Hi Mags!
I saw your post to me on Barb's FLU thread.
Yes, I have read Michael Crichton's book "State of Fear" and I enjoyed it immensely. In fact, I own a copy of it! I like Crichton - his books are always page-turners, aren't they?
You are correct that it is a work of fiction, but regardless, it is well-researched. However, the scientific conclusions of the main character in the book pretty much represent those of the handful of contrarians who attack the consensus science.
There are many reviews of the book by climate scientists who discuss the errors and distortions in the book. Here are two, for example.
* Dr. Jeffrey Masters at www.wunderground.com/education/stateoffear.asp
* Dr. Gavin Schmidt of NASA at
www.grist.org/advice/books/2005/02/01/schmidt-fear/
So happy to hear that you have time for reading now!
Love,
Polly
Paging Maggie
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Paging Maggie
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
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MaggieRedwings
- King Penguin
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Hi Polly,
Somehow I thought I sent a PM but as usual, I screwed it up. I printed both articles and will give them a good read. Michael always spins a great yarn and am glad to hear you read it and thanks for the insight. I knew better than to buy it hook, line and sinker. Still in your camp on this one.
I had to cut down the number of books for vacation due to weight. Can't wait till we do vacation by car again.
Leave next Thursday and will be back on 9/2. I cannot wait.
Love, Maggie
Somehow I thought I sent a PM but as usual, I screwed it up. I printed both articles and will give them a good read. Michael always spins a great yarn and am glad to hear you read it and thanks for the insight. I knew better than to buy it hook, line and sinker. Still in your camp on this one.
I had to cut down the number of books for vacation due to weight. Can't wait till we do vacation by car again.
Leave next Thursday and will be back on 9/2. I cannot wait.
Love, Maggie
Maggie Scarpone
___________________
Resident Birder - I live to bird and enjoy life!
___________________
Resident Birder - I live to bird and enjoy life!
Hi Maggie,
Since Polly has apparently chosen to continue the debate here, I'd like to point out that the links to reviews that she has posted are certainly not impartial, but written by dedicated global warming activists who proviode a continuation of the same old "song and dance" that we have already heard so much of.
In fact, Masters was in such a big hurry to get through the book so that he could begin to criticize it, that he admits:
When he attempts to discredit Dr. Kenner, (the main "hero" of the story), he coincidentally points out the glaring fact that most global warming activists are promoting a lie, namely that global warming will cause more extreme weather events. He says:
Also, he's wrong about the snows of Kilimanjaro, and Crichton is correct -- they are in a long-term receding trend, due to a huge decrease in snowfall over the past century, (probably due to deforestation), not because of higher temperatures, (though temps might have some small effect -- temperatures are not the dominant problem. If it were still snowing there as much as it did in the prior centuries, the temperatures wouldn't be able to make such a noticeable difference in the snowpack).
Unfortunately, I have to go to work, so I didn't have time to check out the other "review", (using the term loosely), but I would expect it to be equally slanted.
Love,
Tex
Since Polly has apparently chosen to continue the debate here, I'd like to point out that the links to reviews that she has posted are certainly not impartial, but written by dedicated global warming activists who proviode a continuation of the same old "song and dance" that we have already heard so much of.
In fact, Masters was in such a big hurry to get through the book so that he could begin to criticize it, that he admits:
Does that sound like an objective review?I found myself skipping page after page of his characters' interminable griping to get to the action parts.
When he attempts to discredit Dr. Kenner, (the main "hero" of the story), he coincidentally points out the glaring fact that most global warming activists are promoting a lie, namely that global warming will cause more extreme weather events. He says:
Evidently, the professional activists have finally decided to clean up their act a bit, but they haven't persuaded the non-professional activists to stop using this lie in their propoganda campaigns. Of course, even this "updated" statement is fraudlent by omission, in that it would be clearly illogical to conclude that global warming would cause anything other than less violent storms, on the average. Why? Because during periods of global warming, the poles warm up, while the equatorial temperatures stay approximately the same, which obviously provides less of a temperature gradient for storms to work with. IOW, the most violent storms are formed when large temperatur gradients are available to provide a maximum amount of turbulence in the atmosphere, and in the ocean currents. Therefore, storm intensities will diminish, as the temperature of the poles continue to rise, and average storm intensities will diminish.This is false, global warming theory does not predict less extreme weather. The latest IPCC Assessment Report concludes that we don't know enough to determine if events like hurricanes, tornados, and hailstorms will increase or decrease in frequency due to Global Warming.
