Ten Weird Dinosaurs

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Dinosaurs. They may be prehistoric. But they’re a big part of science fiction too. In 1993, Jurassic Park made dinosaurs sci-fi stars. But Crichton & Spielberg weren’t the first to place dinosaurs into science fiction stories. As far back as 1912, Arthur Conan Doyle published his science fiction novel The Lost World, starring dinosaurs. These giant animals have battled King Kong, rampaged across Tokyo, and left deep footprints across the genre.

Everyone knows the famous dinosaurs. T-Rex. Triceratops. Brontosaurus. Show pictures of them to a kindergartener, and odds are he or she can name them. But what about the lesser-known dinosaurs? The obscure ones? The weirdos?

Here are the ten dinosaurs we believe deserve more love. They’re not as famous as the big names. But they’re just as fascinating. Take a trip with us back in time…

Achillobator

Could these be the most underrated predators in prehistory? Achillobator (meaning "Achilles hero") lived in the Late Cretaceous period 96 million to 89 million years ago. It was a feathered, bipedal carnivore, roughly the size of a horse. Think the raptors from Jurassic Park but bulkier, heavier, and covered with feathers. Like the raptors, Achillobator was armed with a powerful sickle claw on each second toe.

Chasmosaurus

Imagine a Triceratops. Punch two huge holes into its bony frill. And you have a Chasmosaurus. Its name means "opening lizard" due to these two openings in the frill. Skin likely covered these holes, perhaps brightly colored. Some scientists believed Chasmosaurus used its enormous frill to attract mates.

Magyarosaurus

A dwarf sauropod? Could it be true? Was Dino from the Flintstones real? Normally, we think of sauropods – thundering herbivores with long necks – as enormous dinosaurs. And most of them were truly colossal, rivaling whales in size. But not Magyarosaurus. This dwarf sauropod was only about the size of a horse. Tiny. They also sported armored plates on their backs. Scientist believe the Magys were so small because they evolved on an island, isolated from larger dinosaurs – an example of insular dwarfism.

Megaraptor

Imagine the Velociraptors from Jurassic Park. Now imagine them bigger. Much bigger. Twice the size of a polar bear, today’s largest land predator. And you got the Megaraptor. Their claws were a foot long, curved, and sharp, perfect for slashing into the flesh of their prey. They lived in Argentina during the Late Cretaceous.

Quetzalcoatlus

Meet the tyrant of prehistoric flyers. If T-Rex ruled the land, and the mighty Mosasaur ruled the sea, surely Quetzalcoatlus ruled the sky. This was an enormous animal (technically a pterosaur, not a dinosaur, but we love it so much we’ll still include it here). On land, it stood as tall as a giraffe, impressive enough. But when it unfurled its wings, Quetzalcoatlus revealed its true size. Its wingspan was nearly forty feet wide. This flying reptile was the size of a small airplane.

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Sinraptor

Few dinosaurs of the Jurassic era inspired as much terror as the Sinraptor. Ten feet tall. Thirty feet long. Curved teeth designed to inflict maximum damage. Think a T-Rex, just a tad smaller and from China. The Sinraptors must have terrorized their environment, feeding on herbivores like Stegosaurus.

Supersaurus

Behold the Supersaurus! The largest dinosaur to ever roam the world! Well, maybe. There is an ongoing debate about who the biggest dino was. Do we measure by height? Length? Weight? What about dinos with incomplete skeletons, whose size we can only estimate? Well, one thing is certain. Supersaurus was a true behemoth, worthy of its name. It was a type of sauropod (long-necked dino) who lived in North America. It reached over a hundred feet in length—that’s longer than a blue whale. And it weighed as much as ten to twenty elephants. That’s big. So big it could stomp on a T-Rex without breaking a sweat. In fact, Supersaurus was so enormous it was probably predator-proof. To grow so big, it ate a lot. To conserve energy, Supersaurus might have planted its feet firmly on the ground, then moved its neck from side to side like a vacuum cleaner, hoovering up vegetation.

Therizinosaurus

The Edward Scissorhands of dinosaurs?  Therizinosaurus sported the longest claws nature ever produced. They grew 3-4 feet long, a world record. Truly the fingernails from hell. But despite essentially growing swords from its hands, Therizinosaurus was not a predator. Paleontologists believe it used its claws for grabbing vegetation. Possibly, the claws were also used for self-defence against predators.

Titanoboa

While technically not a dinosaur, the Titanoboa was a true terror of prehistory. These enormous snakes lived in South America, dwarfing even the mightiest python alive today. A Titanoboa was so large it could swallow alligators for breakfast. A human would be just a snack. The Titanoboa was so enormous it could possibly defeat even a T-Rex (we’ll never know, since these two giants lived during different eras).

