Michael Crichton: Timeline (book).

[Dave]

Written by Michael Crichton (1942-2008)

I've read several of Michael Crichton's books; 'The Terminal Man', 'Jurassic Park', 'Rising Sun' but 'Timeline' is my favourite. Many of his books have been made into films; 'The Andromeda Strain', 'Congo', 'Sphere', 'Disclosure' as well as those I've already mentioned, and it wouldn't surprise me if this did too. As I was reading it, his vivid description if the working 'Time Machine', made me think it was written with a film in mind. It combines all the ingredients that make his books compulsive reading. I bought this on a Ferry from Holland before it was available in England, and I had read it within a few days.

An old man wearing a brown robe is found wandering disorientated in the Arizona desert. He is miles from any human habitation and has no memory of how he got to be there, or who he is. The only clue to his identity is the plan of a medieval monastery in his pocket. A monastery where an archaeological dig has not yet excavated so much detail.

The mystery deepens when the puzzle is linked to an International Technology Corporation which spends vast amounts on 'historical research' projects, and it will catapult a group of young scientists back to France in the Middle Ages and into the heart of the Hundred years' war.

 

[Red Queen]

That sounds fascinating. Is it still in print?

I have that wonderful of all things, a forty-minute bus ride to, and from work, every day. It's wonderful for reading

 

[Dave]

Yes, it's still in print, it's one of his last books, it was in the best-selling paperbacks list last year. It's a great book, and I think it would make a great movie. I see Patrick Stewart as the Professor, if he's not too busy!

I saw someone actually reading it on a train.

I've read a lot of Michael Crichton, the novels are all betterthan the subsequent films they become though. He needs a section here to himself.

 

[imported_scifimoth]

I thought it was a really good book too...
Have you read "Eaters of the Dead", that is the one the movie "The 13th Warrior" is based on....it's an interesting read, sort of written more in a diary form.

 

[Dave]

That is one I haven't read, but I will sometime. I haven't seen the film either. This is the 'Viking warrior goes to fight with the arabs' thing, is it?

 

[Red Queen]

Actually, it's Arab warrior goes to fight with the Vikings He's the 13th Warrior.

Who wrote the book it's based on? Eater of the Dead?

RQ

 

[imported_scifimoth]

Eaters of the Dead would be written by Michael Crichton...

 

[Dave]

Thanks, probably makes more sense that way around.

 

[Dave]

I've been trying to buy "Eaters of the Dead" to take on holiday and I can't find it anywhere. (Amazon would take too long)

You can get "Timeline" everywhere!

 

[Dave]

I finally got 'Eaters of the Dead' and busy reading it now. It's very different to the usual Michael Crichton.

I hadn't realised that it was a different take on the 'Beowulf' legend. Michael Crichton wrote it as a dare, an attempt to make 'Beowulf' interesting to a modern audience. So the story is told by an Arab, an outsider in terms of the culture of the Vikings, but still a contemporary of them.

 

[Dave]

Just read on Dark Horizons that they are going to make a film of this book...

(from www.darkhorizons.com/news.htm)
News and rumours - 2002 Films

Timeline - Based on the novel by Michael Crichton "Jurassic Park"). Three students from Yale are forced to travel back in time (with the help of a corporation) to 14th Century France to rescue their history professor whose trapped in the past.
Stars: Gerard Butler

That's all there is about it. I still see Patrick Stewart as the professor!

 

[Dave]

I've started a new thread about the film.

http://www.ascifi.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=11073

It will also star Frances O'Connor and Paul Walker.

It's one I will have to see.

 

[Krystal]

I love this book, have the opportunity to read it in my vacaction. I never had read anything from him before and my sister in law have it and tell me that I have to read it. And I did, I have to say that I totally like it from the start specially because I love medieval themes mostly in movies but I think is the first book I read with a story like that. I'm glad my sis in law sort of pick it for me.

Is cool to hear that there is going to be a movie from it. Definitely is a good material for a movie.

Krystal

 

[KatDonovan]

I got this book when I first came out and I really loved it. I've been a fan of his books since Jurassic Park came out.

Kat