Deus ex machina galore!

My impressions of “The Lost Symbol”

Dan Brown is no William Gibson. He's obviously writing a movie treatment - you can see the shot setups, the key dialogue bits, etc. His language is pedestrian and utilitarian, and strains when it attempts to be dramatic or deep.

Thematically, the book is a kind of cross between “What the Bleep” and “The DaVinci code.” It launches from the kinky field of “noetics,” a pseudo-science that attempts to give verification to the power of the human mind to alter the physical world. It drapes itself in the mantle of human progress, when all the world will be united in benevolence because of the universal power for good that each person can possess. This is, of course, pure BS, though as a former believer I can attest to the attraction of this hypothesis. Brown is playing to the significant segment of the population that disappointingly believes in mystical dimensions. He also pimps the Masons.

The book starts up slowly but eventually gets interesting as the plot action unfolds. Chases, encounters with the villain and various CIA characters, and some historical info provide a modicum of interest, though there is not much that’s surprising in any of this. We know that Robert Langdon, as the central and continuing character of Brown’s previous and certainly future books, will not really die, even though he is encased in a box that fills with water, which he eventually involuntarily inhales (i.e. he drowns). The explanation for his survival depends on the doctrines of noetics, i.e. he doesn’t really die since his soul can exit and enter his body at will. Kinda.

There are puzzles everywhere, but they are ultimately simplistic and subservient to moving the “spiritual” plot along. They are also predictable, if you’re interested in that sort of thing. For example, it’s not hard to guess that the final chapter will be #133 (although an “epilogue” will cue the triumphant big orchestral strains of a glorious new world a-dawning). Even the villain’s true identity is easily guessed - or at least comes as no surprise when it’s revealed. There’s plenty of deus ex machina action.

Brown’s motive for writing this book is also obvious - he has to provide another treatment for a movie that will make much more money than a mere book. My advice is to skip this potboiler and wait for that movie and the more interesting talents of Mr. Hanks and the producers.