Timeline - Michael Crichton
A while ago, Elise and I borrowed three books from some friends. One of them was The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, I don't actually remember what the second one was (perhaps it was the Scarlet Pimpernel Omnibus?), and the third one was this one. The aim was that we would read these books together, but that only happened with the omnibus. The Amazing Maurice was briefly explored by both of us, but I carried it on solo, and this one had something similar: Elise and I read about 100 pages together, but it was a little slow for that combined reading, so in the end, I finished it off myself.
Looking back through my blog, I realise just how long we had Timeline sitting around before even beginning it, and then it took another (shorter) period of time for me to decide to carry it on after Elise and I gave up on it... It's definitely about time we give the book back!
So, the story...
After a dramatic opening involving a man wandering in the desert who subsequently dies mysteriously, we meet our main cast of characters: archaeologists and historians working on excavating a 14th century castle and its surrounding area. The project leader, Professor Johnson, goes to the headquarters of the company that is funding the dig (the same company we already know is a little shady from the opening section), and then the group come across a note, seemingly in the professor's handwriting, but dating from the 14th century and asking for help.
This leads to the revelation of what is essential time-travel, although in the book it is explained to be a form of multi-dimensional travel, which means its more in line (plot-wise, though not tone-wise) with The Frugal Wizard's Handbook for Surviving Medieval England than The Time Machine. A group of the protagonists end up in 14th century France, looking for the professor and trying to avoid getting killed.
Elise and I have seen the movie Timeline a few times in the past, and it turns out to be one of those movies that takes the main beats of the book while changing the individual events that take place between them. So, all that I have described happens in both versions (though the movie simplifies the concept to time-travel), and yet the adventures the protagonists have while in 'the past' are fairly different. Crichton writes quite cinematically, but it is also obvious why the changes were made in the film version. In fact, this might be one of those rare exceptions where I prefer the movie version to the book.
Although the pacing was a little slow for Elise and I to get into as a narrated text, reading it at pace allowed the rest of the book to flow better. The movie also did a better job at making one of the antagonists someone that you were rooting against, and (without spoiling the ending) also does a better job at having said antagonist have a come-uppance that feels earned. The book's ending makes what happens to that individual a bit more targeted and cruel, which feels out of place.
Overall, then, although the book was entertaining enough, I would actually recommend the movie version instead.
Completed 13 November 2025.
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