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Title | The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
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Author | L. Frank Baum
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Cover Art | W.W. Denslow
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Publisher | CRW Publishing - 2009
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First Printing | 1900
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Title | The Marvelous Land of Oz
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Author | L. Frank Baum
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Cover Art | ---
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First Printing | 1904
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Title | Ozma of Oz
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Author | L. Frank Baum
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First Printing | 1907
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Title | Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
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Author | L. Frank Baum
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Cover Art | ---
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First Printing | 1908
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Title | The Road to Oz
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Author | L. Frank Baum
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Cover Art | ---
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First Printing | 1909
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Title | The Emerald City of Oz
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Author | L. Frank Baum
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First Printing | 1910
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Title | The Patchwork Girl of Oz
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Author | L. Frank Baum
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First Printing | 1913
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Title | Little Wizard Stories of Oz
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Author | L. Frank Baum
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First Printing | 1913
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Title | Tik-Tok Oz
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Author | L. Frank Baum
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Cover Art | ---
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Publisher | ---
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First Printing | 1914
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Title | The Scarecrow of Oz
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Author | L. Frank Baum
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Cover Art | ---
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First Printing | 1915
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Title | Rinkitink in Oz
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Author | L. Frank Baum
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Cover Art | ---
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Publisher | ---
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First Printing | 1916
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Title | The Lost Princess of Oz
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Author | L. Frank Baum
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Cover Art | ---
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First Printing | 1917
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Title | The Tin Woodman of Oz
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Author | L. Frank Baum
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Cover Art | ---
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First Printing | 1918
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Title | The Magic of Oz
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Author | L. Frank Baum
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Cover Art | ---
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First Printing | 1919
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Title | Glinda of Oz
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Author | L. Frank Baum
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Cover Art | ---
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Publisher | ---
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First Printing | 1920
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Category | Children
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Warnings | None
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Main Characters | Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, Tip, Jack Pumpkinhead, Wooden Sawhorse, Highly Magnified Woggle-Bug, Ozma, Glinda, Tik-Tok, Eureka, Shaggy Man, Betsy, the Gnome King, Polychrome, and many more
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Main Elements | Wizards, witches, anthropomorphism, and all kinds of bizarre creatures
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Website | ---
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The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Swept up into the sky by a cyclone and transported from the parched and featureless Kansas prairie to the lush, green landscape of Oz, orphaned farm girl Dorothy and her little dog Toto start out on this immortal adventure by crash-landing on a Wicked Witch. Thanked by the Munchkins for liberating them from the witch's tyranny, Dorothy sets out on the Yellow Brick Road for the Emerald City, to seek out the mysterious Wizard of Oz. Only he can grant her dearest wish, to return home to Aunt Em and Uncle Henry. Along the way, she makes new friends - the brainless Scarecrow, the heartless Tin Woodman and the Cowardly Lion. Their exploits and encounters spin together to make one of the most delightful and enthralling children's stories of all time.
The Marvelous Land of Oz
Few fantasy lands have captured our hearts and imaginations as has the marvelous land of Oz. For over four generations, children and adults alike have reveled in the magical adventures of its beloved folk. Now, for the first time in over seventy years, the second book about Oz is presented here in the same deluxe format as the rare first edition, complete with all 16 of the original John R. Neill color plates, its colorful pictorial binding, and the many black-and-white illustrations that bring it to joyous life.
First issued in 1904, L. Frank Baum's The Marvelous Land of Oz is the story of the wonderful adventures of the young boy named Tip as he travels throughout the many lands of Oz. Here he meets with our old friends the Scarecrow and Tin Woodman, as well as some new friends like Jack Pumpkinhead, the Wooden Sawhorse, the Highly Magnified Woggle-Bug, and the amazing Gump. How they thwart the wicked plans of the evil witch Mombi and overcome the rebellion of General Jinjur and her army of young women is a tale as exciting and endearing today as it was when first published over eighty years ago.
Ozma of Oz
Readers of all ages will welcome the chance to be reunited with Dorothy Gale and such beloved characters as the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion, as well as to meet new favorites such as the Hungry Tiger, whose appetite is never satisfied; Princess Langwidere, who has thirty heads; Billina, a talking chicken; and Tiktok, a mechanical man.
