This Mass Market Paperback Book item from Avon was reviewed on 29-Jul-2008.
Search ISBN:0061015733 offer from Abebooks or used books from Alibris. State of Fear Reference Book. Classifications : Contemporary Literature & Fiction Subjects Books General Thrillers Mystery & Thrillers Subjects Books Technothrillers Thrillers Mystery & Thrillers Subjects Books General Crichton, Michael ( C ) Autho . Click the following link to view the cover of State of Fear. Related topics: Contemporary. Subjects. Books. General. Thrillers. Mystery & Thrillers. Subjects. Books. Technothrillers. Thrillers. requestid: 84607677-5afc-42b5-837a-5bed489cfd0e
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1) Mass Market Paperback Book State of Fear by Avon. It is nothing wrong with being a contrarian about Global Warming, and especially pointing out all the special interests that play on the public fear to enrich themselves. Michael Crichton made a good point about that, and that´s the best part about this book. The story however is most contrived, incomplete, and amateurish. I was shocked that this book ever saw the light of print.¤ 2) Mass Market Paperback Book State of Fear by Avon.
This book has raised the most controversy of all his work. In my opinion he misleads the reader on Global Warming, he defenitely mislead me, only after further study I came up with different facts on the subject. I love his writing and the story is ok, you have to understand that some of his books start by confusing the reader on what is real and actual and what is fiction, is his style. But I do recommend reading further information about global warming before making any judment about the subject.¤ 3) Mass Market Paperback Book State of Fear by Avon. The unusual twist of this novel, reminiscent of Arthur Hailey´s "Overload" from over 20 years ago, is that the usual "good guys", the environmental crusaders and protectors, have mutated into the villains who try to orchestrate cataclysmic events they can use to build political appeal for an otherwise dubious cause. Crichton´s book may see a revival as many people grow tired of being harangued for their large carbon footprints by people living in mansions and flying charter jets. Interestingly, one of his protagonists, with stellar scientific qualifications and who rejects the global warming religion, nonetheless chooses to live in a small apartment and own no car.
As we have come to expect from Mr. Crichton, he gives us stunning characters, unusual settings, and a lot of adventure and suspense. While he writes fiction, it is obvious that he first carefully researched his venues and topics. Whether the political message embedded in the plot pleases the reader or not, the story is fun and exciting, with many surprises. My only criticism is more generic than this one book: like many others popular books, its characters are either arch-evil or amazingly heroic, just like in the movies. That´s entertainment, but not reality. Obviously, a large segment of the reading public likes escape, and at least Crichton provides a provocative message for our vacationing minds!
Perhaps the best books come from authors who pursue topics of great personal interest. We can be thankful that Mr. Crichton takes an interest in topics that are timely, fascinating, and technically challenging, and should not mind if he allows his opinions and beliefs show through. No dinosaurs or rogue viruses are needed in this book. The monsters are mere humans who have allowed their political agendas to swallow their consciences and integrity. In this regard, the author gives us a large dose of realism!
¤ 4) Mass Market Paperback Book State of Fear by Avon. This was my first Michael Crichton book and I couldn´t put it down till it was finished.¤ 5) Mass Market Paperback Book State of Fear by Avon. Crichton delivers a thriller based on science once again. The famous author of scientific thrillers from The Andromeda Strain to Jurassic Park has done it again with this novel that evolves around a scheme by eco-extremists to cause disasters that can be used to get more money for their environmental causes.
There are 2 main sets of characters - one group trying to prevent the tragedies and another group working to cause the tragedies. The action is fast-moving and switches all around the world from Iceland to Antarctica. I found the book well-paced and hard to put down, with the usual periodic disbelief in common people being able to do almost unbelievable things.
What is unique about this book (and the cause of the occasional crank reviewer) is that Crichton clearly uses the book to present the arguments on anthropogenic global warming and showing how much contrary evidence there is as opposed to the little supportive evidence. Junk Science is becoming more and more dangerous and global warming is being mis-used to advance all kinds of spurious causes - mostly involving spending taxpayer money on pet organizations and schemes. As a former aquatic ecologist, I can vouch for Crichton´s science and his sources (included in the book as an occasional footnote and in an extensive bibliography in the back).
I can only say that Crichton is incredibly intelligent and has spent lots of time investigating this issue. His synthesis and overview of this complicated, often contradictory, material is breathtaking. Four stars and as highly recommended for its science as its fiction.¤ 6) Mass Market Paperback Book State of Fear by Avon. In Tokyo, in Los Angeles, in Antarctica, in the Solomon Islands . . . an intelligence agent races to put all the pieces together to prevent a global catastrophe. ¤7) Mass Market Paperback Book State of Fear by Avon. Amazon.com Exclusive Content A Michael Crichton Timeline
Amazon.com reveals a few facts about the "father of the techno-thriller."
