Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly
Gurney's bestselling illustrated fantasy, Dinotopia: A Land Apart from Time, conjured up a lost world where people and dinosaurs live in peaceful interdependence. This sequel, which should be equally popular, follows the further adventures of naturalist Arthur Denison and his daredevil son, Will, shipwrecked on Dinotopia since 1862. Accompanied by exotic-looking musician Oriana Nascava and treacherous buccaneer Lee Crabb, father and son ride a submarine and stumble upon the World Beneath, a realm of quaint villages, labyrinthine tunnels, archetypal designs, natural stone sculptures, crystalline caves and lush gardens. The dinosaurs, whether above or below land, are sometimes fierce but more often genial presences who serve as means of transport and attend meetings with human elders. A treasure-hunting search for the fabled sunken city of Poseidos turns up connections among the Dinotopians, ancient Egypt and Atlantis. Despite the cardboard characters and trite story line, the more than 160 sparkling, fey paintings, at once fanciful and precise, pull readers into an enchanting adventure that should capture the most skeptical, armor-plated heart. 200,000 first printing; major ad/promo; Literary Guild, Scholastic and Doubleday Book Club selections; author tour. (Oct.)
Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot
Ever since the first Dinotopia adventure, aficionados of this fantasy world have been awaiting a sequel. It has arrived, and it is once again an incredible feat. The story is a more or less typical adventure-Arthur Denison and his teenage son, Will, set out to discover the secret of a long-lost Dinotopian civilization and encounter evil in the form of Lee Crabb, and romance with Oriana, a Dinotopian musician. What makes this book so unusual is the complete world Gurney has created. People and dinosaurs live together in a fantasy world that seems so real that you may yearn to become a resident. The artwork is gorgeous, and the science accurate. Complex single and double page illustrations tell the story almost without the text, and lest you think this may be the end of the road for the Professor and Will, just look at the Dinotopia map and see the many places left to visit and learn about.
From Barnes & Noble
When Professor Arthur Denison embarks on a quest into the deepest mystery of Dinotopia, he stumbles upon a monumental discovery that will teach him an important lesson about the power and peril of technology and embroil him in a desperate race to keep the lost island's existence a secret from the outside world. Continuing the story begun in Dinotopia, author Gurney provides another wondrous excursion to the magical land where dinosaurs and humans live together in peaceful interdependence--a land of richly imagined science, fantasy, and adventure. 10 1/2" x 10". Color illus. Ages 6 to 10.
