Hardcover
Published in 1999
by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
Paperback
Published in 2000
by Ballantine Books
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 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. . . .
Note From Michael
I like to work with existing genres, to see if I can do something different with them. I'd always wanted to write a time-travel story, mostly because I thought it would be a good way to talk about history, but also because I thought it would be an unusual adventure story. When I started work, I spent a year just reading. The first question I faced was what period to set the story in. Since I wanted to talk about history, it wouldn't do to make all the details up, which meant the story couldn't be set too far in the past. In Europe, if you go back much before 1300, there is relatively little good documentary evidence for the kinds of information I needed-clothing, food, speech mannerisms, the details of how people lived and behaved. What did people have for breakfast? Did they have breakfast at all? What time? Did everybody have breakfast, or only rich people? I need to be able to answer questions like those, or I can't proceed.
I decided to set the story in a time when knights still fought, because I was interested in the reality behind our clichéd ideas of the Middle Ages-men in armor, women in pointy hats, everybody freezing in bare, chilly castles. That meant that I could not set the story much later than 1370, because after that time, knights became progressively less important as a military force. In fact, even in the 1350s the English were dismounting their knights to fight, and beating the French who still used knights as traditional mounted shock cavalry.
So I determined my time period to be about 1300-1360. I chose France, because that time was a period of confusing and perpetual warfare in that country-not only the Hundred Years War between France and England, but also numerous private wars between rival dukes, as well as attacks by marauding companies of rogue knights. I chose the region around the Dordogne River of Southwest France, because that river was the frontier, the border between France and England, where fighting was intense and continuous.
I eventually settled on the year 1357, right after the great English victory at Poitiers, where the French King John-bon vivant and bad tennis player-was captured and held for ransom. The capture of the king was a profoundly disturbing event for the French.
As for the plot of TIMELINE, I imagined it from the beginning as a survival story. All this seemed straightforward enough, and I was surprised when the novel proved very difficult to write. I eventually realized the book was going slowly because I was required to describe all the settings and costumes in detail, since they were being seen by contemporary observers.
And of course, when I began, I had no idea that King John was a bad tennis player. I hadn't known there was a King John (or Jean, or Jean le Bon) of France at all. I started with no knowledge of my subject at all, and I had to build up a considerable amount of detailed information before I could write. I consider this fun, actually. I like to learn new things, and I think it's one of the great advantages of my job.
Timeline Produced by: Paramount Pictures Directed by: Richard Donner Written by: George Nolfi Based on a novel by: Michael Crichton Starring:
Paul Walker (Chris Hughes), Gerard Butler (Andre Marek), Billy Connolly (Professor Edward Johnston), Matt Craven (Kramer), Marton Csokas (Robert Dukere), Marie-Josee D'Amours, Ethan Embry (David Stern), Anna Friel (Lady Claire), David LaHaye, Neal McDonough, Frances O'Connor (Kate Erickson), Michael Sheen (Lord Oliver), Rossif Sutherland (Francois), David Thewlis (Robert Donniger), Lambert Wilson (Lord Arnaut)
Release Date: November 26, 2003
In the heart of the beautiful and historically rich Dordogne Valley of France, a team of archaeology students and their professor diligently work to uncover the ruins of a 14th-century castle. For Professor Edward Johnson (Billy Connolly), the project is the culmination of a lifelong dream. Aided by assistant professor Andre Marek (Gerard Butler), his son Chris (Paul Walker) and students Kate (Frances O'Connor), Stern (Ethan Embry) and Francois (Rossif Sutherland), Johnston has made major strides in unearthing not only La Roque Castle but also a monastery and structures from the surrounding village of Castelgard.
But things are about to go haywire...
Suspicious of the dig's benefactor, International Technology Corporation (ITC) and the man who runs it, Robert Doniger (David Thewlis), Professor Johnston heads to ITC headquarters in New Mexico to get some answers, and while he's away, his students discover a chamber that has been sealed for more than 600 years. Marek and Kate descend into the unstable room, and just before a near disastrous cave-in, they make two startling discoveries -- a bifocal lens, which couldn't have been invented before the chamber was sealed, and even more intriguing, a handwritten plea for help dated April 2, 1357 ... from Professor Johnston!
Determined to solve the mystery, the students head for ITC headquarters, where they are stunned to learn of Doniger's new invention -- a machine that can actually transmit three-dimensional objects through space. He meant for the device to revolutionize shipping. Doniger inadvertently opened a worm hole that leads directly to the 14th century, and Professor Johnston, who had insisted on experiencing the discovery himself, is now trapped in a vicious French vs. English feudal war! Can Johnston's loyal students survive one of the most violent battles in world history ... and make it back to the 21st century alive?
Timeline, the Game
You are part of a team of archeologists excavating an historic region of modern day France. Your team leader, Professor Johnston, has mysteriously disappeared leaving behind an unexpected videotape addressed to you with an imperative request. Now you must travel back to fourteenth century France to rescue him. And the adventure begins!
With the assistance from your fellow adventurer, make your way through a challenging and perilous interactive world to rescue your professor. Characters come to life with innovative facial animations and full audio dialogue. Immerse yourself in diverse and realistic environments all modeled with historic accuracy to create an authentic experience. Timeline is uniquely designed to be easy to learn, but still fun and challenging to play.
Story Driven: Michael Crichton's latest best-selling novel is brought to life! Experience the vivid realism, thrilling exploration, and unexpected suspense of his most dramatic adventure story since Jurassic Park.
Interactive World: Travel back in time to 14th Century feudal France to rescue your professor, and experience first-hand a perilous interactive world of knights, jousts, and castles.
Immersive Environments: Experience diverse and realistic environments, ranging from the dungeons and great halls of 14th Century French castles, to the excitement of jousting tournaments and the thrill of exploring underground rivers.
Entertaining and Challenging: A high quality entertainment experience for first-time PC gamers and veteran gamers alike
Exclusive Timeline tour: Features an interactive 3D tour of the Timeline world narrated by Michael Crichton!
Timeline, the Game