HIGH FLIER

Author/artist James Gurney first rocked the realm of dinosaur fiction in 1992 with the release of "Dinotopia: A Land Apart From Time."

The New York Times called Gurney's mystical tale of intelligent dinosaurs and their peaceful kinship with man (and the breathtaking oil paintings that went with it) "the kind of children's book an adult has to read."

Literally thousands of book enthusiasts across the chronological boards agreed, landing Gurney a spot on the New York Times best- seller's list. His 1995 sequel, "Dinotopia: The World Beneath" followed in those same, thunderous footprints. And "Dinotopia: First Flight," a prequel released this month, is expected to do just as well.

Given the imaginative scope of his Dinotopian empire, it's not surprising to learn Gurney was a quiet dreamer as a boy growing up in California. The youngest of five children, he often found himself alone and lonely. Left to pilot most of his imaginary adventures solo, he drew from stacks of old magazines. And even as a child, he expressed those lofty visions through art.

"I'd sneak out of my room after everyone thought I was asleep," he says, "and escape into the world of National Geographic. Then I'd take those ideas to my room, and teach myself how to draw."

Gurney harbors few regrets about his sometimes-solitary upbringing. In fact, he credits the time alone with making Dinotopia, and his entire career, possible. But even as a child, he made different plans for his own family plans to which he has faithfully adhered.

"When I was a kid, the television was always on," he remembers. "Attention we might have given each other was spent on the TV. Then, when I was about 10 years old, we had a two-day blackout. Instead of watching TV, we got out all the old board games, musical instruments, and read books together by the light of a kerosene lantern. I loved that feeling so much, I wanted to create it for my own family."

There are no electronic entertainment gadgets in the Gurney family's New York home.

"We have neither a computer nor video games, nor a television nor a VCR. We spend our time together in more old-fashioned ways," Gurney says.

Jeanette, his wife of more than 15 years, wholeheartedly embraces the choice.

Gurney leaves his home workshop at about 5:30 every afternoon. "I come downstairs and help set the table for dinner," he says. "From then until 9 is our family time. Each of our two sons takes turns making plans for how we will spend the evening. We might have a puppet show or read from an adventure book, play a board game or learn origami or accordion playing."

Do Gurney's sons Dan, 12, and Patrick, 10, object to the nontraditional entertainment?

"Not at all," Gurney says. "We have so much fun at our house that it is often the place neighborhood kids love to come and visit."

Even Dinotopia projects have become family fare. "First Flight" is not only an adventure story, it's a board game.

As board game fanatics, the Gurneys put the game together with key factors in mind. "We decided it should be easy to learn," Gurney says. "We wanted to mix strategy in with a little chance. And we thought no one should succeed at the expense of someone else."

Obviously, these are rules that also apply to Gurney's way of life.

Gurney says, "Dinotopia really stands for the best of what's inside each of us. I would be happiest if I knew my books brought out that little bit of special magic each one of us has to share."

Copyright 1999 Cowles Publishing Company
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.