State of Fear by Michael Crichton Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of State of Fear
Book Review: Better than I expected
Summary: 4 Stars
Some of the reviewers here are confusing Crichton's post-scripted essay with the novel itself. For example, within the novel, there is no argument that the pseudo-science of eugenics is paralleled by the current climatology craze.
As a story, it reminds me most of "The DaVinci Code". Like that other, much more successful novel, it is a page-turner mostly so we can find out more of the surprising revelations the author is imparting to us through his characters. As for being interested in the characters themselves, or in their fate...well, don't expect to feel overly attached to any of them.
So, how successful then is it as a book? Like Dan Brown's novel, I'd say not very. It is compelling and interesting and either enlightening or misleading, either convincing or confusing, but the plot and the character and any of those other essential qualities are somewhat overlooked, though in a very craftsmanlike way. Nonetheless it is entertaining and whether you find yourself in vehement disagreement with Crichton's viewpoint or not, you may find value simply in the questions and evidence the author presents.
Bottom line (for Crichton fans): Better than "Prey" and "Timeline", not as good as "Congo", "Sphere", or "Jurassic Park".
Book Review: Better than a Movie
Summary: 4 Stars
Reading a novel is sort of like watching a movie for me for simple entertainment. This book provides that, but because it has so much basis in fact, it educates. State of Fear provides the reader with a ton of new thoughts surrounding the controvercy of "global warming". Crichton enlightens you to both schools of thought without preaching a sermon. Conflicts are believable and interesting. I was in his grip by the third chapter, and while it is as entertaining as watching a movie, you leave with an understanding of the science, phylosophy and B.S. surrounding global warming dogmas. I loved it. One note of warning, though. If you hate putting scenes of brutality in your mind, you won't want to read this book. I still have graphic pictures in my mind of brutality from the Island events toward the very end of the book.Book Review: Biased and boring
Summary: 1 Stars
This book was so boring that the only incentive to finish it was the futile hope that it would not be so hopelessly predictable.
I don't know much about the published climatology references used in this manuscript, however the one topic that I knew well was completely biased, and the author omitted the whole reason DDT was banned. Of course this book is fiction, correct so the author can say anything and misinform his audience. This book stated that banning DDT would go down in history as the worst mistake that humans have made. The book said that DDT was completely harmless; you could eat it and have not effect on your health. Well maybe, but don't breathe it because it is associated with Farmer's Lung disease (1). Actually, the presence of DDT in blood has been associated with diabetes (2) and reduced cognitive function (3) so maybe eating it is not a good idea. The book says millions have died from malaria because it was banned, well maybe but mosquitoes have become resistant to DDT (4) so it wouldn't have worked to kill all those mosquitoes that caused the malaria.
It was originally banned due to the estrogenic effects of a product of the decay of DDT to DDE, an estrogen mimetic (reviewed by 5 and 6). Sea birds ate fish that ate were contaminated, inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis in the eggshell gland mucosa, resulting in thin eggshells and inability to reproduce. We would likely have no gulls, terns, brown pelicans or osprey if DDT had not been banned.
The fact that the author was so biased about this makes every "fact" in this book suspect.
1. Hoppin JA. Umbach DM. Kullman GJ. Henneberger PK. London SJ. Alavanja MC. Sandler DP. Pesticides and other agricultural factors associated with self-reported farmer's lung among farm residents in the Agricultural Health Study. Occupational & Environmental Medicine. 64(5):334-41, 2007 May.
2. Everett CJ. Frithsen IL. Diaz VA. Koopman RJ. Simpson WM Jr. Mainous AG 3rd. Association of a polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin, a polychlorinated biphenyl, and DDT with diabetes in the 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Environmental Research. 103(3):413-8, 2007 Mar.
3. Ribas-Fitó N, Torrent M, Carrizo D, Muñoz-Ortiz L, Júlvez J, Grimalt JO, Sunyer J. In Utero Exposure to Background Concentrations of DDT and Cognitive Functioning among Preschoolers American Journal of Epidemiology 164(10):955-962, 2006.
4. Corbel V. N'Guessan R. Brengues C. Chandre F. Djogbenou L. Martin T. Akogbeto M. Hougard JM. Rowland M. Multiple insecticide resistance mechanisms in Anopheles gambiae and Culex quinquefasciatus from Benin, West Africa Acta Tropica. 101(3):207-16, 2007 Mar.
4. Lundholm CD. DDE-induced eggshell thinning in birds: effects of p,p'-DDE on the calcium and prostaglandin metabolism of the eggshell gland. Comparative Biochemistry & Physiology. Part C Pharmacology, Toxicology, Endocrinology. 118(2):113-28, 1997 Oct.
6. Guillette LJ Jr. Endocrine disrupting contaminants--beyond the dogma. Environmental Health Perspectives. 114 Suppl 1:9-12, 2006 Apr.
Book Review: Boring
Summary: 1 Stars
It's hard to believe this was written by the same author of some edge of your seat page turners. Boring.Book Review: Cheap Anti Global-Warming Diatribe
Summary: 2 Stars
There was plenty of material here to make a decent thriller worthy of reading. Would even have been fine to make environmental terrorists the bad guys.Crichton, however, spent endless pages blasting the reader with his personal anti global-warming message. On and on and on it goes. I saw Mitchner and Heinlein go bad. I hope Crichton comes around and returns to simply writing good thrillers.