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3.35 AVERAGE
3.35 AVERAGE
This is a fast-paced action-adventure that maintains reader engagement throughout. I wish the ending had more closure, but it's okay the way it is.
1⭐️ DNF or Forced myself to Finish
2⭐️ It's Just a book
3⭐️ A Good Book
4⭐️ On My Reread List
5⭐️ god mode
1⭐️ DNF or Forced myself to Finish
2⭐️ It's Just a book
3⭐️ A Good Book
4⭐️ On My Reread List
5⭐️ god mode
This is a textbook case about why fiction stories written merely to advance an ideological position are nearly always bad. I like Michael Crichton. I like thrillers. I even agree with some of his philosophy of science (even if the practice of it leaves something to be desired). So when I was unable to finish this book, it wasn't because I've got some personal vendetta against him, or because he hurt my feelings as a climate change believer.
The story is just really weak. The characters were forgettable--I've already forgotten them. The globe-trotting felt like a string of encounters checked off of a writer's to-do list, without any real sense of place in any of them. The straw-manning of the eco-nuts was cringe-inducing.
The story honestly doesn't deserve any more consideration. Bleh.
The story is just really weak. The characters were forgettable--I've already forgotten them. The globe-trotting felt like a string of encounters checked off of a writer's to-do list, without any real sense of place in any of them. The straw-manning of the eco-nuts was cringe-inducing.
The story honestly doesn't deserve any more consideration. Bleh.
I used to like Michael Chrichton's books until I read this one. Yes, I admit I'm an environmentalist, but I was in high school when I read this and, at that time, I knew very little about global warming and yet I still hated this book. It's just a long anti-environmentalism tangent that makes absolutely no sense. Maybe I'm biased because of my upbringing, but I think this book was a waste of perfectly good trees.
You ever have a friend who’s always fun to be around. The one day you have a disagreement, it’s something that bothers you. But you value your friendship and see your friend as more than their misinformed opinion. But then your friend starts pressing this opinion more and more until they’re shouting at you. Then they invite you to a party where it’s just everyone shouting at you, lecturing you, and just being gross. That’s what reading this book was like. But with more graphs.
The part in Antarctica was cool.
The science was lame.
The plot was sloppy.
The part in Antarctica was cool.
The science was lame.
The plot was sloppy.
I am NOT a Crichton fan but I did really enjoy this book. He clearly had an axe to grind but it was not overbearing and the points he made were interesting.
I would put this into the category of mindless beach read for the thriller aspect of the book. Crichton's misrepresentation of research in ecology, land management, global warming science, and environmental problems through the long monologues of the character Kenner were annoying to say the least. Near the end of the book when Kenner pontificated for pages on end, I nearly walked away from the book, but wanted to see how the story was resolved. I would not recommend this book to people unfamiliar with these issues as they may think that Crichton has accurately portrayed these issues since he uses selected footnotes to supposedly support Kenner's statements. The most eregious of Crichton's misrepresentations surround elk, wolves, and Yellowstone, malaria and DDT, and how global climate is expected to change with different degrees of global warming. So be warned if you read this book . . . enjoy the thriller, but look elsewhere if you want to learn about global environmental problems.
I love everything I have ever read by Michael Crichton, but this is one of his best works I think. It makes you question everything you think you know, and keeps you on the edge of your seat from the very first page. The whole book, it seems like the plot could be happening right now, and you would never know. A perfect conspiracy thriller.
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I do not necessarily agree with the science given in this book, nor do I believe that events would turn out in this particular fashion if a gigantic ecoterrorist organization decides to attack the world as penance for its crimes against the environment. That being said, out of all the Michael Crichton novels that I have read thus far, this one is easily my favorite.
I have always found the "science" sections of Crichton's work rather dry and difficult to plow through, but this book was different. Jennifer's videotaped discussions with Evans kept me interested, and when other characters began to debate many of the issues that this book is meant to deal with, I found, in fact, that I didn't favor the action sequences over the dialogue. Most of the book, of course, is comprised of dialogue, and things only get intense around the halfway mark and at the very end. Even so, State of Fear was riveting. I particularly enjoyed how the plot tied itself together at the end; with so many loose threads created in the first third, I found myself wondering how on Earth Crichton was going to concoct a climax that effectively settled each and every one of the novel's vital issues. The characters were lifelike and three-dimensional; even the romance was completely realistic, especially that between Evans and Sarah. My favorite characters were Jennifer and Kenner; the former was staunchly feminist and a real fighter, while the latter was a strong advocate for what he believed in and a born leader. Needless to say, I found Bradley and Drake to be incredibly annoying, and it was partly for this reason that I found the climax so satisfying.
Another great read from the master of sci-fi!
I have always found the "science" sections of Crichton's work rather dry and difficult to plow through, but this book was different. Jennifer's videotaped discussions with Evans kept me interested, and when other characters began to debate many of the issues that this book is meant to deal with, I found, in fact, that I didn't favor the action sequences over the dialogue. Most of the book, of course, is comprised of dialogue, and things only get intense around the halfway mark and at the very end. Even so, State of Fear was riveting. I particularly enjoyed how the plot tied itself together at the end; with so many loose threads created in the first third, I found myself wondering how on Earth Crichton was going to concoct a climax that effectively settled each and every one of the novel's vital issues. The characters were lifelike and three-dimensional; even the romance was completely realistic, especially that between Evans and Sarah. My favorite characters were Jennifer and Kenner; the former was staunchly feminist and a real fighter, while the latter was a strong advocate for what he believed in and a born leader. Needless to say, I found Bradley and Drake to be incredibly annoying, and it was partly for this reason that I found the climax so satisfying.
Another great read from the master of sci-fi!
This is an "environmental thriller". In it, a group of climate change sceptics uncover a plot by environmental terrorists who are trying to manufacture events that will support the theory of climate change. Now they must rush to stop the terrorists, risking their lives in the process.
In this book, people advocating climate change are the bad guys and every couple of pages we face a conversation between two characters were the person advocating climate change is shown to not know what they are talking about. At times, the relativisation of climate change seems almost reasonable.
Plot-wise it has a scheme: ride in a chartered plane - conversation about climate change - arrival in a remote place - mortal danger and narrow escape - repeat. Some of the occurences were completely grotesk and none of them had any real emotional consequences for the characters, which were just vehicles for the message of the book.
In this book, people advocating climate change are the bad guys and every couple of pages we face a conversation between two characters were the person advocating climate change is shown to not know what they are talking about. At times, the relativisation of climate change seems almost reasonable.
Plot-wise it has a scheme: ride in a chartered plane - conversation about climate change - arrival in a remote place - mortal danger and narrow escape - repeat. Some of the occurences were completely grotesk and none of them had any real emotional consequences for the characters, which were just vehicles for the message of the book.