Also, he's wrong about the snows of Kilimanjaro, and Crichton is correct -- they are in a long-term receding trend, due to a huge decrease in snowfall over the past century, (probably due to deforestation), not because of higher temperatures, (though temps might have some small effect -- temperatures are not the dominant problem. If it were still snowing there as much as it did in the prior centuries, the temperatures wouldn't be able to make such a noticeable difference in the snowpack).
Unfortunately, I have to go to work, so I didn't have time to check out the other "review", (using the term loosely), but I would expect it to be equally slanted.
Love,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Hi Tex!
LOL! I have no intention of continuing the debate - was just responding to Maggie's post where she wanted to know if I had read the book and what I thought of it. Of course I would see the book for its fictional value, since I believe in the scientific consensus. And of course you would like the fact that the book highlights the contrarian view.
Love,
Polly
LOL! I have no intention of continuing the debate - was just responding to Maggie's post where she wanted to know if I had read the book and what I thought of it. Of course I would see the book for its fictional value, since I believe in the scientific consensus. And of course you would like the fact that the book highlights the contrarian view.
Love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Hi Polly,
I suppose I was mislead by the fact that you chose to cite only negative reviews, written by two of the most outspoken climate scientists in the business, who are fevent promoters of the position that global warming is to be feared, (despite the lack of supporting evidence, other than projections based on faulty computer models).
If you were interested in the fictional value of the book, there are plenty of impartial reviews that you could have cited. For example:
From Publishers Weekly
If Crichton is right–if the scientific evidence for global warming is thin; if the environmental movement, ignoring science, has gone off track; if we live in what he in his Author’s Message calls a "State of Fear," a "near-hysterical preoccupation with safety that’s at best a waste of resources and a crimp on the human spirit, and at worst an invitation to totalitarianism"–then his extraordinary new thriller may in time be viewed as a landmark publication, both cautionary and prophetic. If he is wrong, then the novel will be remembered simply as another smart and robust, albeit preachy, addition to an astonishing writing career that has produced, among other works, Jurassic Park, Rising Sun, Disclosure and The Andromeda Strain. Crichton dramatizes his message by way of a frantic chase to prevent environmental terrorists from wreaking widespread destruction aimed at galvanizing the world against global warming. A team lead by MIT scientist/federal agent John Kenner crosses the globe to prevent the terrorists from calving a giant Antarctic iceberg; inducing terrible storms and flash floods in the US; and, using giant cavitators, causing a Pacific tidal wave. Behind the terrorists lurks the fantatical, fund-seeking chief of a mainstream environmental group; on Kenner’s team, most notably, is young attorney Peter Evans, aka everyman, whose typically liberal views on global warming chill as Kenner instructs him in the truth about the so-called crisis. The novel is dense with cliffhangers and chases and derring-do, while stuffed between these, mostly via Kenner’s dialogue, is a talky yet highly provocative survey of how Crichton thinks environmentalism has derailed. There are plenty of ready-to-film minor characters as well, from a karate-kicking beauty to a dimwitted, pro-environmentalist TV star who meets one of the nastiest fates in recent fiction. There’s a lot of message here, but fortunately Crichton knows how to write a thriller of cyclonic speed and intensity. Certainly one of the more unusual novels of the year for its high-level mix of education and entertainment, with a decidedly daring contrarian take, this take-no-prisoners consideration of environmentalism wrapped in extravagantly enjoyable pages is one of the most memorable novels of the year and is bound to be a #1 bestseller.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Bookmarks Magazine
State of Fear, Crichton’s 14th novel (Prey, **1/2 Mar/Apr 2003), is polarizing to say the least. Crichton’s obvious political intent rubbed several critics the wrong way; some felt that he sacrificed story and character to make his points. These points, however, resonated with others, who found the thriller form an effective way to pose questions about the politicization of post-Cold War science to a large audience. Most agree that Crichton is neither stylish nor subtle, but few dispute his ability to whip up suspense. Fans of his earlier work will likely enjoy this effort, if they’re not turned off by his politics.
