Bestselling thriller author of ‘The Da Vinci Code’ and ‘Angels and Demons’, Dan Brown, has revealed that he no longer fears death after learning some secrets about consciousness in the course of researching and writing his eighth novel, ‘The Secret of Secrets’.
Brown said this in an interview recently published in the Manila Times while speaking about the writing process and inspiration behind the novel, which he said took him eight years to write.
The 688-page novel — which blends codes, art, history, religion, and cutting-edge science, published by Doubleday on September 9 — is the sixth installment in Brown’s popular Robert Langdon series.
It is reported that an initial print run of 1.5 million copies of the novel is planned, with simultaneous publication in multiple countries.
Answering questions about the book, Brown admitted that it is no secret that he likes writing about big topics, adding that there is no topic that is bigger than consciousness.
“It is the lens through which we see ourselves. And so the real challenge was how to make a concrete, urgent modern thriller about something that is so ethereal,” said.
He stated that his obsession with consciousness began about eight years ago when his mother passed away, and he started asking himself, “What happens when we die?”
“If you’d asked me eight years ago, I’d say nothing. It’s a full stop, total blackness. Over the course of the eight years that took me to write this book and all the conversations that I had with philosophers and physicists, and noetic scientists, I’ve come out the other side with a totally different mindset. And in fact, it sounds crazy. I no longer fear death,” he said.
‘The Secret of Secrets’ follows Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon as he travels to Prague to attend a lecture by Katherine Solomon, a prominent noetic scientist. Katherine is on the verge of publishing a groundbreaking book that reveals startling discoveries about human consciousness, which could challenge long-held beliefs.
The narrative takes a dramatic turn when a brutal murder occurs, leading to Katherine’s sudden disappearance along with her manuscript. Langdon finds himself entangled in a dangerous situation, pursued by a powerful organisation and a chilling assailant rooted in Prague’s ancient mythology.
As he races against time, Langdon travels to London and New York, uncovering secrets that could change humanity’s understanding of the mind.
