Timeline by Michael Crichton book review

Timeline, Michael Crichton, Published by The Random House Publishing Group, Copyright © 1999 by Michael Crichton. Fiction-Thriller/Science Fiction.

A very young and brilliant millionaire, Robert Doniger, has developed a way to go back in time. He also finances archeology digs. At one of the sites, artifacts show up that cannot possibly be from that time, yet they are aged correctly. The archeologists do not know about Doniger’s time machine. The out of time artifacts belong to the lead archeologist, who went to see Doniger and disappeared. Four of the archeologists go back in time to rescue their leader and friend. They arrive in the middle ages when England and France are battling each other. While there they make many discoveries that are not known to present day historians. They will also need every bit of skill and knowledge they have to come back to present time, for there is someone back in time that wants to take their place in the time transfer.

Michael Crichton has written a thriller that involves science, fantasy and history all rolled up into one mesmerizing story. I had to keep reading to find out what would happen next. You don’t want to stop reading, the story was that compelling. The main characters are all believable. There are no “superhuman” types, with the exception of the eccentric millionaire. Michaels use of technical, historical and archeology facts or descriptions makes the story all the more interesting. Michael Crichton has woven several glitches into the story that made it all the more thrilling. I have not seen the movie, but the book is fantastic.

Michael John Crichton was born in Chicago, Illinois, October 23, 1942. Crichton is a writer and filmmaker. He has won an Emmy, a Peabody, an Edgar Award, and a Writer’s Guild of America Award. He had a newly discovered ankylosaur named after him: Crichtonsaurus bohlini. He has also written novels under the pseudonyms John Lange and Jeffery Hudson. Thirteen of Crichton’s books have been made into films. He is the creator of the television series ER. Crichton has been interested in computers all his life. He has created the computer games Amazon, 1982 and Timeline 2000.