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Crichton creates powerful alternate universe in new novel

It has been said that there are three constants in this world. Death, taxes and, far more regular than the others, the fact that anything Michael Crichton writes is snatched up immediately by Hollywood producers.

"Timeline" (Knopf, $26.95) is Crichton's newest future movie, and like his other works, it reads with cinematic speed and vision.

The archaeological excavation at Castlegard, a medieval site in France, seems on the surface to be a standard survey, but the fact that it is funded by ITC, a scientific corporation delving into the deepest levels of quantum physics, makes this project curiously different.

When a chilling message is found among the medieval scrolls, Chris Hughes, Marek and Kate Erickson become a bit more involved with this company than they had planned. ITC has discovered a method of time travel by moving through parallel universes and have somehow lost Professor Johnson, the head of this Medieval dig. Thus, they recruit these three scholars to go back in time and to bring him back.

As evidenced by the lengthy bibliography at the back of "Timeline," Michael Crichton has once again done his homework. When Chris, Marek and Kate find themselves in 14th century France, the scene that unfurls before them is realistic and exciting. Great pains have been taken to reproduce an accurate historical representation, and everything from clothing to architecture to the brutal violence rampant in this time makes this story credible.

In spite of this erudition and action coursing through the pages, there are some things not sufficiently explored in "Timeline." The complex idea of time paradoxes, for example, is discussed, invalidated and dropped. Whether or not a time traveler could influence the course of history is a complex and fascinating topic that could justly be explored within the context of this book.

"There are no time paradoxes," one ITC scientist scoffs.

"When we are dealing with history, theories are worthless," says another. Some not entirely convincing arguments are given to support these claim and there it lies.

Yet throughout the book the actions of these travelers surely seem to cause changes. Perhaps not grand historical changes, but exploring, for example, Malek's final fateful decision and its repercussions on modern history would be a fascinating tangent. How has his personal world changed? How have those close to him changed? Where Crichton's writing excels in factual knowledge, it sometimes lacks in critical thinking.

Nevertheless Crichton has created a well-crafted, exciting novel that has the ability to control the reader. Try putting this one down and it won't be on the table for long. Read it before it comes out on the big screen.