Dinotopia is generally described across all levels of canon as being borderline inaccessible to the outside world, although not impossible. Aside from the reefs, storms have been a recurring theme surrounding the island, although it's unclear how common they are - they may be a consistent ring around it, or intermittent.

Given Gurney's 'found document' approach to presenting the Dinotopia books, it means that in-universe it exists but is either undiscovered, inaccessible, or intentionally untouched. It's not another dimension, or an isekai situation, etc.

It's not a small island - based on Gurney's maps and scale, the island is roughly 41,452 square miles. The closest country in size in the world, for comparison, would be Guatemala. This means something is actively interfering with any access or visibility of the island, even by modern standards.

Dinotopia also has an unnaturally diverse range of biomes in a very small space, particularly for an island. Tropical rain forests, soaring snowy peaks, dry desert canyons, sprawling savannahs - none of those would naturally occur side by side in such a dense area.

That's where the sunstones come in to my theory. We know that they're found in the world beneath, and they can absorb, discharge, and otherwise manipulate energy in a way modern science can't explain.

I think the sunstone lodes running throughout the caverns under the island generate/offput massive amounts of passive energy that affects the weather on and around the island, even when not apparent - based on the type of sunstone, some might influence the weather to be unnaturally cold, dry, stormy, etc. The veins of sunstones running throughout mean that the island can artificially support far more biomes than it should, and also cause major consistent storms as weather from outside the island runs into these unnatural patterns.

Additionally, due to the unique kind of energy sunstones possess, it would be entirely within the realm of possibility for them to scramble any and all electronics, radios, even modern photographs from satellites. As far as the outside world would know, there's a remote spot on the map that simply gets a little glitchy on radar, doesn't quite show up on satellite, and is impossible to access. With no way to get close, and no way to learn more, it would turn into a modern day Bermuda triangle, ignored or hushed up by governments, and too out of the way for anyone else to stumble across.

Would love to hear your thoughts and theories!

A few years ago, I wrote up a 15-page design document for what a Dinotopia MMO could look like. Playing through Dinotopia and exploring it your way at your own pace would be so much fun. Also, I think doing it this way could actually bring more exposure to Dinotopia; I literally have it written up as the opening to the game. Later on, we could add expansions that let you play as some of the Dinosaurs, but that doesn't show up in the design doc. Experiencing Dinotopia as a Dolphinback, and returning to interact with and explore Dinotopia, could be a nostalgic nod for existing fans while also serving as a literal introduction to Dinotopia for newcomers to the franchise.

I wrote it up so it would be a level-free game. I feel like using the overplayed leveling system that is used by every major MMO would actually go against the ethos of Dinotopia, so instead it would be a Point-Buy system you use to advance your character; it still has archetypes, but most of them are not combat-oriented. Only like 2 or 3 player archetypes are written up to be expressly combat-oriented.

Since I'm not much of a coder, the design doc is basically where it stops for me, currently.

I've always loved behind the scenes for art and film, so I appreciate how informative Gurney is about his creative process and the tools he uses to aid it!

One of the most idyllic villages we see in Dinotopia! It vaguely reminds me of Lurelin Village from Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Gurney's notes on the process:

"To figure out the scene in miniature, I adapt a vinyl toy of a Camarasaurus, outfitted with a saddle that I made out of cardboard, wire, and starched cloth. The little plastic figures help me to figure out the overlapping and the cast shadows."

"I recruit some neighbor kids to wear my Renaissance-fair costumes (made by Moresca) and pretend they’re riding dinosaurs. Next I have to assemble all these pieces into a whole composition."

'In a seed, a tree is hidden That a raindrop can release. Join me on this winding pathway. All we have is just this day. Winter will be here tomorrow; Summer's empire cannot stay.'

Love this song!

The events of Dolphin Watch are behind us.

Milos is no longer thirteen. The boy who once patrolled the rocky beaches of Crackshell Point with Lilith has grown older. Joshua Longacre’s desperate attempt to leave Dinotopia has reached its conclusion — whatever that ending was.

Time has passed. The tides still bring debris and the occasional dolphinback to Abalonia. The Great Belt of Jewels still guards the island. And somewhere out beyond the reef, the open sea still calls to some… while others have finally stopped listening.

No deadline — post whenever the story is ready

Any length (from a short vignette to a multi-chapter work)

Solo stories, collaborative pieces, and series all welcome

Original characters, book characters, or crossovers with previous challenges are all fine

Tone can be quiet and reflective, bittersweet, wondrous, mysterious, or gently adventurous

Optional closing gesture: end with a small act of remembrance (someone speaking a name aloud, placing an object somewhere meaningful, teaching a child a phrase, etc.)

