Timeline
 

Timeline

by Michael Crichton

When you step into a time machine, fax yourself through a "quantum foam wormhole," and step out in feudal France circa 1357, be very, very afraid. If you aren't strapped back in precisely 37 hours after your visit begins, you'll miss the quantum bus back to 1999 and be stranded in a civil war, caught between crafty abbots, mad lords, and peasant bandits all eager to cut your throat. You'll... (read more)

Top tags: science fictionfictiontime travelmichael crichtonthriller (all tags)

 

Member Reviews

  • Nithy
    1 of 1 members found this review helpful.
    • Rated 5 stars

    This book is about a path breaking technology that enables humans to be transported to other universes (the multiverse concept of quantum mechanics)including the past. This is done by faxing the information of a human being with quantum computers into the quantum foam where space & time warps. what a perfectly brilliant idea! but Hey! no sweat. It has quite understandable explanations with the aim of making a bunch of historians understand quantum physics. When Professor Johnson gets trapped in catelguard of 1376, his three assistants Marek, Chris & Kate go to find him & bring him back to the present and the problems and danger starts...

    The best thing about this book is it's packed with action, suspence, and gives rational & logical explanation for the technonogy & every event. You don't really need to understand quantum physics to appreciate the book (which is what happened when I read the book first - I was 14 then. Now I do understand it and love the book even more!) The mood of medieval period is captured beautifully especially the tournament between Marek and Guy. In the beginning Chris is quite snobbish and ignorent and the way he lands everyone in trouble it's very amusing. It's wonderful the way 'the past cannot be changed' is justified. To understand this you need to really concentrate on the introduction part about the hundred year war in France. It's serious intellectual fiction and requires thinking and sleuthing. It's delightful with little twist in the end and leaves you with a sense of profound awe and admiration towards the brilliant author especially after seeing the bibliography.
    well, i simply love this book. the first crichton book i read & my most favorite too.

    Nithy wrote this review Thursday, July 24 2008. ( reply | view 1 replies | permalink )
  • Jyotirmoy D
    1 of 1 members found this review helpful.
    • Rated 4 stars

    This is the last good book by Crichton. Not as good as Jurassic Park. Not as innovative as Terminal Man or Sphere. But it has a lot of impressive sounding scientific mumbo-jumbo enough to excite the curiosity of a common man. What makes this book special is the story and the setting. The portrayal of brutality during medieval ages and the quick-paced action eclipse all attempts at sci-fi, rendering a nice pulsating story.

    Jyotirmoy D wrote this review Friday, March 7 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Lauren P
    • Rated 4 stars

    Since I love science-fiction, I really enjoyed this book of Crichton's; especially this particular variety of it (which I won't give away in my review). Finding out what the heck is going on is half the fun! Unfortunately, I watched a very mediocre movie adaptation a while ago which really spoiled the experience of finding out for myself. It would have been more enjoyable if I was forced to figure it out on my own.

    Lauren P wrote this review 5 days ago. ( reply | permalink )
  • Aaron K
    • Rated 4 stars

    Fun mix of history and science fiction. This story is much more exciting than the movie, especially since the movie makes the location and time an accident whereas the movie portrays it as an accident. It was a fascinating time travel story and I love the way actions that from their future in the past are already the past in the present (if you understand that, good).

    Aaron K wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )
  • Robert
    • Rated 4 stars

    I liked this book a lot. The story was fast-paced and interesting, and I found the medieval history side of it to be really fascinating. Glad I wasn't alive then though...

    Robert wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )
  • SKYW4LKER
    • Rated 3 stars

    Read this and saw the movie. I would have to say some part of the story were not the same as to most of the movie-book titles. The team of Chris, Kate and Marek came to rescue the professor; going to the past a period 14 century when Englandd and France were at war.

    Chris, Kate and Marek were the main characters fighting their way in between Kate moving from the battlement of France and England. They have to find a secret passage into the castle occupied then by England who kept the Professor prison. They have to return back togather with time not on their side while the in between this war.

    One advice, read the book first then watch the movie. I do think the book is as great as some of MC's book but far more better then NEXT. The characters created in this book has weak roles and keep shifting in turns for play in their parts. I would rate this 3.5 Star.

    SKYW4LKER wrote this review Friday, August 1 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Karen K (K2)
    • Rated 3 stars

    When you step into a time machine, fax yourself through a "quantum foam wormhole," and step out in feudal France circa 1357, be very, very afraid. Time travel, but not in the usual pop in-pop out way...Very well written, each chapter part of a "count-down", it kept me on the edge of my seat.

    Karen K (K2) wrote this review Wednesday, July 30 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • i.should.b.reading
    • Rated 3 stars

    A good book, but I liked the movie better

    i.should.b.reading wrote this review Thursday, July 17 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Arjun
    • Rated 4 stars

    awesome

    Arjun wrote this review Thursday, July 10 2008. ( reply | permalink )
Displaying 1-10 of 159 reviews
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