Copyright © 2004 Phillips & Nelson Media, Inc.
From AudioFile
The author of THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN and JURASSIC PARK has created a combination of thought-provoking commentary and nail-biting action-adventure, which focuses on how scientific information, like the theory of global warming, is manipulated in the modern world. Against a backdrop of international locales, narrator George Wilson brings a pulse-quickening tempo to the action-adventure parts but grows lethargic as the scientists pontificate for long stretches. Sloppy production allows three edits to interrupt the flow of the story. Crichton's volatile mix of gory action and hard-core science challenges many of today's precepts about global warming but ultimately fails to entertain or enlighten. R.O. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Booklist
Crichton's novels often tackle cutting-edge technology and its implementation, but his latest addresses an issue that's been around for a bit longer: global warming. Millionaire George Morton is about to donate $10 million to the National Environmental Research Fund (NERF) when he suddenly decides against it. His lawyer, Peter Evans, is as surprised as anyone and is drawn into a web of intrigue after Morton's car careens off the road and Morton is presumed dead. Just before his "death," Morton was in contact with Dr. John Kenner, a researcher at the Center for Risk Analysis, who opposes NERF's agenda and presents Evans with some startling evidence about global warming. With Evans and Morton's assistant, Sarah, in tow, Kenner travels to Antarctica, where he learns that a group of environmental extremists are planning several attacks of environmental terror to convince the world of impending ecological disaster. The thrills in Crichton's latest are interspersed with fascinating but occasionally dense ecological facts and data, but he backs his assertions about the unpredictability of climate change with copious research and footnotes. Perhaps his most serious and important book yet. Kristine Huntley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Forbes
"[A] can’t-put-it-down novel. A fast-paced adventure."
Wall Street Journal
"In STATE OF FEAR, Michael Crichton delivers a lightening technopolitical thriller...every bit as informative as it is entertaining."
Pittsburgh Tribune
"A deftly crafted action/adventure novel."
Bookreporter.com
"STATE OF FEAR is Michael Crichton’s best."
Washington Post Book World
"Michael Crichton’s new book will appeal to your inner techie."
The Ottowa Sun
"For thriller fans, STATE OF FEAR is the perfect tonic for a weekend when you’re snowbound."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"STATE OF FEAR is a valuable education in the guise of entertainment. Do yourself a favor and buy it."
Express
"[Crichton’s] expert manipulation of tension pays off in page-turning dividends. Cunningly orchestrated mayhem."
The Vancouver Province
"Fast-faced and a fun read. A breath of fresh air."
Montery County Herald
"STATE OF FEAR is the world’s first page-turner that people will want to read in one gulp."
I would expect that most people would read such a work of fiction for it's entertainment value, rather than for it's political context, as indicated by these reviews. At any rate, all these guys don't seem to have any ax to grind.
Love,
Tex
I suppose I was mislead by the fact that you chose to cite only negative reviews, written by two of the most outspoken climate scientists in the business, who are fevent promoters of the position that global warming is to be feared, (despite the lack of supporting evidence, other than projections based on faulty computer models).