Tupandactylus imperator

The imperator was arguably the showiest animal until the peacock. A type of pterosaur, the imperator sported an enormous crest. It looked like a sail on its head. These gaudy crests were likely colorful, used to attract mates and signal to other imperators. With a wingspan of thirteen feet, Tupandactylus imperator was a big flyer, able to glide for enormous distances, even crossing oceans.


We hope you enjoyed meeting these dinos. Know any other weird or obscure dinos? Post about them in the comments!

Backyard Starship – The Official Video Trailer

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Destiny is calling and his grandfather's legacy awaits in Backyard Starship. Embark on the adventure of a lifetime with USA Today best-selling author J.N. Chaney alongside Terry Maggert, and brought to life on audiobook by Jeffery Kafer, in this galactic quest for glory.

Here's the exclusive video trailer to feast your eyes on and get STOKED about this series!

And here's the series synopsis:

"When Van Tudor returns to his childhood home, he inherits more than the family farm.

His grandfather used to tell him fantastic stories of spacemen and monsters, princesses and galactic knights. Little did Van realize, the old man's tales were more than fiction. They were real.

Hidden beneath the old barn, Van’s legacy is waiting: a starship, not of this world.

With his combat AI, an android bird named Perry, Van takes his first steps into the wider galaxy. He soon finds that space is far busier and more dangerous than he could have ever conceived.

Destiny is calling. His grandfather's legacy awaits."

Start the series today! Get Backyard Starship on audiobook.

Already a fan? Then pre-order Legacy of Stars (Backyard Starship, Book 4) now!

LISTEN NOW

The Top 10 Sci-Fi Books of 2022 (So Far)!

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You cannot invent an algorithm that is as good at recommending books as a good bookseller, and that's the secret weapon of the bookstore - is that no algorithm will ever understand readers the way that other readers can understand readers. —John Green

John Green is absolutely right. When you're looking for book recommendations, who better to look to than other readers? This belief really drives us and we frequently check in with the Discover Sci-Fi community to see which books they are loving and then share their recommendations widely.

Recently, we asked Discover Sci-Fi members which books published so far this year they liked the best, and you guys answered! Of the books that were nominated and then voted on, the following were DSF community members' top picks. Curious to see which book published so far in 2022 Discover Sci-Fi readers loved best? Read on to find out!

10. Infinity (First Colony Book 13) by Ken Lozito

Venturing into the unknown means pushing the limits of everything thought possible.

10 years ago, the Ark II departed on a long journey through interstellar space, but shortly after they reached their destination, all communications ceased. All attempts to re-establish contact have failed.

Utilizing prototypical FTL technology that he invented, one brave man will lead a small expedition into the unknown to discover the colony’s fate.

The challenges of establishing the first interstellar colony nearly destroyed humanity. What new challenges will the second colony bring?

Science Fiction for those who long to explore!

Pick up Infinity here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

9. Eyes of the Void by Adrian Tchaikovsky

After eighty years of fragile peace, the Architects are back, wreaking havoc as they consume entire planets. In the past, Originator artefacts – vestiges of a long-vanished civilization – could save a world from annihilation. This time, the Architects have discovered a way to circumvent these protective relics. Suddenly, no planet is safe.

Facing impending extinction, the Human Colonies are in turmoil. While some believe a unified front is the only way to stop the Architects, others insist humanity should fight alone. And there are those who would seek to benefit from the fractured politics of war – even as the Architects loom ever closer.

Idris, who has spent decades running from the horrors of his past, finds himself thrust back onto the battlefront. As an Intermediary, he could be one of the few to turn the tide of war. With a handful of allies, he searches for a weapon that could push back the Architects and save the galaxy. But to do so, he must return to the nightmarish unspace, where his mind was broken and remade.

What Idris discovers there will change everything.

Get your copy of Eyes of the Void here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

8. Until the Last of Me: Take Them to the Stars Book 2 by Sylvain Neuvel

The First Rule is the most important: Always run, never fight.

For generations, Mia’s family has shaped human history to push them to the stars.

The year is 1968 and she is on the cusp of destiny, poised to launch the first humans into space.

But she cannot take them to the stars, not quite yet. Her adversary is at her heels, the future of the planet at stake, and obeying the First Rule is no longer an option.

For the first time in one-hundred generations, Mia’s family will have to choose to stand their ground, risking not only their bloodline, but the future of the human race.

A darkly satirical thriller, as seen through the eyes of the women who sacrifice all to make progress possible and the men who are determined to stop them.

