State of Fear (novel)
State of Fear is a 2004 novel by Michael Crichton published by HarperCollins on December 7, 2004. Like most of his novels it is a techno-thriller, this time concerning a small band of eco-terrorists who threaten the Earth. Unusually for a novel, the book contains many graphs and footnotes relating to climate change as well as two appendices and a twenty page bibliography, lending an air of scientific credibility. Critics, however, point out errors in the supposed factual basis of the book, for instance Crichton's estimate of the number of deaths from malaria resulting from the ban on use of DDT against malaria-carrying mosquitoes, which is erroneous since there is no ban on use of DDT against malaria-carrying mosquitoes.[1]
The protagonist is Peter Evans, a lawyer who is pro-environment. Throughout the novel, Evans is constantly challenged by other characters, especially John Kenner, on his views of environmentalism, particularly global warming. It is also unique among Crichton's novels, in that he provides at the end of the book his own personal view. He says that he believes that the world is heating up, but that the causes, consequences and benefits or harms are unknown. He also argues passionately against the politicisation of science, for the preservation of wilderness and for the continuing of research into all aspects of the Earth's environment. The novel received strong criticism from parts of the scientific community for alleged factual inaccuracies, but also some support from climate change skeptics.
The novel had an initial print run of 1.5 million copies and reached the #1 bestseller position at amazon.com.
External links
- Slate review of book
- Official site from Michael Crichton
- Official site from HarperCollins
- ISBN 0066214130
- Talk of the Town in the New Yorker
- RealClimate discussion of the book
- Tech Central Station review
- Bad Science, Bad Fiction (Doubt and About) Skeptical Inquirer review