Blown overboard while sailing with her uncle, Dorothy finds herself in the fairy realm of Ev. She sets out with her friends to rescue the Queen of Ev and her ten children, who have been imprisoned by the cruel Nome King. But even Ozma, the wise Ruler of Oz, is no match for the clever king, and it's up to Dorothy to save everyone from terrible danger. But will the Nome King's enchantments be too much even for the plucky little girl from Kansas?
Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
When Dorothy recovered her senses they were still falling, but not so fast. The top of the buggy caught the air like a parachute or an umbrella filled with wind, and held them back so that they floated downward with a gentle motion that was not so very disagreeable to bear. The worst thing was their terror of reaching the bottom of this great crack in the earth, and the natural fear that sudden death was about to overtake them at any moment.
The Road to Oz
Meet Dorothy's new friends, the Shaggy Man, Button Bright and Polychrome, as you travel with them to the Emerald City. Share their adventures with the Musicker and the Scoodlers. See how they escape from the Soup-Kettle and what they found at the Truth Pond. Find out how they are able to cross the Deadly Desert and finally get to the Emerald City of Oz.
The Emerald City of Oz
The Emerald City is built all of beautiful marbles in which are set a profusion of emeralds, every one exquisitely cut and of very great size. There are other jewels used in the decorations inside the houses and palaces, such as rubies, diamonds, sapphires, amethysts and turquoises. But in the streets and upon the outside of the buildings only emeralds appear, from which circumstance the place is named the Emerald City of Oz.
The Patchwork Girl of Oz
In this dazzling tale, L. Frank Baum proves once again his power to delight and enchant readers of all ages. Follow the adventures of a charming new band of characters as they explore the wondrous land of Oz and discover that you learn more by traveling than by staying at home.
Forced to venture out of the dark forest, Unc Nunkie and Ojo the Unlucky call on the Crooked Magician, who introduces them to his latest creation: a living girl made out of patchwork quilts and cotton stuffing. But when an accident leaves beloved Unc Nunkie a motionless statue, it is up to Ojo to save him. In his search for the magic ingredients that will restore his uncle to life, Ojo is joined by the Patchwork Girl and by the conceited Glass Cat, who boasts of her hard ruby heart, the resourceful Shaggy Man, and the lovable block-headed Woozy, whose tail hairs are just one of the things Ojo needs to rescue Une Nunkie.
As they travel to the Emerald City, home of the wise and powerful Ozma, they meet Dorothy, the kind and sensible girl from Kansas; the gallant Scarecrow; and, of course, Toto. But no one proves more loyal than the spirited Patchwork Girl, who, although she was brought to life as a servant, is determined to see the wide world for herself.
The Patchwork Girl of Oz has captivated readers for over eighty years. Now, in this stunning new edition--featuring all fifty-one of John R. Neill's original full-color plates as well as eighty black-and-white illustrations--a whole new generation can discover the beauty and wonder of Oz that have made this classic series an enduring favorite.
Follow the adventures of a charming band of characters as they join Dorothy and the Scarecrow to explore the wondrous Land of Oz. Meet a living girl made out of patchwork quilts, a conceited Glass Cat, and the lovable block-headed Woozy. A favorite for over eighty years, this stunning facsimile of the rare fist edition features all fifty-one of Neill's full-color plates as well as eighty black-and-white illustrations. A Books of Wonder Classic.
Little Wizard Stories of Oz
After concluding the fourteenth volume of his popular series, L. Frank Baum returned to the land of Oz in 1914 with six short stories featuring Dorothy, Toto, and other beloved characters. Written for slightly younger readers, these hard-to-find tales offer a fine introduction to Baum's enchanted world.
Featured stories include "The Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger," "Little Dorothy and Toto," "Tiktok and the Nome King," "Ozma and the Little Wizard," "Jack Pumpkinhead and the Sawhorse," and "The Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman." This facsimile edition re-creates the charm of the original, including its distinctive blue type and more than 40 full-color illustrations.
Tik-Tok of Oz
Join Tik-Tok, the Shaggy Man, and a host of other friends--both old and new--on an exciting, imaginative journey through the world of Oz.
