Rating: 
Summary: The Best of Popular Fiction
Review: Will Graham--the elite federal investigator who first caught Hannibal Lecter--has to track down the "Red Dragon"; a terrifying serial killer who hopes to become something superhuman through his deadly deeds. The Dragon is revealed as a brilliant but socially isolated individual with facial deformities and a history of sickening abuse. Its easy to understand why he hates the world and wants to opt out of humanity. Graham, too, is compelling. He also has a history of severe trauma and a nearly paranormal ability to understand the minds of serial killers. The two fascinating characters collide with tremendous momentum as the plot unfolds. Both are also manipulated from behind the scenes by the arch-psychopath, Lecter: Harris' most famous character who appears in two other books and was later given immortality by Anthony Hopkins. As far as thrillers go, this book really has no flaws. Unlike most popular writers, Harris spends years researching his topics (in this case serial killers, severe mental illness and criminal profiling). Though he understandably exaggerates for the sake of effect, there is a disturbing core of truth behind the flashy Hollywood-friendly surface and the characters (even the 'bad' guys) seem like real people with understandable motivations.
Rating: 
Summary: A great read. It'll keep you glued.
Review: I am one of the many who picked up this book after watching the movie "Hannibal". That said, I'd also like to give a quick tid bit about myself: I graduated from the same college as Mr. Demme, the director of "The Silence of the Lambs". Hee hee. Enough about me, on to the review. Although I got hooked by the fact that Lecter was in it, I ended up not even remembering that fact due to the gripping stories behind the main characters. Instead of hoping to find out a little more about Hannibal, I found myself dying to turn the page and find out why Dollarhyde did the things he did. (I didn't give anything away by telling you who the killer is) Truly a gripping novel! Only four stars because I felt like the final confrontation was a bit rushed for our villain. It didn't quite fit him. Read it and judge for yourself.
Rating:
Summary: INCREDIBLE
Review: this was one of the best books ive ever read, the characters, plot, everything was perfect. make sure you start this book on a weekend cause it's hard to put down. the only problem i had with the book was that i wish hannibal was more of a factor.
Rating:
Summary: A Serial Killer Classic With an Overlooked Hero
Review: I am going to take a different tact in reviewing Thomas Harris' RED DRAGON. I must admit, I decided to re-read the novel based, in part, on the release of the movie version of HANNIBAL, Harris' third novel in the Hannibal Lecter trilogy. But the more I read, the more I was reminded of how little Lecter fits into RED DRAGON. While he has rightfully gone on to become a paragon of the serial killer genre, ranking up there with Norman Bates, Lecter plays second fiddle in his first outing. With that in mind, I decided to forget about Lecter completely, focusing my attentions, rather, on the protagonist Will Graham, and the antagonist Francis Dollarhyde. And guess what? The novel works without Lecter's input.RED DRAGON centres around Graham, a forensic specialist and profiler for the FBI. Graham's gift, and curse, is that he is unusually empathic, enabling him to fully sympathize with his quarry, and allowing him to make leaps in judgment that would seem, at first glance, to be unreasonable. Indeed, it is because of one such leap that he was able to capture Hannibal Lecter himself (not an easy capture, by any means). Despite an overall hatred for the job, Graham is lured back into his role through the actions of the Red Dragon, a serial killer who has so far destroyed two whole families. There are no leads, little concrete evidence, and no motive. And the clock is ticking. In Graham, Harris has created an original anguished hero, an individual who realizes that he could easily become what he pursues. "When you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back into you." That may not be an accurate quote, but the sentiment applies perfectly to Graham. The longer he chases a killer, the more like a killer he becomes. Harris explores this theme expertly, relying on Lecter to provide asides to the reader, as a sort of Chorus to Graham's state of mind. Harris, as in his subsequent novels, plays both sides of the field, bringing the reader into the thoughts and motivations of Francis Dollarhyde, the 'Red Dragon'. By presenting Dollarhyde's day-to-day activities, as well as a brief summary of his past (truly frightening and believeable), Harris presents the monster as human, a fragile ego convinced that he is BECOMING. Becoming exactly what is vague, but it's never less than terrifying. More terrifying than Lecter, actually. Lecter is aloof, intelligent, and eloquent. Despite his appeal, he exists only on the page. Dollarhyde, despite his fantastical leanings, is far more likely the type of serial killer that exists in reality. Harris shows his ability to create tension not through a series of breathless chase scenarios, but through what could be, in lesser hands, extremely dull procedural matters. The most exciting scenes are those of people sitting around talking, making phone calls, discussing evidence. It's admirable how Harris creates the sense of increasing speed, without resorting to 'close calls' between hero and villain. The action itself, when presented, is sparse, quick, and brutal. While Hannibal Lecter has taken centre stage in subsequent novels, Graham remains Harris' best character. Characters such as Jeffrey Deaver's Lincoln Ryhme (THE BONE COLLECTOR et al.) and James Patterson's Alex Cross (CAT AND MOUSE et al.) are mirror imitations of his compelling persona, but as with mirrors, they only reveal the surface, never reaching the depths of character that Harris does. Lecter may have taken the glory, but Graham remains RED DRAGON's bruised heart. If Thomas Harris must tread down this lane a fourth time, I hope he decided to bring back Graham.
