State of Fear | Michael Crichton | Exciting fiction with a bibliography...

State of Fear | Michael Crichton | Driven and well argued, a novel with an argument to make

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State of Fear

	State of Fear Michael Crichton, 2004 - 624 pages average customer review:based on 1283 reviews view larger image
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Exciting fiction with a bibliography...

This exciting plot reminescent to Clive Cussler is backed up with an impressive bibliography to rival most research thesis. Definitely a must read for those not satisfied with being fed half-truths by the media because you can check out the documentation. Suggested follow-up reading is Dixie Lee Ray's "Trashing the Planet" and "Environmental Overkill". In the words of Paul Harvey "...and that's the other side of the story..."

Driven and well argued, a novel with an argument to make

I've read all of Crichton's novels except for this. The man died a few days ago and that prompted me to pick this off my shelf after a few years in waiting. It is his most controversial novel, casting serious doubts over the validity of scientific claims about global warming and the many claims of environmental groups.

It is one of Crichton's better novels. He uses multiple plot lines that coalesce quickly to resolve themselves into a pacey and driven narrative. There is less of a science lesson up front than Crichton often feeds us - this is broken down into chunks throughout the novel so that the thriller element takes its grip early.

Crichton's characters are usually fairly two-dimensional and this is no exception. Intelligent, educated, white, middle class with little depth and no family or emotional background - they seem to be miniaturised versions of him, there to articulate a position or argument. He shares that trait with English master John Wyndham a man whose novels I feel often have characteristics in common with Crichton's. Having said that, one or two of the minor characters work well: the eco-actor Ted Bradley, for instance. His primary characters are Peter Evans, a rather ill-informed lawyer who is the reader's eyes and ears and asks the stooge questions we are thinking - and John Kenner, who is a know-it-all `Zellaby' character (cf, The Midwich Cuckoos).

The premise is intriguing - eco-terrorism and climate interference. I wondered when somebody would get around to this as a serious subject. Nobody is better suited than Crichton to tackle big complex issues and turn them into racing thrillers.

Crichton is unashamedly critical of the conventional wisdom, and stacks his knowledgeable characters on the side of the anti-environmentalists spouting references while the idiots and hypocrites and terrorists are all environmentalists who spout fluffy junk. It's effective, if unfair. We should judge this as a novel and not as a treatise.

Lively settings, constantly evolving plot and information, tight writing, credible threats and well-managed material make this a very effective story. The lack of depth in the characters does not hold it back or truly matter, Crichton wants to challenge you, to stun you with the enormity of the conspiracy and to put his case through a compelling fiction. He does so expertly.

He has been gathered in before his personal harvest realised its vast potential.

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Very Engaging Read

"State of Fear" is a book which grabs the reader from the start, never letting go until the last page is turned. Crichton weaves factual information around a fictional story very skillfully in creating an environmentally-oriented mystery novel. The plot keeps you guessing from the beginning as to who really are the good guys and who are the nefarious ones. In the end, I do not feel that Crichton was trying to convince anyone whether or not human-caused global warming is really happening. I believe his intent is to convey to the reader enough counter-evidence and contradiction to at least initiate some critical thinking on the matter. The issue has become entirely political and many people are profiting immensely from the cause. In this sense, "State of Fear" is merely attempting to balance out the conventional wisdom of the day. The book does have its drawbacks. It does fall into techno-babble on a few occasions and the main characters could have been fleshed out a little more. Also, the romantic relationship between the characters, which was teased as heading somewhere, is left completely unfinished when the book ends. It is as if Crichton got so caught up in the global warming theme that he forgot to finish out what he started with the characters themselves. These are minor issues, though. This is a very entertaining book from start to finish, even if it doesn't solve the global warming debate once and for all.

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Educational

The Margin

State of Fear by Crichton was a disappointment in terms of story telling. This author stands alone when it comes to weaving a great yarn around science. His novels have kept me entertained and enlightened for years but this one falls short. If you are interested in learning more about global climate change and not just opinion based on anectodal evidence then I recommend it, however if you want an exciting well crafted thriller along the lines of The Andromeda Strain you might be disappointed too.

Marvin Wiebener, author of The Margin, a novel about a modern day treasure discovery and the consequences that befall the discoverer.

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