Hannibal Rising (2006)
Thomas Harris
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Delacorte
After seven long years, Thomas Harris hits back with his latest work Hannibal Rising. A prequel to his famous Lecter series the book is based on the cannibal professor Dr. Hannibal Lecter, revealing the motivations behind the transformation of Hannibal into a cannibal, who is seen here eulogising his late sister Mischa.
Living among the elites in the Eastern Front during the Second World War, Mischa and Hannibal are inseparable. A confusing and warped up series of events and circumstances set the pace for the most vicious attack on Hannibal's future, as his whole family hides from the Nazis. Hannibal and Mischa, after their parent's brutal murder, are held captive by a demonic men. So demonic and evil that they devour Mischa when hunger strikes. The war has orphaned Hannibal Lecter, ignited Hannibal's sworn vengeance against the brutal murderers of his sister and turned him into a beast, into a vicious monster, one beyond human imagination.
Years later, we find Hannibal, now a teenager, setting up in Paris, with his aunt Lady Murasaki. Studying at medical school where he seems to find his forte. Murasaki's kind and wise intentions help Hannibal to heal and understand his unbearable recollections of the war. Hannibal remains on the prowl for Mischa's murderers, still bitter and still ever hopeful of satisfying his desire for retribution. Realising he has powers beyond the academic, Hannibal embarks on the hunt down of the war criminals that fed on his sister and changed Hannibal's life forever. As he helps these outlawed predators towards self-knowledge, we see his own nature becoming clear to himself.
After two top-notch books around Dr. Lecter, Red Dragon and The Silence of the Lambs, Thomas Harris seems a little off this time. Though still sickening, the sadism in Hannibal Rising is subdued, the cannibalism ugly but silly. And the plot line is a little too cinematic. However, Harris retains portions of his wit and humour in lines like, "Are you looking for sympathy? You'll find it in the dictionary, between shit and syphilis."
Harris is successful in captivating readers beginning the Lecter series with Hannibal Rising, but only disappointment and distaste lies for those who've seen Harris shine much brighter.
Shrabya Timsina
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