Rating: 
Summary: Flawed story compounded by improbable characters
Review: Michael Crichton is usually effective at taking the improbable and making it seem plausible through some far reaching scientific explanation. Not this time. Crichton seems determined to write an dubious medieval story and have it masquerade as science fiction.Both the science and the history were obviously well researched. The start of the book was excellent, but as time went on it seemed to deteriorate, as if Crichton's mind were suffering from cumulative transcription errors. As it progressed, more and more glaring flaws presented themselves. There is a fundamental flaw in the explanation of multiversal travel that renders certain events illogical. Gordon explains that this isn't travel through time, but to another parallel universe that exists simultaneous with our own universe. This other universe exists at a different point in time in its own history (specifically the 14th century) and thus, by being transported there, we can view history without time travel. If we accept that premise, we have to assume that this second universe has already cleaved from our own and is on its own timeline. If that were true, nothing one did there would have any effect on our history, yet we have a message from the professor written in this seperate parallel universe arriving as a historical artifact in our universe, not to mention the artifact left by Andre Marek. Either it wasn't explained well, or I missed something, or Crichton just ignored the illogic of it. Also implausible is the fact that a bunch of geek historian academics and students get thrust into medieval times and are able to stay alive more than 20 minutes in the middle of a battle of rival kingdoms and their knights. Most incredible is how supergeek Andre Marek kills half of Oliver's soldiers single handedly in sword fights. This all could have been somewhat more believable if our heroes made more frequent use of their superior knowledge of history and science, but Crichton was content to let them slug it out with the locals, giving them only gunpowder incorporation, universal translators and mace as occasional technological advantages. So while the story itself was engaging, it had too many plot flaws to be up to the standard we expect from Crichton. Worth picking up only after you are current on any other fiction you were thinking of reading.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Good book with great research.
Review: This is a very good book that shows Crichton's talent at researching a subject before he writes the book. For those of you who think this is psuedo-science, take a look in the bibliography and try reading some of the books Crichton used to research the subject. This book has a great scientific base behind it. The action keeps you turning pages until you think "Hey, what happened. I'm done?". The story has a great structure with many suprises along the way.
Rating: 
Summary: Good to read, but logic flaws
Review: The story is really a nice idea, and it is written fluently and very interesting; but the logic behind the whole story has some severe flaws. MC claims time paradoxes are irrelevant, because every 'world' is existing at the same time (he calls it "multiverse", where people can jump through wormholes using quantum technology) So far, so good. This implies that changes in the past do NOT change our current time. BUT: That means an object lost in the past will also NOT appear in our time ! The Professor (Mr. Johnston) looses his glasses when travelling back, and writes a "help me" note into some documents. His students find those (glasses and words) some 500 years later in a cave at the archeologic site, which causes them to ask what's going on. If all worlds are existing at once, they wouldn't have found anything; if they find something, the whole 'time paradox' idea starts up again. I cannot commend on the medieval things, although they seem a bit over-exaggerating the violence of that time - it was violent, but if it would have happened the Michael Crichton way, mankind would probably not have survived at all...
Rating:
Summary: Quantum Chivalry
Review: Despite the negative remarks of the most recent reviewers, I have to say that this was the most enjoyable Crichton book I read since Jurassic Park (and I've read them all). Crichton is probably the only writer today who would dare to tackle quantum physics and medieval France in the same book, and he pulls off a splendid adventure. Having always been fascinated by the age of chivalry and knights in armour, Timeline's recreation of the medieval world certainly made for enjoyable reading. Being a former physics student, I also read the passages explaining quantum mechanics and the concept of "multiverses" (parallel universes) closely and was fascinated (though not entirely convinced!) by the idea of "transcribing people through the multiverses" (the form that "time travel" takes in this book). Although I agree that some of the plot "twists" are somewhat predictable, I'm not complaining as it makes the reader feel a little cleverer! Requiring you to think in the beginning and then hitting you with a whole load of silly fun at the end, this book meshes science and adventure like no other and should not be missed by any Crichton fan (or indeed, anyone else!).
Rating:
Summary: No Crichton
Review: I've read some Crichton books and I've liked them all. This one is not completely bad, but if you like history read Ken Follett's book about Middle Age, not this one. After a boring premise, the characters of "Timeline" find themselves in the past, and after the first ten minutes of wonder, they seem to forget they're in the middle age, and the book reads just like any fantasy book.
Rating:
Summary: High Dark Ages Park
Review: Michael Crichton's "Timeline" reads like like a good author on autopilot (or perhaps one with movie, merchandising, and multimedia rights on his mind). The scientific premise of the novel has the potential to be a compelling story (ala Jurassic Park), but MC litters the story with so many pseudo-scientific contradictions, cliched characters, and hackneyed plot twists that the end result is a story that might make some Zena fans cringe. Crichton's so-called explantion of the irrelevancy of time parodoxes is a laughably shallow 1 1/2 pages long, and is based on 3rd- rate logic that a child could easily rebut. Almost all of the major plot elements are stale and telegraphed, and some of the dialogue and plot twists would make a dime store romance novelist blush. The end result is passably entertaining--but then again I was home sick and didn't have very high standards... You can do better Mike. A LOT better.
Rating:
Summary: Crichton demonstrates why he is the jack of all trades.
Review: Ever since seeing Jurassic Park, Crichton was one of my favorite authors. Even before I read any of his books, I loved his stories. I finally read Sphere which while interesting could not compare to the pure adrenaline pumping, swash-buckling fun of Jurassic Park. I picked up Timeline was the hope that it could be as good as I knew Crichton could write. The first 100 or so pages masterfully introduce you to the characters and remain suprisingly interesting. Once the time traveling begins the action picks up and the sense of wonder and excitement that made Jurassic Park a classic return in top form. Part Back to the Future, part Gladitor, part Jurassic Park, part Spielberg, and all fun. Timeline's story treads the thin line of probability and fun, informative and exciting simultaneously. It is clearly one of Crichton's best and is a must read to all fans of action, adventure, and books in general.
Rating:
Summary: Could have been brilliant but several bad flaws
Review: Entertaining story but I agree with the other reviewers: Crichton contradicts himself terribly with the multiverse thing, which could have gotten the characters out of some situations nicely. Translator ear-pieces were indeed a joke and some great character development opportunities were missing. About 20 more pages could have done much of this without changing the feeling of length too much. The exact idea of the theme park was not well described and the long speeches from the billionaire Donigan were unnecessary, especially given the predictable end. A few more nice twists could've been added. I wonder if the inevitable movie will pick up on them?
Rating:
Summary: Want something fun to read? Try this book.
Review: Completely immerse yourself in this fun fantasy tale! It combines science fiction with a medieval setting. Tremendously entertaining and full of adventure, excitement and best of all it takes you to another world. A world that conflicts most historical accounts of chivalrous knights and damsels in distress. It is not glamorous. It is violent, ruthless, and war-torn. Now imagine dropping right into the middle of all this and you have this story. It is told wonderfully, and gives you a vivid account of life in the fourteenth century. Once the action begins it keeps you glued to the page until the very end. And when it ends, you'll feel as though you were along for the ride. This is going into my favorites file. I would recommend this highly! Enjoy.
Rating: 
Summary: A real page turner.
Review: I cannot understand why people get worked up over the fact that the author may not fully understand quantum mechanics. So what, its a novel a story for goodness sake! Isn't he entitled to a little artistic licsense. I found this book a real page turner and was gripped from start to finish. Can't wait for the movie!
| 
