Rating: 
Summary: A Fun Romp through the Dark Ages
Review: Michael Crichton's "Timeline" is a solid, genre-stretching effort from the author of "The Andromeda Strain." Crichton is perhaps best known to readers as the author of several popular technothrillers wherein he weaves an enormous amount of research into a compelling narrative. Now Crichton takes us out of the laboratory and into the Middle Ages, courtesy of some well-known quirks of quantum physics. When a multi-disciplined group of experts on the medieval period discover a message requesting help in perfect modern English in ruins dating back to the 14th century, they embark upon a time-travelling adventure melding science fiction with historical literature. The results are decidedly mixed. Crichton's twists are often telegraphed and his characters rarely rise above their archetypes. He displays a solid knowledge of the medieval period and quite ably explains the quantum mysteries in terms accessible to the layman. The tale itself is straight-ahead adventure of the "Jurassic Park" stripe---this is fast-food fiction, not "Wuthering Heights." Still and all, Crichton's "Timeline" is like a terrific television show---it's fun, entertaining, and mildly informative to boot.
Rating:
Summary: Not my kind of book!
Review: What is a virtue to some is a defect to others. I cannot
stand books packed with characters performing impossible
stunt jumps, running away untouched under a shower of
arrows, a single guy with a sword mowing down scores of
enemies. Makes me want to close the book immediately. This
has allways been a poor substitute for a sound plot, based on more credible abilities. I also believe that the character construction is very
unidimensional and thus quite predictable. For example, we have characters whose hobbies are climbing cliffs and jousting.
Can you guess what skills will come handy later on the book?
This characteristic renders the whole story as lacking a real
element of surprise, a punch line. Having said this, I think the novel is very "professional",
well crafted and put together. If one does not mind, or in
fact has a taste for "hollywood" acrobatics, the novel is
enjoyable enough as it bears also some points in its favor:
it makes a nice job in reconstructing medieval life and it
is easy to feel transported to that place and time.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent book
Review: This was an excellent book with many plot turns that keep you guessing. I rarely read books, but this I couldn't put down! The book is about a time machine that allows you to travel to the past and then something gos horribly wrong when one of the characters steps out in the world of old and gets trapped in the past. The entire rest of the book is about the "rescue mission," but the catch is they only have a limited amount of time to return to the present before they will all be trapped in the past for good! It was a very compelling book that made me want to constantly read the next chapter to find out what happens. An excellent book that any action fan should enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Crichton is the master!
Review: I bought this excellent book a couple of years ago. I am embarassed to admit it took me till a few days ago to start reading it. However, when I finally took it off my bookshelf, it was read over two days and I was left thinking, "This is dynamite!" Crichton has a way of making you feel that you are right in the middle of the action yourself. On this occasion the main locations are the premises of the time travel machinery constructors, "ITC" and France in the 14th century. The only bit that I got stuck at was the detailed descriptions that Crichton comes away with from time to time (sorry, no pun intended) In particular the actual time travel process (he tells us that it isn't actually time travel in the HG Wells sense of the word, but quantum physics version that whisks you away to 14th century France in a parallel universe. You lost me there Michael!.) If the rumours are correct then the movie of the book is certain to happen. Already Billy Connolly and Anna Friel have been touted for parts as professor Edwards and Lady Claire respectively. If Ewan McGregor isn't busy at the point where casting begins, I would sign him up for the part of Chris Hughes, one of the heroic student group that undertakes the perilous journey back to France at the time of the hundred years war. Timeline is a superb read from cover to cover. Hughes and his group are sent back to rescue Edwards and get into all manner of scrapes as they endeavour to find the man. The story is full of the regulation good guys and bad guys with the lead baddie wearing regulation black which will help the movie director no end! All in all a riveting read at the turn of every page and even supplys us all with a novel twist at the end. More than that I won't say for obvious reasons. Just let me finish by recomending this book to all of you that read this. Mine was bought back in 2000 in the waiting area at Brisbane International Airport for the princely sum of A$ 17.50. Money well spent. Bring on the movie!
