Introduction
I just love fiction that deals with some social topic and tries to give an interpretation on the subject. That is the main reason why I loved Isaac Asimov’s books as it would have a social angle built into most of the books. So when I read somewhere that State of Fear is about the environmental issues, I decided to check it out.
The Plot
George Morton a rich industrialist decides to do his bit for the environment and teams up with an environmental organization NERF headed by Nicholas Drake. In return for George’s proposed huge contribution to NERF, it announces him as its Man of the Year.
Then suddenly George comes in contact with John Kenner a proffesor from MIT who has gone on a long vacation. Suddenly George seems to turn cold towards NERF and talks with his lawyer Peter Evans to hold off the proposed contribution. That puts Evans in a tight position as he represents NERF as well.
Suddenly, all hell breaks loose and George gets killed in an accident and his written statement is to hold off the proposed contribution to NERF which really puts Drake off. Drake has larger problems of his own as he wants his Conference on Abrupt Climate Changes to be a grand success to allow for more funds to flow into NERF.
Peter and Sarah (George’s secretary) in the meanwhile are getting to interact more and more with John Kenner and their initial disgust at Kenner’s enviromental beliefs slowly transforms into a high respect for the individual. Kenner joined by his loyal help Sanjong then takes Peter and Sarah on a worldwide adventure to prevent man-made calamities.
Check out this Michael Crichton novel for one heck of a environmental challenge!!
Critic’s Viewpoint
Michael Crichton is one of the most accomplished writers of the modern era and I have generally loved reading his novels, though not always his presentation of his side of the views as he did in Eaters of the Dead. Crichton seems to have learned from that experience and has kept a distance from providing his side of the story in this novel and sticks to references to other’s work and tries to show some serious problems in a neutral light.
Some of the issues mentioned in the novel were:
1) The role of media in making a ’’Fear psychosis’’ around the world. Thus, today when we are most safe from the nature and the environment we are also the most fearing people.
2) The role of environmental organizations to help without deeper knowledge of how to protect the nature. There are examples like Yellowstone Park wherein most of the environmental work is purely experimentation. Although most can argue that most scientific successes have come after a large amount experimentation and a lot of failures, when we do the same with nature it might lead to unpredictable results on the long run. Sometimes not doing such environmental work is better than doing it!!
3) Different shades of Global warming issue and the Ozone hole.
I just loved to read a few arguments for and against these problems. Though the literature pointed out in the novel is all about the ones that are against the problem and the people arguing for the problem are doing it without references. So it can be said that there is an element of bias in there. But, you gotta agree with Crichton on certain issues like Media circus jumping onto every natural phenomena and claiming it to be the disaster of the lifetime and so on and so forth. Again, Crichton’s question on how much do we know about the nature to propose solutions is also quite a strong point.
Leaving the problems discussed, if we just look at it from a fiction novel point of view, State of Fear is a fast paced, gripping novel told in a masterly manner by Crichton. I am just waiting for a Hollywood director to pick up the cudgels to make a movie out of this one.
The literature and the references given in the novel does show that Crichton and his team have put in a good amount of time in researching the topics and that shows as it rubs favorably on the novel.
About Michael Crichton
Michael Crichton is top selling author who has authored such big sellers like Jurassic Park, Andromeda Strain, Rising Sun, Disclosure and Congo. Some these have been made into blockbuster movies as well.
Crichton is also credited as the creator of the ER series for television.
Summary
Although the book is around 600 pages, once you pick it up you just can’t put it back till you exhaust the full 600 pages.
I would give this latest offering from Michael Crichton a five star rating for the issues tackled and the its presentation.
PS: Taken from my review published at https://epinions.com/content_217780227716