Dan Brown and Why He Annoys Me So

And here is demonstrated perfectly the nature of the Dan Brown phenomenon:

The Lost Symbol looks set to create a huge uproar across the USA, with its allegations that far from being the country's 'founding father,' Washington was actually a traitor who had been secretly negotiating with the British during the American War of Independence.

He has written a novel, much like his previous novels--and reviewers speak of "allegations" made in the novel. "Allegations". Not plot points. Not ideas. Claims of truth. See, this is why I get on the defensive about "Code" and "Demons"--because Dan Brown does not purport, nor is he expected, to merely write fiction. He gets the big headlines because he makes "allegations" in his "fiction". He makes claims of fact, spins theories, makes accusations--without ever writing a work of non fiction. So don't tell me to calm down, what am I getting so upset about, it's only a novel. He never writes "only a novel". He wouldn't make the big bucks if he only wrote novels, and this reviewer obviously knows that.