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Summary: a connecticut yankee in king arthur's court?
Review: It seems many writers struggle earlym reach a plain of success and then go into decline. Apparently this has happened to Michael Crichton. The book is entertaining, but the plot rambles without control. I do not regret buyg the book, but I was generally disappointed. I would give this book 1 & 1/2 stars it was an option.
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Summary: Very entertaining, though not great
Review: Before I go into any of my criticisms of Timeline, let me say right off the bat that I found it to be a really fun read, and I could hardly put it down. If that is all you judge your books by, then by all means pick a copy up.Unfortunately, I found a lot of things that bothered me about it. For one, it is pretty much just Jurassic Park, minus crazy dinosaurs and plus crazy knights. Crichton's ideas about time travel, though fresh, actually just confuse his book and in some ways contradict some aspects of the plot. Though portions of the book show off the really impressive research he must have done for the novel (namely, concerning jousting, clothing, and language), other areas slip into generic/uninspired views of 14th century France right out of a SCA meeting. Also, a few of the action sequences seem dropped in with a movie in mind, and don't fit at all - I mean c'mon, an insane giant green knight living under a waterfall and attacking anyone who comes by? Do we REALLY think that was a big problem in the mid ages? That sounds a lot more like fantasy than history. I think Crichton is a man who has fantastic ideas but only okay writing skills, and often it is his ideas that carry his books - not the writing or characters (though a few in this latest one are more memorable that in the JP series). Timeline is a lot of fun, and has some genuinely great moments - but overall, it's just an okay book.
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Summary: dont waste your time
Review: I like fiction - but this was pure nonsense
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Summary: if you like this book....
Review: This book had an interesting concept, and was nicely executed. However, if you like the dual time line, there's another book you should read. It's by a relatively unknown author, Ann Benson, but it was very good, much better than "Timeline." The name of the book is "The Plague Tales." I have to say that in "TimeLine" the characterization was a little weak. In "Plague Tales" it's much better, more in-depth. I love Adele! I just thought it was so much better than "Timeline" so if you bothered to read "Timeline" you should definitely read "The Plague Tales."
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Summary: One of Crichton's Best
Review: Crichton is such a master of blending science, history, and fantasy into such a rich tapestry, that it's hard to distinguish what is real and what is fancy. I found some of the science hard to follow, especially since the scientists in the book refer to the tramsmission to another universe as akin to sending a fax. I thought that was a bad analogy given that when a fax is sent, the original document remains at the point of origin, and is not sent over the wires. But don't let a bad analogy keep you from this book. The book brings fourteenth century Europe to life so exquisitely, that you, indeed, are transplanted to Medieval France. Critchon describes the people living, working, fighting and, dying with great detail and color. From the cold sore on the sleeping soldier's lip to the lice crawling about the mad knight's beard to the stench of the market square, Crichton descriptions are telling without making one's eyes glaze over. The story itself is novel and the ending very powerful and sweet. It's amazing how a good author can stir one's mind into seeing and feeling all that the characters see and feel. I probably will never get to visit modern day France, but after reading this book, I feel as if I have lived in fourteenth century France and witnessed all its beauty, brutality, and wonder.
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Summary: I Just Finished the Book in Another Universe According to MC
Review: This is a masterful book full of suspense and action. Crichton's wonderful skill of integrating side by side the past and the present is astounding. I finished the book in 2 days and never once, did the material become superfluous, trite, and boring. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who loves Michael Crichton (MC) or any reader who hasn't read any of MC's books. This takes the place of his best book, Jurrassic Park easily. Even though I have and read all of MC's books, I have never read anything as good as Timeline. Read this book, it's worth the effort and time!
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Summary: Another great work from a great author
Review: This book was terrificly done. Crichton blends facts in with fiction magnificently, and keeps the reader guessing on what will come next. His multi-story format, with the group of people in the present and the group in the past, keeps the book fresh. This is a fantastic adventure, better than any work of his I have read in the past. If you like the author, you will not go wrong with this book.
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Summary: The Lost World meets Joan of Arc
Review: I guess Crichton is now into screenplays, instead of novels. Although the reserach and technical part of the book is very good, the development of the story in the past is just another Lost World episode, where people are chased all over the place. His earlier novels (inlcuding Jurassic Park) had a great combination of action and science. This book is great in very good in the science and theory, but the adventure, is just another dumb screenplay of wild geese being chased.
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Summary: This book is a fun read
Review: I couldn't put this book down. It's a great read
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Summary: Been Done Better and can you say plagerism?
Review: Other than the nonsensical techno-babble about Quantam Physics, this is very familiar stuff if you have read Heinlein. Substitute an Android for Merek, and Ancient Gaul and the Romans for Middle Ages France and it is almost character for character and even gizmo for gizmo. Including the ear mounted communicator translator. And, the modern bad guy, who is romping around even badder back there. I don't think that Hollywood can make something even remotely watchable out of this turkey.
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