Timeline

by Michael Crichton | Science Fiction & Fantasy |
ISBN: 0679444815 Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingGoryDetailswing of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 11/12/2018
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2 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingGoryDetailswing from Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Monday, November 12, 2018
I found this fair-condition ex-library hardcover in the charity-sale bins at Hannaford's, and decided to nab it for another release copy.

This is a fast-moving story with some entertaining twists, and plenty of drama. The premise is similar to that of Connie Willis' Doomsday Book; researchers have found a way to go back in time, with plenty of preparation regarding languages and immunizations, and with lots of warnings against trying to change anything. And then some of them get trapped in the past... There's even a similar problem at the modern-day end, so that the time-travel mechanism can't be invoked immediately for a rescue. But the stories themselves, while both very good, are quite different in tone.

I enjoy the way that Crichton explains the technology behind his plot devices; he manages to convey a lot of real science along with just enough doesn't-quite-work-that-way stuff to make the plot work, and he has his characters make use of some of the techno-bits in critical scenes later on. And I liked several of the characters, especially Marek, the medieval-weapons expert who was so delighted to be able to take part in an actual joust! [While all of the time travelers found out that the actual 1300s were rather different than they'd imagined, Marek's expectations weren't nearly as far off as the others' were.]

I liked the descriptions of the medieval communities, and I really enjoyed the ways in which the different characters responded to their situation. There were, perhaps, a few too many convenient coincidences, but not more so than in most fiction, and the story moved along briskly enough that I didn't mind. And while the up-to-the-very-last-second climax was a cliche, it'd be hard to imagine a story like this where they solved everything with several hours to go {wry grin}. I also *really* enjoyed the epilogue; a favorite character got a just reward, and a nasty one was served justice as well!

[There's a 2003 film adaptation of the book; I found it pretty good, but I prefer the novel. The TV Tropes page for the novel has some entertaining notes on book and film.]

Released 5 yrs ago (11/14/2018 UTC) at Little Free Library, Elm St. and Goss Ave. in Amesbury, Massachusetts USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

I left the book in the Little Free Library; hope someone enjoys it!

[See other recent releases in MA here.]

*** Released for the 2018 Movie release challenge. ***

Journal Entry 3 by Ryan1980 at Amesbury, Massachusetts USA on Wednesday, May 29, 2019
Just picked up from the Elm St little library. Sounds like a good one! This is my first time finding a book crossing book.

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