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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book, highly recommended especially for thinkers!, 25 May 2008
This is by far the best book Crichton has ever written! An absolute page-turner and the amount of knowledge gained from his insights is worth the time spent to read it. It provokes the mind into thinking outside the box and is incredibly relevant to this day in age with its well researched content. I am also most impressed with the last few pages, where Crichton writes a few words about his own thoughts on the novel, and the appendix section, where he elaborates on issues raised by the 'global warming' ideology. I really admire Crichton for having the courage to speak his mind into a novel.
Bearing in mind of Crichton's scientific background (he was a medical graduate from Harvard), it is not surprising to see how he goes about backing up his fiction with the large amount of literature references as some reviewers have already noted. I find this makes the book all the more interesting to read; almost like going through scientific journals set in an easy-to-read action-packed thriller genre. But of course, I can also understand how this may put some people off who may not like the overtly scientific content. And having read some of the poor reviews of this book, this is all the more emphasised. However, if you have an open-mind and would like to be challenged intellectually, then I highly recommend this book to you. You will not regret it!
(N.B. A good carry-on documentary that is relevant to this novel is called 'The Great Global Warming Swindle' aired on Channel 4 in UK recently. It can be downloaded online and I highly recommend it to people who have already read the book and want to learn more about the scientific controversies raised in the novel.)
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15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Provocative and InformativeThriller about Avoiding Fear, 9 Dec 2004
This book reminded me very much of Moby Dick with its heavy emphasis on both an adventure story and sharing detailed information. Those who prefer one aspect or the other will probably find themselves flipping quickly through the pages that emphasize the other aspect.Popular opinions are almost always wrong. That's the theme of this book. The point is made in the context of describing how global warming, as perceived by the public and media, is different from what scientists are describing. Dr. Crichton argues through his story that we can waste a lot of time and resources on popular delusions, and we need to get our facts right. His appendix I on the dangers of politicized science is something everyone should read. The eugenics example is a chilling one. The adventure story itself is a Frederick Forsyth/Clive Cussler-type thriller written from the perspective of a young lawyer who tags along with a James Bond-like character who single-handedly saves the day along with his trusty, almost silent, sidekick. They are about as good a source for scintillating conversation as the Lone Ranger and Tonto. Instead of greedy multinationals or rich megalomaniacs being at fault, this story looks at how lawyers and rabid environmentalists can get carried away. In typical Michael Crichton fashion, the story develops around little-known scientific facts about how humans can influence the environment. So if you wanted to know more about how giant ice bergs, tsunamis and flash floods can be created, this is your book. At the same time, there are nice subplots around how to track terrorists via the Internet and an obscure way to assassinate people. I found myself drawn to both the adventure story and the global warming information. It's a nice combination for the reader who likes a little substance along with their thrillers. Even I, though, thought the global warming was overdone. The characters needed a lot of work to become interesting, rather than just being devices to drive the plot along. I graded the book down accordingly. I kept thinking as I read this book that I would like to read a book like this by Dr. Crichton that looks at people manufacturing domestic terrorism for political gain. Perhaps that will be his next subject.
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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Very *HOT* Issue - Global Warming, Real or Created Threat?, 31 Jan 2006
This book is a nonstop exhilarating, exciting reading experience. It is a suspense-filled novel complete with a mesmerzing subject matter that is given a thorough examination in a most intriguing, entertaining and enjoyable manner. An environmental terrorist group accesses the most sophisticated technology with plans to wreak havoc and destruction on innocent people. All this, in order to influence power and control over the nations of the world. They falsify data and tout an untrue philosophy, despite facts to the contrary. They have no qualms about killing innocent lives just to win millions of dollars in donations and achieve more control over environmental issues. There are some amusing moments in the book, too. One is where a very attractive athletic female defends herself against the unwanted advances of a vain, shallow, handsome male actor, who is a spokes person for the environmetnal group, NERF. Another is the inclusion of cannibals who end up feasting on an unsuspecting victim ... In conclusion, Michael Crichton has written a phenomenal book which follows in the great tradition of other modern New York Times best-selling authors, Tom Clancy (world threats to mankind, high tech equipment with unusual acronymns), Dean Koontz (frightening threats from unusual sources that are overcome by caring people), and John LeCarre (murder mysteries associated with threatening clandestine groups). Michael Crichton has combined the best of these three novelists in one book. This book is most highly recommended. It is jam-packed with research and footnotes, along with enjoyable twists, turns, and surprises. Erika Borsos (erikab93)
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