Like many people, I suspect, the first Thomas Harris book I read was 'The Silence Of The Lambs'. I didn't realise it was not the first book in the Hannibal Lecter series until I finished it and then I kicked myself for not reading 'Red Dragon' first (this was way back before the prequel, 'Hannibal Rising', was even a glimmer in Harris' eye, of course). After finally getting 'round to reading 'Hannibal Rising' last week, I'm now reading the original trilogy in the correct order for the first time. The first thing that strikes me upon re-reading 'Red Dragon' is how little Lecter is actually in the book. He only appears in one scene and the rest of his presence in the novel takes the form of a few letters he writes to the protagonist, Will Graham. The book is none the worse for this, however, as Graham is a superbly visualised hero with a dark side a mile wide himself. I actually prefer Will Graham to Clarice Starling, if I'm honest, and would love to see him return in another Harris novel one day (I know, I know... not gonna happen). The principle antagonist in this book, the 'Red Dragon' of the title, is also a fascinating character. Not quite as great as Doctor Lecter perhaps, but infinitely more interesting than 'Buffalo Bill' from 'The Silence Of The Lambs'. All things considered, I think 'Red Dragon' is pretty much the perfect crime/thriller/horror novel and if you are a fan of any of these genre, or just of good literature, you owe it to yourself to read it.
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