deception point

Praise for the novels of Dan Brown

DECEPTION POINT
“[DECEPTION POINT has] enough twists and surprises to keep even the most seasoned readers guessing.” —Vince Flynn, New York Times bestselling author of Separation of Power “Dan Brown handles the intrigue and action well…his research is impeccable.” —Daily News (New York) “A taut, fast-paced, barn-burner of a book. There are no weaknesses in the story or storytelling.” —St. Petersburg Times “Brown is among the most intelligent and dynamic of authors in the thriller genre. In this dazzling high-tech adventure, he has skillfully blended his own wit and style with the rip-roaring adventure of Cussler and the modern technology of Clancy. Highly recommended.” —Library Journal “Brown has an impressive grasp of his material. He is a more astute storyteller than most of his brethren in the thriller vein.” —Kirkus Reviews “This is pretty exciting stuff…. Brown certainly does have a knack for spinning a suspenseful yarn.”

—Booklist “In the world of page-turning thrillers, Dan Brown holds a special place in the hearts of many of us…. A writer whose research and talent make his stories exciting, believable, and just plain unputdownable.” —Otto Penzler, Amazon.com (A Penzler Pick) “An exciting techno-thriller that contains cleverly incorporated scientific knowhow…. A powerfully chilling thriller…. A superb masterpiece.” —Harriet Klausner “A good political story, a good love story, and a good thriller.” —Wisconsin State Journal “This book moves with breakneck speed…the many twists and turns will keep the reader up late. DECEPTION POINT is interesting, fun, and as suspenseful as an election full of dimpled chads.” —dcmilitary.com “Excellent and enjoyable…. This is a thriller with an outstanding blend of sophisticated military and scientific details and believable characters…. The author is at his best.” —Sullivan County Democrat

ANGELS & DEMONS
“Angels & Demons is one hels of a book—I had a hard time putting it down…. An intriguing, imaginative, and very suspenseful read.” —Dale Brown, New York Times

bestselling author of Battle Born “Brown sets an explosive pace through Rome. Twists and shocks that keep the reader wired right up to the last revelation.” —Publishers Weekly “Life-or-death cliff hangers, thrilling cat-and-mouse maneuvers, romance, religion, science, murder, mysticism, architecture, and action. GO!” —Kirkus Reviews “[A] frantic-paced, pulse-pounding thriller that rivals the best works of Clancy and Cussler. The action-packed tale takes readers on an exciting adventure that feels perilously real. Angels & Demons is one reading experience that the audience will never forget.” —Midwest Book Review “It’s brilliant! These characters have depth…. The plot is twisty, turny, slippery, and surprising. As for the ending…WOW.” —New Hampshire Sunday News

Books by Dan Brown

Angels & Demons Digital Fortress Deception Point

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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
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POCKET BOOKS, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020 Copyright © 2001 by Dan Brown Originally published in hardcover in 2001 by Pocket Books All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Pocket Books, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020 ISBN: 0-7434-7543-7 POCKET and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc. Visit us on the World Wide Web: http://www.SimonSays.com

Acknowledgments
With warm thanks to Jason Kaufman for his superb guidance and insightful editorial skills; Blythe Brown for her tireless research and creative input; my good friend Jake Elwell at Wieser & Wieser; the National Security Archive; the NASA Public Affairs Office; Stan Planton, who continues to be a source for information on all things; the National Security Agency; glaciologist Martin O. Jeffries; and the superb minds of Brett Trotter, Thomas D. Nadeau, and Jim Barrington. Thanks also to Connie and Dick Brown, the U.S. Intelligence Policy Documentation Project, Suzanne O’Neill, Margie Wachtel, Morey Stettner, Owen King, Alison McKinnell, Mary and Stephen Gorman, Dr. Karl Singer, Dr. Michael I. Latz of Scripps Institute of Oceanography, April at Micron Electronics, Esther Sung, the National Air and Space Museum, Dr. Gene Allmendinger, the incomparable Heide Lange at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates, and John Pike at the Federation of American Scientists.

Author’s Note
The Delta Force, the National Reconnaissance Office, and the Space Frontier Foundation are real organizations. All technologies described in this novel exist.

If this discovery is confirmed, it will surely be one of the most stunning insights into our universe that science has ever uncovered. Its implications are as farreaching and awe-inspiring as can be imagined. Even as it promises answers to some of our oldest questions, it poses still others even more fundamental.

—President Bill Clinton, in a press conference following a discovery known as ALH84001 on August 7, 1997

Contents
Acknowledgments Author’s Note Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5