Always run, never fight.
Preserve the knowledge.
Survive at all cost.
Take them to the stars.

Start reading Until the Last of Me here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

7. Match Game (Expeditionary Force Book 14) by Craig Alanson

For years, the ancient alien AI known as Skippy (the Magnificent, don’t forget that part) has been able to do one impossible thing after another. What is his secret? It’s simple: 100 percent Grade-A Extreme Awesomeness. And, also because he had never been faced with an opponent of equal power. Until now.

This time, he might need a little help from a band of filthy monkeys.

Grab Match Game here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

6. A Call to Insurrection: Book IV of The Manticore Ascendant Series by David Weber, Timothy Zahn and Thomas Pope

Book four in the nationally best-selling Manticore Ascendant series, set in the world of David Weber’s multiple New York Times best-selling Honorverse series
Yesterday, the Star Kingdom of Manticore was a small, unimportant interstellar backwater. A quiet little star nation, only recently recovered from the devastating blow of the Plague Years. More affluent than some, perhaps, but with little to attract trade or interstellar commerce, it had little need for a navy . . . and even less interest in paying for one.
But Manticore has now become a target. The Star Kingdom isn't certain who is attacking it, or why, or what its mysterious foe can possibly want, but Queen Elizabeth I knows she has to find out. And she knows that whatever some of her subjects think, Manticore does need a navy. And it needs allies, friends like the dynamic Republic of Haven and the Andermani Empire. It needs their trade . . . and to learn from their more experienced and powerful navies.

It is the job of officers like Travis Long and his wife, Lisa, to acquire that experience. Of utterly inexperienced diplomats like Travis's brother Gavin, Earl Winterfall, to build those alliances.

They have been sent to the powerful Andermani Empire to do just that, for the Imperial Navy is one of the most potent and experienced fleets in the galaxy. But the Andermani have problems of their own. Their Emperor's death is the trigger for insurrection, and now that powerful and experienced navy is locked in civil war.
The Manticoran visitors find themselves squarely in the path of the storm, and before Travis, Lisa, and Gavin can accomplish anything else, they first have to survive.

Grab A Call to Insurrection here on Amazon.

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ll also get recommendations for new releases and discounted ebooks from our expert editorial team, from bestsellers to hidden gems.

5. Kingdom Come (Backyard Starship Book 7) by J.N. Chaney and Terry Maggert

When the Fafnir responds to a desperate distress call, their act of kindness is turned against them, making Van the most wanted man in the known universe.

Targeted by a vicious, charismatic politician and his shadowy partner, Van and his friends are faced with a decision that carries long term consequences—deliver justice. . . or run and hide.

The choice is easy. The Fafnir will attack, and criminals will pay regardless of the bounty chasing them across the stars.

But first, there’s a little business to take care of in the form of a social event at Milon Estates. Dress is formal, the atmosphere tense, and a choice must be made. And just like Van’s decision to fight, the event on Helso will change his life forever.

The crew is willing, and the ship is ready. Now, all Van has to do is avoid the law, apply the law, and dive headfirst into a conspiracy that will play out on the largest stage of all: The Galaxy itself.

Experience the seventh entry in the ongoing Backyard Starship series from USA Today Bestsellers J.N. Chaney and Terry Maggert. Buckle up and grab your juicebox, because it's time to get out there and save the Galaxy.

Get your copy of Kingdom Come  here on Amazon. 

4. Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi

When COVID-19 sweeps through New York City, Jamie Gray is stuck as a dead-end driver for food delivery apps. That is, until Jamie makes a delivery to an old acquaintance, Tom, who works at what he calls “an animal rights organization.” Tom’s team needs a last-minute grunt to handle things on their next field visit. Jamie, eager to do anything, immediately signs on.

What Tom doesn't tell Jamie is that the animals his team cares for are not here on Earth. Not our Earth, at least. In an alternate dimension, massive dinosaur-like creatures named Kaiju roam a warm, human-free world. They're the universe's largest and most dangerous panda and they're in trouble.

It's not just the Kaiju Preservation Society who have found their way to the alternate world. Others have, too. And their carelessness could cause millions back on our Earth to die.

Pick up Kaiju Preservation Society here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

3. The Order by Jeremy Robinson 

Mysterious gateways are appearing throughout the universe, bridging violent civilizations, leading to war, and sowing chaos. While some species succumb to the pandemonium, the Chut'un forge an unholy symbiotic relationship—The Order—with red Europhids, a vast hive intelligence populating the universe's far reaches. Desiring structure and fearing the unknown, they cull everything opposed to their plan, including the Europhids' blue counterparts, carrying out a galactic genocide until only one blue Europhid remains...inside Moses Montgomery, aka 'Dark Horse.'

