Rating: Summary: awesome Review: I love this book it is very exciting from page i to the end altough I really don,t understand quantum physics I tought that the storyline for the book was really good.Of course Mr Crichton has written better books but this one is still good,I tought that the character development was preety good.I heard they were making a movie of this I hope they Don, mess it up cause this book was really entertaining.
Rating: Summary: This books feels like a guilty pleasure! Review: I couldn't put it down. Is it fine literature? No way! But it IS a most intriguing, exciting, and thoroughly delicious way to pass a few evenings.Crichton's research into the Middle Ages is exhaustive, and described in relatively simple terms that we who are not experts can still understand, and visualize. Yes, it reads like a movie. Yes, I guess a film is in production. And yes, I'll be the first in line to see it.
Rating: Summary: Crichton breaks his own rules Review: Crichton's strength is his weakness in this particular novel. Forget that his characterization is thin compared to the plotting, and his pacing ridiculously breathless -- those are the reasons his readers love his books. Another reason he's so popular: his basing his plots on realistic-sounding scientific speculation. In this case, it's quantum physics and its relationship to time-travel. So far, so good; there are reams written on the subject, and many theorists say that time travel and/or parallel universes are possible. But Crichton fumbles by setting up a scientific premise and then violating it. In _Timeline_, the working theory is that the characters do *not* travel back in time per se, but merely travel to *an alternate universe whose present resembles our past.* An intriguing theory, one that was also featured in an early episode of the parallel-worlds TV show, "Sliders." Soon after this scientific basis is established, it's contradicted by the discovery of modern objects found in archaelogical digs in *our universe* (or at least the main universe of the characters in the story). Even if you allow for the gobbledy-gook about other universes sending objects/information into ours, that still doesn't explain why those objects don't arrive in our *present*, not the past. That's the reason Crichton has a running-clock countdown throughout the story: Real time elapses in both our world and the one traveled to by the characters -- again, they are not technically in "the past," just in a world where knights, castles, and the like are part of the present. Whatever actions these characters take, they should have no bearing on our past. This might sound like nit-picking, but because Crichton makes such a big deal about the scientific basis for the story, and doesn't support it, it makes for a less-satisfying read than a simple "time-slip" story where there's no attempt to back it up with science. That's not to say that there aren't good things about _Timeline_; it's never boring, the details are vivid and it's quickly paced. It's just not a particularly well-thought-out time travel story.
Rating: Summary: Wow never thought school would make me read a good book Review: Timeline was a wonderful book to me becuase I really enjoy books and movies about the feudal period of Europe. The epic tales of Knights and their chivalry always intrigued me. Timeline helped me explore a brand new perspective of that chivalristic period by taking the true chivalry out and leaving only the truly barbaric and inhumane behaviors that were feudal France. I also enjoyed how Mr. Crichton weaved science into his story to give it sense of reality. Also the way he showed how pathetical the physical well being of our age actually is. Marek was near what a doctor of the present would call a perfect physical specimen and he could barely put up a good fight against Sir Guy. I more than recomend this book to any one who has an interest in the inner workings of feudal France. This book is the first book that I ever read for school that I actually enjoyed picking up when I got home from my day.
Rating: Summary: A great book Review: What a badass book, I head that this is being turned into a movie as well as Prey. But which book really doesnt become a movie that was a Michael Crichton book. I love this book, Amazing, page turner. Great story. Get it if you love the medieval time era.
Rating: Summary: An exciting countdown adventure Review: Until now, I've only been familiar with Michael Crichton's work through his movies. I read Timeline in just 5 days (well, I do have to work you know). Very enjoyable. Similar to the Jurassic Park journey but without the dinosaurs and set in southern France in the year 1357 during the 100 Years War. Three young historians are transported back to rescue their chief historian and project leader who has sent a cry for help from 1357 to the year 1999. They have only 37 hours to complete their mission or they can't return. In the beginning, Crichton sets you up, educates you on the basic principles of quantum physics and introduces you to the main players in this adventurous blend of science fiction and historical literature. Some characters were less developed to me, particularly the ones sent on the journey. However, the story's villain was portrayed well enough to hate. This was Robert Doniger, the founder of the company ITC, which uses quantum energy to recreate genetics and DNA to transfer humans to the past. Sometimes there are Transcription Errors, and sometimes people can't return at all. Doniger seems only interested with money and power, naturally. I enjoyed the story and am sure the movie will be just as entertaining. It's an exciting and dangerous countdown. Only 37 hours, or they can't return.
Rating: Summary: A Tasty Thriller! Review: Definitely chricton's best work since "Jurassic Park", "Timeline" is amazingly imagined and plotted. The characters are superbly crafted and believable. Crichton goes out of his way to immerse you in the world of 12th century, medieval France, it's politics and warring factions. Even more incredible is the way he describes the sights, smells and sounds of a world that none has ever known. From the devastating power of a trebuchet to the relative quiet of the french countryside void of the ambient noise of modern life, Crichton tells a rich and compelling story that unfolds in front of you. His signature of blending science (in this case, quantum physics) and imagination is better than ever. "Timeline" is a definite page turner and it's rich plot and ensemble cast makes for an entertaining read overall.
Rating: Summary: Pretty good... Review: This book was pretty good. The author did a good job of bringing the reader into the history. I'm a medieval graduate student and this book was awesome from that standpoint. I'm also a science-phobic. When the book would cut back to the lab and go into scientific jargon, I'd hit my head against the hall. The history was also very honest. Most fictions, either romanticise the past, or make it look horrible. Crichton was somewhere in between. There were filthy people that live up to our stereotype of the middle ages. There were also people that didn't offend and you figure they knew about basic hygeine. I really liked the medieval woman in the book. Women had power in some cases, but wouldn't use it openly, because it was against the rules of the land. Instead they would scheme as did this woman. Crichton did a wonderful job. I looked at the resources he used to write this and had read some of the books and authors. He used some excellent sources. The reason I only gave this four starts, was the science and logic. Another person wrote on the logic as well. I fought my way through the science, but there seemed to be inconsistancies. If the past wasn't past, but an alternate universe, then our modern day couldn't be affected, but it was. Also, supposedly the past couldn't be changed. But it was by going into the past, that certian events were forced to take place. Very confusing and inconsistant.
Rating: Summary: Nothing comes remotely close Review: Wow, if you like medeival history, if you like science, if you just like a freakin' adrenaline rush this book is SO for you. This book seriously kicks some serious butt, don't be fooled by it's sale rating. Nowadays people are ordering Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, but this book brings technology and swords, chivalry, and jousting together in a on-the-edge-of-your-seat-wanting-to-be-able-to-read-faster-so-you-can-turn-the-page novel.
Rating: Summary: Great Idea, lousy follow through Review: The premise of the book is great, transporting people back in time, the cultural and social differences from the present, the dangers easily slipped into, the expected and unexpected differences...however, the writing left a lot to be desired, I have not read any other of Crichton's books, maybe this is his standard writing style, but I hope not. The book read like a good first draft that needed to be fleshed out, there was maybe too much about the physics of the time travel, some of it out of my league, & dull. In contrast there was not nearly enough true character or situation development. The chapters were very short, often one page, and the sentences often 4 - 5 word clips. This seemed to be an attempt to try to create tension between the conflict of the dangers experienced by the group transported to the past and the simultaneous difficulties experienced by those in the present trying to get them back, however, I just found it annoying. It truly reads like a book put together simply to fulfill a contract or just to try to sell it for a movie. This would be a great movie, & the first time you can say the movie was better than the book.
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