Dinotopia Special 20th Anniversary Edition released

Our online store has just received the shipment of the newly republished Dinotopia: A Land Apart from Time: Special 20th Anniversary Edition, published by Calla Editions.

This is the same unabridged book that I wrote and illustrated, with over a hundred color plates. It has long been out of print.

The story is set in the 1860s, following the adventures of scientist Arthur Denison and his young son, Will, as they embark on a voyage of exploration.

In the middle of the ocean, a terrible storm wrecks their ship and they find themselves washed up on a mysterious island called Dinotopia, where humans and dinosaurs have coexisted for thousands of years.



In this new hardcover edition, the artwork has been reproduced from new plates digitally scanned from the original transparencies, and every word and image has been faithfully included.

But in addition, there are 32 new pages, including a foreword by literary historian Michael Patrick Hearn and an afterword that I wrote specially for this edition. In the afterword, I discuss the inspiration, research, and production of the original book.

 
I dug through the archives to select 45 behind-the-scenes sketches and photos, most never before published, showing location research, maquettes, sketches, in-progress shots, studies, and photo reference.


For example, here's one of the unused illustrations showing a dinosaur swim platform. It was intended for the original book, but I cut it at the last minute when paleontologist Michael Brett-Surman of the Smithsonian pointed out that the dinosaur would break its ribs (and neck) in that position.

Even with that extra content, the price is still the same as it was 20 years ago. If you order through our store at the James Gurney website you can get the book signed, and pay with Paypal.

EDIT: We can now provide copies for our international customers, though the shipping cost is rather expensive.

Dinotopia: A Land Apart from Time: Special 20th Anniversary Edition (Signed by the author)
The publisher is Dover Publishing in Mineola, NY

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