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: reads like a movie script
Review: This book reads like a movie script. Coincidence? I think not! I have studied quantum physics quite a bit, which is what led me to this book, but the physics the author describes belongs to a different universe or something because I've never heard of them. For example: It is revealed that these characters dont actually travel back in time - they travel to an alternate universe. But they find an object that belonged to their time travelling professor when he lost it 600 years before. I would think that if he was in an alternate universe, noone would find this object, because it wouldnt exist in this universe. Also: In the book, it is also revealed that time paraoxes dont exist. (where's the fun in that?) But these people, when they travel back in time (or whatever) they're not allowed to carry any modern equipment with them. In fear that they might interfere with the culture or alter history or something - I forget which. This book is so contradictory to itself that I lost track.In summary, I'll say that I cared not for any of these characters... The quantum physics in this book are WRONG... And with the removal of time paradox theories, the story was just plain boring. I hope the movie is better. It almost has to be.
Rating: 
Summary: A Great Book!
Review: This is a really cool book about the concept of time travel but giving it a whole new twist with the whole idea of paradoxes as opposed to just the usual time travel that most movies or shows portray. In this book, the teacher of a quantum technology class is transported back to the year 1357 during a war in medievel France because of a malfunction in the time machine and several of his students are taken with him. Now they have to fight their way through medievel wars, shining armor, and clashing swords to get back home to their proper timeline but it's nowhere near as easy as it is hoped. This is a fascinating book that deserves a good hard read. It's a pity that they wasted their chance of making a great movie out of this with the awful big screen adaptation which was a big dissapointment for me.
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: 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.
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