Timeline, The Book

[DanL]

Originally Posted by LBK Rules

I love how Chrichton goes over the science of his fictional inventions. (Quantum mechanics, anyone? )

Chrichton also had a note after the end stating that the whole idea was complete fiction and only remotely based on fact ;-)


Personally, I liked the book. I was also quite satisfied with the movie. True, the movie wasn't anything spectacular, but they didn't completely mess the thing up (*ahem* Matrix: Revolutions). It was nice seeing the book on the screen, although if you haven't read the book, I can understand why you wouldn't think much of the movie - its one of those movies that you have to have read the book to appreciate.

For you purists out there, yeah, of course they left things out in the movie... think of it this way: movies are rarely over 2 hours (the average American attention span). It's impossible to cram every single event in the novel into a 2, 3 hour movie and still make it watchable. Overall, I think they did a good job (except, of course, for the casting of that stupid professor's son actor... I can understand why he looks like someone from Dawson's Creek, but the guy's just a terrible actor rant rant rant...)

[Meredith Rice]

I read the book quite some time ago (I think when I was in 8th grade) and I really enjoyed it then. I thought the physics allusions added alot to the book. My parents who also read it saw the movie and felt it was good becuase it stuck to the book, but thought the acting was poor, so I am not sure I will spare the expense to go and see it myself. Perhaps I'll just reread the book instead.

[Yan Wang]

I agree that the book was very good. It's my favorite by of Chrichton's works. It was well paced, had great plot turns, and I loved the medieval setting and storyline.

However, if you want a really good read dealing with history, technology, and the future, read Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. That should be on every FIRST member's reading list, if not already read.

[FotoPlasma]

Originally Posted by monsieurcoffee

However, if you want a really good read dealing with history, technology, and the future, read Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. That should be on every FIRST member's reading list, if not already read.

Even though I loved it, Snow Crash was pretty extravagant and cartoonish (it was originally intended to be a graphic novel). Technology-wise, I think it's very interesting to see a vision of the future from the past (approx. 1988-1990), and how Stephenson predicted things would evolve, but I wouldn't say that that's why someone should read the book. It's just good cyberpunk.

I thought Cryptonomicon was better.