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Summary: A pleasant high-tech romp through the past...
Review: I read this book while on vacation this past summer, and it was a perfect beach book. It mixes a variety of interesting angles, with a pleasing result.The book takes us back in time to medieval France, to the days of knights in shining armor and ladies in distress. Crighton throws in high-tech time travel, suspense, mystery, and a critical time limit (if you don't get back to your time machine within the deadline, you're stuck there forever). I liked the historical novel parts of the book, giving insight as to how real life must have been for women in the past (not everyone was a sighing lady, waiting for her knight to woo her), and the techno geek additions blended well with the story. The plot did get a little complicated and cutesy at times, but hey, this is fiction, right? All in all worth the read, especially if you're a fan of historical fiction mixed with light SF.
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Summary: Thank goodness!
Review: Reading Disclosure and Rising Sun made me worry that we'd never see another good Crichton book, but this reassured me. I liked the mix of science and historical fiction in this book. I read this book in two sittings, but only because I needed to sleep.
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Summary: Always interesting
Review: As with all of Crichton's books he does a wonderful job at putting you in the setting. His books are Science Fiction, but they always have some history or culture to tell you about. This one is know different. I found the history behind the book very interesting. Even if the story wasn't one of his best it still was a fun read.
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Summary: Michael Crichton does it again!
Review: Michael Crichton is well known for his exciting novels which are explained by a futuristic science that Crichton leads his readers to believe is possible. He continues to use this writing style in his newest best seller, Timeline. In this novel, a small company called ITC, studies and conducts experiments in quantum physics. Somehow, after years of these studies, the company figures out how to "send people back in time." In the novel, the president of ITC explains how their machines work. Crichton, through this character, tells his readers that there are an infinite number of parallel universes and ITC, with the help of quantum physics, has created a wormhole that will transport people to these different universes. A professor, who is digging up castles in the Dordogne in the south of France, becomes curious and learns what ITC is doing. He contacts ITC and, after he begs them, they agree to send him to the year 1357. Unfortunately, he becomes lost in time, and his students Marek, Chris and Kate are sent back to save him. All three students are historians, but Marek is the only one who really loves the medieval time period. He spends his extra time praticing sword fighting, jousting, and learning how to speak the different languages of Europe from this time period. Marek's skills end up helping the group escape several close calls for, while on this mission, they make plenty of enemies. In Timeline, Michael Crichton does a great job with characterization. Every character is well rounded and unique and each adds a great deal to the story. Crichton also does an excellent job of incorporating historical facts and scientific evidence into this adventure story. Not only does this book keep readers on the edge of their seat and make them try to anticipate what will happen next, but it also teaches them some interesting historical facts. Though almost the entire book kept me guessing as to what was going to happen next, the ending of the book was fairly obvious to me. However, some readers may be surprised by what happens. I thought Timeline was an excellent novel, filled with lots of adventure. It will definitely keep readers trapped within its pages until they finish!
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Summary: His best since Jurassic Park!!!
Review: A fabulous ride!!! I read 1 or 2 books a month and this is the best one I've read this year.
Rating:
Summary: Timeline
Review: The novel Timeline brings out the best of the author Michael Crichton. He uses all of his many tools of writing when he created this piece of work. In this novel, Crichton deals with many things that happen in everyday life such as the moral and often important decisions of everyday life. In this, the talk is of course about the owner of the company ITC. This owner does whatever will help him succeed in business in order to get his way. This novel consists of the above mentioned businessman who has created a special device which allows a person to not travel in time but actually go to a different universe of that time. To understand this, you must have at least some concept of Quantum Physics. In preparing to produce this novel, Michael studies this science in order to give the best information on the subject. Crichton uses his narrative skills to perfection in the way the story is told. The only flaw that I can see in this book is the length Mr. Crichton goes to at the explanation of Quantum Physics. This description could possibly bore or even divert the reader from the book. However, if the novel is read in its entirety it will be well appreciated of Michael's masterpiece. This novel is filled with unexpected twists and suprises that the reader would have never thought of. To experience these you'll just have to read this work of art on your own.
