Michael Crichton - State of Fear

Indolentron · 03-31-05, 05:04 PM

Anyone read this? I hadn't heard a thing about it until I saw it on the shelf while christmas shopping, got it as a family present since we all love his books. Only now got around to reading it since I of course bought it for other people and let them read it first, plus I was in the middle of something when they all finished. I'm about halfway through right now and it's a great book, looks like it might turn out to be my fav. book by Crichton, and fav. book of its kind (its sci-fi but there are other books that I wont compare it to since they are more philosophical, a completely different type of writing).

FluxCapacitor · 03-31-05, 05:52 PM

Seriously? Your favorite by Crichton? How many Crichtons have you read?

Maybe I need to read this one again, because I keep hearing people tell me how great it was, but I thought it was pretty awful; easily one of Crichton's worst. The science is interesting, as are his theories on global warming, but it felt as if the plot was simply thrown in the mix as an afterthought. The story served the science rather than the other way around, and while that makes for thought-provoking reading, it often -- as in the case of 'State of Fear' -- doesn't make for entertaining reading.

opus512 · 03-31-05, 05:56 PM

Never cared for him much, meh.

Indolentron · 03-31-05, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FluxCapacitor

Seriously? Your favorite by Crichton? How many Crichtons have you read?

most of them

sphere
congo
the andromeda strain
the terminal man
jurrasic park
the lost world
airframe
prey
timeline

not sure thats all

Quote:

Maybe I need to read this one again, because I keep hearing people tell me how great it was, but I thought it was pretty awful; easily one of Crichton's worst. The science is interesting, as are his theories on global warming, but it felt as if the plot was simply thrown in the mix as an afterthought. The story served the science rather than the other way around, and while that makes for thought-provoking reading, it often -- as in the case of 'State of Fear' -- doesn't make for entertaining reading.

I dunno, maybe i'm just enjoying it so much cuz the last 5+ books i've read have been pretty slow/not gripping, and now I have one that i find hard to put down. either way i havent finished it and cant really form a complete opinion.

FluxCapacitor · 03-31-05, 07:09 PM

Rhetorical Question.

Well, post your thoughts once you get through it. It is worth reading, if not for the plot then for the information.

noTiger · 03-31-05, 07:15 PM

I thought Prey was pretty cool... but I havent read this one yet.
Timeline couldve been a very cool movie but I felt that the adaptation was weak... and casting the blonde Keanu Reeves didnt help anything either.

Indolentron · 03-31-05, 11:07 PM

I enjoyed Prey quite a bit, didn't really seem as complicated as many of his other books though. Just not as many things going on at once. Still gripping though

darkadun · 04-01-05, 12:25 AM

Overall my fav Crichton novel is Timeline with Jurassic Park 2nd. I havn't read State of Fear, I have it but have not read it. I actually want to read Prey first, seems more interesting imo.

Indolentron · 04-01-05, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkadun

Overall my fav Crichton novel is Timeline with Jurassic Park 2nd. I havn't read State of Fear, I have it but have not read it. I actually want to read Prey first, seems more interesting imo.

I thought Timeline stood out as well, and i know its my sis' fav. I've read Sphere the most times, though.

scottg26 · 04-01-05, 01:20 AM

congo was good, but the movie sucked

Indolentron · 04-01-05, 04:24 PM

finished it. /disagree with flux; i wouldnt actually call it my fav. by crichton but i did think it was really good.

travis · 04-04-05, 11:20 PM

I bought it, read through a little bit, then came back to school and havent touched it, Ill read it this summer.

GreatDaneBabe · 04-04-05, 11:36 PM

i haven't read many by him, but i liked sphere best--hated the movie...but loved the book

parkerlynne · 04-05-05, 12:20 AM

i read:

congo
the andromeda strain
jurrasic park
the lost world
airframe
prey

liked them all

Indolentron · 04-05-05, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by parkerlynne

i read:

congo
the andromeda strain
jurrasic park
the lost world
airframe
prey

liked them all

yea i liked just about everything of his that i read, only dissapointment was the ending for andromeda strain. it seemed like 3/4ths of a good book where the ending had been ripped out and replaced with about a page of a half assed explanation for the ending.

