The truth will set you free

I just finished reading Dan Brown's new book, The Lost Symbol. It is characteristically Dan Brown - page turning, entertaining, thrilling, full of codes and historical/esoteric references. But I can't help feel it is different from his previous works.

Digital Fortress is a pure thriller. I have not read Deception Point, but from its description it looks like a pure thriller too. Angels and Demons starts to incorporate some of Dan Brown's subliminal messages - the deception and corruption of the Church. Which is taken to a further level with The Da Vinci Code, with its message about the Holy Grail. But ultimately, these books are still thrillers in essence.

Now The Lost Symbol feels to me almost like a textbook. More than a quarter of the text are lectures about Freemasonry, ancient symbols, esoteric science, secret history, etc. It is almost as if Dan Brown is trying to send a message to us... and this message pretty much dominates the book such that the story becomes secondary. It is almost a story that is made to fit his message - it is just not as compelling as his other books. I like his message, though... it is inspiring at least even if rather incredible, and is consistent with other New Age stuff I have been reading. Could it be that all his previous work was to set the stage for this one?

The truth is out there. But are we ready for it? If for thousands of years it has been kept hidden away from us, what makes it any different now?