State of Fear

Drake most forcefully represents the environmentalist perspective in State of Fear. Though his character does not change in the course of the novel, readers do acquire more information about him over time, thus altering their assessment of him. As the novel progressively reveals more information about his involvement in ELF’s plots and media manipulations of data about climate, he appears as a nefarious, deceptive figure rather than a noble, principled one.

He thus constructs an important foil to Evans’ character. Ironically, he too is a lawyer. Whereas Evans appears reliable and relatable, Drake becomes untrustworthy and loathsome to readers. This is in large part because of the way State of Fear utilizes dramatic irony: Readers only know that Drake is deceptive because they are given access to his inner thoughts and to the content of the DVD of surreptitiously recorded conversations between Drake and the NERF PR director that Evans finds. Drake never reveals his deception in real time or directly, and is unaware that Evans—or readers—know his secrets.

Though Drake is a key proponent of the pro-environmentalist stance, he is never given the opportunity to produce evidence for his convictions. At best, when pushed on the accuracy of his views on climate change, Drake responds, “[I]t’ll lead to a catastrophe. Believe me, it will!” (155). This is in sharp contrast to Kenner and his associates, who throughout the novel produce copious graphs and references intended to dispel the theory of global warming.

A high point of Drake’s vileness comes at the NERF conference, where he quietly orders a speaker to redact his statement revealing he knew about the plot in Antarctica, epitomizing the problem of media manipulation the book professes. After making his connections to ELF clear, Drake does not appear at all in the last 100 pages of the novel, having served his basic purpose—to construct a straw man character—by that point.

Kenner is the most vocal mouthpiece for State of Fear’s polemic on environmental issues. For much of the novel, he also serves as the adventurous lead, propelling its plot and ideas. Kenner’s character seems larger than life: In addition to his academic successes, he advises several government organizations, “[b]arely missed qualifying for the Olympic ski team” (56), is an expert mountain climber, and more. With knowledge and confidence, he leads his entourage around the globe on missions that are equal parts intrigue, danger, and science.

He initially appears mysterious, his true identity doubtful given that he has been away from the professorship he supposedly holds at MIT for a lengthy period, and is connected to secret intelligence groups. However, he rapidly takes on a position of authority, quizzing character after character on their knowledge of climate science and environmentalism. His pattern is to challenge other’s points of view through Socratic-style question-and-answer debates; once he breaks them down, then he convinces them of the veracity of his own theory that global warming as it is commonly considered is a conspiracy. Kenner’s technique is remarkably successful. The only person he fails to convince through his debates is Ted, who symbolically loses when cannibals consume him.

Given his unwavering ideas, Kenner is a one-dimensional character. However, he suggests a complexity that comes through in other ways. As a professor, for instance, he represents universities, which both Professor Norman Hoffman and Crichton charge at key points with playing a major role in spreading misinformation and paranoia about climate change. On the other hand, Kenner’s connection to research and endless ability to produce it in support of his ideas suggest the book holds some hope that properly conducted and monitored science does have a role in discovering the truth about nature. Crichton completed extensive research for State of Fear, as its 20-page Annotated Bibliography makes clear, and Kenner allows the author to inject that research directly into his fictional work. 

Technically, Sarah is Morton’s assistant. Given that he is not present throughout most of the novel, however, she serves as another foil to Evans, one based on the differences in their personal characteristics. Unlike the sometimes-ineffectual Evans, Sarah is confident and action-oriented, and rebels against her wealthy, high-class roots. While she is “athletic in the casual way that California people were athletic,” adept at golf, tennis, scuba diving, snowboarding, and more, Evans simply “felt tired whenever he thought about it” (62). Sarah’s physical beauty is referenced throughout the novel, complementing her confidence and athleticism.

Sarah and Evans are alike in their loyalty to Morton, however, making it no surprise he expects them both to be leaders in the new environmental organization he wants to found at the novel’s close. She evidences remarkable tact and the ability to stay tight-lipped—one example when she keeps Morton’s whereabouts hidden from everyone, even Evans. In time, her estimation of Evans rises, to the point where she begins to see “a side of him that was not wimpy, but rather tough and resilient in his own bumbling way” (420). This shift in her view is directly linked to the moment when Evans saves her life after she is struck by lightning in McKinley State Park. Romantic interests are a minor part of State of Fear, but Sarah’s major evolution over the course of the novel is the change in her feelings for Evans.