Talk:Timeline (novel)

External link
Okay, now we at least have a stub up... I thought about putting Amazon's page on it as an external link, but I don't know what policy says about that, as it is a retail site? --DUc0N 11:27, 19 Dec 2004 (UTC)

Multiverse theory
The summary of Crichton's take on the "multiverse" is missing a key piece of information. In the book, Crichton indicated that only universes which are closely parallel to each other can affect each other. In other words, only very similar universes will ever "interact" with each other, not all universes, everywhere.--173.170.17.249 (talk) 17:53, 11 May 2009 (UTC)

Problem with the story
If they don't travel in time, but to a parallel universe, how did the professors message and glasses get back? :-O -- Nils Jeppe 11:30, 18 Jun 2005 (UTC)

^^^remember its fiction^^^ —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.190.35.38 (talk) 00:31, 10 October 2008 (UTC)

The whole "Science" section is taken directly from the novel, without being clear about this fact. Whole pages are quoted, verbatim save for the removal of "Gordon said" and the like.

It needs to either be made into a proper paraphrasing (i.e. the book's wording must be avoided) or into a proper quotation (in which case it's probably too extensive for "fair use" to protect it). In either case, the Wikipedia article needs to be very clear that the entire section is taken directly from the book.

-- Cythraul 14:34, 23 August 2005 (UTC)

Timeline, however, has some scientific and factual errors
i think this claim should be bolstered with examples, preferably by someone adept at explaining quantum mechanics in simple terms. Streamless 17:45, 10 February 2006 (UTC)

Keep in mind that Timeline is indeed fiction while you read it, and it should be read as such. haha. :) 69.19.14.17 (talk) 17:14, 2 May 2008 (UTC)

Suggest removal
''Although trivial, it's worth a mention that ITC employee Frank Gordon might be named after Half-Life protagonist Gordon Freeman, since they both work for hi tech research companies. Although Timeline was published after the release of Half-Life, the opposite can also be true, that Gordon Freeman takes part of his name from Frank Gordon. This could have been accomplished if an employee of Valve (the developers of Half Life and its sequel) had access to the book before its publication. Also worth noting that the location of ITC is in Black Rock, which is similar to Black Mesa, the research facility in Half-Life where most of the game takes place.''

This should probably be removed as pure speculation. Frank Gordon and Gordon Freeman? Come on. That's a bit of a stretch. High tech research companies are common in science fiction thrillers. PrometheusX303 23:07, 28 June 2006 (UTC)

"Literary significance & criticism" problems
This entire sections is poorly written and hard to follow. I suggest it be rewritten, in part if not completely. I don't know what exactly the section is even trying to say, as it's all over the place. I'm going to begin trying to make sense of it, but help would be appreciated.--Mike 12:14, 18 November 2006 (UTC)
 * I strongly agree. It is just...bad. There are grammar problems, unspecific and unsupported assertions, and an almost total lack of illustrative examples. Unless it can be re-written to be useful, I would suggest cutting it. GutterMonkey 09:07, 19 November 2006 (UTC)


 * Personally, this section is just pure POV until someone backs it up with factual information from peer-reviewed sources. Their is nothing cited in the whole section, and it isn't written from an objective perspective. A proper way to open may be "Some literary critics and scientists criticized the book for factual errors and omission of relevant information." I suggest tagging it with POV until it is fixed, or removing it altogether until somebody writes something better. --Alcarcalimo2364 09:01, 21 November 2006 (UTC)


 * Well, after spending an hour on google looking for a group of scientists who would criticize the science in this book, I couldn't find any. So I'm gonna delete the section until somebody finds something to write in this section, because the crap that is there now won't work. --Alcarcalimo2364 10:11, 25 November 2006 (UTC)


 * You guys are right about the page not being good quality, but I would sure like to see "literary devices & elements" as a section. That would be pretty helpful. --Superjoe30 03:04, 9 February 2007 (UTC)

Error in the Plot Summary
"Sir Guy de Malegant also tramples the lead guide (Gomez) with his horse, and takes her transmitters from her ears (Although the protagonists do not realize this)."

I don't think this is right. de Malegant decapitates Gomez, and some of the time-travellers go back to retrieve the back-up 'homing' device from her wig, but no-one removes her comms devices, and only de Kere/Deckard is able to listen in to the protagonists. Halmyre 18:55, 7 May 2007 (UTC)


 * The summary refers to "archaeologists," and it is true that the people are doing archaeology, but the author, who got a degree in physical anthropology, refers to them as experimental historians and people in ancillary fields. Kdammers (talk) 11:41, 15 July 2015 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:MichaelCrighton Timeline.jpg
Image:MichaelCrighton Timeline.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.BetacommandBot 21:50, 5 June 2007 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:Timeline Book.jpg
Image:Timeline Book.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images lacking such an explanation can be deleted one week after being tagged, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.

BetacommandBot (talk) 02:23, 12 February 2008 (UTC)

andre and arnaut vs oliver?
"Arnaut and André find Oliver about to drown Johnston, but save Johnston and leave Oliver to drown instead" i believe arnaut makes chris(not andre) lead him to oliver where they save the professor 24.17.211.150 (talk) 04:57, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

I agree. I just finished the book. Andre was with the Professor when Oliver had him taken to the dungeon; he was tied up in the corner. Arnaut has Chris lead him to the dungeons. Frogger1093 (talk) 02:14, 2 April 2010 (UTC)

ITC?
The plot summary refers to something called "ITC," which seems to play an important role in the plot. However, the abbreviation is left undefined. Is it a corporation? One might think so because it evidently has a chief executive officer. Defining the abbreviation or explaining what ITC is would help make the plot summary more understandable to readers.

Zedshed (talk) 12:56, 15 July 2020 (UTC)