Rating: 
Summary: Crichton Rides Again....
Review: Timeline is a return to the well-researched, carefully explained, writing style of Jurassic Park, unlike the topic-worn-thin trailer novel Lost World. An archaelogical team working on a medieval castle site in France are sent back in time to rescue their team leader who has been floated back into time on "quantam foam," residue from the big bang creation of the universe. The meglamaniacal CEO of ITC Industries is planning to use the technology to send wealthy tourists back to the past for "authentic" entertainment. Never mind the problems with messing with the past that might erase or alter the future, "The Past is the Future" for ITC. Plenty of blood and gore, along with Crichton's careful explanation of quantam physics and possible glitches to boot make this an interesting novel for those who like to think about new things. Still, the plot is predictable and the theme park run by an eccentric multimillionaire has regular Crichton readers waiting for something entirely new and fresh. Not a bad read, but not Crichton's greatest either. Look for the movie at a theater near you.
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: Amazing!
Review: I have read a couple of Crichton's book, A Case of Need, Andromeda Strain, Prey and now Timeline. Timeline is probably the best so far, it is extremely exciting, I couldn't stop reading it, if you have a good imagination this is one hell of a book to miss!!
Rating: 
Summary: At best disappointing
Review: If you are a history fan and a medieval times fan, like I am, you will at least love the first half of this book. It's down hill from there. This book is like a bad movie in which the main characters keep getting themselves into bad situations and incredibly get out of them intact, and you can't stop thinking: "when is this piece of poo going to end!?". And just when you thought it could not get worse it does... again and again. This is by far the worst novel I have ever read. Since I am a Michael Crichton fan it is very disappointing for me to have undergone from his writing such a horrible experience. Skip this book. It is definitely not worth the pain.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Concept, Poor Execution is Right
Review: Crichton's books, a favorite for years, have usually forced (if that's a word that expresses pleasure) me to sit and complete them in one sitting. Timeline is, unfortunately, not one of them. Like Jurassic Park, Crichton takes an interesting scientific possibility and builds a screenplay around it. Unfortunately, the trips, slips and falls his characters encounter in the Middle Ages are just TOO Hollywood for anyone to take. "Oh, what will our heroes do next! That's another fine mess you've gotten us into now!" I wish I could count the number of times the main characters arrived in the nick of time to save a life or save the day. But frankly, I can't be bothered. It's an interesting story and no harm done. I'll still buy another Crichton book in the future, and you clearly can't belittle the attention he paid to proper research of the time/era regarding everything from clothing, habits, geography, politics, etc. But the story is.....well, not boring....but simplistic. If you're a Crichton fan, buy it and deal with it. If you're looking for a first book of his to get into his reference, this isn't it.
Rating:
Summary: Timeline
Review: When i first started reading this book, i was forced to. I saw an add for the movie, and i really wanted to see it, but my dad has this rule that I can't watch a movie if it's based on a book until I have read the book. It's not that I wasn't interested in the book, I just heard some stuff that Micheal Crichton was a bad author and all. Boy was I wrong. Even the beginning of the book compells you into an adventure that is great. My bedtime is like, eight, so that is when i need to stop reading. Like I do! I went out into the kitchen and got a flashlight. Yep, that's how good it is. I always put down the book reluctantly, and only when I had to. Otherwise I was in my room, reading. The whole book makes you anxiously wait for the next chapter. So I read the book, then saw the movie. The movie was good, but in no comparison to the book. Timeline is my favorite book. I could picture what was happening during the whole book. I am reading Jurassic Park now. It's good, but not as good as Timeline. I'd be surprised if anything was. But really it just is a good book with a lot of interesting stuff. I read it in a couple of days. The book is huge! That's how much time I spent reading the book, that's how good it is. I'm sorry if I'm no help, but my opinion is, get this book no matter what it takes. Seriously, this book is da' bomb. If you like medieval time books, then this book is a must have. Thanks for reading.
Rating:
Summary: TiMeLiNe
Review: I saw the movie Timeline. I loved it. So in the middle of the school year I decided I would get it on book. I read it in two months. I loved the book more than the movie. The only problem I had with it is it took too long to get going. I am a huge medieval fan, and all the books I've read this takes the cake. It was great. I actually got grounded because I was reading it to much. I'm a fairly new Crichton fan, but Sphere and The Andromeda Strain are next on my list.
Rating:
Summary: There are better ways to spend your time
Review: "Timeline" tries very hard to blend science, history and fantasy, but falls woefully short. That, in itself, doesn't make the book disappointing. Sprinkle in some hollow characters and a Hardy Boys plot and you'll wonder why you were drawn to this title in the first place. To be fair, Chrichton definitely gave it the old college try. The bibliography consumes 5 pages (longer than many of the book's chapters) and includes 91 references. Five stars for research! But a promising start to the novel fizzles quickly, as our protagonists travel back in time to 1357 on a mission to rescue the stranded Professor Johnston. This ill-fated journey turns into trouble with a capital T, as our plucky heroes are hurtled from one death-defying pickle to the next. Will they return to their time machine before it's too late? Will the batteries run out first? Well, you can probably guess. But you may want your own time machine to transport you to the end of the book so you can read the conclusion without suffering through all of those interim chapters.
Rating:
Summary: His worst novel ever.
Review: I have read and liked almost all of Crichton's novels but this one is just horrible. I couldn't believe how boring this thing was. Avoid at all costs.
Rating:
Summary: Crichton's Take On Time Travel
Review: Michael Crichton's TIMELINE (1999) is a fascinating blend of truly interesting science fiction and breathtaking medieval history, and we learn a lot about both realms over the course of this novel. Basing his time-travel on the more recent scientific theory of "multiverses" (i.e. the existence of many universes simultaneously, each one representing a time in the past), Crichton explores the possibilities of using Quantum technology to effectively "fax" people to another time period, for all of its fascinating and disturbing implications. When a brilliant but extremely arrogant and dictatorial scientist-turned-CEO demonstrates his new "time machine" to an inquiring professor, accidentally stranding him in medieval France circa 1357, it's up to a quickly put-together team of historians to rescue him. They'll be racing against the clock, and fighting truly terrifying foes, in order to bring him---and themselves---back. In TIMELINE, Michael Crichton does what he does best: take a fascinating scientific premise that is teasingly possible and run with it. He explores it further using a team of well-developed characters for whom we grow to care and root. These characters, who often sport complex relationships with each other, invariably get trapped in their quest and must find a way out of it, while simultaneously solving the original puzzle that brought them together in the first place. It all may be rather formulaic at this point; however, there's no denying that the Crichton formula is one that works, and consistently. From THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN (1969) to JURASSIC PARK (1991), he has the knack for bringing us into a well-realized, brave new world that is based upon complex scientific theory and make us not only understand what is going on, but fully believe that it's happening. The main reason why his novels work so well is because, past all the post-graduate science, he never loses sight of the human stories, and they are the most compelling aspects. Plus, unlike certain authors (John Grisham comes to mind here), he really knows how to end a story! Michael Crichton has been a gifted genre storyteller for over 35 years now, and TIMELINE follows very nicely in this fine tradition. And it has one killer ending! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
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