cover image Dinotopia: The World Beneath

Dinotopia: The World Beneath

James Gurney. Turner Publications Inc, $29.95 (160pp) ISBN 978-1-57036-164-7

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.)