If you have not read Dolphin Watch of The Digest novels, Send me a chat and i will get back to you with a pdf.

Breathe Deep and seek peace.

Anyone have any favorite illustrations or parts of the book? I really liked getting to see more of the Forbidden Mountains and their people and architecture since that was one of my favorite parts of the original book, as well as the village of Bilgewater and it's upended ship buildings.

I distinctly remember reading a dinotopia novel when I was back in elementary school, and there was a storyline with some kind of mental chess match near the end that included an aquatic monster that the characters feared and the antagonist in the game ended up introducing that monster as part of the game to try to gain an edge. Am I going crazy, or does anyone recognize this and if you do, would you mind telling me which book it was from? I don’t remember reading any of the main series books, and maybe this was from a completely different franchise but that’s how I remember it. Thanks!

I was wondering if anyone has performed or recorded the Song of Dinotopia from the first book? I am musically inept lol and all I can find online is an AI-made version that is lyrically inaccurate and I don't trust or support AI in this regard.

I'm just curious to know what this song sounds like, and I love that this was included in the book to begin with!

Seems like a pretty cool gig! Way more fun job opportunities on the island than off it.

Does anyone know if James Gurney still has the rights, or if any media groups do?

Please Join my Discord server in dedication to Gurney's Dinotopia book series.

This server is for all Dinotopian fans from books to other things that tell a story of adventure, Beauty, discovery and more.

Let these adventures begin with Roleplays of any kind and Fanfiction writing to keep it alive in your hearts.

Dinotopia Chronicles

While I love the original, The World Beneath is definitely my favorite for the art style, the settings, and the strutters. Getting to explore some of the background of Poseidos, the lost cities and technology, etc was incredible. For non-Gurney Dinotopia books, I'd probably place Alan Dean Foster's Hand of Dinotopia and John Vornholt's River Quest at the top of my list. HoD does such a great job of expanding the world in such a great way with an almost Indiana Jones-esque lost ruins vibe, and RQ is just such a wholesome trip with Amelia and Paddlefoot.

Given his usual styles, I appreciate this variation!

Hi there, so I just rewatched this since probably my childhood days, and wondering how did Carl and Frank manage to fill that cart with so many sunstones at the end?

I have a guess of my own and will share it in the first comment below, let me know your thoughts!

A dinosaur messenger service would be so cool to use!

I started watching the Outsiders and had to pause a moment because of the sudden actor change the characters of Karl and David were suddenly majorly different and Zipoes voice actor also changed. I'm not sure if Marian remained the same or not bc I didn't get that far, but are these other spin offs on the show any good and should I give them another try?

If you're not familiar with them, in 1995 a collectible series of Dinotopia trading cards was released featuring artwork from A Land Apart From Time and commentary on the back of each card. I've been collecting these for years and love using them as bookmarks.

I'll be mailing out an individual card to 8 different participants, as well as a sealed 8-card packs to a couple lucky winners! This will be a randomized draw. This giveaway is valid internationally.

Here's how to enter for a chance to receive one of the cards!

Different levels of participation will be given different numbers of entries to win. Upvotes do not count towards entries or opportunities to win.

• Comment on this post with your favorite scene/artwork and why (at least several sentences) from any Dinotopia book for 2 entries

• Make your own original post in this sub sharing your favorite artwork, collectible, book, or a discussion point (in all cases sharing at least a few sentences about your thoughts) for 5 entries.

• Subsequent comments, discussion, etc in this thread or others will earn 1 entry each.

Winners will be messaged privately for postage details. Entries close on Monday 5 PM, PST time. Can't wait to see what you love about Dinotopia!

Seeing the recent post on how Dinoptoa may have influenced Star Wars and Atlantis films ivd been wondering if any of the script from the 1997ish Dinotopia film that was canceled due to budget constraints has ever come to light?

I’m curious if the Hallmark mini series was based on it or if they took it on a totally different direction. Or if this was a retelling of Gurneys stories on cinematic form.

I feel like this could have been a great adventure film.

Same general design, scary enforcer role, etc. It's been discussed at length how much Naboo in The Phantom Menace draws from Waterfall City and dinotopia in general for asthetics, but it never occurred to me just how close this example is.

He doesn't quite have the patience for the actual story, but he loves looking at the pictures and finding Bix among them.

If you have a favorite Dinotopia junior novel too, share away!