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Nadja W. (USA: CA) (2009/04/24):
From the book jacket: "In Paris, a physicist dies after performing a laboratory experiment for a beautiful visitor. In the jungles of Malaysia, a mysterious buyer purchases deadly cavitation technology, built to his specifications. In Vancouver, a small research submarine is leased for use in the waters off New Guinea. And in Tokyo, an intelligence agent tries to understand what it all means. Thus begins Michael Crichton's exciting and provocative techno-thriller State of Fear. Only Crichton's unique ability to blend scientific fact with pulse-pounding fiction could bring such disparate elements to a heart-stopping conclusion. This is Crichton's most wide-ranging thriller. State of Fear takes the reader from the glaciers of Iceland to the volcanoes of Antarctica, from the Arizona desert to the deadly jungles of the Solomon Islands, from the streets of Paris to the beaches of Los Angeles. The novel races forward on a roller-coaster thrill ride, all the while keeping the brain in high gear. Gripping and thought-provoking, State of Fear is Michael Crichton at his very best".
Karol (USA: WI) (2009/07/31):
Good thriller. Lots of info on global warming blended in.
David McKnight (USA: CA) (2009/09/18):
I really loved this book. Now I was worried, because I had read some reviews that said that Crichton had too many characters, and that it bounced all over the globe. Well, yeah, the story took place in places all over the world, from the Antarctic to Los Angeles -- but there were just a small number of primary and secondary characters. Heck, I didn't count any more than typical for a Crichton story. I also rather enjoyed the counterpoint on eco-terrorism; definitely NOT politically correct: and something else about Crichton I've always appreciated. Whether the core of the story seems to lean to the left or the right, it always makes you think.I will say there were one or two points in the story, where a monologue tended to reminded me of an Ayn Rand rant (can I call those Ayn Rants?). But only in a couple of spots. And really, I get the impression that Crichton was just getting tired of people refusing to think for themselves. He does in the end offer an epilogue that describes his personal position on global warming. Ultimately, that can't be broken down into a small number of words. But let me try to sum up my take away. He felt that man did make an impact (both positive and negative) on our planet. And he was clearly annoyed by the cerebral vanity of those who claimed to be able to predict global outcomes decades out by modeling things barely understood. The guy had an incredible mind, and I will miss him.
John Hannon (USA: WA) (2010/08/03):
It was a good plot and fast moving.
The plot thinks big and very technical in working up catostrophic events.
I didn't like the negative climate change stance.
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