The Lost Symbol is the fifth novel by internationally bestselling author Dan Brown and is the third book featuring, undoubtedly, the most popular (if not the only) symbologist in fiction, Robert Langdon, after The Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code.
Story of Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol
After his nerve-racking European escapades Robert Langdon is ready for some peace and quiet so that he can finally finish his latest book. But, unfortunately for him, it is not to be, as he is called to Washington by a rich friend, Peter Solomon to give a lecture on Freemasonry. However, he soon realizes that there is no lecture, Peter Solomon had never invited him and he is in the hands of a diabolical man, Ma'lakh, who is somehow convinced that Robert Langdon can unlock The Ancient Mysteries, a vista of long forgotten documents, for him and make him a divinity-- a king of the Demons.
According to legends the Masonic forefathers of America (most notably George Washington and Benjamin Franklin) had managed to bury the Ancient Mysteries at the bottom of a winding staircase with its entrance hidden below a heavy rock in order to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands because such grave,powerful knowledge could be misused by unworthy men. The Masons have been charged with the guarding of the Mysteries until such a time may come when they may be freely read and understood by all. But, in a single night Langdon must decipher the Masonic pyramid and unearth its deepest secrets to save the life of his friend Peter Solomon.
Seeing no other alternative, Robert teams up with brilliant Noetic scientist and Peter's sister, Katherine Solomon, to find and rescue Peter Solomon before Ma'lakh can complete his sacrificial rites and destroy the world as we know it forever.
But, there is another powerful player in the mix, Director Sato from the OS of the CIA. It is a poorly kept secret that the CIA has conducted many scientific experiments in order to unveil the mystic potential of the human mind. So, is Director Sato really trying to contain a national security threat or is she more keen to find out the tremendous power promised by the Masonic Pyramid?
Review of Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol
The Lost Symbol is head and shoulders above the average American crime thriller thanks to Brown's racy narrative style, incredible background research and logical and convincing interpretation of world religions and cultures. However, when you compare it with the previous novels from Dan Brown, The Lost Symbol is something of a let down. The book misses the characteristic twists and turns that we have come to expect from Dan Brown and at times may even read like historical commentaries about ancient rituals. Moreover, there is a distinct Indiana Jones feel to the story which, I personally feel, is not becoming in the crime thriller genre. Further, the ending of the book is anitclimatic and with due respect to all concerned, the book could have been easily trimmed down a few thousand words without affecting the plot or the mood of the story.
Anish Dasgupta - Hi ya folks, I'm an 18 years old undergraduate currently studying Chemical Engineering. Apart from that I'm an active blogger ( ...
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