03-31-05, 05:04 PM	#1
Indolentron Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 15,889	Michael Crichton - State of Fear Anyone read this? I hadn't heard a thing about it until I saw it on the shelf while christmas shopping, got it as a family present since we all love his books. Only now got around to reading it since I of course bought it for other people and let them read it first, plus I was in the middle of something when they all finished. I'm about halfway through right now and it's a great book, looks like it might turn out to be my fav. book by Crichton, and fav. book of its kind (its sci-fi but there are other books that I wont compare it to since they are more philosophical, a completely different type of writing).

03-31-05, 05:52 PM	#2
FluxCapacitor Registered User Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Noitacol Posts: 13,064	Seriously? Your favorite by Crichton? How many Crichtons have you read? Maybe I need to read this one again, because I keep hearing people tell me how great it was, but I thought it was pretty awful; easily one of Crichton's worst. The science is interesting, as are his theories on global warming, but it felt as if the plot was simply thrown in the mix as an afterthought. The story served the science rather than the other way around, and while that makes for thought-provoking reading, it often -- as in the case of 'State of Fear' -- doesn't make for entertaining reading. __________________ no biggiez

03-31-05, 05:56 PM	#3
opus512 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Cherry Capitol of the World, Bitch! Posts: 71,456	Never cared for him much, meh. __________________ We're all Nero, and we're all playing cheap plastic Chinese fiddles. When the Rebels become the Tyrants, Revolution takes on a New Meaning. The only truth that I fear is the dominance of opinion over thought, of partisan ideology over compromise, of emotional self righteous morality over intellectual reasoning. "We must always take heed that we buy no more from strangers than we sell them, for so should we impoverish ourselves and enrich them." --- Sir. Thomas Smith, England, 1549.

03-31-05, 07:09 PM	#5
FluxCapacitor Registered User Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Noitacol Posts: 13,064	Rhetorical Question. Well, post your thoughts once you get through it. It is worth reading, if not for the plot then for the information. __________________ no biggiez

03-31-05, 07:15 PM	#6
noTiger Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: NOR CAL Posts: 5,325	I thought Prey was pretty cool... but I havent read this one yet. Timeline couldve been a very cool movie but I felt that the adaptation was weak... and casting the blonde Keanu Reeves didnt help anything either. __________________ "I'm not a businessman... I'm a business, man" -Jay Z "I fell in love with Homer Simpson. I don't want to snuggle with Max Power" "No one snuggles with Max Power. You strap yourself in and feel the G's!"

03-31-05, 11:07 PM	#7
Indolentron Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 15,889	I enjoyed Prey quite a bit, didn't really seem as complicated as many of his other books though. Just not as many things going on at once. Still gripping though

04-01-05, 12:25 AM	#8
darkadun Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Frack Island Posts: 3,596	Overall my fav Crichton novel is Timeline with Jurassic Park 2nd. I havn't read State of Fear, I have it but have not read it. I actually want to read Prey first, seems more interesting imo. __________________ “Together we can end Feelings” - Barney Stinson. SacTown Thugz: Darkadun, Dryass, Kermit, ItsNoot, Chunk_Le_Funk, noTiger, Ron Artest

04-01-05, 01:20 AM	#10
scottg26 I am normal Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 56,401 Blog Entries: 1	congo was good, but the movie sucked __________________ Latest YTMND: Epic Space Battle http://scottg26.com The best site on the web!!! (after slackercentral of course)

04-01-05, 04:24 PM	#11
Indolentron Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 15,889	finished it. /disagree with flux; i wouldnt actually call it my fav. by crichton but i did think it was really good.

04-04-05, 11:20 PM	#12
travis Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: It's my way or the deny way Posts: 3,749	I bought it, read through a little bit, then came back to school and havent touched it, Ill read it this summer.

04-04-05, 11:36 PM	#13
GreatDaneBabe Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Rolesville, NC Posts: 5,164	i haven't read many by him, but i liked sphere best--hated the movie...but loved the book __________________ "Your innocence is humorous" :D - Stryker

04-05-05, 12:20 AM	#14
parkerlynne Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Chapel Thrill Posts: 4,347	i read: congo the andromeda strain jurrasic park the lost world airframe prey liked them all __________________ <INDOLENTRON> you're nerd-compatible www.myspace.com/parkerlynne http://community.webshots.com/user/parkerlondon