Book Review: State of Fear

For Christmas, I received Michael Crichton's new book, State of Fear. I am a big fan of his work, but I didn't have any idea of what to expect with this novel. I didn't know how much of a scientific bent the book would make or that it had to deal with enviromentalism at all.

If you want to know about the characters and a basic idea of what the plot of the book is, then here are some links to other reviews I've found on the web:

HoustonChronicle.com - 'State of Fear' by Michael Crichton

USATODAY.com - Crichton fans will embrace 'Fear'

OpinionJournal - Leisure & Arts

New York Times review by Michiko Kakutani

All of these reviews give a basic outline of who the characters are and what the story is about. So basically I'll say that the story is about global warming specifically and the environmental movement in general.

The story itself is described as fast paced, since the story takes place in many separate corners of the world. And as a thriller, it does a good job of keeping the plot suspenseful, but at the same time, a smart person can fit the pieces of the puzzle together and figure out what the evil masterminds are up to.

But what I was most surprised about while reading the book was how much Crichton puts into making the book scientifically sound. While some critics write off the scientific basis as being boring or ideologically driven, I see as being an important piece of the story that he is trying to tell.

And it becomes important because the idea of global warming being overhyped is something that comes as a surprise for me. On topics of the environment, I'm skeptical, but still more or less accepted that global warming does occur. Now, I'm not quite so sure about that and having the data on hand helps to give the story creedence that it wouldn't normally have as being a fiction book.

This compares greatly to one of Crichton's more famous novels Jurassic Park. In that novel, he goes through all of the scientific aspects with respect to genetics and the creation of new life. Jurassic Park even manages to be a pretty good thriller for a book with such scientific overtones. State of Fear manages to be more of a text book at times, which might not come off so well for people who are reading for the fictional thriller part of the story, but works very well to educate people like me who only know their environmentalism from what was drilled into us during elementary school.

Overall, I would have to say that if you're already a fan of Michael Crichton, then there's nothing to be worried about with this book. He does a good job of combining science with drama. And it's believable as well. As for people who have never read anything by him before, this is an ok place to start, but books like Jurassic Park and The Andromeda Strain are better books that combine both science and suspense.

Also, I would like to comment on a part of the New York Times review. In the review, the reviewer mentions similarities with "The Day After Tomorrow" a movie with the same apocalyptic concerns with the environment. Here's what the reviewer had to say:

The novel itself reads like a shrill, preposterous right-wing answer to this year's shrill, preposterous but campily entertaining global warming disaster movie "The Day After Tomorrow." In that special effects extravaganza, global warming (its dangers ignored by a Dick Cheneyesque vice president) is the enemy, leading to deadly climate changes and disturbances in the weather that leave New York flooded and frozen, and Los Angeles beset by swarms of killer tornadoes.

Having read the book based on the movie (but not seen the movie itself), I would have to say that State of Fear and "The Day After Tomorrow" are nothing alike. I guess that would lend creedence to the idea that Crichton's book is nothing but right-wing propaganda. However, I see the book as not taking any stance one side or another. Because Crichton is bashing one of the environmenal lobby's sacred cows, that must make him a conservative stooge. However, in reading this book, I find that he provides a truthful look at the excesses of environmentalism, and what people as a whole should do to take an honest look at what should be done in terms of the environment.

The last thing I would like to comment about is the last sentence that Crichton writes and that most reviewers jump on. Specifically, he writes that "Everyone has an agenda. Except me." I was suprised by this comment, but I see it as more tongue-in-cheek than a serious statement. Even so, people seem to jump all over it as if it invalidates the previous 600 pages of work. It doesn't. State of Fear is a good book for a person who wants to think about the issues, and be entertained at the same time.