As a Rapid Reaction Force Marine from 1989, Dark Horse and his team were sent 1000 years into the future where they defeated the Union, an evil fascist empire. Back in the present, after preventing the Union from ever forming, Dark Horse and his team of...unique operators from the past and the future are ready to kick back, listen to some tunes, and enjoy the timeline they saved.

But as the last threat to The Order's machinations, Dark Horse finds himself with an alien target on his back. Joined by Dan Delgado and Wini Finch (The Others), and Owen McCoy (Flux), the team attempts to understand the gates that first appeared in New Hampshire, and now in Antarctica. Despite their vast experience with the strange and otherworldly, none of them are prepared for what comes next. Three members of the team are abducted, whisked away to another planet. Alive or dead, no one knows.

Dark Horse and his now rag-tag team struggle to track down their missing teammates while being hunted themselves. With the fate of his friends—and all of Earth—hanging in the balance, Dark Horse is forced to take insane risks, create chaos, and do anything to get his people back.

TO SAVE HUMANITY...
...HE MUST SACRIFICE HIS OWN.

Get your copy of The Order here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

2. Aeon Rising by Matthew Mather

Max Carver, a down-on-his-luck truck driver and Army vet, joins a rescue mission into Brazil. The target is a utopian tech village, the Colony, hidden in the rainforest and run by a charismatic genius. Max’s pregnant wife, Talisha Carver, is the NSA analyst who intercepted encrypted Colony messages signaling a mysterious impending event.

Dr. Xin Rou is a Chinese researcher working at the IceCube neutrino experiment at the South Pole. On lucky days a single flash might signal the passage of a ghostly interstellar particle. Suddenly, IceCube’s entire array lights up. A million detectors at once. Which is impossible. The Antarctic sky is clear and calm—but she is already running for the door.

Because the world is about to end.
But the mystery only just begins...

Pick up Aeon Rising here on Amazon. Also available on audiobook.

1. Chaotica: Riven Worlds Book 5 by G.S. Jennsen

After an extraordinary encounter with kyoseil in the Oneiroi Nebula, Nika Kirumase is transformed. Now able to understand and harness the true power of the ancient, primordial life form, she finally has the ability to defend her people—if the kyoseil doesn’t destroy her sanity first.

Mesme has long been meddling with the fate of the universe, but the events in the Oneiroi Nebula have exposed its deceptions. A schism erupts between Alex and Mesme over the secrets the Katasketousya keeps—and if their relationship isn’t mended, the world may lose its best chance at salvation.

The fractures threatening Concord’s survival aren’t merely personal, and the ramifications of the Ruda’s betrayal in the last battle prove costly to everyone. The Rasu begin deploying antimatter weapons, thereby neutralizing Concord’s greatest advantage, its impervious adiamene warships. Now losing ships, people and planets as the Rasu close in on the Milky Way, Miriam Solovy finds herself short on options and out of time.

But Alex has never let those kind of odds stop her, and so a desperate plan is hatched—one that will either save civilization, or doom it to annihilation.

In Amaranthe, where exotic alien life, AIs, wormholes, indestructible starships and the promise of immortality rule the day, no feat seems out of reach for humanity. But when the worlds of Aurora Rhapsody and Asterion Noir collide and the Rasu horde descends upon them both, more will be asked of heroes past and future. More will be given and more taken, and when the dust settles the very fabric of Amaranthe will be altered forever.

Pick up Chaotica here on Amazon

What did you think of the top 10 selections as decided by your fellow Discover Sci-Fi readers? Will any of these new reads make your summer reading list this year? Share you thoughts in the comments here on the blog, or visit us here in our Facebook group.

*All book-related copy in this post was pulled from Amazon, Goodreads & Wikipedia, unless otherwise credited.

Time to Vote: What Is the Best Sci-Fi Book of 2022 (so far)?

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“Picking five favorite books is like picking the five body parts you'd most like not to lose.” – Neil Gaiman

With so many books being released every day, it can be hard to know which ones are worth your time! Especially  if—like many of us—you already have a TBR list that will outlive you. In these moments, your community of fellow readers has your back! Last week we asked the Discover Sci-Fi community to nominate the books they thought were the very best of 2022 (so far!) and dozens of great titles were added to the poll. 

Now, it's time to decide.

We narrowed down the list of your nominations to the sixteen most voted for, and now it's time to figure out how they rank! This week you only get one vote, so make it count! 

*As alway this list is made up by combining votes from this blog and our Facebook group.