A Brilliant Book - That's Good Coming From Me! (State Of Fear - Michael Crichton)

Member Name: Joe11Joe11

Product:	State Of Fear - Michael Crichton
Date:	16/08/06 (68 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very Informative And Entertaining Throughout

Disadvantages: Can Get Confusing In Places

Before i start, i'll just say...I don't like reading books, and i'm a double English student, but i only read when i have to normally, for school obviously (even then i didn't finish all the books i was supposed to), but i finisihed this one and actually enjoyed it. Now read on.

State of Fear is a novel by renouned author Michael Crichton. In this novel he tackles the subject of the environment, specifically global warming. This is one of Crichton's longest novels, possibly because it features a much larger cast of main players than his previous work. In places it can seem a little muddled and confusing but all in all another great novel.

The book basically follows characters from around the world and offers insights to how the main plot line (global warming) affects them. A Tsunami generator as it were is pretty much the focal point of the book. Coincidence? The book was published shortly before the tragedy that took place in Thailand. The opening chapters of the book pretty much reveal that this novel will get you thinking and have complicated plotlines and many characters from different places.

After all plotlines and conspiracies are in motion, the main character of the story finally becomes apparent and so it all becomes easier to follow. This ultimately turns into a global plot by various environmental agencies to cause natural disasters in order to gain funding for their causes. You'll read about the characters dodging lighting bolts, battling against strange environmental phenomenon, and even facing the possibility of a tsunami heading toward the California coastline. This is a great adventure novel that also teaches you a thing or two about the environment at the same time avoidiong tedium. Crichton approaches the material from a scientific standpoint, rather than an emotional or political one.

At the end of the novel Crichton donates several pages to his own thoughts. He basically states that many, many people are concerned about the state our Earth is in and although many, many people appear to be trying to help or solve the problem (if this is possible), most of have hidden agendas in the hope of gaining something themselves. At least that is what i percieved it as.

I recommend this novel as, normally, i don't do book reading as, frankly, i don't enjoy it, so i avoid it. But this book was recommended to me so i thought i'd read a few chapters and ended up reading it all, and enjoying. Any other author and i probably wouldn't have bothered taking the recommendation as it was Crichton, i thought i'd give it a go. and liked it.

And recommend it.

Summary: This is a great book and is very different to anything i've ever read. It kept me reading!