Dinotopia: Land Apart From Time by James Gurney

Dinotopia is a fictional utopian place created by author and illustrator James Gurney. It is the setting for the book series with which it shares a name. Dinotopia is an isolated island inhabited by shipwrecked humans and sentient dinosaurs who have learned to coexist peacefully as a single symbiotic society. ImageMetadata File history File links Dinotopia_LAFT_cover. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Dinotopia_LAFT_cover. ... James Gurney (born June 14, 1958) is an artist and author best known for his illustrated book series Dinotopia, which is presented in the form of a 19th century explorer’s journal from an island utopia cohabited by humans and dinosaurs. ... See Utopia (disambiguation) for other meanings of this word Utopia, in its most common and general meaning, refers to a hypothetical perfect society. ... For other uses, see Author (disambiguation). ... An illustrator is a graphic artist who specializes in enhancing written text by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text. ... James Gurney (born June 14, 1958) is an artist and author best known for his illustrated book series Dinotopia, which is presented in the form of a 19th century explorer’s journal from an island utopia cohabited by humans and dinosaurs. ... This article is about modern humans. ... Sentience is the capacity for basic consciousness -- the ability to feel or perceive, not necessarily including the faculty of self-awareness. ... Orders & Suborders Saurischia Sauropodomorpha Theropoda Ornithischia Thyreophora Ornithopoda Marginocephalia Dinosaurs were vertebrate animals that dominated the terrestrial ecosystem for over 160 million years, first appearing approximately 230 million years ago. ...

Since its original publication, over twenty Dinotopia books (including two more by Gurney himself) have been published by various authors to expand the series. Several video games, a mini series, and a TV series have also been released. “Computer and video games” redirects here. ... A miniseries, in a serial storytelling medium, is a production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. ... A television program is the content of television broadcasting. ...

A fourth Dinotopia book by James Gurney, Dinotopia: Journey to Chandara, is set for publication in October, 2007.^[1]

The Name

The name "Dinotopia" is a portmanteau of "dinosaur" and "utopia". Ironically, Dinotopia means (in Greek) "terrible place", "dinosaur" meaning "terrible lizard" (dino-saur) and "utopia" meaning "good place" (eu-topia) or "no place" (ou-topia) The disillusioned character Lee Crabb mentions this discrepancy, claiming that humans on the island are slaves to dinosaurs. This article is about blends. ... Orders & Suborders Saurischia Sauropodomorpha Theropoda Ornithischia Thyreophora Ornithopoda Marginocephalia Dinosaurs were vertebrate animals that dominated the terrestrial ecosystem for over 160 million years, first appearing approximately 230 million years ago. ... For other uses, see Utopia (disambiguation). ...

The Island

Upon the hidden island of Dinotopia humans and dinosaurs live and work together in harmony with one another and with the Earth itself (save for the few predators who roam the jungle interior of the island). It is a place of beauty and wonder lost to the rest of the world. The island itself is surrounded by a storm system and dangerous reefs that prevent safe travel to or from the island. This article is about modern humans. ... This article is about Earth as a planet. ... This snapping turtle is trying to make a meal of a Canada goose, but the goose is too wary. ... For beauty as a characteristic of a persons appearance, see Physical attractiveness. ...

Aside from a highly diverse ecosystem ranging from deserts to mountains to swamps, Dinotopia also has an extensive system of natural and man-made caves. A coral reef near the Hawaiian islands is an example of a complex marine ecosystem. ... This article is about arid terrain. ... For other uses, see Mountain (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Cave (disambiguation). ...

The dinosaurs, according to their own legends, have inhabited the island for millions of years, having sought shelter there during the climate changes that caused the extinction of dinosaurs elsewhere on the planet. For other uses, see Legend (disambiguation). ... Badlands near Drumheller, Alberta where erosion has exposed the KT boundary. ... This article is about the astronomical term. ...

The human population, on the other hand, consists of shipwrecked travelers called Dolphinbacks (who are often rescued and brought to shore by dolphins) and the descendants of such arrivals. Genera See article below. ...

