Well paced time travel sci fiction.

Spectacularly silly medieval adventure that could and should have been brilliant but was (IMHO) just a sad, sorry mess. I loved the first few chapters, but then it all degenerated into endless nonsensical scenes where people try to kill the totally unconvincing modern characters blundering around medieval France, for no other reason than the said people live in the 14th century and that's just what they do, apparently. The film is even worse. What a shame.

After watching the movie again... I'm torn. It feels like the movie and the book almost tell different stories, or at the very least maybe they tell the same story in very different ways. There's a lot in the book that either takes a backseat or isn't in the movie at all, and vice-versa. I think the biggest difference is that the movie simplifies a lot of the book's exposition, and gives us more of the Claire/Marek story, which I do appreciate because that bit of the ending felt a smidge rushed in the novel.

At the end of the day, either way you take this in, Crichton is still a genius and this is extremely entertaining.

PS: This movie basically kickstarted my love of Gerard Butler, so I'll always love it.

4.50 ⭐️— One might sunnies this excellent, detailed & tension-laden SciFi suspense Novel ‘A Daring Leap Through Time’ — As this was the first sentence that came to mind when I first pondered this review, a week ago! I needed that time to cogitate on how best to portray this superb piece of storytelling, in a manner that is on-point, captures the narrative somewhat, expresses my opinion that’s largely positive, minus spoilers.

In the enthralling realm of literary time travel, Michael Crichton's "Timeline" stands as a shimmering jewel, beckoning readers to take a daring leap into the past. Elegantly crafted with a masterful blend of meticulous historical research and heart-pounding science fiction, this captivating novel evokes a symphony of emotions and leaves an indelible mark on the minds of its fortunate readers.

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of 14th-century France, Crichton's narrative weaves a tapestry of vivid imagery and captivating prose. With painstaking attention to detail, the author transports us to a world of knights and castles, where the clash of swords and the embrace of royalty envelop the senses. The authenticity of the historical setting serves as the fulcrum of the story, allowing the reader to effortlessly traverse between the past and the present.

The characters here really help breathe life into the page, with adroitly handled dialogue, palpable complexities & an offering of some really genuine, very human vulnerabilities. Each protagonist — given their own unique quirks & motivations — embarks on a perilous journey fraught with moral dilemmas and unforeseen challenges. It is their emotional depth and unwavering determination that allow us to form a profound connection, making the inevitable twists and turns all the more heart-wrenching and exhilarating.

Now considered somewhat of a virtuoso of scientific storytelling, Crichton weaves the principles of quantum physics & time travel theory rather seamlessly into the narrative, no easy task! The exploration of quantum teleportation and its consequences are presented with such lucidity that even the uninitiated reader can grasp the intricacies without feeling overwhelmed. This harmonious blend of science and fiction is a testament to Crichton's unparalleled ability to make complex concepts accessible to all.

"Timeline" grips the reader's heart and mind from the first page and refuses to let go until the final sentence. The pace is relentless, evoking a sense of urgency that mirrors the characters' race against time. The plot, like an intricate puzzle, unfolds with precision, leaving us breathless with anticipation at each turn.

Although the novel thrills and entertains, it also prompts deeper reflection on the nature of time, the impact of human intervention in history, and the ethical dilemmas of altering the past. Crichton, as a literary alchemist, stimulates our minds while simultaneously igniting our imaginations.

Timeline, stands tall as a majestic testament to Michael Crichton's brilliance as a storyteller. With its impeccable research, unforgettable characters, and enthralling plot, the novel earns its rightful place among the timeless classics of the science fiction genre. A captivating journey through time, this literary masterpiece deserves nothing less than a fairly glowing review. Only some minor passages I felt where a little unnecessary & perhaps 2-3 characters I found less interesting, stopped this being a 5 Star marker & it’s so so close to at minimum being rounded up rather than down, but there’s so many incredible books I’ve read this year it just missed out!

This story brought a huge smile to my face - Timeline is one of these books which leave you sad when you finish them. Like a good, long friend has left you to live somewhere far away.

Crichton creates a story that brings together cutting edge theories in physics (this time it is the multiverse) and a good old-fashioned adventure story set in medieval Europe. The plot starts slowly and accelerates throughout. Plot twists do not slow the story down, its pace never loses momentum. Characters are well-developed, idiosyncratic, and memorable. Fantastic. For other examples of fast-paced, well-told stories by this master-craftsman of storytelling, check out Airframe and Disclosure.

3.5 Stars

Interesting in the details if you want to beef up your French history, let alone all the minute medieval trivia about knighthood, honor, political machinations, and various architectural tidbits that you might’ve been jonesing to know. Throw in mind boggling theories on quantum physics strangely reminiscent of The Avengers: Endgame and this just might titillate as well as tax your brain. Ha!