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Summary: Castles, Knights, and Scientists -- Oh My!
Review: Once I got into the book (about 100 pages), absolutely couldn't put it down! Only Chrichton would write a book where the hero is quantum physics! He offers an intriguing premise for time travel: folks are "faxed," not transported. Most of the story takes place in the Middle Ages, which the author brings to life. It's obvious he's done his history homework. I, too, kept thinking that this would make a great movie (I just learned that it's in production.) A thoroughly enjoyable read!
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Summary: What a Ride!!!
Review: From the first page to the last you are in for quite a ride! It is a top notch science fiction/time travel adventure.Michael Crichton has created terrific characters,a wonderful setting and he presents his plot in a most plausible way.It is obvious that he did a lot of research into different time travel theories and into life in 14th century France. This added a richness to the story.The only quarrel I might have is the fading of two chacacters before completing their contribution the storyline. It really is a terrific page turner.Be prepared to read awhile!
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Summary: It's NOT literature--but it IS GREAT!
Review: After the less-than-stellar 'Airframe' I was more than happy when I got into 'Timeline' and realized that Chrichton had done it again! It's one of those books you can't put down, and even though 'time travel' is far from the most original concept in the Universe, making it original takes some impressive creativity, and in this area Chrichton does a first-rate job. It seems that all (or most) of time travel takes place in the future, but not here, in fact going back just a hundred years isn't far ENOUGH. France...a long time ago in a world far, far away (sorry, I couldn't help myself) and I DO mean far away. Most people have a pre-conceived notion of what life was like from watching movies and TV which came as close to showing what life was really like hundreds of years ago as you can learn brain surgery from a home-corrospondance course: NOTHING. Now I don't for a second believe that all the research Mr. Chrichton did notwithstanding, that this is perfectly accurate either...however I don't read Chrichton's books because he can convince me that what he is writing about CAN actually HAPPEN, I buy them so I can enjoy several hours of entertainment. I am happy to say that 'Timeline' provided me NOTHING but PURE fun. Kudos to Michael Chrichton once again, and for those who unfortunately chose 'Airframe' as their first book to read by Chrichton, I encourage you to give this a shot. Once again I can hardly wait for his next novel, and I would personally be thrilled if another Jurassic book was in the works, however I read an interview with Mr. Chrichton who said 'The Lost World' was his last Dinosaur book (but remember, never say never...). I don't care what his next book is, just get it PUBLISHED SOON!
Rating: 
Summary: *GREAT* script!
Review: This is a great movie script. The characters are shallow, and easily identified by 1 or 2 blatant character traits. The events are over-the-top and dramatic. Each "chapter" (scene?) ends in a cliffhanger. And, of course, there are plenty of special effects shots. Good stuff! No one will have any trouble with the premise, which is so unbelievable and filled with enough pseudo-science that audiences will just shrug, patiently wait for the conflict to be set up, and then eagerly watch the action/adventure extravaganza. (vague spoiler alert) This script gets 3 stars because the action/adventure extravaganza is, well, extravagant. And entertaining. There's love, betrayal, sword fights, gun fights, dastardly villains, a spooky ghost, heartless politics, and of course lots of explosions. All the action is propelled by stock characters that are proven to attract US moviegoing audiences: there's the kindly-yet-misguided old professor (all Crichton scripts have this character), the brash rogue with a heart of gold, the noble hero, the spunky female love interest, the previously mentioned "black bart" character, and the amoral capitalist who gets his comeuppance in the end (all Crichton scripts also have this character). Good pulp fiction. Sure to sell! Three $tar$. Would have gotten 4 stars, but it was released with a hard cover and non-standard formatting, which I'm sure made it difficult for the actors. (I'm not kidding: Timeline the movie has been in production for months. It's due out May 2001. This really is a script. An entertaining script, but a script nonetheless.)
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