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Summary: Dinotopia lives -- as Naboo in Star Wars I
Review: Gurney's illustrations are truely timeless. They've recently been reproduced in craven and uncredited detail by the "art" team of Star Wars I : the Phantom Menace. See in particular the layout of Waterfall City, the monumental arches, and the triumphant procession. So striking was the resemblance that back when we saw the very first preview of P.M. my son and I looked at each other and said in one voice "Dinatopia." Apart from the look of the sets, the two stories are worlds apart. "Breath deep. Seek peace." say the gentle Dinatopians. "May the Force be with you." say the Star Warriors. I guess the Force figures it can take whatever it wants... Check out the original.
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Summary: Scrumptiously Illustrated Fantasy For All!
Review: Having always been fascinated by those giants who roamed the planet eons ago, I had to have this one upon its initial publication. "Dinotopia's" tale of a land jointly inhabited by man and dinosaur is a truly captivating adventure. As fanciful as the premise is, the author logically develops the dinosaur characters based on the uniqueness of each respective species. Most are "good" and commune well with their fellow humans; but the T-Rex is still his usual grouchy self, much to the appreciation of us who were raised with the knowledge that the animal was one mean carnivore! By placing the setting in the 1800's, the book could have been written by Wells or Verne, which gives it the feel of a classic. And a classic, it is.
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Summary: One of the best dinosaur- fantasy books ever!
Review: I absolutely love this book! I have read it five times and still I am not tired of it. With all the T-rexes and Raptors eating people in movies, it is great to see a book that has dinosaurs and humans living in harmony. I love dinosaurs and this book has beautiful pictures of them! Get this book even if you don't like dinosaurs. You soon will if you read the book!
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Summary: Great for kids and adults too!
Review: I enjoyed this book when I read it when I was 8 or 10 the illustrations dazzeled me and as almost all young boys go through a period of intrest with dinoasaurs I was captivated to see a structured society of humans and dinosaurs. However when I read the book again as a 14 year old I was amazed at the bits of information I didn't appreciate as a child. The idea that because dinosaurs lived for millions of years and humans just a blink of an eye in evolutionary retrospect, that the dinosaurs had already tackled the most difficult philosophical problems, writing greatly before humans emerged. Even the science and technology that continues through the book is enjoyed even more as my understanding has progressed since the first time I read this wonderful book. "'What hour is it?' I asked, reaching instinctively for my pocket watch. Malik took a step back. 'Time for Kentrosaurus to hatch. Time to plant the millet. Time for the magnolia buds to open. Professor Denison, I'm afraid you persist in thinking of time as numbers. You think of meaningless units of time - weeks, hours, minutes - based on what? Movements of faraway planets? Of what use to us is that? Why not pay attention to the precise 30-year life cycle of the bamboo Guadua trinii or the exactly repeated mitotic cycle of the paramecium? The whole earth has a heartbeat.'" This is one of my favorite passages of Dinotopia. Such tidbits of science and philosophy are a highlight of this wonderfully entertaining book. Illustrations on every page to aid the wandering mind, this book is truly a gem.
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Summary: Great
Review: I first heard of Dinotopia when I saw a Dinotopia calender on display. Much later I bought the book. I just loved. It's a good story (the best of the three, IMHO), but the real gems are the illustrations. Nothing compares. Absolutely fantastic.
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Summary: Great Memories
Review: I first read this book when I was maybe eight years old; I read it over the course of a few days I was off from school, due to being sick. It was probably one of the best reads of my life (rivalling the first time I read Lord of the Rings). The illustrations were absolutely beautiful, and the story was truly engrossing. The way it was written was interesting as well; written in the form of a journal, but in a very human manner, as though it *was* a journal, rather than just a *story* written as a journal (does that make any sense).
Anyway, quite a few months ago I was home from school again, and out of boredom I picked it up off of my bookshelf. The illustrations are still absolutely beautiful, and the story is still truly engrossing. I read through it in maybe an hour, and was completely blown away. None of the magic which I had felt when I was but a young child had gone away; it was just as wonderful as ever.
If you have a child who is into dinosaurs, or anything fanciful, buy this for them to read or to read with them. It will stick with them (and you) forever...
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Summary: A MUST HAVE FOR ANY LIBRARY-CHILDREN AND ADULT!!
Review: I found out about the dinotopia books by chance. I am suprised at how many children and adults dont know about this book. This book and the sequel book are absolutely fantastic! I read it to my older son, who was 6 at the time in one day! He now reads it in installments to his brother and sister. A true classic that needs to be up there with Tom Sawyer, Treasure Island and such!
I can say I will still be reading this again when Im 80!
Trust Me You Will Not Be Disapointed In This Story!
Makes a great gift for any Dinosaur Lover!
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Summary: Marvelous illustrations and content!
Review: I found this book in on my brother's bookshelf thinking it would be a nice bedtime story. The cover looked interesting enough, but from the first page I was hooked. As an 18 year old, I was surprised at how this book captured my attention with its detailed illustrations and maps. It was an easy read, but I took longer than usual to finish it, because I lingered on each page, simply marveling at the pictures! In a fictional world of dinosaurs and humans, this book will touch your creative side like few others. I highly recommend Dinotopia, especially for reading aloud to a younger audience. I could just imagine myself in such a world and I'm certain you will too!
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Summary: Perfect paradise
Review: I loved it! The pictures could not fit the book any better. The idea sounds like a Jurasic Park spin off but instead of dinosaurs try to eat each other, they live in peace. James Gurney created an amazing lifelike world. CLASSIC!
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Summary: A great book!!!
Review: I loved this book!!!:-) I absolutely though it was AMAZING!!! The Dinosaurs are not hostile, what a revelation!(except for the inhabitants of the Rainy Basin, but you have to read that.) I really thought it was interesting and the fact that the Dino's were equal with if not superior to the humans was great. You must read this book, there's something for everybody.
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