Timeline

Rating:
Summary: Back to the future
Review: Stirring up memories of "Jurassic Park", Michael Crichton's latest novel plunges us into the heart of medieval France and.....quantum physics. He uses the same formula that he has dabbled with in the past(with great success)-that of combining history with science and delivering an engaging, to-be-read-in-one-sitting book. The book, like medieval France, is not flawless. It is, however, intriguing in its premise of time travel at a sub-atomic level. As usual, Crichton's prose is lean. He doesn't embellish his account with visually rich prose. One supposes that the film based on the book will lend the visual, visceral edge that underlies the book. Though there are parallels between Jurassic Park and Timeline, the books stand apart as imaginative accounts by a writer who likes to think and, in turn, makes the reader think of the immense possibilities that the future holds. With this book, Crichton has taken a step forward, by taking a step back.

Rating:
Summary: Very disappointing
Review: I am still waiting for Michael to include a death scene involving Elmo, Ricky Martin, and Rosie O'Donnell in one of his books...and I thought this would be the one.

Rating:
Summary: Crichton does it again.
Review: TIMELINE is outstanding, Crichton tells a story that brings together all the elements that made his thrillers so good. With wonderful characters and a fabulous storyline you will be unable to put the book down. Order it now sit down and enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Burn This Noval
Review: This book is as fictional as it gets. It's time for people to live in the real world and stop thinking about things that will never happen in our life time. Burn It.

Rating:
Summary: Totally absorbing and engaging....a Good Adventure
Review: Michael Crichton has created another adventure masterpiece. With the success of pictures like the Matrix, one can see this book being made into a movie in no time. I purchased the book yesterday and finished it this afternoon. A very good adventure, totally absorbing and yet it provided an insight into an era of history I had never paid much attention to. I extremely enjoyed the manner in which Crichton weaves Quantum Mechanical concepts with the "Fictional" possibility of time travel. Jules Verne, Arthur C. Clarke, Robert Heinlien and Edgar Rice Burroughs all rolled into one.

Rating:
Summary: A disappointing mix of science and violence
Review: Michael Crichton takes the "what if" genre very seriously and he deserves admiration for challenging readers. He does a lot of research, and his creations are often rooted in modern, cutting edge science. The science in "Timeline" is a complicated combo of quantum physics and parallel computing. Crichton understands this stuff, but the average reader will feel about six college degrees of separation from it. "Timeline" is filled with weak dialogue and vellum-thin characters. I couldn't help feeling that Crichton decided to let a screenwriter flesh out the characters. (He's already signed a landmark movie deal for "Timeline.") The most interesting character is medieval historian Andre Marek, a slab of Mensa beefcake with a jones for jousting. But, as interesting as he might be, his fate is highly predictable. The violent, medieval action takes place during a war that actually happened, but repetition and predictability ultimately drain the thrills. Marek and company run around castles and mix it up with knights, get separated and reteam, get thrown into dank cells and then escape. Meanwhile, the cast of British and French medieval characters spend most of the book scheming and yelling. The book's main modern-day villian receives a punishment that actually makes the heroes look bad. Crichton has a great track record (I'm still a big fan of "The Great Train Robbery"), but "Timeline" is about satisfying as watching armor rust.

Rating:
Summary: The clock is ticking, hearts are racing...Briliant!
Review: You won't put this one down until the very last page, and then start from scratch again to see what you have missed. Brilliantly set in the 14th century (castles, horses and knights) and the close of the 20th this novel just show us that we don't know everything, and maybe never will. The best is yet to come. An excellent read! "The glory of the past is an illusion. So is the glory of the present." Edward Johnston - TIMELINE

Rating:
Summary: Even though I've yet to read it, I really loved this book!
Review: Michael Crichton is one of the most entertaining popular authors out there. His novels are always highly engaging, and this one proves to be no disappointment. What can I say? Sparkling prose, taut pacing, witty dialogue and divinely imaginative plotting... I just hope that I still like the book this much after I've read it.

Rating:
Summary: No me lo banco mas
Review: compren este libro por el amor de Dio

Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: With the second millennium ending, visionaries greet the future with awe, wonderment, and hope. One such being, Robert Peniger the CEO of ITC introduces a quantum mechanics based technology that opens a doorway into the past. Theorists believe that there are multiple earths existing along the time-space continuum with each containing its own past. With his new prototype, Robert believes he can control the doorway to our own history.

On a dig in France sponsored by ITC, students stumble upon strong evidence that their leader Professor Johnston is living in the mid fifteen century. An ITC official invites the students to go back in time to bring the professor home. Three of the history majors agree. However, their mission is nothing like the piece of cake they anticipated. Instead, they fight to stay alive in a culture radically different than the technology loaded era they know.

Based on scientific theory, Michael Crichton combines a thriller with a work of historical fiction. This unusual mix blends into a fabulous novel. Medieval France is brought to life (through the eyes of late twenty-century visitors) in minute detail. The two subplots are exciting and cleverly blended into a great story line. TIME LINE is innovative thought provoking, and entertaining. Mr. Crichton proves he is not a dinosaur, as readers will have no strain staying up all night reading this terrific tale in one sitting.

Harriet Klausner