Dinosaurs are not the only prehistoric creatures on the island. In the higher regions of the Forbidden Mountains (a Himalaya-like mountain chain), woolly mammoths, giant ground sloths, chalicotheres, and other prehistoric mammals can be found. At least one Lystrosaurus and one Edaphosaurus can be found in the city of Pooktook. Pterosaurs are also common, especially the Quetzalcoatlus skybax, which serves as steeds for the skybax riders. This article is about the extinct mammal. ... Families Rathymotheriidae Scelidotheriidae Mylodontidae Orophodontidae Megalonychidae Megatheriidae Ground sloths are extinct edentate (Order Xenarthra) mammals that are believed to be relatives of tree sloths and three-toed sloths. ... Chalicotheres were a group of perissodactyl mammals that lived from 45 to 3. ... Species Lystrosaurus curvatus Lystrosaurus declivus Lystrosaurus mccaigi Lystrosaurus murrayi Lystrosaurus oviceps Lystrosaurus platyceps Lystrosaurus (meaning shovel reptile, pronounced list-row-sore-uss) was a genus of Early Triassic Period therapsids, which lived approximately 250 million years ago in what is now Antarctica, India and South Africa. ... Edaphosaurus was much like the Dimetrodon but ate plants and screeched in a high pitched tone that often sounded like Boris, dont touch me there! ... Species Quetzalcoatlus northropi (type) Quetzalcoatlus, named after the Aztec feathered serpent god Quetzalcoatl, was a pterodactyloid pterosaur known from the Late Cretaceous of North America (Campanian–Maastrichtian stages, 84–65 ma), and one of the largest known flying animals of all time. ... The Quetzalcoatlus skybax is a fictional creature in Dinotopia. ...

Both halves of the society share responsibility equally and live under a common set of laws known as the Code of Dinotopia. The society is highly communal, lacking a monetary system or even a concrete concept of ownership. Individuals are educated from youth to be compassionate, cooperative, and generally conscious of others' needs. For example, food on the island is provided at no cost, but citizens take only what they need and leave the rest for others. The Code of Dinotopia is a ancient fictional stone tablet citing the rules of living in Dinotopia. ... A monetary system secures the proper functioning of money by regulating economic agents, transaction types, and money supply. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Series Overview

Dinotopia began as an illustrated children's book called Dinotopia: A Land Apart From Time. It was a huge cross-over success (meaning it appealed to both children and adult readers) which led James Gurney to write and illustrate two more books called Dinotopia: The World Beneath and Dinotopia: First Flight. They all deal with the adventures of Arthur and Will Denison to one degree or another. All are illustrated and authored directly by James Gurney. These are considered the main books of the series and establish the fictional world in which the others are set.

A children's flip-up version of Dinotopia was also issued.

The Dinotopia Digest series consists of sixteen young adult novels penned by several different authors. These books feature other characters who are not specifically involved with the events of the main books.

Two full-length adult fantasy novels were also issued with Gurney's authority, written by Alan Dean Foster: Dinotopia Lost and Hand of Dinotopia. Alan Dean Foster (born November 18, 1946) is a prolific American writer of science fiction and fantasy novels and movie novelizations. ...

Several video games, as well as a miniseries, a TV series, and a children’s movie, were also produced. These are also set in the Dinotopia universe, but do not tie in directly with the main series. “Computer and video games” redirects here. ... A miniseries (sometimes mini-series), in a serial storytelling medium, is a production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. ... A television program is the content of television broadcasting. ... For other uses see film (disambiguation) Film refers to the celluliod media on which movies are printed Film — also called movies, the cinema, the silver screen, moving pictures, photoplays, picture shows, flicks, or motion pictures, — is a field that encompasses motion pictures as an art form or as... For other uses, see Universe (disambiguation). ...

Main Books

The plot of the main Dinotopia books concerns Arthur Denison and his son, Will, and the various people they meet in their travels in Dinotopia. The book is written as if it were Arthur's journal, with Gurney going so far as to explain in the introduction how he happened to come across the old, waterlogged volume. For other uses, see Book (disambiguation). ... This article is about the journal as a written medium. ...

In Dinotopia: A Land Apart From Time, the Denisons are shipwrecked near Dinotopia and, after making it ashore, are found by the people of the Hatchery. The Hatchery is a place where dinosaurs are born, tended by both dinosaurs and humans. The Denisons then set out to explore the island, hoping to find a means of returning to their old lives. Arthur Denison mentions Tyrannosaurus rex after setting forth on the island; however Henry Fairfield Osborn, president of the American Museum of Natural History, named Tyrannosaurus rex in 1905 and the events in Dinotopia are supposed to take place in the early 1860s. A hatchery is a facility where eggs are hatched under artificial conditions, especially those of fish or poultry. ... Henry Fairfield Osborn (August 8, 1857 — November 6, 1935) was an American paleontologist and geologist. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Arthur and Will undergo a broad journey, circling the island, as they endeavor to learn the customs and culture of their new neighbors. Arthur in particular develops an interest in the scientific accomplishments of the natives, which far exceed that of any human culture. Among the subjects he studies are the flora of the island, the partnership of its inhabitants, and the existence of a place known as the World Beneath. This World Beneath is an explanation for Dinotopians surviving the saurian extinction; according to the story, most of the Earth's dinosaurs were destroyed, whilst a few hid in vast underground caverns. These few became the original Dinotopians. No one has entered the World Beneath for centuries, but Arthur intends to do so. Custom has a number of meanings: A custom is a common practice among a group of people, especially depending on country, culture, time, and religion. ... For other uses, see Culture (disambiguation). ... Simplified schematic of an islands flora - all its plant species, highlighted in boxes. ... There is no universally accepted theory of what the word existence means. ... Badlands near Drumheller, Alberta where erosion has exposed the KT boundary. ...

