Timeline by Michael Crichton Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Timeline
Book Review: A White-Knuckle Ride Through Medieval France
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a novel that stands head and shoulders above many others, both classical and contemporary, predominantly because of its masterful plot. "Timeline" has a carefully constructed plot-line that rivals Sherezade's capacity to keep us interested. Above all, the author demonstrates in this novel how important narrative pacing is; the reader is virtually compelled to read the book from cover to cover! (Anyone considering writing a novel, should read this one, and observe the gripping narrative pace.)If Charles Dickens's "Great Expectations or Wilkie Collins's "the Woman in White" are accepted as having the greatest plots in classical English literature, then Michael Crichton's "Timeline" can justifiably assume that distinction in modern fiction.
Readers interested in the Medieval Era will be delighted by this novel. The brave band of four 20th century researchers cast into the war-torn 14th century of cut-throats and black knights, draws us into a 37-hour ordeal where heads are dashed, and castle walls are scaled with amazing stealth.
Book Review: A blast to the past
Summary: 5 Stars
It's hard to determine what to admire most about Michael Crichton. His fearlessness about weaving cutting edge science into his tales or the mind boggling research necessary to bring those tales to the page. In "Timeline," both of Critchon's strengths are at work as the spooky science of quantum physics delivers a group of historians to midieval times.
"Timeline" is a mad dash back to the days of knights and jousts and savagery among men in a time that has been foolishly romantized as Chivalrous. Crichton's care with detail is evident as he describes elaborate castles and villages and the people who reside there. But this attention to detail never distracts from the unrelenting action Crichton has become known for. "Timeline" is the kind of book that will do funny things to time in the world of the reader. Late nights become mornings very quickly with this engrossing and fascinating blast into the past.
Book Review: A book about time travel that ignores conundrums?
Summary: 2 Stars
When a group of archaeologists is forced to travel back in time to the middle ages, will they change history? Change their own lives? How does time travel interact with history? This book ignores these questions entirely, in favor of having the main characters jump around like a bunch of jack rabbits.So, if the classic problems of time travel fiction are ignored, how is the story told? Are there relationships worthy of note? No. Two potential love stories are barely sketched in.
O.K., how about some educational conflicts between twentieth century characters and medieval realities? There is some of this -- characters are surprised at how strong men and women who work with physical labor were, there are some interesting medieval technologies presented... but the setting is barely utilized.
So what is here? A movie script. Some babes, some brawny guys, a lot of sword fighting, and that is about it. Instead of a potential classic, we have popcorn fare. Each character is presented with just enough detail to guide a casting director. Crichton is basically publishing a rough draft of his movie outline here. I suggest that you wait for the movie, and if gets a decent re-write, it might be worth seeing. Ignore the book unless you really really love this sort of stuff.
Book Review: A compelling book but lacks some detail
Summary: 4 Stars
If you'd like a mixture of a little bit of science fiction, lots of history and some interesting characters, this book is a must. The premise of 'going back in time' has always been of interest to me and I enjoyed where Michael Crichton took it along with the time period he chose. The primary characters were interesting and the plot wonderful. The only low points were that the characters weren't fleshed out more and that the means of transporting into another time period and coming back were glossed over a bit. I would have enjoyed greater detail in both of these areas. I haven't come across a book very often that I've wanted to pick up and read again as soon as I've finished it, but this is one. I can only hope there's a sequel!Book Review: A decent blend of science and fiction
Summary: 3 Stars
Not the best of his works but it did have me thinking of the possibilities. I found it entertaining and that is, in part, what recreational reading is about. The plot and characters were not as strong as I would have thought for a Crichton novel, but then there is always Airframe. Overall I would put this book on your list of reads but I would not put down what you are doing just to read it. This is a good "between novels" book.