STATE OF FEAR

The author of THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN and JURASSIC PARK has created a combination of thought-provoking commentary and nail-biting action-adventure, which focuses on how scientific information, like the theory of global warming, is manipulated in the modern world. Against a backdrop of international locales, narrator George Wilson brings a pulse-quickening tempo to the action-adventure parts but grows lethargic as the scientists pontificate for long stretches. Sloppy production allows three edits to interrupt the flow of the story. Crichton's volatile mix of gory action and hard-core science challenges many of today's precepts about global warming but ultimately fails to entertain or enlighten. R.O. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE/JULY 05]