Hannibal

By: Thomas Harris

Narrated by: Thomas Harris

Length: 6 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's Summary

In this highly-anticipated sequel to The Silence of the Lambs and the final book in the trilogy that started with Red Dragon, seven years have passed since Dr. Hannibal Lecter escaped from custody, seven years since FBI Special Agent Clarice Starling interviewed him in a maximum security hospital for the criminally insane. The doctor is still at large, pursuing his own ineffable interests, savoring the scents, the essences of an unguarded world. But Starling has never forgotten her encounters with Dr. Lecter, and the metallic rasp of his seldom-used voice still sounds in her dreams. Mason Verger remembers Dr. Lecter, too. He was his sixth victim and has survived to rule his own butcher's empire. From his respirator, Verger monitors every twitch in his worldwide web. Soon he sees that to draw the doctor, he must have the most exquisite and innocent-appearing bait; he must have what Dr. Lecter likes best. Powerful, hypnotic, utterly original, Hannibal is a dazzling feast for the imagination. Prepare to travel to hell and beyond as a master storyteller permanently alters the world you thought you knew.

©1999 by Yazoo Fabrications Inc. (P)1999 Random House, Inc., Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, A Division of Random House, Inc.

Poorly abridged

I read the hard copy book and heard an unabridged version of Hannibal so I knew a good deal about what to expect. I did not like this abridgement. There are many key parts of the book that are left out. I think the ommitted parts do a disservice to the plot development. Harris writes a well researched and tightly woven plot with good character development. The ommissions, to me, are arbitrary and a distraction. The reader has a southern accent that does not lend itself to the Lecter's sophistication. (Although I believe he pronounced the Italian well.) He sounds, I'm afraid, a bit corn-pone. In fact, he sounds like what a male Clarise Starling might sound.

14 of 14 people found this review helpful

Abridged story and subpar performance

The story itself is great, but Audible is trying to sell you a bad recording. There's a noticeable background hum from ambient noise and the reader has an American Southern accent that is hard to listen to. I had a hard time finishing the book.

8 of 8 people found this review helpful

Listenable, but not Harris' strongest work

Content - I found this installment of the "serial killer triliogy" to be, by far, the weakest. I felt Harris was trying to fulfill the interest in the Hannibal mythology - I felt the character became cartoonish and, unlike the previous 2, the killer was less explored and humanized. The Graphic violence was simply gratuitous (I'm not squeemish about these sorts of things, but I just found it to be a waste of pages as it didn't move the story, but detracted from it)

Adaptation - Fairly straightforward (unabridged) and the content translates reasonably. It behaves like your average modern detective thriller paperback

Narration - Adequate, but uninspiring. I generally enjoy (not preferr, but enjoy) hearing an author reading --- what they lack in polish, they gain in interpretation.



Overall, listenable, but a disappointing closure to the triliogy. A "throw away" modern crime thriller

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Don't listen to prior reviews

Although I had listened to both Red Dragon and Silence of the Lambs, I had stayed away from this book because the reviews were horrible. But I actually enjoyed the author's reading. The only thing I'd change would be that it be an unabridged version. Well good luck and hope you enjoy!!!😎

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

some authors should not narrate. period.

Would you try another book from Thomas Harris and/or Thomas Harris?

yes

If you’ve listened to books by Thomas Harris before, how does this one compare?

i'm pretty lenient with narrators, but i couldn't get more than an hour in with his performance

What didn’t you like about Thomas Harris’s performance?

everything.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

disappointment

Any additional comments?

it might be a really good book. i just couldn't get over how bad of a narrator he was. also, this may be unfair, but that ridiculous southern twang of his made it very difficult for me to take anything seriously. he might be a good narrator for a comedy, but a thriller? no thanks.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Get the Unabridged!

With well over 100 books in my library in audible, I rarely break one of my cardinal rules...NEVER LISTEN TO A BOOK READ BY THE AUTHOR.

I loved this (and the whole series) but had a 6 hour drive and wanted to listen to the abridged for the short trip. I didn't make it through the first 30 minutes. Luckily I had a back up because of breaking my cardinal rule. Thomas Harris is a wonderful writer but a horrible narrator.

5 of 7 people found this review helpful

Brilliant fiction!

I sought this book out after seeing the movie and I’m happy to say that it exceeded my expectations. I’ve listened to this story 3 times since I purchased it and not because I didn’t get it or got lost the first time round.

The author managed to convey the terrifying disposition of the story’s main character, Dr. Hannibal Lector, through the written (and spoken) word brilliantly.

The story is full of twists, suspense and interesting sub characters. The first time I read it, I just couldn’t put it down and near finished the entire book during one sitting. This is another one of those books that I cant recommend highly enough. If you enjoy horror and suspense fiction, then I doubt you’ll be disappointed with this book.

4 of 6 people found this review helpful

hannibal

Harris should keep to writting. He is quite poor as a narator.

4 of 7 people found this review helpful

Brilliant a classic

If you are undecided about whether or not to buy this book you should look no further , Hannibal is a thrilling listen and the ending unsuspected through every twist and turn your attention is held fast

chilling

I have read this a couple times before and I still have enjoyed the strange oddity of what the author in getting to. I have read Silence of the lambs and otothers and I truly am thrilled by the horror of the content as it is always good to think beyond the box of the normal mind