Rating: 
Summary: Pleasant page-burner
Review: Or in this case, mileage-burner, since I listened to the tapes during my usual 40-minute commute to and from work. A friend gave me the recording and I decided to try it. It consisted of four 2-hour tapes. I'd listened to short sci-fi stories on tape before but had never tried a full-length novel. The person reading the book does a good job of doing the different voices. It appears to have been "voiced" by a single actor/reader who does everything. It's not exactly like having a full-production with different actors but it was okay as is, as the person who did it is pretty good with the different voices. As a pleasant way to pass the time while driving in the car, you could do worse. The basic premise of the story is that you can use some properties of quantum particles to travel between different worlds made possible by these different quantum dimensions or properties. One of the scientist characters explains this is based on some speculation and/or research by Richard Feynman, the famous physicist and Nobel Laureate. I am a little out of date with my physics, but what I do recall is a little different from the way it was explained in the story. Feynman once showed mathematically that a positron could be explained as an electron moving backwards in time. This doesn't mean this is how it works out in reality--merely that there is no mathematical problem or contradiction in describing it this way. But back to the book. Whatever the real explanation is, Crichton uses this quantum time-travel gimmick to take you on a swashbuckling adventure back to the midst of the Hundred Years War in France, in the mid-1300's. This was a very dangerous time, where treachery and death seemed to lurk behind every castle or even monastery wall. An important professor has disappeared back into this time, and a rescue party is dispatched to retrieve him. One of the team is a modern archaeologist who is expert on the period and can even speak Middle English and French. He has waited his whole life for a chance like this, but even he gets more than he bargained for. I'm about 3/4 thru with the tapes so I don't know who it ends yet, but as a pleasant way to pass otherwise wasted commute time, this little historical thriller was better than most. No doubt it will be made into a movie.
Rating:
Summary: Very Exciting and Interesting
Review: This was the first Michael Crichton book I've read, and I can't wait to read another! I would recommend this book for anyone who is a fan or interested in Sci-Fi / History / Action. This action packed thriller kept me thinking all day about the advanced technology in this book and how maybe someday it could happen. Timeline was so interesting that I read it in a couple of days! I couldn't put it down! I have to warn some people though, if you are not familiar with some math or science, BEWARE, this book will make no sense to you.
Rating:
Summary: Timeline Summary and opinion
Review: Many novels have original sounding titles which draw attention and make a person want to read them, while many other novels have very unoriginal titles. I, for one, am attracted by the sound of certain titles of books and look forward to reading them. Timeline by Michael Crichton was an extremely original sounding title, and it appeared to have an extremely exciting plot. An exciting plot is also accompanied by many creative ideas. But, sometimes, novels that begin with exciting plots tend to fizzle out towards the middle of the story and taper off like a burnt candle at the end, leaving the reader very disappointed. In Timeline, an exciting adventure through time, a group of scientists must go back in time to help save a friend. In doing so, they encounter many problems relating to mediaeval times. Michael Crichton describes the adventures that befall this group of people in great detail using vivid language. However, on further reading, I found that there were too many problems that the group of scientists had to encounter and the solutions to these problems were very unrealistic and appeared to be based in fantasy. But, overall, the book made very enjoyable reading
Rating:
Summary: A Great Starting Point for a Series
Review: I agree with most reviewers that character development was sorely missing from the book. And, yes, it does read like a screen play more than a novel. Yet I still found myself fully enjoying the read and hoping that this is just a "jumping off" point for a series of books.
Rating:
Summary: Exciting and interesting
Review: I haven't read a MC book since Jurassic Park. I tried Congo and couldn't get into it, so I was a little wary of this one. I'm really glad I read it, though. It's definately a page-turner, and even with my busy schedule I finished it very quickly. It is full of history and fascinating new science, but the latter on a level that I could understand. The characters were, for the most part, great, but there could have been a little more development. I think a little character depth fell by the wayside for the sake of action and adventure. But that's really what the story is for, right? All and all, a great escape.
Rating: 
Summary: Fun ride, but no 'Jurassic Park'
Review: Many people had suggested I read this book, and my anticipation level was high. And why not? I mean, I love a good time-travel tale. Nothing in sci-fi beats the time honoured motif of the ironic paradoxes one usually pulls off going back in time. Look at 'Terminator', or even 'Back to the Future's. Of course, I expected far more than these cartoonish stories had to offer. Crichton has always delivered great stories, big adventures partnered with heavy science. And although 'Timeline' isn't a bad book, for me it's not what I was expecting. I was looking forward to all the quasi-realistic scientific jargon that Crichton always flavours his books with. The talk of actual cloning theories in 'Jurassic Park' really seasoned the otherwise fantastical elements with a tangebility, a feeling of "wow, this could be really happening!" In 'Timeline', all the time-travel theories are nothing more than a vehicle for getting the characters where the action happens. This altogether isn't a bad thing, but it all seemed kind of laboured. There is the requisite Crichton scene where the really intelligent character briefs the dumb main characters about the theories that'll be major plot-devices later in the story. Then it's off to the past on a wild medieval romp that reminded me more of 'Army of Darkness' then it did 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court'. The theories presented just didn't feel that credible. The debates about them in the book didn't argue a good point regarding their findings on time-travel. It's not that I let something like that bother me, but with Crichton I kind of expected more. Another problem was that not only is the book a time-travel adventure into the past, but a very typical time-travel adventure. Crichton's take on medieval culture isn't very novel. It's all very basic and stale. And the characters are one-dimensional cutouts, given their special talents early in the book (which of course conveniently serve them well on their trip) and are sent on their way. Of course, if you can look past these criticisms, 'Timeline' is a good, fun read. Lot's of jousting hi-jinks and cliff-hangers to interest the reader who is looking for nothing more than a brainless Saturday afternoon read. In this respect, it is far more closer to the 'Jurassic Park' of film than it is to the novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Timeline
Review: I have read Jurassic Park and The Lost World and Timeline is better than both of them. Timeline is easy to follow and and explains the quantam mechanics theory very well. It didn't take too long to read, but it was a very good book. If you have interest in the Medieval times you would love this book. It has great desrciptions of catsles, knights, and medieval towns. The characters are very well described, and the setting is very well imagined.
Rating:
Summary: NIN
Review: this was an all out good book, although i don't think that there was nearly enough sword fighting. The best character is Donager, although what happens to him really pisses me off. Caslegard is exactly what i've always imagined a castle to look like. Professor Johnson seems like a prick to me though.
Rating: 
Summary: Time Lost
Review: I have to admit I have never read any works by Michael Crichton, so my opinion of his writing rests solely in this less than appealing novel. Rarely are you within 100 pages of completing a book and feel utterly frustrated with the author, the characters, the plot, and the hollywood direction the story is taking. This book did just that. Time after time, the characters are narrowly escaping grim death. Time after time, the characters are reunited only to be separated again. This was like watching a terrible movie.
Rating:
Summary: An AWESOME Book.....
Review: I bought this book after it was highly recommended to me by at least five different people. Because I had heard so many great things about Timeline, I assumed there was no way the book could live up to all the hype, and was totally prepared to be disappointed....I didn't care much for some of Chricton's other work to begin with. However, Timeline not only lived up the hype, I think it completely surpassed it! This was one of the best books I have read in a long time; it was suspenseful, exciting, and even a tear-jerker! The begining is a little complex, but after the story gets going it really takes off. Read this book, it is absolutely wonderful!!!
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