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Actually, even Crighton admits that Global Warming is a real phenomenon. He just points out that in his view there is no hard proof that it is not a natural phenomenon. Most of the research conducted in this area is necessary if we are going to understand future environmental trends on the planet. Considering the huge number of environmental changes that have occurred in the recent past it would be foolish to not research this area. Most evidence points that past Ice ages and world wide heat waves occurred very quickly (in a matter of just a few years or months). One thing is certain the earths climate changes continually over time, and research into that change will be the only thing that saves all of mankind when the next big change occurs (whether it be in 15,000 years or in 2006).
I'm sure Mr. Crighton's latest work of fiction is a fun ride as I have enjoyed most of his other books, and I can't wait to read it. The point of the book from the excerpt I've read seems to be that he finds Scientific claims of man made global warming to be flawed, and that he blames Pseudoscience for creating hysteria which can lead to environmental extremist movements and left wing terrorism. My two issues with this line of reasoning is that as Mr. Crighton has been a leading champion of biogenetics, quantum physics, string theory, and nanotechnology he has embraced many ideas which had previously been considered pseudoscience. One would think from his work that he supports the idea of pure research. Indeed in his last book "Prey" he took the position that it was necessary to allow science to freely explore such area because no one can never predict what benefits will be derived from any research. One is just as likely to find the cure for cancer by studying bat guano as they are by studying embryonic cells. My second objection is that the danger to the future of our society is from extremists and extremism not what they choose to be extreme about. Someone is just as likely to blow up a building because they are a right-wing militia-loving gun nut as if they were a left-wing tree hugging environut. The danger we face is by not making efforts through education to have civil discourse on the real issues of our time, and instead getting our information from entertainment driven media such as the latest Michael Crighton book or pseudo-news programs such as Crossfire, Rush Limbaugh, Al Franken, and Hannity and Combs. Talk about creating extremists!