Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely Breathtaking
Review: This book is one of the most incredible books ever written. I thoroughly recommend it to everyone. Of all the books which deserve cult status, this book is the most breathtaking.The artwork is amazing! The paintings simply take your breath away. Whenever I want to escape, I read this book. Whenever I want to immerse myself again in the land of Dinotopia, I just look at one of the fabulous paintings and i'm there. The book is accessible to everyone - there are characters which connect with every person on this earth. The story is magical and deserves greater praise than I could ever give it. I LOVE THIS BOOK! PLEASE BUY IT!!!!! PLEASE!
Rating:
Summary: Buy it now.. for fans of Dinos, Fantasy, Really Good Art
Review: This book was casually picked off the shelf at a friends house and right away I realized how amazing it was. In my opinion the only really great part of the book - what sets it apart from other sci-fi/fantasy - are the illustrations. The book tells about an island where dinasour and man still live in harmony, as well as (later in the series) revealling the history of the place which shows that it is compiled from many different cultures and someone's strange attempt to mimick dinasours with machines. But again, the story - in my eyes - is completely secondary. It only is there to give Mr.Gurney a chance to do what he is really good at, which is the illustrations. The story says that here is a fantastical island with architecture and fashion and climate zones from around the world and throughout history so the author/illustrator makes up these cities, towns and lonely outposts accordingly. Every page is illustrated, and on one page you will see yourself looking at a bustling city that really reminds you of Rome and the next page you have travelled through a rainforest, through a mideval-like festival and to a secluded castle propped atop a steep snowy mountain, right out of any good Chinese film. The illustrations are just breathtaking. Sometimes a little thumbnail color pencil job, showith a city from afar and sometimes a full, double page oil or watercolor painting showing a beautiful panoramic veiw, I found the book really inspiring because of these great works of art that can be found on every page. Anyone who is into dreaming up imaginary worlds or drawing fun landscapes should definately get this book, and perhaps even the sequels. The fact that the author used to work for National Geographic drawing reproductions of ancient cultures (you know, those *really* cool pictures that you could look at for hours?) should give you an idea of just what to expect from every page of this great book. eliStagedoor.tripod.com
Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: This is the most amazing book I have ever read! With all the dinosaurs and humans on the island, it almost makes me want to be there! Its a good thing the dinosaurs are proud of their strengh, or else the humans would do a lot of walking! This book is a must-read for all ages.
Rating:
Summary: Great book to read with the kids!
Review: We have read this book at least 3 times to my son, who loved it. The illustrations are both beautiful and detailed, giving young explorers lots of things to look at, analyze and dream about. The story is both exciting and educational. Kids learn about cooperation and tolerance - something that all kids should learn. We didn't want this one to end!
Rating:
Summary: A Very Interesting & Special Fantasy Adventure
Review: Well,I know that this book is mostly for children but I can`t stop liking it,as I am a great admirer of dinosaurs and prehistoric animals. There has been books before where humans and dinosaurs meet,but no one as special as this one.
What would the world have looked like if the dinosaurs were still alive?
Would we have used Brontosaurus as a beast of burden?
The little 5-foot long Protoceratops as a pet?
Or T-rex as the main attraction on zoos?
It is always an interesting thought. Some of the dinosaurs does not just seem to be like pets or beasts of burden for the humans,they are often very helpfull and intelligent beeings. Even the nasty Velociraptor can be domesticated here.
Well,I`ll give you a short description of the plot here:
Arthur Denison and his son Will are stranded on a mysterious island in the late 19th century. They find a little,strange animal (which later appears to be a protoceratops)which have been hurt. When they approach it,they are suddenly surrounded by gigantic creatures of many shapes and colors - DINOSAURS!
And then,a human appears to calm down the animals. They are now taken to a house were normal people live.
Then,they experience different adventures on the island,among them a flight in the mountains on giant pterosaurs,here called "dragons",a ride on giant ostrich dinosaurs,and a confrontation with Tyrannosaurus rex!
Over all,my thoughts about this book is that it is very great. The illustrations are of high quality and invalueable to the ones that likes dinosaurs. I am currently writing a story named "The Forgotten Island",were an expedition are sent to explore an island were dinosaurs are still alive. That story is quite inspired by this one,although the dinosaurs are not accompanied by humans in my story. I especially like the fact that he has included many not so well known dinosaurs in Dinotopia - for example the enormous ostrich dinosaur with 8-foot arms named Deinocheirus. Or the pterosaur Quetzalcoatlus.
