Free The Animal

That's the title of Michael Crichton's new best-selling novel; the subject being Eco-Terrorism, this time around. I'm about two-thirds of the way through, and though my honest assessment is that the writing and character development is a little lacking, I don't think that's overly important, in this particular case.

What's clear is that Crichton's purpose here is to raise serious questions as to the general integrity of the environmental movement—which is comprised largely of political-power brokers and seekers in green clothing; nothing more—and to educate people as to how legitimate science should be carried out.

It also challenges the general popular (but false) notion, championed by academia, Hollywood, and the main-steam media, that environmental causes such as "global warming" and "abrupt climate change" are scientifically settled issues among reputable scientists. They are not; not by a long shot.

Crichton also admonishes us to Stop Scaring Ourselves.

It's a novel with copious footnotes, referencing many academic works and scientific studies. These facts are woven into the techno-thriller storyline in a skillful manner, such that they are not out-of-place lectures, yet, are not so steeped in devices of story and dialog that the scientific and factual message is lost.

I recommend it. So do they:

• Kenneth Green, Tech Central Station; Crichton's State of Fear...
• Suzanne Fields, The Washington Times; The green 'State of Fear'
• Alan Caruba, ChronWatch; Michael Crichton's 'State of Fear': Fact and Fiction on Global Warming

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