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Dinotopia is a fictitious utopian place created from the imagination of author and illustrator James Gurney. The name "Dinotopia" is a portmanteau of Dinosaur and Utopia. Ironically, Dinotopia means (in Greek) "Terrible Place", as dinosaur means "Terrible Lizard" (dino-saur), while utopia means "No Place" (u-topia).
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 that roam the land. It is a place of beauty and wonder lost to the rest of the world. The island itself is surrounded by storms that prevent anyone from leaving.
Dinotopia began as an illustrated children's book called Dinotopia: A Land apart from Time. It was a huge success which led James Gurney to write and illustrate two more books called Dinotopia: The World Beneath and Dinotopia: First Flight. A children's flip-up version of Dinotopia was also issued.
The plot of Dinotopia: A Land apart from Time concerns Arthur Dennison and his son, Will, and the various people they meet in their travels in Dinotopia. It is written as if it was Arthur's journal. The Dennison's 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; various humans help in the process.
Arthur and Will undergo a broad journey, circling the island, as they endeavour to learn the customs and culture. 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 an place known as the World Beneath. This World Beneath is an explanation for 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.
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. Training alongside Will, under the Master Pilot Oolu, is a girl called Sylvia, of Italian ancestry, whom Will joins in Cumspiritik. Cumspiritik means literally "together-breathing" and refers to any profound bond between two who are not gene relations. Between Will and Sylvia, the Cumspiritik takes the form of a sexual/emotional link. Romana Dennison of the later Dinotopia film series is said to be Will's daughter.
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 like one reborn.
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 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 of their lives.
Books
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:
- Windchaser by Scott Ciencin
- River Quest by John Vornholt
- Hatchling by Midori Snyder
- Lost City by Scott Ciencin
- Sabertooth Mountain by John Vornholt
- Thunder Falls by Scott Ciencin
- Firestorm by Gene De Weese
- The Maze by Peter David
- The Rescue Party by Mark A. Garland
- Skydance by Scott Ciencin
- Chomper by Don Glut
- Return to Lost City by Scott Ciencin
- Survive! by Brad Strickland
- The Explorers by Scott Ciencin
- Dolphin Watch by John Vornholt
- 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).
A fourth book by James Gurney is scheduled for publication in the Fall of 2007. Journey to Chandara will follow Arthur Denison and Bix as they explore Chandara.
Other media
A 2002 four hour TV mini-series produced by Hallmark Entertainment was also based on James Gurney's work. This in turn became the pilot for a short-lived series. In the TV series, the villains known as Outsiders are led by LeSage (Lisa Zane), an old friend of Rosemary Waldo. Though thirteen episodes were supposedly produced, only five were aired.
There was also an animated movie called Dinotopia: Quest for the Ruby Sunstones — The Movie.
A number of Dinotopia computer games were produced, including Dinotopia: The Timestone Pirates and Dinotopia Game Land Activity Center.
External links
ABC network shows | Fictional countries | Utopias | Dinosaurs in fiction
"Dinotopia"