Timeline: A Novel
Nov 2003 · Sold by Ballantine Books
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186 reviews
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About this ebook
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In this thriller from the author of Jurassic Park, Sphere, and Congo, a group of young scientists travel back in time to medieval France on a daring rescue mission that becomes a struggle to stay alive.
“Compulsive reading . . . brilliantly imagined.”—Los Angeles Times
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.
Praise for Timeline
“Exciting . . . classic adventure . . . [a] swashbuckling novel . . . Crichton delivers.”—USA Today
“More screams per page . . . than Jurassic Park and The Lost World combined . . . The pace will leave many breathlessly grasping for oxygen masks.”—The San Diego Union-Tribune
“One of his best . . . [a] nonstop roller coaster of a novel.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer
“Compulsive reading . . . brilliantly imagined.”—Los Angeles Times
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.
Praise for Timeline
“Exciting . . . classic adventure . . . [a] swashbuckling novel . . . Crichton delivers.”—USA Today
“More screams per page . . . than Jurassic Park and The Lost World combined . . . The pace will leave many breathlessly grasping for oxygen masks.”—The San Diego Union-Tribune
“One of his best . . . [a] nonstop roller coaster of a novel.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In this thriller from the author of Jurassic Park, Sphere, and Congo, a group of young scientists travel back in time to medieval France on a daring rescue mission that becomes a struggle to stay alive.
“Compulsive reading . . . brilliantly imagined.”—Los Angeles...
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Ratings and reviews
186 reviews
Carlos Garcia
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May 3, 2025
What can I say about my journey into Timeline... I was disappointed. Coming from Jurassic Park, Airframe, and Sphere... this book was a disappointment. Maybe I'm biased in foreign languages and slang not being my thing in books (I was also disappointed with The Great Train Robbery). I just couldn't get into this book as much as I was hoping for and as much as the reviews told me I was going to love it. In my opinion, there were too many characters and it was extremely hard keeping track of them, unless I wrote them down. The story progressed and it was an easy read (tons of details, as per MC), albeit very confusing, but I was hoping for more action! The ending was also very straight to the point and not much "WOW!" A very soft ending that kept me wanting more... and leaving me with some regrets on where I placed my time. Whatever book from MC I read next, I have to make sure of no added foreign languages or slang, that shizzz kills me. 3.2/5
Jacqueline
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February 13, 2021
Where to start...I gave this book 3 stars because the overall plot and story outline were great. The end was somewhat satisfying as well instead of so many stories that leave you hanging. Unfortunately, there is little suspension of disbelief in the writing. You know, when you're reading a book or watching a movie and you say, "come on! that character wouldn't do that!", or "They're seriously going to explore a cave at midnight without having told anyone where they're going??!". Well, there were many moments like that in this book. Which is surprising because Michael Crichton's books are usually so full of unbelievable, believable plots. There were way too many holes in the believe-ability of this book. And it's so sad too because it could have been so great! Even though it would have been a spoiler, I would definitely have opted to give you examples of the holes in the story in this review. But there are just too many! Still, it was a good read, just an overall disappointing one.
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Belcher Kendric
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November 14, 2025
This is a story that history lovers like me are nearly guaranteed to enjoy. A group of historians travel to an alternative universe to rescue their professor. Despite the title it is NOT a time travel story but instead a multiverse story. Please do not let the abysmal movie deter you from reading this book. It takes a while to get your attention at the most but when they go to the parallel universe it gets very exciting
About the author
Michael Crichton was born in Chicago, in 1942. His novels include The Andromeda Strain, The Great Train Robbery, Congo, Jurassic Park, Rising Sun, Disclosure, The Lost World, and Airframe. He is also the creator of the television series ER.
Michael Crichton was born in Chicago, in 1942. His novels include The Andromeda Strain, The Great Train Robbery, Congo, Jurassic Park, Rising Sun, Disclosure, The Lost World, and Airframe. He is also the creator of the television series ER.
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