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Summary: Perfect Summer Read
Review: One thing about Michael Crichton's books is that you learn something new every time. In Timeline, you get a crash course in life and death in 14th Century France. Our heroes venture there via an ingenious time travel device to rescue thier comrade. Of course, things go wrong quickly and the rescue proves a bit more difficult than expected. A page turner, definitely.
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Summary: Connecticut Yalies in Lord Oliver's Court (?)
Review: Michael Crichton's "Timeline" is an adventure story featuring modern young historians who are transported to medieval France; a setting whose inhabitants hold values and assumptions not widespread in millenial America. As with his other works, Crichton shows respect for the reader's intelligence by offering up - at the layman's level - a plausible scenario by which space-time travel might be possible. And, beyond the nailbiter pace of the action, he succeeds in relating a sense of the lives and habitats of fourteenth-century France. Wm. F. Buckley, no doubt, will be swelling with pride when he learns what Yale's hands-on history people were doing centuries before Harvard was even founded. The rest of us may content ourselves feasting on a delicious adventure marinated in revisionist history and spiced with the latest technology from twentieth-century physics. Those who enjoyed Mallory's book on King Arthur, say, or "Jurassic Park", should consider a whirl on the roller-coaster of "Timeline."
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Summary: TIMELINE
Review: I HAVE READ A SMALL EXCEPT FROM THE BOOK,AND FOUND IT TO BE AN EXCITING STORY.I HAVE ALWAYS ENJOYED STORIES THAT DEAL WITH TIME TRAVELL.AND I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ANYONE WHO FEELS AS I DO THANK YOU.
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Summary: Crichton plays Turtledove on Turtledove's Ground
Review: Crichton knows how to tell a good story, so that you're sorry when it's over, and he does so here. However, the linkage between the 20th Century action and the 14th century action isn't as clear, the ending is a bit disappointing, and overall, the book is just too short. That's right, too short. There isn't room for the kind of textural development that this sort of book really requires, the kind that Harry Turtledove excels at. You won't be disappointed in this book, but if Crichton had worked a little more it would have been great instead of simply good.
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Summary: Classic Crichton!
Review: Just enough technology and history to enjoyable learn quite a bit! Authoritatively makes a stance on history and explores possible future technologies. No unrealistic or implausible scenes in the whole book. Reads just like his movies.
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Summary: Blending of Fact and Fiction
Review: Science fiction based on fact and set in the not too distant future is a hallmark of Michael Crichton. The story will entertain readers who enjoy science fiction adventures as well as those who enjoy period pieces set in medieval Europe. The science is based on enough fact to make the story interesting. The story itself moves quickly, and keeps you in suspense. There are some holes in the company owner's character, which do not make sense except as representing a steriotype; but that is minor criticism of an otherwise fun, fast read.
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Summary: Typical Crichton
Review: This is the sixth Crichton I've read and I can usually write the same review for every one. His storyline ideas are incredible. Very believable science fiction ideas which translate over to movies well. His character development however is his weak point. I found this to be true in Timeline as well. This story was not his best either, leaving you wondering what the purpose of all this was by the time you are finished. A fairly quick reading book and not all bad, but I can't give it a rousing endorsement either.
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Summary: Excellent summer reading
Review: Timeline is in my opinion one of Crichton's better books. Its a great blend of the usual Crichton formula but I found it highly original and clever. This time, the thrust is on Quantum theory applied to the middle ages, but I was struck by how well Crichton was able to make the science fiction believeable (and understandable even to the layman). I was particulary impressed that many of the beliefs and suppositions the historians had about the middle ages turned out to be simply wrong--makes you really wonder if what we learned in school on any subject will withstand the test of time...Anyway, what's especially good about this book is that the characters are much better developed and more believeable than some of his other ones. Aside from "Chris", who really didn't draw a lot of my sympathy, I thought the other characters were not only realistic, but quite likeable in many respects. I thought some of Crichton's other characters in Lost World and Jurassic Park were rather weak. The book had a great pace and with all the usual twists and turns, I found myself squirming with amazement, completely caught up in the world that Crichton had created. Lastly, this book has a pretty decent and satisfying ending.
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Summary: Good idea...bad execution
Review: I really liked this book...I did, but I found myself reading The Naked God by Peter Hamilton more often than picking up Timeline. (I was reading both at the same time, time constraints) Michael Chriton's most recent books have incorporated a futuristic, but eerily easily acheiveable technology with a dangerous "All heck breaks loose" pessimistic situation. I really like his straight to the point, non-fluff writing style, but this book took it way too far. I mean, yes a quick read is nice...but this book even had grammar errors...how is that? Nice story, I'd rate this as a 50/50 buy. Like my title, Good idea...Bad Execution
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Summary: NEVER BUY AN ABRIDGED AUDIO BOOK!
Review: The story was great but I listened to the abridged 4 cassette version. Over half of the book was cut out! While listening it became appareant huge holes were in the story. As a reader it was just obviously incomplete. Poor character development; suddenly the story line would change and I would be wondering "what happend? " The story was a facinating concept though and made me want to go buy the book now to get the missing pieces. Good book , avoid the abridged version.
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