If you were interested in the fictional value of the book, there are plenty of impartial reviews that you could have cited. For example:
From Publishers Weekly
If Crichton is right–if the scientific evidence for global warming is thin; if the environmental movement, ignoring science, has gone off track; if we live in what he in his Author’s Message calls a "State of Fear," a "near-hysterical preoccupation with safety that’s at best a waste of resources and a crimp on the human spirit, and at worst an invitation to totalitarianism"–then his extraordinary new thriller may in time be viewed as a landmark publication, both cautionary and prophetic. If he is wrong, then the novel will be remembered simply as another smart and robust, albeit preachy, addition to an astonishing writing career that has produced, among other works, Jurassic Park, Rising Sun, Disclosure and The Andromeda Strain. Crichton dramatizes his message by way of a frantic chase to prevent environmental terrorists from wreaking widespread destruction aimed at galvanizing the world against global warming. A team lead by MIT scientist/federal agent John Kenner crosses the globe to prevent the terrorists from calving a giant Antarctic iceberg; inducing terrible storms and flash floods in the US; and, using giant cavitators, causing a Pacific tidal wave. Behind the terrorists lurks the fantatical, fund-seeking chief of a mainstream environmental group; on Kenner’s team, most notably, is young attorney Peter Evans, aka everyman, whose typically liberal views on global warming chill as Kenner instructs him in the truth about the so-called crisis. The novel is dense with cliffhangers and chases and derring-do, while stuffed between these, mostly via Kenner’s dialogue, is a talky yet highly provocative survey of how Crichton thinks environmentalism has derailed. There are plenty of ready-to-film minor characters as well, from a karate-kicking beauty to a dimwitted, pro-environmentalist TV star who meets one of the nastiest fates in recent fiction. There’s a lot of message here, but fortunately Crichton knows how to write a thriller of cyclonic speed and intensity. Certainly one of the more unusual novels of the year for its high-level mix of education and entertainment, with a decidedly daring contrarian take, this take-no-prisoners consideration of environmentalism wrapped in extravagantly enjoyable pages is one of the most memorable novels of the year and is bound to be a #1 bestseller.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Bookmarks Magazine
State of Fear, Crichton’s 14th novel (Prey, **1/2 Mar/Apr 2003), is polarizing to say the least. Crichton’s obvious political intent rubbed several critics the wrong way; some felt that he sacrificed story and character to make his points. These points, however, resonated with others, who found the thriller form an effective way to pose questions about the politicization of post-Cold War science to a large audience. Most agree that Crichton is neither stylish nor subtle, but few dispute his ability to whip up suspense. Fans of his earlier work will likely enjoy this effort, if they’re not turned off by his politics.
Copyright © 2004 Phillips & Nelson Media, Inc.
From AudioFile
The author of THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN and JURASSIC PARK has created a combination of thought-provoking commentary and nail-biting action-adventure, which focuses on how scientific information, like the theory of global warming, is manipulated in the modern world. Against a backdrop of international locales, narrator George Wilson brings a pulse-quickening tempo to the action-adventure parts but grows lethargic as the scientists pontificate for long stretches. Sloppy production allows three edits to interrupt the flow of the story. Crichton's volatile mix of gory action and hard-core science challenges many of today's precepts about global warming but ultimately fails to entertain or enlighten. R.O. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Booklist
Crichton's novels often tackle cutting-edge technology and its implementation, but his latest addresses an issue that's been around for a bit longer: global warming. Millionaire George Morton is about to donate $10 million to the National Environmental Research Fund (NERF) when he suddenly decides against it. His lawyer, Peter Evans, is as surprised as anyone and is drawn into a web of intrigue after Morton's car careens off the road and Morton is presumed dead. Just before his "death," Morton was in contact with Dr. John Kenner, a researcher at the Center for Risk Analysis, who opposes NERF's agenda and presents Evans with some startling evidence about global warming. With Evans and Morton's assistant, Sarah, in tow, Kenner travels to Antarctica, where he learns that a group of environmental extremists are planning several attacks of environmental terror to convince the world of impending ecological disaster. The thrills in Crichton's latest are interspersed with fascinating but occasionally dense ecological facts and data, but he backs his assertions about the unpredictability of climate change with copious research and footnotes. Perhaps his most serious and important book yet. Kristine Huntley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Forbes
"[A] can’t-put-it-down novel. A fast-paced adventure."
Wall Street Journal
"In STATE OF FEAR, Michael Crichton delivers a lightening technopolitical thriller...every bit as informative as it is entertaining."
Pittsburgh Tribune
"A deftly crafted action/adventure novel."
Bookreporter.com
"STATE OF FEAR is Michael Crichton’s best."
Washington Post Book World
"Michael Crichton’s new book will appeal to your inner techie."
The Ottowa Sun
"For thriller fans, STATE OF FEAR is the perfect tonic for a weekend when you’re snowbound."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"STATE OF FEAR is a valuable education in the guise of entertainment. Do yourself a favor and buy it."
Express
"[Crichton’s] expert manipulation of tension pays off in page-turning dividends. Cunningly orchestrated mayhem."
The Vancouver Province
"Fast-faced and a fun read. A breath of fresh air."
Montery County Herald
"STATE OF FEAR is the world’s first page-turner that people will want to read in one gulp."
I would expect that most people would read such a work of fiction for it's entertainment value, rather than for it's political context, as indicated by these reviews. At any rate, all these guys don't seem to have any ax to grind.
Love,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.