State of Fear

Michael Crichton

State of Fear

Michael Crichton
52 pages1-hour read
Fiction
Novel
Adult
Published in 2004

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Peter is a cautious, rule-abiding lawyer at the Los Angeles firm Hassle and Black, where he represents the wealthy philanthropist George Morton. He is deeply involved with the National Environmental Research Fund (NERF) and initially fully supports their environmentalist agenda. As he encounters contrary climate data and dangerous field operatives, he questions his long-held beliefs about global warming.

Key Relationships

Lawyer for George Morton

Associate of Nicholas Drake

Employee of Herb Lowenstein

Ally of Sarah Jones

Associate of John Kenner

Colleague of Jennifer Haynes

Lawyer for Margo Lane

Colleague of Lisa

Drake is the ambitious, charismatic director of the National Environmental Research Fund (NERF). He is dedicated to raising funds and awareness for the environmental cause, particularly focusing on an upcoming lawsuit filed by the island of Vanutu. He routinely pressures scientists and media figures to present data that supports catastrophic global warming scenarios.

Key Relationships

Funded by George Morton

Associate of Peter Evans

Funder of Per Einarsson

Ally of Ted Bradley

Client of Herb Lowenstein

Boss of Ann Garner

Kenner is an MIT researcher and investigator currently on extended leave. He travels globally to track an eco-terrorist network known as the Earth Liberation Front. Armed with extensive scientific data, he constantly challenges conventional narratives about climate change through rigorous debate.

Key Relationships

Research Partner of Sanjong Thapa

Associate of Peter Evans

Ally of Sarah Jones

Associate of Akira Hitomi

Associate of Jennifer Haynes

Debate Opponent of Ann Garner

Sarah serves as George Morton's personal assistant. She rejects her wealthy background, favoring an active, athletic lifestyle in California. When Morton behaves erratically, she takes an active role in tracking his movements and protecting his estate.

Key Relationships

Assistant to George Morton

Ally of Peter Evans

Ally of John Kenner

Target of Ann Garner

Morton is a wealthy philanthropist providing massive financial backing to NERF. He recently begins doubting the organization's mission after reviewing independent climate data. His sudden, erratic behavior sets the central investigation in motion.

Key Relationships

Funder of Nicholas Drake

Client of Peter Evans

Employer of Sarah Jones

Romantic Partner of Margo Lane

Secret Contact of John Kenner

Client of John Kim

Target of Marisa

Supporting Characters

Jennifer is an assertive assistant on the legal team handling an environmental lawsuit against the United States. She regularly reviews complex temperature graphs and climate models. She approaches environmentalism with a highly analytical mindset and readily spots weaknesses in standard data sets.

Key Relationships

Assistant to John Balder

Colleague of Peter Evans

Rival of Ted Bradley

Associate of John Kenner

Sanjong is a focused researcher who works closely with John Kenner. He possesses a deep knowledge of climate science and global extremist activities. He monitors data streams and coordinates logistics for the field team.

Key Relationships

Research Partner of John Kenner

Associate of Peter Evans

Associate of Akira Hitomi

Ted is a popular actor who plays the president on television. He acts as a high-profile, vocal supporter of NERF and various environmental causes. He relies heavily on emotion and dramatic rhetoric, growing hostile when challenged with opposing facts.

Key Relationships

Supporter of Nicholas Drake

Rival of Jennifer Haynes

Acquaintance of Peter Evans

Jonathan is a graduate student and physics researcher in Paris studying wave dynamics and tsunamis. His specialized knowledge draws the attention of dangerous individuals looking to exploit his research.

Key Relationships

Target of Marisa

Marisa is a mysterious, dangerous woman who shows intense interest in scientific phenomena capable of causing destruction. She uses her charm to access secure laboratories and target wealthy individuals.

Key Relationships

Girlfriend of Jimmy

Attacker of Jonathan Marshall

Pursuer of George Morton

Herb is the demanding boss at the law firm Hassle and Black. He monitors the lucrative relationship between his firm, George Morton, and NERF, applying constant pressure on his employees to keep clients satisfied.

Key Relationships

Boss of Peter Evans

Legal Representative of Nicholas Drake

Boss of Lisa

Balder is the head of litigation for the lawsuit filed by the Pacific island of Vanutu. He focuses heavily on the emotional impact of climate change arguments, believing juries respond better to catastrophe narratives than complex data.

Key Relationships

Boss of Jennifer Haynes

Associate of Peter Evans

Per is a scientist researching the Vatnajökull glacier in Iceland. He insists on the integrity of his data, refusing to alter his reports to fit external political agendas.

Key Relationships

Pressured by Nicholas Drake

Nat owns Canada Marine RS Technologies. He grows suspicious of wealthy clients who agree to lucrative lease terms without possessing basic knowledge about the equipment they are renting.

Key Relationships

Friend of John Kim

Akira directs the International Data Environmental Consortium. He oversees a specialized tracking project that monitors internet users searching for specific geology and engineering data.

Key Relationships

Information Provider for John Kenner

Information Provider for Sanjong Thapa

Charles is a driver and guide in Malaysia who transports a client looking to purchase heavy industrial equipment. He quickly deduces that his passenger lacks actual geological knowledge.

Key Relationships

Driver for Allan Peterson

A man claiming to be a field geologist consulting for a Canadian energy company. He attempts to purchase an unusually high number of cavitators while operating under an assumed name.

Key Relationships

Client of Charles Ling

Margo is George Morton's mistress. She notices his paranoid behavior prior to his disappearance and contacts his legal team for assistance.

Key Relationships

Romantic Partner of George Morton

Client of Peter Evans

Lisa is an assistant at the Hassle and Black law firm. She coordinates communication during emergencies and keeps the legal team updated on client issues.

Key Relationships

Assistant to Peter Evans

Employee of Herb Lowenstein

John is a bank manager in Vancouver. He assists a friend by investigating a suspicious bounced check linked to an environmental group.

Key Relationships

Friend of Nat Damon

Banker of George Morton

Norman is an academic professor who studies the ecology of thought. He focuses on how media terminology and academic institutions shape public belief by constructing narratives of constant threat.

Key Relationships

Lecturer to Peter Evans

Ann is an associate of NERF assigned to shadow the investigative team. She considers herself a dedicated environmentalist but struggles to defend her views when confronted with historical data.

Key Relationships

Subordinate of Nicholas Drake

Shadow of Sarah Jones

Debate Opponent of John Kenner