Dinotopia: The World Beneath - I wished this place was real!

Dinotopia: The World Beneath - James Gurney

*5+ Stars*

*The Gush*


As I stated in my review of the first book in this series, this was one of the major series of my childhood. I read the first book a dozen times over...and then the sequel was published. I bought it basically as soon as it came out and have treasured it ever since. I was so excited that another whole book with beautiful paintings and a great story would add to my knowledge of such a strange and intriguing place, and it does not disappoint.


The World Beneath tells of the further adventures of Arthur and Will Denison in their new home. While Will's destiny takes him to the sky as a Skybax rider, Arthur's takes him to the earth or rather below it as he travels the forgotten lands of the World Beneath. This time he takes more than just Bix, his protoceratop friend and translator, with Lee Crabb and a new character traveling with him. Both father and son make new discoveries, rediscover old ones, and continue to grow as people and citizens of Dinotopia.

 

Characters:


Many of our old friends are here, from Bix and Nallab the librarian, to Brokenhorn and of course our two main characters. However, there are plenty of new ones as well. Oriana, the beautiful musician becomes an important member of Arthur's team not to mention important to him personally. New dinosaurs abound from Stubbs, a nephew or some such to Brokenhorn, to Stinktooth - a king among kings. While some are more developed than others because of the way the story develops, all are given their time in the sun, not to mention under the artist's brush.

 

 

Plot:


No longer are we strangers discovering a new and different world. Right away we are welcomed back in with open arms as if we are old friends recently returned for a visit. Will continues to learn as an apprentice Skybax rider while his father has grown well known for his scientific explorations and is beginning a new one back to the World Beneath. Bix of course will go with him, and Crabb unexpectedly shows up with the offer of a submersible. Oriana completes the group with the arrival of half of a key needed to open doors which will allow them further into that hidden land than anyone has gone in ages. Most of the book is their story with the wonders, dangers, and history they uncover. At times the story swings away to check in with Will as he flies decoy for a caravan through the Rainy Basin. The two stories meet in the middle and travel until the climax with a chase across Dinotopia...with some unusual allies.

 

Writing/Illustrations:


Both as wonderful and as detailed as the last book. There are some very memorable illustrations in this one, not to mention more details - including a map of Waterfall City. I always look at that for several minutes. The characters are very well treated and the story flows very well. A sequel worthy of its predecessor.

 

*The Rant*


Again, little to say here. My one complaint when it first came out was that it wasn't like the first. Well, duh. Since than, I have come to realize why that is and the reason that strengthens this book, not weakens it. The first book was an introduction, not just for the characters but for the reader as well. We in essence traveled the land with the Denisons and discovered the fascinating land along side them. However, this is the sequel. We are no longer strangers to Dinotopia but old friends come to visit again. So we no longer need a travel guide or diary to walk us through but merely be met with open arms and pointed in the right direction. This is what the sequel does and it does it quite well. We see both the familiar and the new, as any good visit to a previous spot should have and we met new friends as well as old, again as it should be. So my rant turns into not much of one, only a bit of advice. This is not the first book, it doesn't have to be. This frees the book and allows it to take us deeper into this fantastical land, in this case literally.

 

*Conclusion*


If you liked the first book, read this one as soon as you can! If you haven't read the first one yet, put this one down and go read that one first. Then come back and enjoy a second visit.