by Eric (Sword) Beaty

Created on: July 12, 2008

Book Review
Hannibal
Thomas Harris

Not too long ago, I finished "Hannibal" by Thomas Harris (Paperback / Delta / May 2000 / $14.00 / ISBN 0385339488), and though I've never had a favorite author other than Stephen King, Thomas Harris is officially it. After just the first few chapters of "Hannibal", I knew I was in for a treat. I remember seeing "Silence of the Lambs" for the first time and that I had never read the book. I'd always wanted to read it because, as is often the case, the book is so much better and more intriguing than the movie could ever be, given their limitations of time and often too revealing premise of "show" instead of the subtleties of "tell."

Years later, I walk into my local library and they're having one of their monthly book sales. Needless to say, I think to myself, "It's high time I bought a Thomas Harris book." "Hannibal was" all the library had (though a month later, I grabbed every T.H. Book they had recently addedwhich turned out to be all but "Black Sunday" and "Silence..." These I later bought at another used bookstore). But enough back story. On to the review.

"Hannibal" begins seven years after the events of Silence... with Clarice Starling finally becoming an agent of the FBI. As you may recalland for those of you who haven't seen/read Silence..., I'm about to reveal a spoiler... Okay, but don't say I didn't warn youDr. Hannibal "the Cannibal" Lector had escaped at the end of "Silence..." and is now still missing in Hannibal.

After a botched drug raid, Clarice is placed on the FBI's back burner via temporary suspension. She begins receiving letters from Dr. Lector, and the FBI begins to take these letters seriously. They allow her to follow up on the Lector case since she's the only agent whose ever been able to hold his interest, and she begins retracing her old steps to the now worn-down mental health facilities Dr. Lector used to call home.

Meanwhile, she's not the only one in search of the infamous Hannibal the Cannibal. Mason Verger is one of the few victims to have ever survived an encounter with Dr. Lector. I use the term "survive" very loosely here. Seeking revenge upon his old nemesis, Verger employs a vast semi-army of recruits to find, torture, then kill Hannibal. Any time the FBI knows something new about Hannibal, chances are Verger knew it first.

And then there's Renaldo Pazzi. Officer Pazzi isn't out to get Hannibal for revenge, oh no. He's out for personal profit. Namely, credibility with the Italian Police... and, of course, money. Hannibal is not an easy mouse to catch thoughespecially when he's playing the cat.

Perfectly paced, perfectly plotted, perfectly resolved with a hint of a sequel. Thomas Harris is a master of all three. And each character has their own distinct personalities. This time around, we get to see more of what makes Hannibal tick. There is some insight as to why he is what he is; even better, how he evades his pursuers at every turn.

Any great story has the ability to make you forget you're reading a story at all. And that's just what Hannibal does. This is truly a fun read and possibly my favorite of the series. I'm betting it will be a favorite for you as well. 5 out of 5 stars.

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