Rating: 
Summary: Plot Perfect
Review: I wouldn't call myself a Michael Crichton addict. I loved both Jurassic Park and the Lost World but gave up on both A Case of Need and Airframe. Crichton has an ability to tell a thrilling fast-paced adventure but his novels can be hindered by poor characterization or annoying technospeak. Both dinosaur novels contain Crichton's faults, as does Timeline, however these books are driven by such a perfect, speedy adventure that it grips.The similarities between Jurassic Park and Timeline are plentiful. Crichton nearly always begins his book with an event seperate from the principal characters. It is the event that will trigger the entire plot. It is a useful device. Timeline begins with a husband and wife driving through the desolate American desert. They come across a babbling man. Where did he come from and how did he get into the middle of the desert without any transport? This sets up the novel's concept. A brilliant scientist has developed a sort of universe-hopping machine that enables time-travel. Crichton, as usual, uses scientific jargon that convinces the reader that such a far-out invention is possible. It's not. But who cares? Time-travel is a fantastic tool for an author, like Crichton, who possesses such an acute understanding of Medieval history. The novel picks up when the three principal characters, Marek, Chris and Kate are asked to go back in time to save their professor who is stuck back there. What follows is a thrilling adventure, helped by the 36 hour countdown headlining each chapter. Each precarious adventure is followed by another. Don't bring it on a two-week holiday because you'll be finished before one week is out. Guaranteed. I really liked Timeline but it won't stay in my head for very long. It's a popular novel, like an action movie, with limited characterization. The character's backstories usually consist of where they went to College. We don't know an awful lot about our adventurers. Chris is a wimpy, love-struck student who toughens up in the Middle Ages. Kate is a student who likes to climb. Of course, her climbing skills come in handy, however, there wasn't much more to Kate. The only character with any depth was Marek. Marek is less of a historian and more a lover of history. He adores the Medieval way of life and so, his trip to the 14th Century is a fantasy come true. He becomes our hero and Crichton, it seems loves the character as much as the reader does. He gives him a fitting farewell. An enjoyable Crichton book. One of his best.
Rating: 
Summary: From bad to OK
Review: The first one hundred pages of this book are some of the most boring ever put on paper. But, if you can get through the muddle of Chricton trying to describe Quantum Theory in kid-like terms, then the book really picks up. The second half is classic Chricton.
Rating:
Summary: Timeline - I couldn't put it down!
Review: Being a science ficiton fan, I found Crichton's use of quatum theory and parallel universes extremely fascinating, and will do more research based on his scientific references. Although some characters in the book are predictable, Crichton alters characters through intricate use of medieval history and a focus on the unrelenting human drive to survive. All in all, a very engrossing novel which transported me from my 20th Century leather chair to medieval 14th Century France.
Rating: 
Summary: A Page Turner
Review: Crichton has outdone himself this time! His through research makes this action packed story come to life. I read it in 2 days straight, I couldn't put the book down! Everyone should read "Timeline". I have not read a book this intriguing and well written in a long time.
Rating:
Summary: Fast paced and exciting!
Review: Books about time travel, especially when using high-tech quantum machines, can sometimes be hard to follow, but this book tops the list as one of the best I've read. Michael Crichton once more has wowed me beyond belief, as well as kept me glue for hour on end with his latest novel, Timeline. The novel focuses on 3 men and a woman who were all grad students working on a historical site in France. Supported by a mysterious high-powered company, their professor was asked to fly out to their base in New Mexico, and didn't return. Days later the students found a parchment in the professors handwriting during a dig, reading "help me". Whisked to New Mexico, the students were briefed on the situation, that the professor had gone back in time, via a quantum physics machine (the actualy instructions became hard to read at times) and had been lost. They had to go and find him. Fast paced, it almost takes your breath away with the detail of the time period, 600 years ago France. The validity of the information may only go so far, as was proven with the facts in Jurrassic Park, but the novel itself is gripping and dripping with fascinating detail. I give this my all around thumbs up, a Michael Crichton master piece!!!
Rating:
Summary: Simply Amazing!
Review: As a college student home for break, I dove into this novel with excitement! (There's no time for pleasure reading during the semester) I was definitely not disappointed! The beginning of the novel is extremely interesting and everything seems incredibly plausible with how he set up facts, info, etc..... and then the action starts and really doesn't stop. As a avid history fan this book is just awesome! It kept my attention the entire time and I actually had trouble putting it down, and it's been awhile since a book has done that! I definitely recommend it! This was my first Crichton book and it will definitely NOT be my last!
Rating:
Summary: An average book. (By Crichton's considerable standards)
Review: This book, while exciting, suffers from an identity crisis. On one hand, Timeline strives mightily to be Michael Crichton's latest foray into making the scientifically implausible seem possible and on the other hand it's a cliche ridden novel of medival happenstance. Early in the story, Crichton lays the groundwork for an excellent and imaginative foray into the "science" of time travel. Fans of his work will see signs of greatness in the early chapters then unfortunatly the story dovetails into uncharacteristic simplicity. None the less, while I don't recommend Timeline to first time Crichton readers, it is still a well written,very entertaining read with some original views of medival tournaments and chilvary. Namely how the widening use of archery ultimately led to the end of knighthood as a means of warfare. Readers looking for a good book will find one here. If Michael Crichton hadn't already proven capable of so much more, I believe we would all be a lot less critical. Give it a chance.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I would have to say that I am one of the biggest Michael Crichton fan that I know. I own every one of his fiction books, and have recently begun reading his non-fiction books. I knew that he had a new book out for awhile now, but just recently got around to reading it. The only word I have for this novel is "disappointing." Time travel, 14th century adventures..... has the making of a great story. But, it was obvious that Crichton wrote this book with the big screen in mind. The characters are so incredibly predictable and boring, it seems like Mr. Crichton pulled them out of the "Webster's Dictionary of Predictable Characters for Authors," or something like that. Don't get me wrong, the story wasn't terrible. It was a rather entertaining novel. But it wasn't at the level I expect from Crichton. When compared to classics like Jurassic Park, The Lost World, Sphere, and Congo, this one just doesn't stand up. First the mildly interesting yet rather boring Airframe, now this.... I'm noticing a trend in the novels of my favorite author that I definitely do not like.
Rating: 
Summary: Waste of time and money
Review: The time machine based on quantum mechanic is just about what's interesting in this book. This was only book I threw away without finishing in recent years.
Rating:
Summary: This book rules
Review: This book is exiting and keeps you wanting to read more. The only problem is on the scientific aspect of the book, Chriton goes a little to far, and sometimes in explaining theorys, the book is actually boring. It would be great to see this book turn into a movie but I hope chriton doesnt ruin this by making a sequel
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