Best-selling author Michael Crichton has been one of the most successful authors of this generation. Many of his more popular works have been turned into major motion picture blockbusters, including Rising Sun
, Disclosure, Jurassic Park, The Lost World, and more recently, Timeline. Usually a master of fiction, Crichton has dabbled in non-fiction and created the incredibly successful TV drama ER.So why is an author whose claims to fame are action/adventure fiction novels creating such a buzz in political circles?
In Crichton's latest action-packed thriller,
State of Fear, an unlikely group travels on a wild ride around the world to stop a plot that will result in the deaths of thousands of innocent people. In typical Crichton fashion, this book is complete with numerous plot twists and turns, an original cast of characters, and plenty of heart-pounding action and adventure.
But
State of Fear is more than just action and adventure. It is also a commentary about the current state of fear perpetuated by environmental extremists in the world today. Crichton uses this opportunity to take on both the junk science establishment and the all-but-unquestioned belief that global warming is a real and dangerous threat to the world in which we live.
Main character Peter Evans, a lawyer assigned to multi-millionaire and environmental activist George Morton, has always been a long time supporter of environmental causes. As the story unfolds, however, Peter finds himself questioning these long-held beliefs.
Nothing could have prepared him for what he eventually discovers: a systematic worldwide plot by environmental organizations to artificially cause environmental disasters to occur on an unprecedented scale. All this is done in order to drive fear into the hearts of people around the world, who will in turn support environmental causes and ultimately funnel more money into these organizations.
While Crichton's conspiracy theory is perhaps a little over the top, his message is clear: Environmental groups have created a
state of fear to propagate the belief that global warming is a clear and present danger to the sustainability of our world.
In
State of Fear, Crichton demonstrates a unique ability to tackle the science of global warming through lively discussions and interactions among the unique cast of characters. Using actual data, scientific studies, and accurate graphs, Crichton illuminates many of the fallacies of environmental arguments, and is able to articulate with clarity the opposing view.
Crichton is not an anti-environmentalist, but he is a realist. His main argument is not that global warming is not happening, but rather that we simply do not know. Even if it is occurring, we surely can't say with any degree of certainty what the cause(s) may be.
Perhaps the most insightful aspect of the book is Evan's conversation with the eccentric Professor Norman Hoffman, who describes what it means to be in a state of fear:
There is always a cause for fear. The cause may change over time, but the fear is always with us. Before terrorism we feared the toxic environment. Before that we had the Communist menace. The point is, although the specific cause of our fear may change, we are never without the fear itself. Fear pervades society in all its aspects. Perpetually.Our politicians, lawyers, and the media are responsible for driving this fear home to us. Just like the Cold War and the current War on Terror, the environmental movement has used the emotional response to fear to advance its cause. Reason and logic will not suffice in the face of genuine fear.
State of Fear is an entertaining and thought-provoking work of fiction. It is an insightful commentary on our society, especially regarding the tactics employed by radical environmental groups who put the survival of their cause above the cause itself. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in the ongoing environmental debate, or anyone who simply enjoys a well-written thriller.
Robert Zirkelbach is co-founder and a regular columnist for theconservativemind.com. He previously served as a White House intern and Congressional aide, and is currently the Director of Recruitment at the Leadership Institute.
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