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State of Fear

By Michael Crichton

(167)

| Others | 9780007181605

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Book Description

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 GContinue

Critics

Well, the bibliography sings

State of Fear by Michael Crichton HarperCollins £17.99, pp603 Michael Crichton's techno-thrillers all have in common the concern that scientists can't be trusted to keep control of advances in science and technology. The consequences can be potential ... (read full critics)

guardian.co.uk published on Sat, 25 Sep 2010

State of Fear

With all the faux controversy generated around the topic of global warming, you might be tempted to believe that 'State of Fear', Michael Crichton's latest techno-thriller, is based on the premise that the world is flat and therefore unlikely to grow ... (read full critics)

bookotron published on Tue, 14 Sep 2010

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12 Reviews

2 people find this helpful

I really enjoyed this book, especially after the delusion of "Next". I liked this book from two different standpoints:
First. It's an intriguing fiction story, couldn't stop reading it. Page-turner alert! :-)
Second. As a non fiction book it stimulates you to think with your own brain, t ... (continue)

I really enjoyed this book, especially after the delusion of "Next". I liked this book from two different standpoints:
First. It's an intriguing fiction story, couldn't stop reading it. Page-turner alert! :-)
Second. As a non fiction book it stimulates you to think with your own brain, to verify facts. It urges you not to assume that something is true just because magazines and TV shows keep talking about it. The topic here is global warming, and a lot of scientific references are given for the reader that wants to get a better idea (I've not checked any of them yet!). The non-fiction Appendix about politicized science reminds you that history already told us that facts and not magazines should drive us.
I found almost the same considerations (again about global warming) in "Dancing Naked in the Mind Field" by Kary Mullis, and I was equally impressed.
I also found most appropriate the State of Fear's definition given at some point in the book: "Politicians need fears to control population. Lawyers need dangers to litigate, and make money. The media need scare stories to capture an audience."

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One More Book said on Jan 7, 2008 | Add your feedback

2 people find this helpful

This book has me thinking

I am used to extensive references in my academic work and none in my thriller fiction, but Crichton does an incredible job and now I need to go to the primary sources.

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kensington said on Sep 13, 2006 about the Mass Market Paperback edition | Add your feedback

2 people find this helpful

I know this book has had a lot of mixed reviews. I personally enjoyed it a lot on an academic level - i definitely appreciated the depth of research that went into writing the book.

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Maelyn said on Apr 12, 2006 | Add your feedback

it was good for what it was. it does give you a whole new view on world issues though, especially the environment and global warming. worth it, if you've got the time.

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Idleinvidia said on Apr 27, 2010 about the Mass Market Paperback edition | Add your feedback

A typical thriller which was only mediocre. There are two reasons I didn't give up on it. It was interesting to see viewpoints against the concept of global warming and I was on holiday and only had one other book with me to read and knew that I hadn't brought enough spare reading matter with me to ... (continue)

A typical thriller which was only mediocre. There are two reasons I didn't give up on it. It was interesting to see viewpoints against the concept of global warming and I was on holiday and only had one other book with me to read and knew that I hadn't brought enough spare reading matter with me to give up on the book.

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Liz4211 said on Oct 12, 2009 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

Read in Pristina. Fair challenge for the critical thinker.

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Pietro Schenone said on Jul 7, 2009 about the Mass Market Paperback edition | Add your feedback