I was really excited to read this book, because I’ve never yet read a time travel science fiction book that made me believe it or feel any respect for the science behind it. I thought that if anyone could do it, Crichton could. Not only does Crichton not, it seems like he doesn’t even try. There are plot holes you could drive a truck through-- are they alternative universes, or is it the past? And if it is the past, his explanation for avoiding paradox seems goofier than any I’ve seen yet. It really hurt my experience of the book that I just didn’t believe the basic premise.
That said, the detail and background and plain old respect for history evident in the medieval sections are really impressive. It felt well-researched and well-executed and the reactions of the modern characters to the fourteenth century world seemed believable and well-drawn.
And, as usual, very few writers can beat Crichton for pure entertainment value. He’s got a keen sense of pacing and plot and even with my deep irritation at the time travel thing, I had a hard time putting the book down until it was done.