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Summary: In the Interest of Quantum Science
Review: When the nineteenth century came to a close, many scientists believed that nothing more could be accomplished in science. If you told them of all the discoveries they would make, many claims would seem unbelievable and would be dismissed. But many more things were invented since then. X-Rays were possible, moving images would be transmitted from satellites, bombs of unthinkable measure would wipe out entire cities at once, and vaccines would be created for viruses but the disease would fight back. But here we are once again, at the end of the 20th century, the scientists may still believe that there isn't much more to discover but they no longer say so. But a company called ITC discovered new breakthroughs in quantum technology. The company has been trying to keep this technology a secret, and so far it has been. ITC has been able to transfer a person from one universe to another. There are an infinite number of universes (according to the book) and they were able to transfer objects (including people) into different universes and in different time periods. If this technological development gets released to the public, then people will try to put an end to the company. This story has a group of four people that must rescue a missing professor, but apparently some details are being kept from them. The team of four has 37 hours to retrieve the professor, and along the way they encounter squires and knights. It sounds simple enough, until 10 minutes later, and the team ends up stranded. Now, they can no longer call back their transport machines, they don't know where the professor is, and a band of knights are after the team. Meanwhile, the professor has a reputation as some kind of a wizard. The mission is more complex now...and the clock is ticking. I like this book because it deals with universe hopping, but universe hopping is almost like time traveling. I like the way this book deals with advanced computers, with knights from medieval times, and how the people of today find recognizable items from today that belong in the current time period, but they can be dated back to the 1300's.
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Summary: Readers looking for cheap thrills beware...
Review: I am a fifteen year old...and I absolutely love Crichton's work. Tilmline is not his best piece but I still loved it. His attention to detail is astounding, and the time he spends researching is quite amazing. Do not read this if you do not have time to ponder over the amazing detail he brings to life in this book. I feel whenever I read one of his books that I learn somthing. He is very up to date in all of his books, the theories and questions that are brought up is his stories are well thought out and researched. Read this book!
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Summary: A Time Travel Masterpiece!
Review: Michael Crichton's writing was foreign to me until 'Timeline.' He kept me on the edge of my seat whether it was at home, in a cab or while I was flying...I could not wait to get to the next page of this adventure set centuries ago in France. He wraps it up with an ending that gives the reader closure with contentment. I have given this book as a gift in the recent past, I recommend it that much. Looking for a great adventure in time travel? You found it with "Timeline."
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Summary: Crichton does it again
Review: Timeline is an intense race against the clock. It is suspenseful and thilling. It is plotted well enough and the pace is blistering. What this book is not, is literature. Moreover, anyone who reads a Michael Crichton book expecting literature needs to fault themselves and not the writer. In this soon-to-be movie (one can only hope) a rag tag team of archeologists visit the 14th century in hopes of saving one of their own, who is unexpectedly trapped in the Middle Ages. Unfortunately, they only have 37 hours to locate and rescue him. If books about time travel or the Middle Ages interest you, be sure not to miss Timeline.
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Summary: Best book I have read since Jurasic Park
Review: I absolutely loved this book!!! It is a page turner from the very begginning. Michael Crichton proves he is a master story-teller. While most other authors rely on the same topic or characters (ala Grisham and Clancy), he can tell a story about bringing dinosaurs to the present or us to the past. Full of action and plot twists and turns, every reader will love this book. Just when you think you have it figured out, you turn the page and realize you don't. In the end, I had the same feeling about me that I had when I was young and Christmas had just ended. I was actually sadden by the thought that I finished this book.
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Summary: Absolute page-turner
Review: First, let me say I read this 450 page book in about 8 hours over 2 days. I could not put it down. It was a great read; at times fast-paced, at others smooth and developing more slowly, but always keeping your interest. As someone who is somewhat familiar with "Star Trek-like" science, the background about quantum physics and multi-dimensional travel did not give me pause. But I suspect that even among the sci-fi uninitiated, you will still find an engaging story with fleshed-out characters and much substance. For those who don't usually read science fiction or fantasy, don't pass this one up--this is not really a science fiction book, it is simply a good read.
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Summary: Fun to read
Review: In praise of Crichton's new book, I can say that it was fun to read, but not much else. It's very obvious from the writing that he did quite a bit of research into the Middle Ages, but there's very little that would be new information to anyone who's taken any European history course. The quantum theory he uses to justify what is essentially a form of time travel is based in fact, but fantastic descriptions littered with meaningless jargon place the process well outside the boundary of reality. The plot devices he uses are old and threadbare, and the characters are stereotypical to an absurd degree. He did keep the plot moving, however, and taken as nothing more than a typical action book, it was a decent read.
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Summary: I hate to use the cliche... but lighten up, everybody.
Review: Many of the reviewers have become quite worked up over what they perceive to be unpardonable errors of science on the part of Crichton. They should repeat this phrase a hundred times: "It's FICTION." Likewise, many got bent out of shape over various questions such as: How did the travellers get "reconstructed" at the other end? How did the professor's message cross universes? etc. A careful reading shows that most of these questions were answered by Crichton. You may consider his answers glib or unconvincing, but -- again -- it's FICTION. Like Jurassic Park, this book is really two stories: A fascinating quasi-scientific theory, well described by Crichton, and an action-adventure yarn. Of the two parts, I preferred the former. But the adventure part wasn't that bad, either. In summary, there's a lot to criticize about this book -- as there was with Jurassic Park. But both books are page-turners, pure and simple. (Now Airframe, on the other hand -- don't get me started!)
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Summary: What a ride!
Review: This was a fantastic book of travelling through time mixed with science. A must read!
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Summary: The Bibliography is great.
Review: The bibliography (a rare thing in modern fiction books!) is great. There is a wealth of historical and scientific books to research. I am not a Crichton fan, I bought and read this book because I am terribly medieval. As far as the medieval authenticity of the book, I think its very valid. Crichton writes with ease about a hisorical period that is often misunderstood. The character of Andre Marek, with his seemingly impossible knowledge of medieval times, is also the most endearing; and the end of the book will leave people wondering about him. In the acknowledgments, Crichton writes: "This is a novel: time travel rests firmly in the realm of fantasy." That being said, even fantasy science can be somewhat believable. I can wrap my mind around plausible, but only if I can follow what's being said. I couldn't follow, after awhile, the science of the novel. That led to me skipping a page here and there.
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