Rating: 
Summary: Rich in Science and History but Predictable
Review: This book had a lot of potential and is indeed rich in history. What hurt this book a lot was that Crichton decided to emphasize and amount of time available for the characters to complete their mission and return. Without completing the book you could easily guess that it would go down to the last second (at least in the movie "Goldfinger" the clock wound down to 007).Quantum physics is the focus of the book and its many possibilities. These include parallel universes, time travel and subatomic computers. Crichton indicates that several companies are already involved in a great deal of R&D in these fields. The story focuses on a group of archeologists being sent back in time to rescue a colleague in 14th century England. He had gone back there to the same site at which he was digging at in the present and not returned. He had then left a message in a bunch of parchments that he knew his colleagues would find in the present. The group of rescuers includes Professor Mare, who always thought himself to be a knight. Mare seems quite at home in the past and one can easily predict what his fate will be. There is Chris, who is a wimpy professor who becomes a "man" but going back and being forced to live in a cruel and menacing era. Kate is the mandatory lady that needs rescuing in this tale though at various points she seems to hold her own. Two "security" types get bumped off rapidly (a la Star Trek) round out the cast. Back in the lab in the present is Stern the scientist who comes up with the idea a "band-aid" approach to repair the technology that failed in the nick of time. Donniger the head of the project who is similar to some of the project heads in other Crichton books (Jurassic Park). The book did have its suspenseful moments (the inept Chris having to face a knight in a jousting match) but as one reads you can many times guess the outcome. The cruelty and complete disregard for human life took all the glamour out of what we expect knight tales to be. This book is definitely not a page-turner but there is enough history and science to make it worth a read.
Rating:
Summary: An exciting ride, but a bit cynical
Review: There are some things I loved about this book and some things that disappoint me. I loved the presentation of the medieval world, the clash and adventure produced when modern archaeologist are thrust into it, and the intriguing insight into the possibilities that may result from quantum mechanics research. This book led me to seek out research papers for this research field, and I found some things regarding teleportation and quantum computing that I was very glad and excited to find. I was tempted to give this book four stars for these; however, I believe that my negative comments below will illustrate my reason for giving the book only three stars. I realize there are technical problems with this story, but I am willing to suspend my disbelief for the sake of the good adventure. I was disappointed by Mr. Crichton's use, again, of his worn-out theme park failure scenario - West World, Jurassic Park, and now Timeline. I also have a distaste for Mr. Crichton's repeated cynical portrayal of business leaders. As excited as Mr. Crichton seems to be about advances in technology, it seems that he would be more friendly toward the practitioners of capitalism and entrepreneurship who are willing to take the risks necessary to create applications of technology that (can) benefit all. This story, like some other Crichton works, seems hypocritical in that it displays great optimism with regard to new technology and the adventurous human spirit, while at the same time displaying extreme pessimism and cynicism with regard to the human spirit that will bring about exciting uses of the technology. I think that, if only he had left out the cynical portrayal of the company head in this story, Mr. Crichton's story Timeline would have been a much greater work. The negatives aside, I truly enjoyed the adventures of the protaganists in the medieval world and the peek into the world of quantum mechanics and medieval archaeology.
Rating:
Summary: When's the Movie Coming Out?
Review: Crichton knows Hollywood. He also knows marketing. When reading this book, one can see the obvious: This will be his next blockbuster movie script. Crichton's story follows a very typical Hollywood plot progression, and it will convert very nicely into a screenplay. The story is predictable at times, like all of Crichton's work. The characters have little depth beyond what is absolutely necessary to move the plot along. The role of the historian leading the trapped rescue team, unfortunately, seemed like it was written specifically for Arnold Schwarzeneggar. However, the story keeps the reader engaged. It is a nice weekend diversion.
Rating: 
Summary: Just got 4 stars. Just...
Review: Just like Crichton did with Jurrasic Park, in this novel he takes an idea which seems totally unbelieveable and crafts it so that by the end of the book you believe that some day it might just happen. With JP, it was the recreation dinosaurs (as if you didn't know). With Timeline, it's time travel. Like most of his novels the technology is heavily laden down but in such a way that it never gets boring and makes the novel seem even better and all the more realistic. There's a few plot turns, a characteristic of his novels. Although it could be argued that he isn't trying anything that he hasn't done before in terms of style and structure, history and time travel is something that he han't touched on. So you think its gonna be a great book? No. Good, but not great. In many ways this is Jurrasic Park re-visited. Other reviews have said this as well. A bunch of people on an archeological dig meet the head of a company who invented something that will change their career for-ever. Oddly enough this is exactly the same thing that happened in Jurrasic Park, except they were on a pre-historic dig and the technology was different. The basic situation is the same. The beginning is even similar - somebody has died and the doctor wonders what is going on. The difference is that Jurrasic Park is much deeper, has more suspense and a much better ending. The comparison's to Jurrasic Park make me feel that Crichton has slacked off a bit and he hasn't really come up with something particularly original. The structure is (as we've established) a copy of Jurrasic Park, time travel has been done before by many others. In all fairness, the others haven't made it so beleiveable - certainly a strength of this novel. The characters are a little thin as well. You warm to them little, but not to the extent of Peter and Conner in Rising Sun. Don't let that put you off though. This is still a great read, even if it is a bit thin in places. If you enjoyed Congo, Rising Sun and Jurrasic Park (all of which are excellent novels) then you'll like this book. But don't expect it to blow your socks off. It's fast and fun and you'll read it to the end but ultimately its more of an entertaining thrill rather than a rich, fulfiling experience. Although its actually a longer novel than Jurrasic Park (as you've guessed JP is my favourite book) it feels much shorter. The whole build up is missing. Things just tend to happen quickly and they all happen at once. The character's Kate, Chris, Stern and Marek don't seem too surprised at the idea that time travel is possible. It's hard to do this in a novel though, I do recognise that. Uppers:(1) Genuine page-turner. (2) Very beleiveable. (3) Great technology. (4) Fast paced and good fun. Downers:(1) Simple plot. (2) Poor ending. (3) Jurrasic Park is better in almost every respect.
