The Flight of Dragons (book)
 Cover of the first edition | |
| Author | Peter Dickinson |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Wayne Anderson |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Dragons |
| Publisher |
Pierrot Publishing Ltd, UK - 1979 Paper Tiger, UK - 1998 Overlook Press, United States - 1998 |
Publication date | August 2, 1979 |
| Pages | 142 |
The Flight of Dragons is a 1979 speculative evolution book written by Peter Dickinson and illustrated by Wayne Anderson.
Thesis
According to Dickinson's hypothesis, the chief obstacle to admitting the (past) existence of dragons is the difficulty of powered flight by so large an organism. To resolve this, he introduces a dirigible-like structure in which hydrochloric acid would dissolve large amounts of rapidly growing bone, releasing massive amounts of hydrogen that, once aloft, would support the body above the ground. The dragon's wings are traced to "modifications of the ribcage" (an anatomical evolutionary path not attested in any clade),[1] and the expulsion of fire from the throat, as a means of removal of excess gas. The absence of fossil evidence is traced again to the internal acids, which (in Dickinson's view) would dissolve the body soon after death.
Film
In 1982, Rankin/Bass Productions released a made-for-TV animated film The Flight of Dragons, aspects of which were based on Dickinson's novel. For example, the character design in the film bears a resemblance to the illustrations in the book, and its lead character takes his name from the author, Peter Dickinson. However, the animated film derives most elements of its story line from the novel The Dragon and the George.
See also
References
- ↑ Standard textbooks on biological evolution discuss the different paths along which vertebrates developed anatomical adaptations to powered flight. Jerry A. Coyne (22 January 2009). Why Evolution is True. OUP Oxford. ISBN 978-0-19-164384-2. Retrieved 5 March 2015. Lay summary (5 March 2015). Richard Dawkins (10 September 2009). The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution. Transworld. ISBN 978-1-4090-8587-4. Retrieved 5 March 2015. Lay summary (5 March 2015).