There's danger, brutality, and harsh lessons around every corner as a group of archaeology students travel to the past to rescue their beloved professor, trying to navigate treachery on both ends of the space time continuum. So very different from the movie (where the movie edges out a significant advantageous win), but an intense adventure nonetheless!

4 1/2 Stars. It was a really fun read. Using my imagination, I would call it Indiana Jones in the 1300s.

Forces one to stretch your imagination for this book but it was modern people fighting knights. Lots of castles, all monasteries and battles — All far fetched, This is time travel fiction and therefore tends to be that way.

I enjoyed it and it has received mixed reviews but for this guy — I thought it was a fun read if I did not try to post every detail.

Real rating: 3.75 stars

I’ve never been terribly impressed with Michael Crichton. He writes excellent action and adventure scenes, but his characters always seem flat and one-dimensional, never doing much more than dodging dinosaurs or white gorillas. Not surprisingly, what I feel is his best novel to date, Disclosure, lacks the heart-pounding action and delves more into conflicts between characters, which I found much more compelling.

I had high hopes for Timeline, a weighty book that had drawn good reviews from the few publications I take book reviews seriously. Unfortunately, it lacks the depth of character of Disclosure but still packs a good punch.

International Technology Corporation, ITC, headed by the brilliant but abrasive Robert Doniger, has invented a new method of time travel based on quantum technology. Like in most of Crichton’s books, the company merely wishes to profit from this and will do anything, even break the law, to do so. Why is it that, in Crichton’s world, only greedy, unethical companies headed by greedy, unethical white men like Doniger come up with the best stuff?

Anyway, ITC has a problem: Edward Johnston, Regius Professor of History at Yale, is trapped in 1357 France. Doniger needs to bring him back, but only to avoid a public relations nightmare. ITC invites four of Johnston’s graduate students to travel back in time to get him.

That about sums up the plot. Crichton sprinkles it with his usual scientific jargon and high-tech toys, though to his credit he does make it understandable to the non-scientific reader. The book’s action doesn’t really get going until the four students show up in 1357 France, and it’s fairly relentless until the end, although I was beginning to wonder how many times the students can fall off a ledge or slide down a mountain into a river. Toward the end, the book actually grew somewhat tedious.

It's a light, enjoyable read. Not much more than that.

A group of historians bite off more than they can chew when they agree to help a little-known but powerful corporation restore a medieval battle site in France. Some bizarre occurrences lead to the realization that the corporation's arrogant CEO is secretly building an economic monopoly out of the past. The promise of quantum physics has been realized, and time travel is now a dream come true...

...or a nightmare. When Professor Edward Johnston gets stranded in the midst of bloodthirsty armies battling over the site he and his comrades were restoring, only a team of dedicated volunteers can save him. But what was supposed to be a "simple" search and rescue goes terribly awry, and the Professor's friends--not soldiers, not heroes, just historians--must become heroes if they or Johnston are to escape the deadly medieval arena in which they are trapped.

Endlessly entertaining and amazingly researched, "Timeline" is a spellbinding story of knights, bandits, castles and damsels in distress, a world of honor and treachery, chivalry and death, a battleground for the future and the past. Crichton's storytelling is nearly flawless, and the book, though long, flies along at breakneck pace. The characters--the good, the bad, and the ugly (and there are many of each)--are all believably developed and highly empathetic. The author even puts a neat spin on the legend of the Green Knight. Though not classic literature, "Timeline" is a great action novel and possibly the best time-travel opus ever. "Timeline" is popular fiction at its apex.

4 sterren - Nederlandse paperback uit de minibieb in Venlo.

Another great read by the late Michael Crichton. I always feel a little smarter after having read one of his novels because of his writing approach and how he offers nuggets of factual information. These factual nuggets are what makes his novels so popular. They are well-researched and laid out in a way that isn't intimidating to the reader.

I was extremely excited that this turned out to be an adventure story wrapped up in pretty science-fiction wrapping paper, topped of historical fiction as it's bow. A Sheldon Cooper-esque scientist and his secret team have discovered and made possible multiverse travel. But of course, things go horribly wrong when Professor Johnston sends back a message to the future stating that he needs help. His research students find the note and are whisked away to the top secret lab where this super secret new technology is stationed.

What I enjoyed most about this novel was it's pace. There's really no slowing down in this novel. Crichton manages to step on the gas and never take his foot off. This may be the reason why the characters are a little stale but I can forgive him that. I don't read thrillers because I'm interested in how the characters are feeling. I just want action! I recommend this book to anyone who's a fan of historical fiction or science fiction. It's not hardcore science fiction but it's definitely a great approach for anyone who's new to the genre. I look forward to reading the rest of his novels.