Timeline (Unabridged)

Rating:
Summary: Medieval Park?
Review: I picked up this book because I've long been a Chrichton fan, enjoying Jurassic Park, Congo, etc. Here, Chrichton takes some promising technological musings about the direction present research into quantum theory could take, and this part is thoroughly enjoyable, vintage Michael C., developing a methodology for travelling between alternate universes and timelines. The problem with this novel is that it then drills into a billionaire techno-genius' obsession with eploiting the past by creating historically accurate theme parks beginning with a mid 14th-century French fuedal landscape, right in the middle of the 100 years war between the English and the French. The reader is really left at the end of this novel feeling like more should have been done with the time travel concept (instead of the entire action sequence of the novel occuring in one 37 hour period in the year 1347). I kept thinking what a more hard core SF writer like David Brin or Fred Pohl could have done with the premise and created more sweeping and grand story lines, intersecting the great events of humanity. Also, in order to create the technology of time travel, Chrichton has the billionaire's company invent quantum computing (where all 32 theoretical states of an electron are used for computation, rather than just the two spin orientation states we use today), and he does not explore the incredible implications of this hardly at all. Imagine devices a billion billion times more powerful than the fastest supercomputers today! All in all, the novel is worth spending a weekend reading just to explore the quantum theoretical aspects; the medieval story line is first rate swashbuckling, and historically well researched. But as a hard sci-fi work, the reader will find much lacking. I can't help but think Chrichton wrote this thinking about the eventual ease with which it will be converted into a movie script, computer/video games etc. Mike, did you really need the money, or did you not want to spend the time writing a book worthy of your considerable talents?

Rating:
Summary: Good book if...
Review: This is a good book, but you'll think so only if you don't expect it to be literature (it's just a thriller) and if you can get past all the science stuff. Crichton explains it well enough to understand the basics, and the story itself is a page turner. I read it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down!

Rating:
Summary: Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad
Review: This book was really bad. The only reason I finished it was because a friend told me it was great and I wanted to arm myself with as much critical material as possible. Well, thankfully, Mr. Crichton came through with the goofiest, most absurdly dissatisfying ending. When I was done, I threw the book in the trash and turned on a much more historically accurate depiction of the 13th century, XENA - WARRIOR PRINCESS. BATTLE ON XENA!

Rating:
Summary: Amusing that some expect this to equal great literature
Review: Michael Crichton writes fiction for entertainment. I seriously doubt that he considers himself a great literary figure. While I found this book somewhat less satisfying then his more fact based novels, and was surprised that this was more of a science-fantasy than science-fiction story, there is a good deal of entertainment value to be had from this book. Of course, one must have the ability to suspend belief and I would guess that many die-hard Crichton fans are not tolerant of this deviation from his usual formula. It is a quick and easy read with a very amusing twist at the end.

Rating:
Summary: HARD READ
Review: This was a very hard read. The concept was good but the story was really really hard to follow. Definately not his best work,unless you are into that era in time.

Rating:
Summary: Terribly written
Review: Maybe this book will work as a movie script or story board for a game. It doesn't work as a book. It's BORING, full of stupid cliches and insipid characters, not hisotrically or scientifically accurate, and a real waste of time. It's not a movie I will go to (too bloody), but I'm sure it will do well at the box office. It does not deserve to do well as a book, though.

Rating:
Summary: The Dark Ages of Popular Writing
Review: I found this book particularly fascinating in that Crichton has managed to effortlessly blend breathtakingly contrived plots, painfully trite and shallow characterizations, laughably absurd pseudoscience, and stunningly artless writing resulting in an impossibly awful insipid piece of garbage that is so bad he must have endeavored to do so as a cruel and cynical joke. Just say no--watch a bad made-forTV movie instead. Then you will have only wasted two hours.

Rating:
Summary: Video Game in a book....
Review: I have to concur entirely with the first commentary on the book. I would add to points: 1) A positive- Crichton gave an interesting view of the more bizarre points in modern quantum physics. His explanation of the consequences of the mathematical equations is both simple and titlating. Furthermore, he gave his far fetched story some scientific backbone doing this. Like <Jurassic Park>'s use of the DNA and DNAr in the amber-stuck mesquito's, Crichton gives some believeability to his story with the careful use of science. 2)A negative- The actual flow of the story struck me as what you might experience in a video game. Each sub-plot had the requisite 'requirements' before completion of the level, followed by a brief lull, and another, more advanced level. Eventually this video-come-novel culminated in the destruction of the 'bad-guy' buy the video character. Nevertheless, the story is an interesting read, and for $6, where else could one get his fill of the freaky world of quantum mechanics?

Rating:
Summary: Timeline
Review: I thought the story was average, and somewhat predictable. The classic time travel paradox was explained as not a possibility so why even worry about it. Crichton describes medieval times as very clean, and less violent and savage than modern times. I know the book obviously wasn't trying to be historically accurate. I couldn't help but think however that Crichton was trying to convince people that scholars views of the middle ages were wrong. These counter period descriptions in addition to the primary characters being muscle bound and gorgeous got irritating.

Rating:
Summary: WOW!
Review: WOW! This book is a true page turner. I had a hard time putting this book down..I even would take it to work and read it on my lunch breaks. This book really gets you involved in the setting and the motivation of most of the characters. I definately recomend!!