Rating: 
Summary: Great Medieval History - Fast Paced Story!
Review: Typical of Michael Crichton books, I could not put this book down once I started it! I love medieval history and sword fighting, so naturally I was drawn toward this book. What made is great for me is that I helped teach archeology labs in college and am a social scientist/researcher. I wasn't looking for detail on how the team excavated the site, but it was nice to see they didn't go too far off of they way it should be done. The story is about as bloody as medieval times really were, but it's not so bloody that it would turn anyone off. Just expect a realistic historical story. The best part of this book is the ending! It's great and very unexpected. I can't wait to see how they turn this into a movie. I hope they don't butcher it too much, although I can already see just from the trailers that they have added a bit, no doubt for dramatic purposes. Lastly, I do agree that there are a few holes in the story, but I didn't let myself get too bogged down with them. I agree with one of the other reviewers about Crichton never resolving the paradox issue or the multiuniverse/past issue, but they don't really need to be resolved for the story to work. If you are interested in medieval times or a good fast-paced story this is the novel for you. The only question is, should you read it before you see the movie or after?
Rating: 
Summary: Engaging and Fun
Review: I've been quite disappointed with the reviews I've read about this book. I found it to be a very enjoyable read, and have recommended it to friends. It is fast-paced and interesting throughout. The complaint I keep seeing is about Crichton's explanation of the "science" behind the "time-travel". Is it far-fetched? Yes. But those that haven't enjoyed this explanation certainly never understood what he was describing. It is not a simple concept even when it is presented simply (i.e. "Back to the Future"). Timeline's explanation is more complex and really does take some time to sink in, but it does make sense. The pervasive fear of the unknown in the 14th century is further enhanced by this unfamiliar science. Great sci-fi, and you'll leave with a new appreciation of the past.
Rating: 
Summary: Screenplay in novel format
Review: This is Crichton's application of the Jurassic Park formula in the field of quantum physics and time travel, instead of dinosaur creation. A corporation discovers a stunning new technology, a group of characters gets trapped in the universe opened by technology (where they are both strangers and prey), and adventure ensues as they try to escape. For those who enjoy this sort of thing (high on tension, pace and detail--in this case more historical than scientific--and low on characterization and 'literary'/remarkable prose), this is one to enjoy. For others, it's a library loan at best. In a nutshell, the story concerns three graduate students who have been assisting their professor and mentor with an excavation in France. The group comes to believe that, somehow, the corporation has more information about the dig site than they do. The professor returns to the U.S. to meet with the Machiavellian CEO, and the students don't hear from him again ... until they uncover a 600-year-old parchment with the words "HELP ME." The pace then kicks into overdrive as the students learn their mentor has been transported into 14th century France and that they must travel back to rescue him. How many of them will return home, if any? Keep turning pages to find out. Some criticisms now, and spoilers: * The overall premise is horribly flawed. It's explained that the technology is not really time travel at all, but transportation into another of endless, alternate universes (since quantum theory posits a 'multiverse'). Fine, but if the professor is sent into the past of _another_ universe, then how can his handwritten message reach the students in _this_ one? (And the whole application of the technology, it's explained, is to enable an 'authentic' recreation of the past; but how can it be 'authentic' if its the past of another world?)
* There is far too much action once the students arrive in the alternate past. As soon as they arrive, they're attacked ... apparently so that they can be separated and problems can develop. Then it's like all the author's research about jousting, swordplay, siege, etc. (which does look very thorough) had to be crammed into their 37-hour stay. (They can only stay 37 hours; the chapter-headings are in countdown format.) For example, it seems that the female student, an architecture specialist, has to be chased into ceilings and rooftops so that the author and she can demonstrate their knowledge of medieval roof construction. (Again, this assumes the roofs of this alternate world were identical to our own.)
* The takedown of the 'heartless CEO' is simply over the top and cruel. Instead of calling the cops or having the board vote him out, the 'good' executive transports him back to a village decimated by the Black Plague--in essence, murders him. I think we're supposed to feel a sense of poetic justice. Unfortunately, my sense was more of disgust. If you're a fan of Crichton or time travel books, you'll probably enjoy this one and can knock it out in a weekend or long plane ride. If not, you may want to see if the upcoming movie draws good reviews and go with that instead (or not), as the novel, with its pace and constant action, looks like it's always been a screenplay waiting to happen. Three stars.
