two apocryphal gospels which are not recognized by the Catholic Church anyway. To wit,
Mark 14:23-24"23.
And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. 24.
And he said unto them, 'This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many." "
Matthew 26:27-28"27. Then
he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 28.
This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." "
Luke 22:20"22. In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying,
"This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you." "
and in the apocrypha...
Bartholomew"
They saw the blood of Jesus pouring out as living blood down into the cup. Peter said: "God hath loved us more than all, in letting us see these great honours: and our Lord Jesus Christ hath allowed us to behold and hath revealed to us the glory of his body and
his divine blood." "
Philip"The
Cup of Prayer contains wine and water,
since it is appointed as the type of the blood for which thanks is given. And it is full of the Holy Spirit, and it belongs to the wholly perfect man. When we drink this, we shall receive for ourselves the perfect man. "
Its telling that the scripture which uses a phrase most closely approximating the word "Holy Grail" or "San Gréal" is an apocryphal gospel not recognized by the Catholic Church
** P.S. I know that this thread is more about
The Lost Symbol than
The DaVinci Code, but I just had to get this off my chest.
* (meaning "Holy Grail" and "Royal Blood", respectively)
** As opposed to the story given in the book, wherein the Catholic Churh creates the term "San Gréal" as a deliberate corruption of the phrase "Sang Réal". it would seem that in real life, if they tried t supress anything, then "San Gréal" meaning "Holy Grail" (and not "Sang Réal" meaning "Royal Blood"
***) was the term that they tried to supress
*** On a related note, I have actually been to Roman Catholic services where the topic of the sermon has been that Jesus was a successor to King David
I have not read anything by Dan Brown. I have read fiction as well as nonfiction dealing with some of the same ideas and I became a little pissed that an author I very much enjoyed and respected, that wrote such books was largely unknown, however this asshole, who I frequently claim stole the ideas of others without giving credit, is regarded very highly. On top of that when I see a small segments of his writings they lack all of what makes such books appealing to me.
I guess his books are written for the masses, and it seems, from what I have read here, that he has problems checking out his information. Also, he can't keep little details consistent. Oh, and he writes like someone who is not a writer by trade writing books for children. Is this correct?
And all his plots are essentially the same.
I watched the movie Angels & Demons a few days ago, and I gotta say, apart from that the LHC was never in the business of creating antimatter, and even if they would, it wouldn't be contained in a handheld glowing tube powered by a battery, and while the idea of switching of the power in several parts of the city to determine the location of a wireless camera to see when the light goes out if a pretty nifty idea, tracking the wireless signal itself is a lot easier and more accurate.
apart from that (and more), it was a pretty entertaining movie with a nice twist at the end.
The film was quite different to the book, in several ways. Including the idiot "if the antimatter container's batteries are below five minutes it cannot be safely replaced, so the villain places the antimatter container where it can only be found five minutes before it is due to explode, he can then play the hero and save the Vatican from the evil Illuminati" plot finale.
Because, of course, its real easy to plan something like that.
Do they still include the BASE-jumping fail at the end?
Quote from: Triple Zero on October 26, 2009, 12:26:31 PM
I watched the movie Angels & Demons a few days ago, and I gotta say, apart from that the LHC was never in the business of creating antimatter, and even if they would, it wouldn't be contained in a handheld glowing tube powered by a battery
Also, don't forget the fact that just about any other particle accelertor could be used to create antimatter just as proficiently. Particle aceleators are routinely used to generate antimatter particles, but they only generate a hndful of particles at a time and use prodigious amounts of energy to do it.
(Similarly, particle accelerators could also theoretically be used to transmute lead into gold by bombarding a neutron poor isotope of lead with high energy electrons (some of which could combine with the protons in the lead atom's nucleus to form neutrons, ad thus lower the atom's atomic number), but the energy required and the painfully slow rate of the processwould cancel out any revenue several times over)