Rating:
Summary: What is all the fuss about?
Review: Alright. I finished "Red Dragon" by Thomas Harris (1 of 3 Hannibal Lechter books). I am not sure what my opinion is at this point. I mean, it was a horror book, but it had only small bits of the intensity that Mary Higgins Clark (form novelist extraordinaire) or Dean Koontz might have. I cannot decipher why Harris was so highly regarded. I see Nabokov as infinitely more talented, and he did not have the luxury of producing one effort per decade. Where Nabokov has incredible morsels of orgasmic use of the language flooding every page, Harris places his gems carefully, gently, nestling them among descriptive paragraphs. Nabokov's books are driven by passion, lust, and overwhelming nature, sometimes twisted and forsaken love. It is hard to get a grasp of the passions and love in "Red Dragon." The character is driven not necessarily to success, but from failure. Nabokov (and Steinbeck for that matter) dedicates most of the book to a romantic exploration of a character, and the intimate details of their surroundings (Steinbeck includes descriptive asides that have nothing to do with the plot). Harris, however, wastes little in telling his story. The descriptive scenes are like an impressionistic painting, a dash, a splash, and the viewer must add the cohesion. He doesn't lengthen scenes unnecessarily. In fact, they have a staccato effect in places. It seems that he wrote a 2,000 page work, and trimmed it in half. (Unlike Danielle Steele (who has enjoyed about one chapter of my attention) who never trims a syllable...quite the effect of a droning gubernatorial sheaf). All in all it was a pretty satisfying book, Stephen King is far more graphic and disgusting, Clark's psychopaths are worse. There was a bit of a shocker in the end, but it looked like a lame afterthought. I will read the other two, but I don't know that I have the same resounding reverence for Harris that the media has drummed up. Oh. And there was not enough Lecter, but isn't that the case with all? In summary: A good read, but don't expect to be overwhelmed with genius.
Rating:
Summary: Eyes glued to the page!
Review: With the recent release of the movie "Hannibal" I decided to go back to where it all began and start with the first book. Despite the fact that the character of Hannibal Lecter is virtually non-existant, it is still wonderful. If your main reason to read this is solely because of Hannibal you will be disappointed. But the book is so wonderful you don't even miss him. I enjoyed the Tooth Fairy/Red Dragon character. Wonderfully written and submerged in such madness it left me feeling strangely sympathetic. Psychologically captivating and repellent, I found it to be a marvelous thriller. For another good suspense story try 'Killing Floor' by Lee Child.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty Good
Review: I really only read because Hannibal Lecter was in it
Rating:
Summary: Great stuff
Review: Harris really made it with this book, and it's not hard to see why. He has an unbelievably good authorial eye,capturing the essential details of a scene brilliantly. He handles the inner dialogue and thought processes of his villains so well that you feel almost voyeuristic about their twisted, bent world. This book spawned the incredible Silence of the Lambs, and it shares many of the same elements. Eery, dark, foreboding scenes. Chilling evil barely hidden behind the banality of everyday life. Courageous investigators who are not "superhumans" but mortals, with whom the reader can identify. "Red Dragon" is captivating, a real page-turner of a book. Four and a half stars.
Rating:
Summary: A Fabulous Thriller!!!
Review: Before the movie release of Hannibal I decided to go ahead and read all the Lecter novels before the release. Lecter just appears in this novel and does not star. This is one of the finest books I've ever read. Thomas Harris gives you an absolute thrill ride. In this novel, retired FBI agent Will Graham comes out of retirement to work on a case involving a killer that kills whole families including their pets. The novel opens up with Graham at his home in Marathon Key, Florida with special agent Jack Crawford. From their the investigation starts. The killer is being dubbed the "Tooth Fairy," a name given due to the bite marks left on his victims. Meanwhile the killer calls itself "The Red Dragon," after a pcture that the killer is obsessed over. "The Red Dragon" writes to Hannibal Lecter Ph.D, and says what an idol Lecter is to him and just makes staement about Lecter's brilliance etc., etc. I won't give away any more information regarding the plot. This is a novel that takes you to the corners of the FBI and through a killer's mind. Written by one of the greatest writers ever known, Red Dragon is a novel not to be missed. I reccomend this novel to fan of a fabulous book but not to a person that cannot deal with gore and violence. Once again, READ THIS BOOK! HAPPY READING!
Rating:
Summary: Just as good as "Silence of the Lambs"
Review: "Red Dragon" is often overshadowed by "Silence of the Lambs", but make no mistake, it is every bit as good. In fact, what many people don't realize is that Hannibal Lecter makes his appearence in this novel. While not as prominent as in SotL or "Hannibal", his menace is omnipresent. I actually liked the killer in this novel better than "Buffalo Bill". He was slightly less loony, and the sane edge to his delusions only added to his menace. As usual, Harris' writing is excellent, and he moves the reader along with excellent pacing. This is really an outstanding, smart thriller that should be considered on the same level with "Silence of the Lambs".
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