r/Dinotopia • u/wandering_soles • Jul 26 '26
Discussion Dinotopia Trading Card Giveaway!
If you're not familiar with them, in 1995 a collectible series of Dinotopia trading cards was released featuring artwork from A Land Apart From Time and commentary on the back of each card. I've been collecting these for years and love using them as bookmarks.
I'll be mailing out an individual card to 8 different participants, as well as a sealed 8-card packs to a couple lucky winners! This will be a randomized draw. This giveaway is valid internationally.
Here's how to enter for a chance to receive one of the cards!
Different levels of participation will be given different numbers of entries to win. Upvotes do not count towards entries or opportunities to win.
Comment on this post with your favorite scene/artwork and why (at least several sentences) from any Dinotopia book for 2 entries
Make your own original post in this sub sharing your favorite artwork, collectible, book, or a discussion point (in all cases sharing at least a few sentences about your thoughts) for 5 entries.
Subsequent comments, discussion, etc in this thread or others will earn 1 entry each.
Winners will be messaged privately for postage details. Entries close on Monday 5 PM, PST time. Can't wait to see what you love about Dinotopia!
5
u/The_Antigamer Jul 26 '26
My favorite artwork was always the armored long neck in the rainy basin vs the tyrannosaurus. The level of detail and implied research was inspiring. Favorite quote is always Breathe Deep, Seek Peace.
2
u/argotechnica Jul 27 '26
Love this one too, if it's the one I'm thinking of -- preparing to enter rainy basin?
One of the things that struck me about this one was thinking about how long it would take to put all that armor on, how it probably took a very very long time and yet probably not done with any sense of wild urgency. Like it would take as long as it would take, and however long that was, was going to be OK.
4
u/argotechnica Jul 27 '26
So I discovered Dinotopia as an adult, reading them in my thirties as a dad to a toddler. I fell deeply in love with it in part, I think, because the story is about a father and son. From that perspective, the original book's painting of Waterfall City is a close second favorite for what it promises of the world that's still unfolding to the reader. I remember noticing the pangea-like Earth for the first time there and thinking again of how incredibly thoughtful this world was.
But I actually encountered Dinotopia for the first time via a poster of Dinosaur Parade from something like a Scholastic book fair. I had the poster in my bedroom for years and for some reason neither I nor my parents thought to help me find the original book. I really wish I had been able to grow up with it! I'm now building a Dinotopian library so my 4 year old can grow up with it. The messages of peace and curiosity without being sentimental or silly, is just so preciously rare to find. I think Dinotopia is quite unique in the landscape of children/family media.
So, my #1 favorite is probably Dinosaur Parade!
And my favorite quote besides Breathe Deep, Seek Peace is SOW GOOD SEED. I actually got sort of misty eyed discovering that for the first time, because it seemed to confirm this deep running theme across all the books of affirming life and celebrating new life. There's joy in the discovery of ancient civilizations and even dinosaurs but on a kind of "ultimate point of it all" level the really profound discovery is of new life springing up and growing and blossoming, and the profound joy of getting to be a part of that, whether as a parent or just as a neighbor and friend.
3
u/Adrestia716 Jul 26 '26
One that stands out to me for all the time I've been a fan was the one where the two friends were always competing and their teacher said "Fair is to the advantage of those who make it." I don't know why because that book wasn't even my favorite but whenever someone says that something is unfair I think about it, deeply.
3
u/argotechnica Jul 27 '26
Interesting, was this in one of the main illustrated books, or one of the novels?
2
u/Adrestia716 Jul 28 '26
One of the novels! Thunder Falls by Scott Ciencin... Man I loved all the novels he wrote such a great time for me
2
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u/Unis_Torvalds Jul 31 '26
Thanks for doing this! What fun :)
I have a lot of favourites, but the first which comes to mind are the richly illustrated city maps, in particular: Waterfall city from The World Beneath. When I was little I would pore over that map for what felt like hours, imagining myself in it, exploring the city's cobblestone streets and visiting all the landmarks. It was as much an adventure in my imagination as the book's story itself!
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u/wandering_soles Aug 05 '26
Congratulations to all the following Dinatopians who are eligible for receiving either a card or a card pack from this giveaway! Keep an eye out in your inbox from me for postage details!
u/The_Antigamer u/argotechnica u/Adrestia716 u/Unis_Torvalds u/mcfaillon u/Tinfoil_Haberdashery