Dinotopia: A Land Apart From Time, by James Gurney

[rachelmanija]

A sort of long-form picture book for children and adults, about a shipwrecked father and son who wash up on a lost island, Dinotopia, where humans live in harmony with intelligent dinosaurs. The story is about how father and son integrate into the culture, with the father exploring while the son trains to become a quetzalcoatlus rider.

I'd seen art from Dinotopia but I never actually read the book. The book is great! The story is solid, the world is really well thought out, and the art is spectacular. All together, it takes you on a marvelous journey that you never want to end, and makes you feel like you're really there. The anniversary edition has an afterword by Gurney where he talks about wanting to write a narrative that isn't based on conflict, and a utopia that isn't sentimental or preachy. Though the art is what makes it sing, the writing is good too and he succeeds in his aims.

I was so happy to read this book, which I have sold repeatedly in my shop. And! There's three more books! I have ordered them and look forward to exploring Dinotopia some more.