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Cover of State of Fear by Michael Crichton

State of Fear

  • 678 pages · about 11 hours
  • First published 2004
  • 51 editions

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1 About this book

State of Fear is a 2004 techno-thriller novel by Michael Crichton, his fourteenth under his own name and twenty-fourth overall, in which eco-terrorists plot mass murder to publicize the danger of global warming. Despite being a work of fiction, the book contains many graphs and footnotes, two appendices, and a 20-page bibliography in support of Crichton's beliefs about global warming. Many climate scientists, science journalists, environmental groups, and science advocacy organisations dispute Crichton's views on the science as being error-filled and distorted.

The novel had an initial print run of 1.5 million copies and reached the #1 bestseller position at Amazon and #2 on The New York Times Best Seller list for one week in January 2005. The novel itself has garnered mixed reviews, with some literary reviewers stating that the book's presentation of facts and stance on the global warming debate detracted from the book's plot.

Good for readers who want: a thriller, science fiction, and a long read.

  • Thrillers
  • Science fiction
  • Technology
  • Ecology
  • Earth sciences
  • Climate
  • Thrillers, technological
  • Mystery and suspense

2 About Michael Crichton

1942–2008

John Michael Crichton ( KRY-tən; October 23, 1942 – November 4, 2008) was an American author and filmmaker. His books have sold over 200 million copies worldwide, and over a dozen have been adapted into films. His literary works heavily feature technology and are usually within the science fiction, techno-thriller, and medical fiction genres.

Bio adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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