His son Will, on the other hand, has chosen to train as a messenger of the sky; a Skybax rider, who lives in symbiosis with his mount, the great Quetzalcoatlus (nicknamed Skybax), a species of pterosaur. Training alongside Will is a girl called Sylvia, with whom Will falls in love. The natives refer to this and any other profound bond as Cumspiritik which means literally "together-breathing." (Romana Denison of the later Dinotopia film series is said to be Will's daughter.) For other uses, see Symbiosis (disambiguation). ... Species Quetzalcoatlus northropi (type) Quetzalcoatlus, named after the Aztec feathered serpent god Quetzalcoatl, was a pterodactyloid pterosaur known from the Late Cretaceous of North America (Campanian–Maastrichtian stages, 84–65 ma), and one of the largest known flying animals of all time. ... The Quetzalcoatlus skybax is a fictional creature in Dinotopia. ... Suborders Pterodactyloidea Rhamphorhynchoidea * Pterosaurs (, from the Greek πτερόσαυρος, pterosauros, meaning winged lizard, often referred to as pterodactyls, from the Greek πτεροδάκτυλος, pterodaktulos, meaning winged finger ) were flying reptiles of the clade Pterosauria. ...

Arthur, for his part, travels into the World Beneath, at the same time that Will and Sylvia are learning to fly with the Skybax. When he returns, he is fascinated by the ancient relics found there and convinced that they may be key in enabling him to leave or explore the island.

Meanwhile, Will and Sylvia learn and master Skybax flight. When at last they have been accepted as Riders, they travel to meet Arthur and his Protoceratops guide Bix, but are distracted on the way by a thunderstorm. Luckily, they survive and arrive on time to meet their kin. Will is at the time too young to marry Sylvia, but it is promised that they will. Arthur recognizes that his son has grown up, and they each accept the changes that are results of their new lives on the island. Protoceratops is a sheep-sized, herbivorous ceratopsian dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous of Mongolia. ...

Other Books In The Series

From 1995, James Gurney worked with a number of other authors on a series of short novels for children using the Dinotopia characters and themes, published by Random House: // Random House is a publishing house based in New York City. ...

1. Windchaser by Scott Ciencin
2. River Quest by John Vornholt
3. Hatchling by Midori Snyder
4. Lost City by Scott Ciencin
5. Sabertooth Mountain by John Vornholt
6. Thunder Falls by Scott Ciencin
7. Firestorm by Gene De Weese
8. The Maze by Peter David
9. The Rescue Party by Mark A. Garland
10. Skydance by Scott Ciencin
11. Chomper by Don Glut
12. Return to Lost City by Scott Ciencin
13. Survive! by Brad Strickland
14. The Explorers by Scott Ciencin
15. Dolphin Watch by John Vornholt
16. Oasis by Cathy Hapka

Two full-length adult fantasy novels were also issued with Gurney's authority, written by Alan Dean Foster: Dinotopia Lost (1996) and Hand of Dinotopia (1999). Scott Ciencin is an American author. ... John Vornholt is an American author. ... Midori Snyder has published six acclaimed novels for adults, as well as childrens fiction, poetry, and short stories. ... Peter Allen David (often abbreviated PAD) (born September 23, 1956) is an American writer, best known for his work in comic books and Star Trek novels. ... Donald F. Glut is an American writer, motion picture director, screenwriter and actor. ... William Brad Strickland (1947-) is an American author known primarily for his fantasy and science fiction. ... Alan Dean Foster (born November 18, 1946) is a prolific American writer of science fiction and fantasy novels and movie novelizations. ...

As of 2007, a fourth installment in James Gurney's main series, titled Dinotopia: Journey to Chandara, has been published. Thirty-one paintings from the new book are currently on display at the Los Angeles Public Library. 2007 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) system serves the residents of Los Angeles, California. ...