Rating: 
Summary: I Weep For The Future
Review: This was the first Michael Crichton novel I've read. It will be the last. The man cannot write a well-written phrase to save his life. His characterizations are blander than store-brand generic chicken soup. I just love how all the main characters are never much older than 30--so as to fit the desired demographics for movie casting. There was hardly a single distinguishable character with a unique personality in this entire, flavorless book. The cookie-cutter got quite a workout on this one. Here I was naively believing that an author who has had as much acclaim and success as Crichton surely must be able to wordcraft with at least a reasonable level of competence. No such luck.
Rating:
Summary: Sure, there's a few cracks in the plot...
Review: but this book is great fun and moves along a quick pace. I think I've read everything that Michael Crichton has written and I've got to say that the man's got a great imagination! In "Timeline", he gets to show off that great imagination (while taking a few moments of "poetic license" to make the plot work. Crichton fans who enjoyed "Andromeda Strain" and the movie "Westworld" (Crichton did the screenplay) will certainly enjoy this book. Without rehashing the plot (ethically-challenged billionaire businessman creates device that allows for time travel which has to be used by his team of scientists to rescue an earlier time-traveller), let me suffice to say that this book does not lack for action. The pace is terrific and there's plenty of great visualizations that Crichton provides of Medieval Europe. Check out the bibliography at the end of the book to get a sense of the research that Crichton put into this novel to make it realistic for the reader. Fantastic! As some of the earlier reviewers pointed out, this book does "read" like a screenplay. So? It's great action and and allows the reader to feel like he or she is really there in the 1300's. I found myself so totally engrossed during parts of the book that I flew through it. And you will too if you are a Crichton fan. So grab a copy of the book before the movie comes out and make your own decision. Either way, you'll find "Timeline" and enjoyable experience and some great escapism! RECOMMENDED
Rating:
Summary: Mix-Up
Review: Michael Crichton must have had two subjects on his mind when he wrote this book:
First,describing futuristic time travel,portraying modern-days crossovers between economic interests and scientific progress
Second,describing the modern vision the historians have of the middle ages,bringing Central Europe of the 14th to life.
The problem,of course,is that in trying to keep up with both of his goals,he fails in both.
His description of the start-up scientific firm,headed by nerd-turned-maniac CEO Dollinger,ubicated where this highly suspicious firms always are:In the middle of the desert. There they design a time-travel-machine,by merely extending the concept of the medical MRI-Imaging technology. Surprisingly the chapters dedicated to this,are the strongest ones in the book. His ideas of sending people through time,encoded in computers,like sending a fax through a telephone line,is interesting and by using the popular argument that present-day technolgy was also labeled impossible a hundred years ago,he protects it from possible objections. Scientific fantasies are infinite,the conceptions of a author living in this world in the year 2000 nevertheless aren`t and thats where he falls in the trap so many science fiction authors fall;trying to describe an utopia they end up describing nothing more than the world and the society they presently live in. A couple of years ago the gene-ideas a little before that the computers-taking-over-ideas and,roughly 50 years ago the we-will-build-space-ships-and-colonise-Mars-visions. The author can be conscious of this problem and say to himself,what the heck,I will just write a good little story within this setting.Crichton however does not,rather sticking to cliches:The CEO-scientist,mentioned previously,who gets billions of investments for his firm and who now has to show some results. Then the sad scientist,who lost his wife and is found in the desert in the first chapter,half dead,after having maverickingly used the time machine,probably out of melancholy. And the bunch of historians who all go back in time at last being able to do they historic studies hands on,beating easily all this old-fashioned ones who spend their times in libraries reading stupid,dusty old sources.
And thats where we come to the second of his goals,the middle ages:As the author mentions in the Epilogue the ideas of the middle ages have changed in the past years:It can`t have been as bad as the words "Dark Ages" seem to imply. It wasn`t raining all the time,but the sun shone and the maidens were pretty and the men brave. On the other hand there is the danger of portraying the middle ages with knights in shining armor and virgins awaiting them in their tower. Crichton tries to avoid this by giving them rather bad traits:bloodthirsty,smelly and treacherous. The problem is that,when reading the book,you notice the author trying just to keep that balance. He obviously can`t make them mix up with this strange world,so they rather live the lifes of observers. From a historians point of view,this might have made the book interesting,for the broad public however it might get rather boring,so he comes up with lots of action,raining arrows,explosions and so on,which are without connection to the world he describes. He could have as well described a Second-World-War-battle,changed the details a little and nobody would have noticed the difference. In the heat of the action the heroes are not only getting involved in a big battle for a castle,they also constantly have to fight the clock on their time machine,which limits the time they have in the 14th century. It all cumulates of course in a photo-finish and wether the heroes make it back safe to their modern-day desks and laptop computers surely isn`t the big question that keeps you reading.
