Thomas Harris' writing career starts off with a bang in this gripping tale of politics, terrorism, insanity and murder. One thing I love about Harris is how you end up becoming an enthusiast for things like airship piloting, explosives handling, model building, lots of little touches that give the story credibility, and you may find yourself wanting to get a how-to book or start a new career. I hope my first novel turn out half as good as this one.