Rating:
Summary: One of Crichton's Best
Review: Imagine a time where knights and kings ruled lands of war and lands in great celebration. Picture the French castle of Castlegarde surrounded by forests and a river, bustling with people from around the countryside. Across the river is a mill bridge, and on the other side is a monastery: The Monastery St. Mére. For Professor Johnson and his graduate students, it would be a dream come true to see this. Studying medieval times, the group was researching the French region of the Dordogne River when a bizarre change of events sends the students to a remote testing facility in New Mexico to try to help their troubled professor. Using a new and controversial technology, they travel to the medieval times of France, only to be trapped there with a war brewing. What will happen when the grad students and the professor try to get back home before they're all killed? Read this excellent book by Michael Crichton to find out. I thought this was one of his best books so far, and I've read most of them. It is fairly historically accurate and is very well researched on Crichton's part, making the story very believable. If you want to have a good book to read, this is an excellent choice. I couldn't stop reading it once I started, and I sat and read for a few hours each weekend for a few weeks until it was done. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in science fiction, fantasy, and medieval stories, with an accurate twist of fact.
Rating: 
Summary: Michael Crichton has done it again...
Review: Michael Crichton has done it again: written an excellent book that keeps you hooked and is written almost as if he meant for it to be made into a movie. It opens up with what would seem like a typical opening scene for a sci-fi/mystery movie. A man dressed strangely for the climate is found wandering in the desert, babbling nonsense. When he is examined at the hospital, things get even weirder. Soon you learn about ITC with its experimental technology in quantum mechanics. Flash over to an archaeological site in France, where historians are attempting to recreate a model of a former castle and town. Put this altogether with people who talk too much, and soon you've got quite a dilemma. More is revealed as the story goes on. Once you are transported back to medieval France, the action is almost non-stop. Thing turn sour at the present-day ITC laboratories as well. Action, suspense, and overall excitement encompass the remainder of the novel. There is almost never a dull moment. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially if you are interested in quantum technology or medieval times. All in all, an excellent realistic science fiction adventure.
Rating:
Summary: A Medieval Encounter
Review: Michael Crichton's novel is like most novels and it starts with a steady build up. Character outlines, hints, clues are all given at the beginning. These just help build up the suspence about to come. After a long and a bit boring briefing, the group take a journey through time. They land in a world filled with knights, clergy and lowly peasants. Crichton describes the setting in a very detailed manner. The description of some living conditions in the 1300's is very disturbing. Also, the scarest part of the book, the Black Plague. The vial description of the early stages of the Black Plague can turn your stomach. Crichton's array of round characters helps you get into the novel and make you care about what happens. He describes physical and mental traits about the characters that help you figure out what each character is like. This helps you see the progressive change of certain characters. Now here is the science part, quantum physics. Now if your worried that it takes up the whole book, don't. This is used to describe how the time machine is made. A quick background on why quantum physics was used an your back to the story. If your in the mood for a good time travel book with a lot of action check out Timeline.
Rating:
Summary: Timeline
Review: You've probably read a book that takes you back to the time of knights,lords, and ladies. But you haven't read one like Timeline. The book starts off in the present time in the Dordogne' valley in France. That's is where the main characters, Andre, Kate, and Chris who are graduate students and are studying and excavating ancient castles along the river. Andre, Kate, and Chris go back in time where they think their professor went after he was invited by a technology company in New Mexico to do so. When they get there they end up being caught in the middle of some battles in the hundred years war. They go through interesting confrontations with Sir Guy de Malegent the French knight fighting for the English lord controlling the two castles in the area and Aurnaut fighting for France to regain the land. This book captured the essence and problems of the Middle Ages very well. As usual Michael Crichton did a lot of research on their science on how quantum physics works and the middle ages. There are many very complex things that are discussed as a result of the time machines which prove to be a major part of the story. It was more easily understood then some of his other books and was easier to relate to. He interjects most of his information into the dialog, and it is very complex so pay careful attention to the characters speech. He had every exciting introduction that gave a slight insight to the action and complexities that is to come. He finds space wherever possible to introduce his research. He makes it out like a Time Machine for a new age. This is one of Mr. Crichton's best works. There are surprises that'll pop up and scare you around every corner. Although it is good, this book is not suited for everyone. If you are faint hearted and are younger than nine years old, I wouldn't suggest this book because of the language and violence. If you are a die-hard Michael Crichton fan and are ready for a science fiction, action, thriller, then I say buy it, read it, and Love it.
