Rating: 
Summary: Like reading a script, minus the dialogue.
Review: Although the plot was interesting (even though it was merely a Jurasic Park), the writing, character development, etc. was lacking considerably. Why, oh why, couldn't Crichton have populated the story with three dimensional characters that one could enjoy following? All of the characters could easily have been replaced by Good Guy 1, Good Guy 2, Bad Guy 1, and Bad Guy 2, and NO harm would have come to the story--that's how underdeveloped they were! As for the writing, there are ways to begin dialogue other than to type He said, "..." And what about atmosphere, tangible descriptions, etc? In short, the book had a good concept but unfortunatey seemed to have been written merely as the forethought to a script.
Rating: 
Summary: Doesn't out-do Sphere, but comes pretty darn close!
Review: Despite a couple logic errors in the storyline (which I can't tell, because that would reveal some of the plot), Crichton's latest book is a runaway hit! There wasn't a moment where there wasn't something exciting happening! From the bloody battles to the thrilling chase scenes, Crichton fans will not be disappointed in this new action-packed thriller! A must for all Crichton and medieval novel fans!
Rating:
Summary: Michael, what happened?
Review: Mr Crichton is one of my very favorite authors and so i will forgive him this one. Initially i thought i was digging into yet another of his brilliant visions, but alas, it was not to be. Perhaps he was distracted. Even the scientific premise was fatally flawed. Messages planted in a parallel universe would show up only in THAT future, not ours. Ah well, no one's perfect.. and at least now i have an idea of what quantum theory is about.
Rating: 
Summary: Gripping Fusion of Science Fiction and Historical Novel
Review: Once again, Michael Crichton has successfully created a world where the latest scientific theories are exposed to the realities of their use. This time, however, the story he creates is gripping throughout, with a plot that holds the reader to the last page.The success of the novel is based upon a well-researched understanding of quantum mechanics in conjunction with a well-researched historical analysis of a period (14th Century) and location (France). The physics is plausible, considering the latest discoveries in quantum mechanics, and the historical elements are clearly built from extensive study (just see the bibliography). But this package of history and science is put together with a rollercoaster narrative where the reader finds themselves laughing at one moment, and biting their nails at the next. My only criticism is that the depth of the bad guy's character could have been developed further. It has been some time since a novel has commanded my attention so fully, and I have already recommended the book to several friends who have been equally enthusiastic.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful! fabulous! Exciting! Suspenseful! Great! Audacious
Review: It was a great book. It was extremely suspenseful and kept me reading the whole night. I just couldn't put the book down. Imagine: I read this 449 page book in two days. Non-stop! Read it. Read it. READ IT!
Rating:
Summary: My most favorite of Michael Crichtons books
Review: I think this is one of Crichtons best books. The book put me there! Period! Whether it be the technologic offices or the green forests in a counrty side of mediaeval europe. I was actually there, I was fully educated, and I wanted to be a part of the book and go back in time just for the time that the protaginosts were. And in a sense I really felt like it. The protagonists were pushed to their physical and mental limits and the illustration of this therein painted how rough a time it was to survive in. I loved the politics, the battles, the history of it all. The individuals that did best were the ones who were both strong of heart, mind and body and that was how our protagonists were created. The writer clearly paints how brutal it is to kill a man with a sharp weapon. It can get pretty gruesom in my opinoin. It should be told in a way so you can appreciate the evil, or courage, when going into a battle and being force to face a horrible task such as killing someone.
Rating:
Summary: Timeline, very good but not exceptional
Review: Timeline keeps your interest but doesn't go the extra distance to make it an exceptional book. One is fascinated with time travel and the implications of going into the past. You get this with the development of a time travel machine from a powerful and devious scientist. However, after being set up we want to get into the details which are mundane. There is no real development of characters and subplots, such as a love story or mano a mano showdown between good and evil. Yes there is some fighting and some allusion to romance but it is rather light. For instance, this period of the early 1300s saw the superiority of the longbow versus the crossbow (Battle of Crecy) in battle. Also, the Arabs developed in 1304 the first arrow shooting device by gunpowder.That would have been a good concept to exploit. We get no flavor of this but get the usual joust story in the book which is OK but lame. Love story? Forget it. No one really cares about the characters..who loves, dies, lives. At the end, there is a hint but for a book this should have been fleshed out. Still, the concept is good and there are some curve balls to keep you guessing. There are also allusions that this period of the early 1300s were not the dark ages that we were taught. We get a flavor but not enough substance other than being told that the fabrics had nice colors. A TV movie is about the speed of this book versus earthbreaking grounds like the book, Coma. Buy the paperback for the long flight as it more than satisfies "chewing gum for the eyes and brain".
Rating: 
Summary: Dull, boring, uninteresting
Review: I found Timeline to be a very stupid book. I wanted to read it to learn more about theory of time travel using quantum physics in easy-to-read and entertaining language. However, the whole time travel aspect is just glossed over. Time travel is simply the means of justify putting the characters in a time and place where, presumably, every other person got their head lobbed off. The book started out with a promise of being a sleek science fiction thriller but by the time I was halfway through it I realized it was just boring, violent tripe. The characters are dull, Dull, DULL! Plots and characters appear and then never develop. There's no suspense at all because whatever terrible obstacles arise the protagonists always just overcome them without seemingly much effort. Unfortunately I'm one of those that just HAS to finish a book once they've started so I actually wasted my time reading all 400+ pages. (Although I have to admit by the end I was just skimming.) The only thing that kept me going were the few (very few) interesting details about how life differed in the 13th century. (Although I really question how well researched and accurate the presentation of life back then was.) If they make this into a movie like they do EVERY Michael Crichton book I will avoid it at ALL COSTS! However, this might make a good bathroom book because surely it is a good substitute for bran muffins. You can just tear out the pages as you read and need them.
Rating:
Summary: Not a good one!
Review: I am sorry - I tried reading this one but found it was awful! Storyline started off great but by the middle of the book I had had enough! Very disappointing cause I think Michael Crichton could have done so much better!
Rating:
Summary: Great page turner
Review: One of the few books of fiction that both my husband and I read and we both liked. No boring sections either. There is always something happening and it keeps you wanting to turn the page. The characters could have used a little more development and parts were rather predictable but I didn't even care. Enjoyable read!
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