Timeline

Rating:
Summary: Timeline Summary and opinion
Review: Many novels have original sounding titles which draw attention and make a person want to read them, while many other novels have very unoriginal titles. I, for one, am attracted by the sound of certain titles of books and look forward to reading them. Timeline by Michael Crichton was an extremely original sounding title, and it appeared to have an extremely exciting plot. An exciting plot is also accompanied by many creative ideas. But, sometimes, novels that begin with exciting plots tend to fizzle out towards the middle of the story and taper off like a burnt candle at the end, leaving the reader very disappointed. In Timeline, an exciting adventure through time, a group of scientists must go back in time to help save a friend. In doing so, they encounter many problems relating to mediaeval times. Michael Crichton describes the adventures that befall this group of people in great detail using vivid language. However, on further reading, I found that there were too many problems that the group of scientists had to encounter and the solutions to these problems were very unrealistic and appeared to be based in fantasy. But, overall, the book made very enjoyable reading

Rating:
Summary: A Great Starting Point for a Series
Review: I agree with most reviewers that character development was sorely missing from the book. And, yes, it does read like a screen play more than a novel. Yet I still found myself fully enjoying the read and hoping that this is just a "jumping off" point for a series of books.

Rating:
Summary: Exciting and interesting
Review: I haven't read a MC book since Jurassic Park. I tried Congo and couldn't get into it, so I was a little wary of this one. I'm really glad I read it, though. It's definately a page-turner, and even with my busy schedule I finished it very quickly. It is full of history and fascinating new science, but the latter on a level that I could understand. The characters were, for the most part, great, but there could have been a little more development. I think a little character depth fell by the wayside for the sake of action and adventure. But that's really what the story is for, right? All and all, a great escape.

Rating:
Summary: Fun ride, but no 'Jurassic Park'
Review: Many people had suggested I read this book, and my anticipation level was high. And why not? I mean, I love a good time-travel tale. Nothing in sci-fi beats the time honoured motif of the ironic paradoxes one usually pulls off going back in time. Look at 'Terminator', or even 'Back to the Future's. Of course, I expected far more than these cartoonish stories had to offer. Crichton has always delivered great stories, big adventures partnered with heavy science. And although 'Timeline' isn't a bad book, for me it's not what I was expecting.

I was looking forward to all the quasi-realistic scientific jargon that Crichton always flavours his books with. The talk of actual cloning theories in 'Jurassic Park' really seasoned the otherwise fantastical elements with a tangebility, a feeling of "wow, this could be really happening!" In 'Timeline', all the time-travel theories are nothing more than a vehicle for getting the characters where the action happens. This altogether isn't a bad thing, but it all seemed kind of laboured.

There is the requisite Crichton scene where the really intelligent character briefs the dumb main characters about the theories that'll be major plot-devices later in the story. Then it's off to the past on a wild medieval romp that reminded me more of 'Army of Darkness' then it did 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court'. The theories presented just didn't feel that credible. The debates about them in the book didn't argue a good point regarding their findings on time-travel. It's not that I let something like that bother me, but with Crichton I kind of expected more.

Another problem was that not only is the book a time-travel adventure into the past, but a very typical time-travel adventure. Crichton's take on medieval culture isn't very novel. It's all very basic and stale. And the characters are one-dimensional cutouts, given their special talents early in the book (which of course conveniently serve them well on their trip) and are sent on their way.

Of course, if you can look past these criticisms, 'Timeline' is a good, fun read. Lot's of jousting hi-jinks and cliff-hangers to interest the reader who is looking for nothing more than a brainless Saturday afternoon read. In this respect, it is far more closer to the 'Jurassic Park' of film than it is to the novel.

Rating:
Summary: Timeline
Review: I have read Jurassic Park and The Lost World and Timeline is better than both of them. Timeline is easy to follow and and explains the quantam mechanics theory very well. It didn't take too long to read, but it was a very good book. If you have interest in the Medieval times you would love this book. It has great desrciptions of catsles, knights, and medieval towns. The characters are very well described, and the setting is very well imagined.

Rating:
Summary: NIN
Review: this was an all out good book, although i don't think that there was nearly enough sword fighting. The best character is Donager, although what happens to him really pisses me off. Caslegard is exactly what i've always imagined a castle to look like. Professor Johnson seems like a prick to me though.

Rating:
Summary: Time Lost
Review: I have to admit I have never read any works by Michael Crichton, so my opinion of his writing rests solely in this less than appealing novel. Rarely are you within 100 pages of completing a book and feel utterly frustrated with the author, the characters, the plot, and the hollywood direction the story is taking. This book did just that. Time after time, the characters are narrowly escaping grim death. Time after time, the characters are reunited only to be separated again. This was like watching a terrible movie.

Rating:
Summary: An AWESOME Book.....
Review: I bought this book after it was highly recommended to me by at least five different people. Because I had heard so many great things about Timeline, I assumed there was no way the book could live up to all the hype, and was totally prepared to be disappointed....I didn't care much for some of Chricton's other work to begin with. However, Timeline not only lived up the hype, I think it completely surpassed it! This was one of the best books I have read in a long time; it was suspenseful, exciting, and even a tear-jerker! The begining is a little complex, but after the story gets going it really takes off. Read this book, it is absolutely wonderful!!!

Rating:
Summary: Nice easy read
Review: By this time, Michael Crichton is more of a screenwriter than a novelist - his books have odd lapses in character and plot that in any other novel would be fatal. As you read his books, however, they can really come alive because of the cinematic quality that his writing has. I expected all this when I picked up Timeline.

What I didn't expect was how quickly I would get sucked into it - the premise was crafted very well, and the initial conflict gets you hooked right away. You like the characters and are rooting for them (even if htey are a little two-dimensional.) While the ending is a little rushed (and too pat, to boot) it's not a huge disappointment, and you problably didn't notice since you were casting the movie in your head.

Definitely an easy, entertaining read, with plenty of imagination-stirring detail.

Rating:
Summary: Whoa...only JP tops this form Crichton!
Review: Very good read. Very fast paced and easy to follow, I finished the book in 2 weeks and thought it was one of his best works ever. If you like Crichton, read this book! If you have never read a book from Crichton then read Jurrasic Park. But this is a great book, a page-turner from start to finish