Rating:
Summary: About Par for Crichton
Review: I read this book a couple of years ago, soon after it came out in paperback. I have read many of Crichton's other works and have liked most of them. This book is no exception. The plot is fast moving and it has plenty of action and excitement (i.e. people getting chased, violent deaths, etc). Herein lies the main pitfall of the book, a pitfall I might note that Crichton seems to get sucked into a lot in his later books: It feels like the book is being written with the sole purpose of being made into a movie. I know I'm not the first to say this (and undoubtedly not the last), but I felt that it needs to be said again. That is the main pitfall of the book. Now here's the way I feel about it: I don't care! The book was a thoroughly entertaining read. Crichton's science hovers on the implausible...but it doesn't matter...after having read the book I REALLY wanted to believe that someone out there was working on a way to send us all back in time as the world's greatest amusement ride. I kept thinking...where would I go? To see the dinosaurs? Watch the rise of the Pyramids on the Giza Plateau? We all have some TIME we'd like to visit. This is what was a pleasure about this book...it's pure fantasy...leaving you with just a hint of "Maybe that could happen....." There is one more thing I forgot to mention: After I finished this book, I didn't care whether or not Crichton had written it as a proto-screenplay or not...in fact, I was kind of hoping he had, because that would greatly increase the chance of a sequel being written...something I'm definitely looking forward to.
Rating:
Summary: Such a Disappointment
Review: Creighton has a good premise and writes well. I couldn't put the book down due the the suspensful writing, and the extremely well written premise of travelling back in time. He had many interesting and fascinating plot angles and twists which could have made it a really great book. However, 3 things really ruined the book for me: - The initial scenes of a man in the desert had nothing at all to do with any parts of the plot later. Not one single thing. In fact, the story is based on the fact that a returning time traveller can only come back to the machines, not appear in the desert as the man does in the opening of the book. That is the most blatant disconnect I've read in a decade. - The book is filled with grand fights and amazing escapes by the main characters. They just go on and on and on, and they get old and boring by half way through the book. Creighton would have done well by appealing to our intelligence through and interesting plot rather than yet another fight that other wise doesn't contribute to the plot line. - Finally, the characters just constantly do ridiculously stupid things here and there through out the book. One would think that the individuals undertaking this adventure would have half a brain. I've had this problem with other Creighton books. Andy
Rating:
Summary: An enjoyable read, but lacking.
Review: One reviewer commented on how it was a GREAT book and those who didn't like it, were only LOOKING for faults. Well, I have to say, I came into this book with no expectations, and still found it lacking. It does have some great action, good characters and is overall an enjoyable read. But is it GREAT? Definitably not. I finished the book with a "so-so" feeling. It really reminded me of the superficiality of a movie. It was a great idea and had a lot of good content. There were many times in this book I COULD NOT put it down. I mean I read 350pgs of it in one sitting. It is action packed,and suspenseful. But the sappy ending just reminded me of Hollywood. It is somewhat lacking emotion, and definitely lacking reality. It's not a bad book, but there are many others I would recommend over it.
Rating:
Summary: Great history lesson
Review: As much as I enjoy the time travel type of genre, I've always griped that I've yet to read one that makes sense and has all the loose ends taken care of. When I had heard the Michael Crichton was writing a time-travel book I thought, "Yes, finally, somebody who is doing to do it right!" However, in my opinion, he fell short of expectations. For one, his multi-universe theory didn't really add up. For instance, his theory was that it worked like a fax machine. Except his reasoning behind not needing a fas machine on the other end was too unrealistic. It seemed like he was taking the easy way out. Also, I disliked his reasoning to why no paradoxes exist in time travel. Again, it was the easy way out. However, in the back of the book is nearly four and a half pages of books he read to research 14th century england. The background information he had was incredible. It really made me believe that what he was describing really took place back then. I started wondering if he had built some multi-universal time traveling device to tidy up the rough spots in the book. I`ve really got to hand it to him on such a thorough description of life in those times. Would I recommend this book? Oh, yes, highly. I`m looking forward to the movie that comes out soon on it. I hope the director paid as much attention to the details of that timeframe as Crichton did.
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