Hannibal Rising

Well, I just finished Hannibal Rising by Thomas Harris. I'm not usually a fan of horror and thriller novels, but Hannibal is among the most deliciously evil and amusing characters ever created. So vicious and villainous, like the Master (from Doctor Who), but both simultaneously well meaning and insanely evil.

To tell the truth, I didn't expect much. The book 'Hannibal' was not that impressive. I've enjoyed Harris' other books, except Black Sunday which I haven't yet read. This book is, however, better.

It seem that Harris has simultaneously written the book and the screenplay to the up and coming movie. As a result, I found the story a little linear, but still entertaining. Linear stories can still be a great read (an example is Non Stop by Brian Aldiss). I was expecting explicit violence but didn't seem to receive as much as my sick stomach would have liked. This isn't, however, to say that Hannibals gruesome exploits weren't entertaining in the least. They had me chuckling enough for my workmates to raise a few eyebrows.

The greatest attraction to this book is, naturally enough, the exposition of Hannibals past. You are allowed to witness the growth of his personality and pathology as the book progresses. Starting off as a unusually smart, sensitive and even endearing child, he becomes through personal torment and torture a disturbed individual, and at last a cold and bloody murderer with a mind that only has a passing resemblance to that of a human being.

I'm not saying that this book is fantastic. If you're looking for another Red Dragon, then you're going to be disappointed. Harris is more than likely in it solely for the megabucks now (which is fair enough - how often can one make lots of money with a clear conscience?). The book was, however, worth buying for myself and I look forward to the movie release next February.

Why is it that villains are so much more amusing than good guys?

Sprog.