Rating: 
Summary: Jurrasic Park for history Majors
Review: It was an easy read. However, I put the book down several times during the first 20 pages. I found the setup awkward and insulting. Crichton weaves his narrative with the subtlety of a circus clown. But once I got into the story, I enjoyed the ride. In a word, Timeline is the Jurassic Park for history majors. The story centers around a group of graduate students who are studying the excavation of a monastery in Southern France. They each have their own personalities and expertise, but to be honest, their names don't really matter. One guy is the muscles-- a cultural historian who practices things like authentic jousting and sword fighting to understand the lives of 14th century knights. Another guy is a historical technologist. The girl and half-assed love interest knows architecture and likes climbing. The last guy is a pure scientist. Surprisingly enough all of this extraneous information comes into play later in the novel. Things get interesting when their fatherly professor returns to the States to discuss funding problems with the mysterious XYZ company. The company really does have a name in the book, but I'm too lazy to look it up. Again, it doesn't really matter. The CEO is this Bill Gates rip-off who happens to study quantum mechanics. Anyways, the students loose contact with their professor and they begin to get worried. Then all of sudden while excavating a new anti-chamber, they discover a surprising message. It is a cry for help in the handwriting of their professor! What's going on? How can this be? This is just crazy talk. Well it turns out that XYZ company is mastering the art of quantum physics. With the aid of quantum-state super computers, they have shifted the professor into another time in another universe of 14th century Southern France. Now they need the historical experts to get him back. So the grad students swallow their fears and go back in time. Unfortunately right out of the box, their Stephen Segal-like ex-navy seal special ops escorts all get mutilated and beheaded and stuff. As part of the same freakish violent accident, the time machines break and they are stranded. To make matters worse ,we eventually learn that there's an evil guy from the future acting as the monkey in the wrench. Finally, they just happened to set the way-back machine's landing to coincide with a siege / surprise attack / war. I never studied history at the graduate level, but I'm thinking this would be the type of thing that I'd know about and try to avoid in time travel situations. So with all this crap going on, guess what? We have to politic, joust, sword fight, climb, and Mac Guiver our way through the story to save the day. While definitely not "brilliantly imagined", I will agree that this was "compulsive reading". Wading through all this action and intrigue was not entirely unlike the feeling you get when riding a roller-coaster. You know that the journey is safe and you know that there will be a lack of new or challenging experiences. You are even pretty sure that you are going to end up at the same damn place you started without anything to show for it. Yet despite all this certainty you wait on line anyway. Why? The answer is simple. You endure the lines for the thrill of the wind in you hair. This is the only reason to read Timeline. It is brain candy or pulp fiction at its best. Timeline is a blockbuster movie waiting to happen. It is a star vehicle for Keith Ledger or that Keanu Reeves-looking kid from American Pie. It can be marketed with a hit soundtrack from a 3rd generation alternative band that makes Bush sound talented. I can see the posters already. This will be okay because despite the crappy techno-bable, bad physics, and cardboard cut-out characters, the premise is good and the story delivers with enough action and violence for any teenage male in the 14-18 year old demographic. If you are bored, read this book. It is not though-provoking. It is not good science-fiction. It treatment of quantum theory is an insult to Feynman worshiping physics families everywhere. In fact, Crichton crudely sidesteps the whole time travel paradox thing entirely by emphatically insisting that one person cannot make a difference...But you know what? Timeline is without a doubt better than Jerry Springer... even that episode about racist lesbian crank addicted midgets who cheat on their spouses. So go ahead and read it. We can't be smart and funny all the time. This review should be living proof of that.
Rating:
Summary: A journey woth the time
Review: This book provided me with a lot of knowledge. It is rich of scientific information that is very complicated but yet presented in a simple manner. The characters were very rich and persuasive. The suspense make it almost impossible to put this book down. Each page is filled with another adventure, another obstacle to over come, another battle to win. The author seems to have spent a lot of time researching and as a result the book seems to be an everflowing source of information. The intriguing settings keep the reader attached to the book. The storylines keep you guessing what is going to happen next and to whom. You can't resist but to put yourself in the position of the characters. All in all I feel as if i had walked away knowing a lot more than I did when i first started reading this book. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys adventure and likes asking themselves "what if?"
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