Post by Vorchia on Aug 23, 2005 6:55:28 GMT -5
This is the discussion of the Dinotopia Digest Novel ‘Lost City’ by Scott Ciencin, started on the OMB. I’m copy pasting it here to keep it from the black hole at the end of the OMB. Besides, being a Dinotopia book club we’ll need at least SOME Dinotopia discussion... 
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Aric
Something about Halcyon (Lost City)
Tue Aug 9, 2005 00:10
128.171.66.29
Okay, so in the digest book Lost City, some kids find Halcyon just off the beaten path. It didn't seem to be that far from the main road that, presumably, is frequented by heavy traffic.
So, why wasn't it found by regular Dinotopians earlier and more frequently? Is curiosity really dead in Dinotopia?
Okay, I know it's not dead, but geez, how can a city be "lost" when all you have to do is take a small detour and voila, there it is? I know the kid spotted a Knight first, but really, how hard it is to send out survey teams or geological expeditions to check out the area?
Did anyone else have a problem with this? Was the writer just simplifying the scenario because it's just a digest book? Would Halcyon, of depicted by Mr. Gurney himelf, be more awe-inspiring and grandiose, and not be some ruins and caves a few hundred yards off the road?
Also, are the Troodon Knights mildly xenophobic? They don't interact with outsiders, and they do seem to think highly of themselves. While this may be warranted due to their sheer skill, is it still not a form of thinking of one's superiority over others? I mean, they call themselves the Unrivalled, for Pete's sake...
- Aric
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Oggie
Re: Something about Halcyon (Lost City)
Fri Aug 12, 2005 17:34
64.192.42.30
Well I think that the reason why no one could find Dinotopia is that Halcyon would look so much like a normal mountain and not a city carved into the rocks. I certainly believe it.
Also if curiosity was dead on Dinotopia I don't think that those three characters in the book would have thought about going to explore it.
I believe the Troodons of Halcyon were xenophobic because that's how their species had always lived. I think Troodons wanted to be alone. I don't think there is any evidence to this belief but with all I know right now, I think it would be a good explanation. Also I think the reason Troodons think so highly of themselves is because they were..and in Dinotopia probably still are the smartest or one of the smartest dinosaurs to walk the Earth. Perhaps that's why they think so highly of themselves.
But that's just what I think.
Breathe Deep, Seek Peace.
Oggie
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Vorchia
Re: Something about Halcyon (Lost City)
Tue Aug 9, 2005 08:57
82.197.193.250
Yes but the Digest Novels are supposed to be written for kids so you're not supposed to notice a huge ruin of a city alongside the main road for about 200 generations. I know its not perfect but its still the best digest novel I've read so far. (I haven't read all so don't sue me!)
Yes they're clearly a little xenophobic and naturally you'd expect a less friendly reaction to intruders really. But its a kids book so they could hardly have the main characters get beaten up.
Another point is that they manage to drop the xenophobia so FAST... I mean they've been there for how long, hundreds of years, a thousand living according to their culture?
Then three intruders wander in and suddenly they're all curious about what goes on outside while previously it didn't matter in the slightest to any of them.
Well, troodons are related to the dromaeosaurids, most of which suffer from impossibly huge ego's so the 'Unrivalled' part hardly comes as a surprise.
BDSP Vorchia
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Azon†hµs
Hey!
Wed Aug 10, 2005 15:49
198.30.71.40
I resemble that remark about the egos...
Actually, the city of Halycon is depicted by James Gurney in ALAFT. It's the in the picture where the Denisons are on the dung wagon headed for Pooktook.
Halcyon has another meaning to the name... now if only I can remember what it is!
RF, SP,
Az
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Aric
Re: Hey!
Wed Aug 10, 2005 21:12
128.171.66.132
For those of you curious, it's on page 35. Did Mr. Gurney himself say that was Halcyon?
- Aric
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Vorchia
Re: Hey!
Sat Aug 13, 2005 01:02
82.197.193.250
He never said it was Halcyon I think.
