Have a blast!. Review on Timeline - Michael Crichton

Hi Guys... First, a warning: Before you start reading this book, turn off your mobile, put a 'DO NOT DISTURB' sign on your door, and lock it from the inside, just to be sure. You wont tolerate it if you are disturbed. Popcorn is recommended. Timeline is the latest offering from Micheal Crichton, the master of Techno-thrillers. If you have even any remote liking to Fiction (even if you dont) and have not read any of his books, you are really missing out on something. He always picks some weird themes to base his books on, and this time its about Quantum physics. A technology that enables travels between multiverses (parallel universes that exist at all times) by passing through 'wormholes' present in 'Quantum Foam' (The irregularity that is present in the space-time continuum at Quantum or subatomic levels). Pretty martian, huh? In short it enables objects and people to be transmitted to any place or time just like a fax. Dont let it bother you. once the action starts, physics dont appear to have any meaning. WHAT IT IS ABOUT A group of young historians working at a site in France, studying the remains of two medieval castles that thrived there, are transported back in time using the above technology, to save their professor, who also got there by accident. They land in the 14th century, at the same place which they were excavating, and at that time the area was under war. Everything was planned perfectly, and down to the tiniest detail. but then something goes wrong... They are in an alien country, with alien lifestyles, alien language and among people who kill people for sport. They battle to stay alive, but are caught in between the warring knights of the English and the French, and are running for their lives. Everyone seems to want to kill them, and theories seem to lose all meaning. The only thing that matters is the practicality of staying alive. They have 35 hrs to get back to their own world, but time seems to be running out on them.. WHAT I LIKED The first pages are intriguing, and keeps the writer in mystery about what is to come. Then the story slows with all the mumbo-jumbo about quantum physics. The author has researched the subject in huge detail, and has presented all the complicated theories in such a manner, that every reader can understand it. You dont have to be a Doctor in Physics to understand all the stuff. anyway its important to the story. But as I said, dont bother.... Oooh, the action! The writer takes us back in to the 14th century, tells us in detail how the people walked, talked, lived and died. The story suddenly races ahead, you will be fighting to keep up with the pace, which will leave you breathless. Typical Crichton style, the characters have to encounter one obstacle after other, and death lurks around every corner. There is a suspense every three pages. At the end, there are two surprises, which will leave you completely bowled over. With the narrative, the detailed research and vivid description, you will be living with the characters. Crichton takes you through forests, rivers, towns, dungeons, battles, madmen, night and day, and blood and gore is everywhere. FOOTNOTE If you like entertainment that is hard to resist, this one is for you. Believe me, I could not put it down. I only did so when my eyes started aching after three hours of reading. Dont be put off because you may find the beginning boring. Read on, and take my word for it, you wont regret it. PS: Some of my friends, who would not read even a text book, started reading this just because there was nothing else to do. In the end, they wouldnt let go of it! :) If you have seen the movie based on the book, well, is just a trailer of the book. Happy Reading! Cheers n Take Care! Vinod