Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: ITC Corp. has invented a way, using Quantum Physics, to journey to 14th century France. It's not really a time machine since instead of going back to our past, the characters are actually going back to a past that exists in a parallel universe. I won't try to explain this but from what I understand this concept is part of Quantum theory. Suffice to say that Crichton makes the whole scientific explanation believeable, at least to someone like me who's not versed in Quantum theory. Using this idea, the book starts out strongly. Professor Edward Johnston travels back to 14h century France but becomes marooned there. ITC Corp. mounts a rescue expedition consisting of Johnston's graduate assistants, all who are steeped in the history of Medieval France. Their mission is simple. Go get Johnston and bring him back. They have a total of 37 hours to do this.However, as can be expected, things begin to go wrong from the time they land and they are all in danger of being marooned permantly in the 1300's. Great idea, but the book rapidly deteriorates into a series of cliche cliffhangers as our intrepid historians fight battles, save damsels in distress, and face myriad perils that would make James Bond blanch with fear. Of course, unknown to our heroes, they may not be able to return because the transmission station back in our time has been damaged and will take a great deal of time to repair. So the whole book lurches to a finish that you can see coming for two hundred pages. I expected more from Crichton. I've read all of his novels, most recently "Eaters of the Dead" and this is the first one I've considered silly. Even "The Lost World" was better than this. Why do more and more very good authors feel they have to write books that read like video games, or screenplays?
Rating: 
Summary: A good read.
Review: Put simply, I enjoyed this book. The book grabed my attention at the beggining and I read on furiously trying to sort out what was going on. As the plot is revealed the book continued to tempt me forward. Crighton once again subjects his characters to a fast paced series of potentially lethal dilemas. At times, I couldn't put this book down. Unfortunately, some aspects of the plot didn't work to well. The scientist wandering the desert at the beginning doesn't seem to be explained sufficiently. Also, the nonsense about historically accurate theme parks doesn't satisfy me as an explanation for developeing this technology. These are the kinds of things that bothered me after reading the book. It is a shame that they detract from an otherwise exciting story.
Rating:
Summary: Too slooooowwwwww....
Review: I have enjoyed Crichton's books in the past. The scientific world has always intrigued me, and this book definitely fits into that realm. However, it took about 200 pages before this book really started to get interesting. Prior to that, I would almost call it painful reading. The last 300 pages are good, but not great. A great concept, just not a great final product.
Rating: 
Summary: None stop excitment
Review: Crichton has really done his homework and the setting in 14th century France is brough to life for the reader. If you can over look a few weak explinations about time travel and related issues that are not too convincing, you can really enjoy this book. The pace is frantic and once in a while I heard myself even shouting to the characters as they constantly encounter one life threatening problem after another. A classic cliff hanger.
Rating:
Summary: Timeline: Trapped in the past/present
Review: Once again Michael Crichton takes science to the masses. His explanation of quantum physics compares to Jurassic Park in depth and detail. Any serious science fiction / fantasy fan will enjoy the plot. It was predictable, but entertaining. A rescue mission to the past with a few surprises. Chrichton's research into pronunciation of 14th century dialect was insightful. If you wish for a pure science book, this will not be a compelling read. If you look for science applied in plot with a 14th century bend, you will not be able to put it down.
Rating:
Summary: Wait for the movie
Review: I was pretty excited when I picked this book up, but man was it tough NOT to put it down. after the first third of the book, which is pretty good, the entire story just falls apart. There was so much goofy action and so little real plot that I have to belive this was written with the sole intent of making it into a movie. I felt cheated.
Rating:
Summary: Good beginning, sliding fast.
Review: Charles Pike's review has it right: "Timeline" starts out well, but after catching the reader's interest, it takes some seriously wrong turns. Once the scientists have moved into the medieval past, the book becomes a kind of all-text video game in which they must confront one crisis after another, in a tedious and predictable series of battles. I felt that I was trudging to the end, determined to finish though it was a waste of time. (I just wondered if Crichton might have created a video game first and then written the book.)
Rating:
Summary: Hard to put down
Review: Crichton obviously did a lot of research to build a somewhat believable scenerio for this book. There were a few holes in the plot but I am willing to overlook them for an overall good story. For instance the argument made about how changes in history would not affect the present was pretty weak. I think Crichton just wanted us to ignore that possibility and get on with the story. Once I did, what a great story it was. It was interesting to read about the dig site and the scientific techniques they used to draw their conclusions. Once they all went back it was just one exciting scene after another. I really had a hard time putting this book down.
Rating: 
Summary: WONDERFUL!
Review: Let me just say that I LOVED this book. Prior to reading this book, Sphere was my favorite novel by Crichton. Now I'm not sure -- Timeline might be my new favorite. It had me hooked from the very beginning. I rarely have actual work to do when I'm at work, so I read a lot. I read almost all of this book one Saturday. I came home and finished it, then gave it to my dad to read. Then I gave it to a friend to read. I recommended it to anyone who would listen to me talk about it. I find time travel a fascinating subject. While I doubt the theory Crichton used is possible, it was still interesting to read about. The theories and the problems involved were captivating, even if I knew as I read that it was all impossible. I read to escape reality, and this was definitely an escape from reality for me. I enjoyed it immensely.
Rating:
Summary: Picky, Picky, Picky
Review: Come on guys and gals. Fiction books are just that -- a story from the mind of the author. You walk into his world and you are either comfortable or not. I could nit-pick his books to death and I was not too pleased with the Dinosaur follow-up, but all in all this book presented me with a wonderful world and one that I was truly sad when I had to leave it....now that is what makes a good book--not editing, not predictable plots, not other issues. In my opinion, this book is just a great "read" and I would recommend it to anybody who likes either technology, thrillers and/or history (but all three are not required to have a great time). Crichton has obviously been involved in movies and television a lot with his non-stop, almost unrealistic occurances that keep the main characters alive, but that is my only complaint--a little pacing might be in order. Otherwise, here I am a reader who has been trying to write a novel and if any of you critics think that is easy, why don't you try it. It is absolutely the hardest work I have ever done and my main job is an electronic engineering working on cutting edge military and medical projects. I recommend this book to everyone--even my wife.
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