 1942: John Michael Crichton is born in Chicago, Illinois on Oct. 23.
1960: Crichton graduates from Roslyn High School on Long Island, New York, with high marks and a reputation as a star basketball player. He decides to attend Harvard University to study English. During his studies, he rankles under his writing professors´ criticism. As an act of rebellion, Crichton submits an essay by George Orwell as his own. The professor doesn’t catch the plagiarism and gives Orwell a B-. This experience convinces Crichton to change his field of study to anthropology.
1964: Crichton graduates summa cum laude from Harvard University in anthropology. After studying further as a visiting lecturer at Cambridge University and receiving the Henry Russell Shaw Travelling Fellowship, which allowed him to travel in Europe and North Africa, Crichton begins coursework at the Harvard School of Medicine. To help fund his medical endeavors, he writes spy thrillers under several pen names. One of these works, A Case of Need, wins the 1968 Mystery Writers of America´s Edgar Allan Poe Award.
1969: Crichton graduates from Harvard Medical school and is accepted as a post-doctoral fellow at the Salk Institute for Biological Science in La Jolla, Calif. However, his career in medicine is waylaid by the publication of the first novel under his own name, The Andromeda Strain. The novel, about an apocalyptic plague, climbs high on bestseller lists and is later made into a popular film. Crichton said of his decision to pursue writing full time: "To quit medicine to become a writer struck most people like quitting the Supreme Court to become a bail bondsman."
1972: Crichton´s second novel under his own name The Terminal Man, is published. Also, two of Crichton´s previous works under his pen names, Dealing and A Case of Need are made into movies. After watching the filming, Crichton decides to try his hand at directing. He will eventually direct seven films including the 1973 science-fiction hit Westworld, which was the first film ever to use computer-generated effects.
1980: Crichton draws on his anthropology background and fascination with new technology to create Congo, a best-selling novel about a search for industrial diamonds and a new race of gorillas. The novel, patterned after the adventure writings of H. Ryder Haggard, updates the genre with the inclusion of high-tech gadgets that, although may seem quaint 20 years later, serve to set Crichton´s work apart and he begins to cement his reputation as "the father of the techno-thriller."
1990: After the 1980s, which saw the publication of the underwater adventure Sphere (1987) and an invitation to become a visiting writer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1988), Crichton begins the new decade with a bang via the publication of his most popular novel, Jurassic Park. The book is a powerful example of Crichton´s use of science and technology as the bedrock for his work. Heady discussion of genetic engineering, chaos theory, and paleontology run throughout the tightly-wound thriller that strands a crew of scientists on an island populated by cloned dinosaurs run amok. The novel inspires the 1993 Steven Spielberg film, and together book and film will re-ignite the world’s fascination with dinosaurs.
1995: Crichton resurrects an idea from his medical school days to create the Emmy-Award Winning television series ER. In this year, ER won eight Emmys and Crichton received an award from the Producers Guild of America in the category of outstanding multi-episodic series. Set in an insanely busy an often dangerous Chicago emergency room, the fast-paced drama is defined by Crichton´s now trademark use of technical expertise and insider jargon. The year also saw the publication of The Lost World returning readers to the dinosaur-infested island.
2000: In recognition for Crichton´s contribution in popularizing paleontology, a dinosaur discovered in southern China is named after him. "Crichton´s ankylosaur" is a small, armored plant-eating dinosaur that dates to the early Jurassic Period, about 180 million years ago. "For a person like me, this is much better than an Academy Award," Crichton said of the honor.
2004: Crichton’s newest thriller State of Fear is published.
Amazon.com´s Significant Seven
Michael Crichton kindly agreed to take the life quiz we like to give to all our authors: the Amazon.com Significant Seven.
Q: What book has had the most significant impact on your life?
A: Prisoners of Childhood by Alice Miller
Q: You are stranded on a desert island with only one book, one CD, and one DVD--what are they?
A: Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu (Witter Bynner version)
Symphony #2 in D Major by Johannes Brahms (Georg Solti)
Ikiru by Akira Kurosawa
Q: What is the worst lie you´ve ever told?
A: Surely you´re joking.
Q: Describe the perfect writing environment.
A: Small room. Shades down. No daylight. No disturbances. Macintosh with a big screen. Plenty of coffee. Quiet.
Q: If you could write your own epitaph, what would it say?
A: I don´t want an epitaph. If forced, I would say "Why Are You Here? Go Live Your Life."
Q: Who is the one person living or dead that you would like to have dinner with?
A: Benjamin Franklin
Q: If you could have one superpower what would it be?
A: Invisibility
¤ Page Updated: Robert N. Goolsby, 26-Aug-2008, 00610157339780061015731, 330-710-400-380-Q2B-RGB-8 
State of Fear, Book, Image © Avon
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