Rating:
Summary: Timeline
Review: Very entertaining audio book. It starts a little slow, but hits high gear in a hurry. Lloyd does a good job of narrirating. Buy it, enjoy it, I am sure it will be a movie some day, so read the book or listen to audio first. Crichton does adventure again with this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Timeline: A Book for any Taste
Review: Quantum foam, time travel, a dead man in the desert, a missing professor, and a note from the past are all incorporated into Michael Crichton's book Timeline. In 1999, a corporation, ITC, has developed a method of traveling through time, "faxing" one through quantum foam. They have sent a professor to France in 1357, but with no way to get back. Meanwhile, a group of historians find a suspicious note at an excavation site. Now Doniger, the head of ITC, enlists the three historians, Chris, Kate, and André Marek, to save the trapped professor. They do not know the dangers they will face, or why such a company would fancy time travel. They soon will find that medieval France is not a safe time period, with the plague, war, and knights who killed for sport. They must get the professor while staying alive themselves, and with only 37 hours until they are trapped, time is of the essence. Crichton incorporates detailed imagery to make Timeline a realistic work of fiction. He makes a valiant attempt to explain quantum physics, and how time travel is possible. He also adds historical facts to the novel that make it realistic. Crichton utilizes a detailed description of the archaeological site, the ITC laboratory, and medieval France. He also details each character's personality, allowing the reader to discover the connection between the characters and the medieval time. In addition, he describes the events in both times, 1999 and 1357, alternating between chapters. Although the book begins at a somewhat slow pace, Crichton's Timeline follows through with a fast-paced action novel with science fiction and history integrated into a cohesive and interesting plot. With a continuous plot, Michael Crichton is able to captivate the reader. In the end, Crichton is able to fulfill the reader with an ending that is creative and masterful. Crichton offers action, science fiction, history, adventure, and even romance in his novel that will please almost any taste.
Rating:
Summary: A TRUE MASTERPIECE OF AMERICAN LITERATURE
Review: I have always been an avid reader, enjoying many great novels from many diffrent fields, and from page one, timeline by michael crichton had me hooked, from the advances of technology, back to the medieval age, webbed with a string of mystery, suspense and just perfect storytelling, makes this a book for the ages. I highly recommended, this is just one of those books where you can't wait to pick it up and read.............
Rating:
Summary: Twenty First Century Historians in Fourteenth Century France
Review: I'm not a fan of science fiction, but this is a zinger. As he did in Jurassic Park, Crichton makes the science upon which he bases the story seem so logical. If you don't look at it too closely, you're hooked. Using quantum technology, a corporation can send people through time, but a history professor who traveled back to fourteenth century France got stuck there. A team travels back to rescue him. Once they are there, the story becomes a rip-roaring adventure in medieval France. It's a tale that will keep you turning the pages.
Rating:
Summary: Adventure?Time travel? Quantom Physics? What else is there?
Review: History doesn't just live in text books anymore. Why read about history when you can live it? History becomes reality when you can "fax" yourself into a parallel dimension and experience the life and times yourself. Let the past become the future! Be the gallant hero, be the damsel in distress-just like in the movies. But maybe the movies would be safer, considering in the day and age of Mid-evil France, you're more likely to be involved in a Feudal war, the bubonic plague or just plain get your head cut off. But millionaire Donager, master of quantum physics didn't tell the three reluctant historians sent there that part. Now, they're caught up in a dangerous race against time, trying to save the professor, stop the war, and get home before time is up and they're stuck in the Middle Ages permanently! A compelling novel, laced with stunning detail, crammed with swash-buckling action and even a little romance...A great book, one I dare you to try to put down! You can get lost in the mystery of the mad knight and the giant in the Green Chapel. These are just some of the twists and turns you'll find in this novel. The immense amount of accurate details added credibility to this story. The bits about physics can drag, but just stick with it, in the end, you'll be hooked! Michael Crichton even added historic language to his time-traveling novel that excites, stirs and ignites the imagination. Whether you are a history buff, or slept through the class, you're sure to enjoy this entertaining tale and end up looking for other novels from this author.
Rating:
Summary: Good and fast summer reading.
Review: "Timeline" is a very enjoyable summer reading. Crichton is as always well-spirited in finding a perfect ways to make things turn very fast and keep the reader on the edge of its seat. "Timeline" introduces time travel, although Crichton baffles things a bit by introducing a well-meant but probably too confusing details about multi-universe and quantum physics (that's why I've rated the book 4-star, and not 5). Main heroes (historians working on the project sponsored by some shrewd billionaire) are lost in medieval France, fighting hunger, own fears, ravenous knights, and racing against time in order to come back in one piece. The book has several twists and interesting plots but also some unfinished schemes. The reading is fast, and when it is over, one would like to see the sequel, or at least to have a chance to read some more. Is Crichton at his best? Probably not, but he proves he can write fantastic historical fictions. I wish he would do it again.
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