Rating: 
Summary: Not too great
Review: I can't usually put down Michael Crichton books. Jurassic Park, Sphere, Congo are all brilliant. I'm always amazed at the way in which he can make any subject interesting - see Airframe for a gripping story about aircraft wings. But this is a massive disappointment, mainly I think because Crichton isn't very good at doing this with history. Other people have written that they found this gripping stuff; I respect their opinion but honestly can't see it. His historical world seems to be more a ploy for the contemporary one than an era in its own right. Admittedly there are some memorable bits, mostly on the physical differences between the medieval and modern world. But the medieval characters seem either shallow or anachronistic, and I didn't get any sense of a real medieval world. The plot wore thin after a while; every segment seemed to end with them turning and running away. And it was a bit ironic to me that the (admirable) moral seemed to be that history is not a marketable product, when the book itself doesn't display much respect at all for the medieval world.
The two stars I've given Timeline are for the beginning of the book. Roughly the first third is as enthralling as any other Crichton book, as he lays the basis of the plot. When it comes to science, no one does it better. He can make the most obscure concepts exciting - in this novel it's quantum computers, a phrase which has always before caused me to tune out. But I think he should stick to science and the contemporary world.Bottom line - I think this book is a neither a good Crichton novel nor a good historical novel. For the former see Jurassic Park or Sphere, for the latter see The Name of the Rose or An Instance of the Fingerpost. But I recommend not bothering too much about this.
Rating: 
Summary: Buy the book, then see the movie!
Review: I haven't yet seen the movie, but I can tell from the commercials that it is quite different from the book. Considering how long the book is, I was amazed to hear that it was going to become a movie. However, the commercials indicate far more than abbreviation - they indicate major plot changes. This is why I recommend you read it first. I am not generally a big fan of long novels, but this is an exception. _Timeline_ is one of those books that is nearly impossible to put down once you being reading. Written in the typical Crichton style with believeable characters (despite his typical extra-fictional storyline), this is one of those books you get caught up in, as if you are a part of it yourself. I hope the movie doesn't destroy the story.
Rating: 
Summary: It's Crichton so it can't be bad...
Review: Timeline is an adventure story through and through. There is no deep philosophical plot, no super mystery to solve, just straight forward action/adventure for the most part. This is both good and bad for the book. Like all Crichton novels (especially his sci-fi) novels, a good portion of the book is spent educating you on the way things work. Fortunately, he's such a skillful writer that you don't mind. In fact, he'll keep you turning pages almost as fast as during the action. In this book, Crichton a unique spin on the whole time-travel idea that successfully removes the problem all other stories of this type have; the paradox. Unfortunately for some, the book isn't so much about time travel nor the actual time the characters end up going to, though Crichton devotes plenty of time about both. It all really ends up being a backdrop for the characters to have an adventure. But fortunately for the reader, it's an exciting one if a bit shallow. One can't help but notice how the book seems to have been written with the intent on being transfered to a screenplay. The structure is extremely cinematic, and hopefully that will mean the upcoming film will be more faithful than most Crichton adaptations especially since this story is so similar to Crichton's most famous work; Jurassic Park (with knights instead of dinosaurs). All in all, I enjoyed the book and it kept me turning pages quickly. The end is less climactic than you may have come to expect from a Crichton novel, but about on par with any good action flick (ie Die Hard, etc..)
Rating:
Summary: A History lesson inside a wonderful novel
Review: In one word, Wonderful. I was attached from page one until the very last page. I am a Medieval studies major in college and found that Crichton was able to give a very good history lesson in this book, right down to the Old/Middle english spoken by the characters of the time.
The book starts with a group of college students excavating a medieval church when their professer dissappears. After a few days of him gone a note is found deep in the ancient church with the words "Help Me". The writing is in their teachers handwriting. This is just the beginning. Soon these college kids and Medieval lovers get plunged into a world the think they know about but find that they are way off. Dont pass this book up. I recommend it for anyone that is even remotly interested in the Middle Ages time period.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT!
Review: This book has great plot, ending, and so much on the Middle Ages! So packed and flowed so good, I had no hard time stopping myself from destroying this book. It has a good reason for time travel and an emotional ending. Yes, like all good books, the bad guy gets the bad treatment.
Just Perfect! and some good humor is included.
Rating:
Summary: Impressive writting and knowledge packing into this book
Review: Crichton has magnificently interweaved all aspcets of fiction, world history, and science into this brilliant book. I was very impressed by the way that he fit everything together and actually had all of it make sense. Even though it is partly science fiction, it was easily accepted as a possible reality. He amazingly explained complex ideas in simple ways.
I am definitely recommending this book to others, because its just incredible.
Rating:
Summary: Timeline
Review: This is one of the best books I've read. It's fast paced and vastly entertaining. I couldn't put this book down until I finished it and then I wanted to read it again!
Rating:
Summary: Timeline
Review: Timeline is a heart pounding novel and is really good. We read it for school and once i got through the boring pages of every novel (up to 150) I couldn't put the novel down. That ranks among one of my favorite books of all time.
Rating:
Summary: Timeline.
Review: Bravo. Fast-paced book with LOTS of action. Couldn't put the book down for a second. I learned so much from Crichton's books it is astonishing. But, I learned the most about Mid-evil times, nights, abbots, and SCIENCE as I recall.
Like most of Crichton's books it is slow at the start. Bunch of "interesting" science facts in the beginning as well. If I remember correctly(I read this book a couple of years ago) it bursts out of control with action at around page 200. As I recall it starts out, with a man in a desert, pretty much dead. They find that his blood vessels, veins and such, are not connected in his fingertips. This is where all the science comes in with all the time machine facts and such. But anyway later on in the book the "gang" goes back in time and immediately finds out how hard it is going to be to survive, and yet even make it back home with the conditions they are under. Yet, I cannot tell you anymore, for you have to read for yourself! [five] stars. And I'm not easily impressed either. haha.
Rating:
Summary: A Crichton book that I truely loved
Review: I run hot and cold on Michael Crichton. Many of his novels spend so much time with the technology of the story that I feel I'd be better off reading a college text. But this one does not fall in that category. It could be in part that I'm a big historical novel fan and the time travel to France in the middle ages just really caught my attention. He has spent as much time and attention explaining what life was like as he often does explaining some arcane theory. Now I don't know if his depiction is accurate and quite honestly, I don't care because it sounds believable and is a great read. For those of you who read his novels for the technology, it's still there. Although I don't pretend to understand the technology behind this theory of time travel, it adds that aura of science that Crichton has become famous for.
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