Rating: 
Summary: Michael Crichton
Review: When I wised up and began to read for pleasure (School always made it difficult for me to enjoy books. I hated to have to read.). Not one Michael Crichton book has let me down. As usual, I would suggest you not find out about this book just read it. Reading a book is more exciting when you have no idea what's inside. I assure you it's a great read for the technically minded individual who can visual what is read.
Rating:
Summary: Timeline is Crichton at his best
Review: Take a group of archaeologists who are specialists in Medieval History, transport them back to the Middle Ages at the exact site they are working to unearth, and then sit back and watch them try to survive the skirmishes, intrigues, and everyday hardships of the life at that time, and you have the bare bones of Timeline. Add in an accident at the laboratory from which they were transported, and back to which they hope to return, and the tension builds as the scientists in the present day attempt to reconstruct the equipment necessary for a return. The travelers do not all return to the present time (for a variety of reasons) and the ones that do are profoundly changed. As usual, Crichton has done his homework, both in the area of the history involved and the science of time travel. The research serves to lend credence to the unlikely possibility of time travel, but it doesn't get in the way of a rousingly good story. As a middle school teacher, I'm excited about integrating the reading of parts of this novel into our social studies unit on Medieval History; the students will come away with a more personal understanding of this period and the harshness of life during the Middle Ages.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent fresh idea, but plot has weak parts
Review: Michael Crichton is an excellent writer. I admire Crichton for being able to write about so many things. (Gorillas in the jungle, dinosaurs on a island, virus outbreaks, airplane crashes...) Timeline has not only added to the list of topics, but has brought back that Crichton touch that was so compelling that was missing in Airframe and The Lost World. Timeline is obviously about time travel, and Crichton does a wonderful job with this aspect of the book. He gives us a very unique and intriguing look at the possibility of time travel. Although time travel makes the story in Timeline possible, the real heart of the story is in the Medievil period. The setting he gives us for this period in time is outstanding, and the detail he puts into it is not only withstandable, (for those of us who have trouble with detail) but also interesting. Crichton did a marvelous job. So why three stars? The plot gets to repetitive. Halfway through the book, the characters begin to run from the enemies. (I'm trying not to give away anything here) And for a long time its just a game of chase, the charaters miraculously run from, or defeat whoever is chasing them with one hand tied behind their back, it gets too repetitive, predictable, cheap movie like, and gets less believable. I think Crichton just needed to add a little to the plot, or cut the book down so it didn't get like that. I may have sounded a little too negative there, the plot does keep you going til the end, it just has weak points, and you may be disappointed with the predictability of the last third of the novel. So, to sum this all up, if you've never read Crichton, this is not the book to start trying to, start with Jurassic Park or Congo, or another highly rated book of his. For longtime Crichton fans,its worth your time.
Rating: 
Summary: Just wait for the movie....
Review: I was very disappointed by the latest book of Michael Crichton, of whom I am a great fan. What I appreciated in his earlier books was the capacity to treat various issues (about society, science, ethics) in a highly entertaining way. But his latest book seams to have been wrote more for the movie that inevitable will follow rather than to convey some idea. The story is packed with action and centered on a group of American students sent beck to Medieval Europe. But the ploy is weak and highly predictable, with the group going through fights with Medieval knights as easily as having a game of Ping Pong, and ultimately the story start to repeat it-self, with the end where "the bad guy" will pay for his arrogance.
Rating: 
Summary: Much better than AIRFRAME or THE LOST WORLD
Review: i thoroughtly enjoyed TIMELINE as it contained some crichton elements missing in his last couple books - that perfect mix of research, education, and adventure that leave you thrilled and more informed. PLus the 'clock ticking' angle keeps the book suspenseful.
Rating:
Summary: Four stars, and a few criticisms
Review: Personally, I have yet to read a BAD Crichton novel. I think this man is an extremely gifted author, and he demonstrates this talent once again in TIMELINE. Perhaps my expectations were a bit too high, though. As a fan of both science fiction and Arthurian literature, I thought TIMELINE had the formula to be the best book I'd ever read. While I was heartily entertained, I think that purists (like myself) will unfortunately find flaws in this tale. I kept second-guessing Crichton's logic regarding the whole time travel concept. I found it easier to suspend disbelief in his earlier works including "Jurassic Park", "Sphere", and "Congo". I also found that, like many of Crichton's novels, TIMELINE tends to build very slowly toward its climax. There are more than a few "yawns" in the first half of the book. However, it is literally impossible to put the book down during the last 100 pages (again, typical of Crichton's work). For first-time readers of Crichton, realize that the attention to detail is one of his trademarks. He does go into lengthy explanations regarding the theory and structure of the time travel mechanism. If you have no scientific background, or dislike technical writing, you may find this frustrating. Overall, most people will find this to be a very good book. It is not Crichton's BEST work, in my opinion, but it is very good nonetheless.
Rating:
Summary: Great Story- Well Researched
Review: This book was very well done. The content allowed the reader to expand his/her knowledge on up to the minute science and 14th century France. It makes you wonder what technological discoveries are being made that no one knows about. It also forces you to question if the past really occurred as we think it did. The story flowed, as well. P.S. To Pike (12/28/99), if you care so much about editing the book, please be advised that the scientist you were referring to is named Doniger, not Donigen.
Rating:
Summary: awesome!!!
Review: i don't care what any body says about Timeline, this book was freakin awesome. one of the best for Chrichton i think even though it's the only one i have read from him. the story line is very cool, and you have to read over about how they time travel cuz it confused the heck out of me. it is very accurate with the dark ages and they way Chrichton describes every thing is way cool. but mainly there is not a slow part in this whole book and i love how they get even with the boss and the end. if you like time travel, quantum physics, sword fighting, shooting arrows, beheadings, horses, castles, and knights u will love this book.
Rating:
Summary: Timeline
Review: This book is so good! I could not let it down for three days. It was like I was there ! And I got Micheal Crichton to sign it when he was here in Iceland. And thet made the book alot better!
Rating:
Summary: Time travel aside, it's still not credible
Review: This was an engaging enough story to keep me going to the end, but it is still a bit ridiculous. The time-travel aspect is the most believable part. We have inexperienced and physically weak graduate students winning sword fights with armored knights. There are so many narrow escapes that it becomes tiresome, and the characters seem to only grow stronger each time they are nearly mortally injured. Even super-hero comic books and James Bond movies often do not go as far in stretching the bounds of incredulity. This is not one of Crichton's better efforts. The reading is well done, with distinguishable and entertaining voices for each character. I did find Andre a bit much, though -- he sounds just like Arnold Schwartzenegger. A good tape to borrow -- not buy.
|