Other media (TV Miniseries and Series)

A 2002 six-hour TV mini-series (three two hour episodes) produced by Hallmark Entertainment was also based on James Gurney's work, featuring new characters such as Zippo (changed to Zippeau for the TV series to avoid legal issues with the lighter maker Zippo), a Stenonychosaurus who is said to have worked with Sylvia; and a new plot device, the sunstones, which are described as a source of power and protection originating in the World Beneath. This in turn became the pilot for a short-lived series, wherein the failure both of the sunstones and of Dinotopian officials to adhere to the underlying meanings of their culture's philosophy caused several discontented people – a leader-in-training, Zippeau himself, an two twentieth-century Dolphinbacks, Carl and David – to embark on a quest that led ultimately to the World Beneath. The characters in the miniseries refer several times to figures from the various books, including Will Denison, Gideon Altaire, and Lee Crabb, whose son Cyrus features as the antagonist. The mini-series won an Emmy for its special effects. Also see: 2002 (number). ... Hallmark Cards, a privately owned company based in Kansas City, Missouri, is the largest manufacturer of greeting cards in the United States. ... Stenonychosaurus (type species ) was named by C.M. Sternberg in 1932, based on a foot, fragments of a hand, and some caudal vertebrae from the Late Cretaceous of Alberta. ... Look up Power in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Culture (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Philosophy (disambiguation). ... This article is about the word, for other meanings see Quest (disambiguation) A quest is a journey towards a goal with great meaning and is used in mythology and literature as a plot device. ... For other uses, see Book (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Antagonist (disambiguation). ...

In the TV series, there are a group of people known as Outsiders (led by LeSage (Lisa Zane) who is an old friend of Rosemary Waldo) that live outside the laws of Dinotopia. They are one of the dangers of Dinotopia outside of the featured carnivorous dinosaurs (including Pteranodon, T. rex, and crocodile-like Mosasaurus). Though thirteen episodes were produced, only five were aired on ABC. The entire thirteen were aired the following year in Europe. Sci-fi veteran David Winning directed two episodes of the series, location shooting for three months in Budapest, Hungary. Lisa Zane (born April 5, 1961 in Chicago, Illinois, USA) is an American actress who has starred on stage, in film and television. ... Species (type) Pteranodon (from Greek πτερ- wing and αν-οδων toothless), from the Late Cretaceous (santonian-campanian, 85-82 million years ago) of North America (Kansas, Alabama, Nebraska, Wyoming, South Dakota) was one of the largest pterosaur genera, with a wingspan of up to 9 m (30 feet). ... Species T. rex (type) Osborn, 1905 Synonyms Manospondylus Cope, 1892 Dynamosaurus Osborn, 1905  ?Nanotyrannus Bakker, Williams & Currie, 1988 Stygivenator Olshevsky, 1995 Dinotyrannus Olshevsky, 1995 Tyrannosaurus (IPA pronunciation or , meaning tyrant lizard) is a genus of theropod dinosaur. ... Genera Mecistops Crocodylus Osteolaemus See full taxonomy. ... Mosasaurus (MOH-zah-sawr-us) was a mosasaur, a carnivorous, aquatic reptile, somewhat resembling a crocodile, with elongated heavy jaws: it lived in the Maastrichtian age of the Cretaceous period (Mesozoic era), around 70-65 millions years ago. ... Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... David Winning (born May 8, 1961 in Calgary, Alberta) is a Canadian-born film and television director. ... See Budapest (band) for the British melancholic post-grunge band. ...

There is also a 2005 traditionally-animated movie called Dinotopia: Quest for the Ruby Sunstone. This film deviated from the original books in more than the miniseries by featuring Ogthar, a mythical ruler of the World Beneath (mentioned in the miniseries) as a human warlord rather than a benevolent, if commanding emperor; by creating an "evil" counterpart to the sunstones; and by having Ogthar command dinosaurs (rather than humans) as his cohorts. Traditional animation, also referred to as classical animation, cel animation, or hand-drawn animation, is the oldest and historically the most popular form of animation. ... A warlord is a person with power who has de facto military control of a subnational area due to armed forces loyal to the warlord and not to a central authority. ...

A number of Dinotopia computer games have been produced, including Dinotopia: Living The Adventure (PC), Dinotopia: The Timestone Pirates (Game Boy Advance), Dinotopia: The Sunstone Odyssey (XBox & GameCube), andDinotopia Game Land Activity Center (PC).

References

Text

1. Gurney, James. (1992). Dinotopia: A Land Apart Form Time. Turner Publishing. Hardcover.

References

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the. ... is the 256th day of the year (257th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Dinotopia official website
• James Gurney's blog
• Dinotopia Journey to Chandara publisher's website