Dismissing "State of Fear" as the product of a corporate tool is a mistake.
He made some very interesting and valid points in that novel, and the part about how we're living in a "state of fear", constantly terrified by the media with predictions and images of impending doom is absolutely correct.
Also, t's too easy to say that those who are backing the global warming theories are "on nature's side" and therefore "good" and those who put them in doubt are mean guys backed by corporations. Sometimes it's the other way around. In my opinion, Al Gore's movie is just as dangerous as the industries endangering our environment.
Politicians, actors and singers are no experts on climate, this is the main thing Crichton wanted to warn us about. Apart from making obvious his own opinion on climate change, he wanted to invite people to inform themselves before taking sides, because in a society with such a heavy media presence, often those who appear to be "the good ones" are just as bad as the others, and moved by the same interests.
I was a big Crichton fan. Apart from "State of Fear"'s message, the novel itself was thrilling and adventurous, but definitely not as interesting as his earlier novels. Also, I hope he won't be remembered only as the author of "Jurassic Park". The Andromeda Strain, Sphere, Terminal Man, Congo are all brilliant. And if you've never seen "Coma" and "Westworld", well - you should!