In my dictionary 'halcyon' is a type of bird but also means silent, quiet, calm and peaceful.
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p.s. Its my 200th post! ;D
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Aric
Something about Halcyon (Lost City)
Tue Aug 9, 2005 00:10
128.171.66.29
Okay, so in the digest book Lost City, some kids find Halcyon just off the beaten path. It didn't seem to be that far from the main road that, presumably, is frequented by heavy traffic.
So, why wasn't it found by regular Dinotopians earlier and more frequently? Is curiosity really dead in Dinotopia?
Okay, I know it's not dead, but geez, how can a city be "lost" when all you have to do is take a small detour and voila, there it is? I know the kid spotted a Knight first, but really, how hard it is to send out survey teams or geological expeditions to check out the area?
Did anyone else have a problem with this? Was the writer just simplifying the scenario because it's just a digest book? Would Halcyon, of depicted by Mr. Gurney himelf, be more awe-inspiring and grandiose, and not be some ruins and caves a few hundred yards off the road?
Also, are the Troodon Knights mildly xenophobic? They don't interact with outsiders, and they do seem to think highly of themselves. While this may be warranted due to their sheer skill, is it still not a form of thinking of one's superiority over others? I mean, they call themselves the Unrivalled, for Pete's sake...
- Aric
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oggie
Re: Something about Halcyon (Lost City)
Fri Aug 12, 2005 17:34
64.192.42.30
Well I think that the reason why no one could find Dinotopia is that Halcyon would look so much like a normal mountain and not a city carved into the rocks. I certainly believe it.
Also if curiosity was dead on Dinotopia I don't think that those three characters in the book would have thought about going to explore it.
I believe the Troodons of Halcyon were xenophobic because that's how their species had always lived. I think Troodons wanted to be alone. I don't think there is any evidence to this belief but with all I know right now, I think it would be a good explanation. Also I think the reason Troodons think so highly of themselves is because they were..and in Dinotopia probably still are the smartest or one of the smartest dinosaurs to walk the Earth. Perhaps that's why they think so highly of themselves.
But that's just what I think.
Breathe Deep, Seek Peace.
Oggie
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Vorchia
Re: Something about Halcyon (Lost City)
Tue Aug 9, 2005 08:57
82.197.193.250
Yes but the Digest Novels are supposed to be written for kids so you're not supposed to notice a huge ruin of a city alongside the main road for about 200 generations.
I know its not perfect but its still the best digest novel I've read so far. (I haven't read all so don't sue me!)Yes they're clearly a little xenophobic and naturally you'd expect a less friendly reaction to intruders really. But its a kids book so they could hardly have the main characters get beaten up.
Another point is that they manage to drop the xenophobia so FAST... I mean they've been there for how long, hundreds of years, a thousand living according to their culture?
Then three intruders wander in and suddenly they're all curious about what goes on outside while previously it didn't matter in the slightest to any of them.
Well, troodons are related to the dromaeosaurids, most of which suffer from impossibly huge ego's so the 'Unrivalled' part hardly comes as a surprise.
BDSP Vorchia
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Azon†hµs
Hey!
Wed Aug 10, 2005 15:49
198.30.71.40
I resemble that remark about the egos...
Actually, the city of Halycon is depicted by James Gurney in ALAFT. It's the in the picture where the Denisons are on the dung wagon headed for Pooktook.
Halcyon has another meaning to the name... now if only I can remember what it is!
RF, SP,
Az
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Aric
Re: Hey!
Wed Aug 10, 2005 21:12
128.171.66.132
For those of you curious, it's on page 35. Did Mr. Gurney himself say that was Halcyon?
- Aric
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Vorchia
Re: Hey!
Sat Aug 13, 2005 01:02
82.197.193.250
He never said it was Halcyon I think.
In my dictionary 'halcyon' is a type of bird but also means silent, quiet, calm and peaceful.
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p.s. Its my 200th post! ;D