Over all,this is a great book that receives all appreciation it can get as a wonderfull fantasy adventure.
I have heard that it is going to be visualized into a massive TV movie in the year of 2002 - over six hours!It will be really interesting to see what it looks like. As James Gurney has been their concept artist,I don`t think it`ll bee bad. I am currently looking a lot forward to it. While waiting,don`t forget to read the book.
Rating:
Summary: I can't decide wether to frame it or Read it
Review: When I first read this book, I was very young. The story captivated me, and when I took the time to look up from the words, the illustrations left me completely speechless. There is nothing quite like flipping the full page open that contains Gurney's sketch of Waterfall City...perhaps the most amazing thing I have ever seen. Now, I know the story very well, and I find it very difficult to keep my midn focused on reading it again, because the artwork is captivating. I cannot say enough about Gurney's creative talent. His world where a group of beings with 65 million years of experience now teach humans, who considered themselves the ultimate beings on the planet, about philosophy, metallurgy, writing, building...The story conveys the incredibly complex simplicity that makes up all believable fictional worlds. And let's not forget the incredible incredible art.
Rating:
Summary: I can't decide wether to frame it or Read it
Review: When I first read this book, I was very young. The story captivated me, and when I took the time to look up from the words, the illustrations left me completely speechless. There is nothing quite like flipping the full page open that contains Gurney's sketch of Waterfall City...perhaps the most amazing thing I have ever seen. Now, I know the story very well, and I find it very difficult to keep my midn focused on reading it again, because the artwork is captivating. I cannot say enough about Gurney's creative talent. His world where a group of beings with 65 million years of experience now teach humans, who considered themselves the ultimate beings on the planet, about philosophy, metallurgy, writing, building...The story conveys the incredibly complex simplicity that makes up all believable fictional worlds. And let's not forget the incredible incredible art.
Rating:
Summary: "Breathe deep. Seek peace."
Review: When I think of Paradise, I envision Dinotopia. True, it is a book designed mainly to describe a Utopia. But somehow, it comes across as much more than merely some fairy-tale dream or some idealistic imagined land with strange mythology mixed in. Yes, much more. When you read Dinotopia, the first thing you notice is how it is illustrated. A wonderfully concept art styled, somewhat sketchy looking, yet ultimately gorgeous art is displayed throughout the book. Many of it's illustrations have been "borrowed" (or stolen) as inspiration for other books and movies. Waterfall City and the Canyon City in particular continue to impress me. But the art of Dinotopia is only half of the book. The other half is the way it is written. Dinotopia is written like it is the lost journal of a scientist who washed up on the island after a shipwreck. Much of the book is seen from his perspective as you discover and learn about the science, technology, scenery, and way of life of Dinotopia and its inhabitants. You come to care about him and his son. And you may indeed come to love Dinotopia as if it were a real place. It's hard to say what exactly is so compeling about the reality of Dinotopia. For a book without a real source of conflict, without some sort of crisis, it is remarkably interesting. Perhaps it is the technology. Like a wanderer walking through a distant dimension, we find outselves amazed by the wonders of a civilization we never knew existed. Perhaps it is the unity of the people of Dinotopia, combined with their diversity (each region has a different culture, way of living, and style of life, but everyone believes in the same things). Perhaps there is something romantic and exciting about the Skybax riders who soar through the air, which hints at the exciting and wonderful things in life we all dream of experiencing. Perhaps it is the mysteries of the lost World Beneath, which hint at all the wonders of nature and humanity alike which we have yet to discover. At any rate, Dinotopia touches on something wonderful about human nature and the world we live in. It is full of a scientists longing to understand, and child's sense of wonder. I love Dinotopia. I really think everyone should read this book. Maybe if they did, the world we live in could be a little more united, a little more beautiful, a little more hopeful. A little more...like Dinotopia.
Rating:
Summary: I still remember it, from when I was 12
Review: When I was younger I read this book frequently. It inspired the imagination and spurred interest in the exploration of far off places and archeology. When I read this book I was a little girl, and now I still remember it and flip through the pages of the creative illustrations. It is a great book for younger readers, which I hope one day my own children can share.
Rating:
Summary: Some of the most beautiful artwork I have seen!
Review: While the story of Dinotopia is enthralling in itself, the realistic paintings are what truly captivate me. The author, James Gurney amazes me with the way he has created a whole world on his own, complete with costume, architecture and objects which resemble a vast array of cultures yet also are very unique and fascinating. The amount of effort and of reasearch that seem to have been put into the book are as good reasons as any to take a good look at this soon-to-be classic!
| 
