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Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} Timeline by Michael Crichton Timeline. In an Arizona desert, a man wanders in a daze, speaking words that make no sense. Within twenty-four hours he is dead, his body swiftly cremated by his only known associates. Halfway around the world, archaeologists make a shocking discovery at a medieval site. Suddenly they are swept off to the headquarters of a secretive multinational corporation that has developed an astounding technology. Now this group is about to get a chance not to study the past but to enter it. And with history opened up to the present, the dead awakened to the living, these men and women will soon find themselves fighting for their very survival -- six hundred years ago. 'Timeline' by Michael Crichton. I'll admit it right up front: I don't like historical fiction much. When authors are sloppy in their research, I find the inaccuracies distracting enough to ruin what might otherwise be a good story. But even when the representation of the past is largely authentic (and to be fair, there are some extraordinary authors who really know their stuff), fictionalization makes history much less enjoyable for me. What can I say? I'm a hopeless history buff. Every minute I spend reading fiction is a minute I'd rather spend learning historical fact. Here's another confession: I'm not a big fan of Michael Crichton. I do find good science fiction fascinating (a genre that pushes the edges of "what if" is as mind-expanding for me as a scholarly discipline that asks "what really happened"). And Crichton isn't a bad writer, but none of his works has ever made me sit up and say, "Wow!" While his ideas can be intriguing, they all seem to make much better movies. Whether this is because his style lacks the immediacy of film or because I have to spend less time plowing my way through the story I have yet to decide. So, as you can well imagine, I was predisposed to despise Crichton's semi-historical novel Timeline. The Up Side of Timeline. Surprise! I liked it. The premise was appealing, the action was gripping, and the ending was dramatically satisfying. Some of the cliffhangers and segues were very nicely executed. While there wasn't a single character I could identify with or even like very much, I was pleased to see some character development as a result of the adventure. The good guys grew more likable; the bad guys were really bad. Best of all, the medieval setting was mostly accurate, and well-realized to boot. This alone makes the book a worthwhile read, especially for those who are unfamiliar or only somewhat familiar with the Middle Ages. (Unfortunately, this is a rather large percentage of the population.) Crichton effectively points up some common misconceptions about medieval life, presenting the reader with a vivid picture that is at times much more attractive, and at other times much more frightening and repellent, than that generally presented to us in popular fiction and film. Of course there were errors; I can't imagine an error-free historical novel. (Fourteenth-century people larger than modern folk? Not likely, and we know this from the skeletal remains, not surviving armor.) But for the most part, Crichton really managed to bring the Middle Ages alive. The Down Side of Timeline. I did have some problems with the book. Crichton's usual technique of expanding the cutting-edge technology of today into a believable science- fiction premise fell sadly short. He spent too much effort trying to convince the reader that time travel could be possible, then used a theory that struck me as internally inconsistent. Though there may be an explanation for this apparent flaw, it was never addressed clearly in the book. I suggest you avoid a close examination of the technology and accept it as a given in order to enjoy the story more. Furthermore, the characters who were surprised by the realities of the past were people who should have known better. The general public may think the Middle Ages were uniformly filthy and dull; but encountering examples of good hygiene, splendid interior decor or swift swordplay shouldn't surprise a medievalist. This makes the characters not very good at their jobs or, worse, it presents the erroneous impression that historians don't bother with the details of material culture. As an amateur medievalist, I find this rather annoying. I'm sure professional historians would be downright insulted. Still, these are aspects of the book that are easy to overlook once the action is truly underway. So get ready for an exciting ride into history. Update. Since this review was written in March of 2000, Timeline was made into a feature-length, theatrical-release movie, directed by Richard Donner and starring Paul Walker, Frances O'Connor, Gerard Butler, Billy Connolly and David Thewlis. It is now available on DVD. I've seen it, and it's fun, but it hasn't broken into my list of Top 10 Fun Medieval Films. Michael Crichton's now-classic novel is available in paperback, in hardcover, on audio CD and in a Kindle edition from Amazon. These links are provided as a convenience to you; neither Melissa Snell nor About is responsible for any purchases you make through these links. Books: Timeline By Michael Crichton. Given a potentially world-changing new technology, what does your modern-day greedy capitalist do? Build a theme park! That Barnumesque observation (a tad dated in this age of tech multibillionaires) isn't the only thing that's overfamiliar in this dull time-travel tale from the author of Jurassic Park. Here, America's favorite didact is out to learn us a thing or two about quantum mechanics and taking history seriously. His highly educated, lightly characterized academic heroes get their soft hands roughed up battling 14th century knights rather than prehistoric raptors. Crichton has clearly learned from his best-selling history. The rest of us are condemned. Timeline. Timeline starts out as a story of science, but ends in fantasy. What else would you expect from a time-travel novel? ITC--a company located in the New Mexico--is hard at work developing quantum technology. Secretly, they have found a way to transport humans back in time. The Dordogne region of southwest France is the focal point of the time machine--where the "explorers" are sent. Meanwhile in modern times, a team of ITC-sponsored archaeologists uncover the remains of a medieval castle, village, and monastery in this same area. Like any good American corporate heavyweight, Robert Doniger of ITC sees the possible financial gain. Specifically, through a major tourist attraction. While they are uncovering the remains, they find the words--in modern English--"HELP ME", followed by "4/7/1357". It is from the team leader-- Professor Edward Johnston, an elderly Yale history professor--who has been secretly going back doing studies. Obviously he now seems to be in some sort of danger--thus the rescue effort begins. Five people are transported back to 1357--two bodyguard types and three historians from the Dordogne project: Andre Marek, student Chris Hughes, and his lover/instructor Kate Ericson. The time machine only allows them 37 hours for the rescue. Within minutes of arriving, both bodyguards are killed--leaving the three historians to find Professor Johnston. And the race against time thus beings. The team learns that Johnston is being held captive by Lord Oliver, an English nobleman-warrior who is at war with the French and, in particular, with Lord Arnaut. Oliver has even captured Arnaut's sister, Lady Claire. The team soon finds themselves in the middle of this historic battle getting more than they originally bargained for. In Timeline, Crichton has given readers like myself, that is to say, readers who read for entertainment--who are not looking for a teaching seminar- -a somewhat believable possibility that Time Travel can exist--as far fetched as it sounds. Yes, there are holes in his science, but if you do not expect too much you can allow yourself to be caught up in the ride. Just when you may start to lose interest in the novel, it goes into a different direction entirely--fourteenth century. The science lessons for the day are virtually eliminated from this point of the novel--and we have now entered a new area in which Crichton has decided he should teach us about- -the medieval years. And what he gives is a somewhat darker--yet very realistic version--of this period. You will find no knights in shining armor here. Although, this is a completely different twist to the normal Michael Crichton novel, it is written in a very Michael Crichton manner. For example, you will learn the details of how to joust properly. In more "normal" Medieval literature, this would be more of a heroic scene than what is presented in Timeline. The "heroic" here, is instead "historic". In every Crichton story there is a character (representing Crichton himself) that teaches the other characters (representing us - the reader). Here it is Andre Marek--the closest thing this story has to a "hero". Marek is the expert of the group of the environment they are trapped. Overall, Timeline is a fine novel - just keep your expectations somewhat lowered as it is by no means a classic. Timeline by Michael Crichton. In an Arizona desert, a man wanders in a daze, speaking words that make no sense. Within twenty-four hours he is dead, his body swiftly cremated by his only known associates.

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