Inferno by Dan Brown

“Seek and you shall find” is the reoccurring phrase all through this book...... and ‘Seek’ I did!

Dan Brown’s Inferno was actually quite infuriating for me. I mean, I am a fan of Dan Brown and have read and enjoyed and reread his Angels & Demons, The Da Vinci Code, Deception Point and Digital Fortress. I have lamented the lack of pulsating excitement in the movie The Da Vinci Code that is so much there in the book. However in the ‘Inferno’, there seems to be something amiss.

The plot is there, the symbols are there, the secrecy is there, the chase all over the world is there, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is very much there, the codes are there, everything is there and yet the book lacks something.

Having read his previous books, I get the feeling that in trying to give us all the details, explain all the meanings and implications and post-mortem every single context; Mr Brown has over done himself. The book drags and keeps dragging as it gets close to the climax. Unfortunately all that build-up and euphoria gets completely washed out towards the end of the book.

The plot seems genuine, the possibility of the human race growing to uncontrollable proportions seems very true, the need for saving the earth is absolutely spot on, the need to spread a virus and cause plague seems like a necessity albeit chilling; however all the injected sub plots seem too farfetched! The book has lots of characters and there are times you wonder why they are even there!

“Mankind, if unchecked, functions like a plague, a cancer...our numbers intensifying with each successive generation until the earthly comforts that once nourished our virtue and brotherhood have dwindled to nothing.... unveiling the monsters within us....fighting to the death to feed our young.”

Dante's death mask

This is a book for die hard Dan Brown fans who can forgive the man for his over enthusiasm and for those who are willing to skip pages and come to the thrilling parts without having to suffer all the details. However, if you are those who love to travel and explore the world I recommend the book. All you need to do is take down notes and visit all the places that are listed in the book. It could add drama to your trip and you can come back home and talk about walking in Prof Langdon’s shoes.

For the rest who have picked up the book because of Mr Brown... “The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis.”

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