The fun begins in an isolated corner of Oz, in the small country of Oogaboo. There Queen Ann Soforth musters an unlikely army and sets off to conquer the rest of Oz. Meanwhile, a girl from Oklahoma named Betsy Bobbin and her companion, Hank the mule, are shipwrecked and washed ashore in the Rose Kingdom, a magical land of talking roses. There they meet the Shaggy Man, who is on a quest to rescue his brother from the clutches of the wicked Nome King. Betsy, Hank, and the Rose Princess join the Shaggy Man on his journey, and before long they meet up with Polychrome, the Rainbow's Daughter; Tik-Tok; and Queen Ann with her army. The rest of Baum's tale is filled with hairbreadth escapes, wild puns, and mystifying magic.
Capturing all the fun are twelve color plates and nearly eighty black-and-white drawings by Oz artist John R. Neill, as well as a facsimile of Neill's full-color map endpapers of Oz and the enchanted realms that surround it--the first maps of Oz ever published!
Tik-Tok of Oz is the eighth Oz novel and the first to bring a girl other than Dorothy to Oz. Now, in this beautiful reproduction of the rare first edition, a whole new generation can discover the enchantment and joy that have made the Oz series such an enduring favorite.
"Join Tik-Tok and friends on an exciting, imaginative journey through the thrilling world of Oz, complete with hairbreadth escapes, wild puns, and mystifying magic....An enduring favorite."--School Library Journal. This lavish reproduction of Oz.
The Scarecrow of Oz
TCap'n Bill and Trot journey to Oz and, with the help of the Scarecrow, the former ruler of Oz, overthrow the villainous King Krewl of Jinxland. Cap'n Bill and Trot had previously appeared in two other novels by Baum, The Sea Fairies and Sky Island. Based in part upon the 1914 silent film, His Majesty, the Scarecrow of Oz. This was allegedly L. Frank Baum's personal favourite Oz book.
Rinkitink in Oz
"Rinkitink in Oz: Wherein is Recorded the Perilous Quest of Prince Inga of Pingaree and King Rinkitink in the Magical Isles that Lie Beyond the Borderland of Oz." is the tenth book in the Land of Oz series written by L. Frank Baum. Published on June 20, 1916, with full-color and black-and-white illustrations by artist John R. Neill, it is significant that no one from Oz appears in the book until its climax; this is due to Baum's having originally written most of the book as an original fantasy novel over ten years earlier, in 1905. Most of the action takes place on three islands – Pingaree, Regos, and Coregos – and within the Nome King's caverns. Since the original ruler of the nomes, Roquat – who later renamed himself Ruggedo, was deposed in 1914's "Tik-Tok of Oz", Baum had to cleverly rework the tale to accommodate his successor, the well-intentioned – but politically motivated – Kaliko.
The book was dedicated to the author's newborn grandson Robert Alison Baum, the first child of the author's second son Robert Stanton Baum
The Lost Princess of Oz
Princess Ozma is missing! When Dorothy awakens one morning to discover that the beloved ruler of the Land of Oz has disappeared, all of the Emerald City's most celebrated citizens join in the search for the lost princess.
But Ozma isn't all that's gone missing. The magical treasures of Oz have disappeared, too, including the Magic Picture, the Wizard's black bag, and even Glinda's Great Book of Records. With no clues to guide them, Ozma's friends separate into four search parties and spread out across their vast country in a desperate quest for their absent ruler.
Deep in the Winkle Country, Dorothy's search party is soon Joined by Cayke the Cookie Cook, who has lost a magic gold dishpan, and the amazing Frogman, a man-sized frog who walks on his hind legs. Together with these new allies, Ozma's friends learn that their valued possessions aren't missing but have been stolen by a mysterious villain. If their new foe is powerful enough to steal Princess Ozma and all of their magical treasures, how will they defeat him with no magic of their own?
In this 1917 addition to the Oz series, L. Frank Baum delights readers of all ages with a spellbinding mystery that involves nearly every one of the amazing cast of characters that populate America's favorite fairyland. This handsome new edition--featuring all twelve of Oz artist John R. Neill's beautiful color plates and nearly one hundred black-and-white drawings--is the perfect way to join Dorothy and her friends on this exciting journey through the endlessly intriguing Land of Oz.
When Dorothy awakens one morning to discover that the beloved ruler of the Land of Oz has disappeared, all of the Emerald City's most celebrated citizens join in the search for the lost princess. This exciting mystery -- featuring the twelve original color plates and one hundred drawings -- involves nearly every one of the amazing cast of characters that populate America's favorite fairyland.
The Tin Woodman of Oz
Join the Tin Woodman and the Scarecrow as they journey across the fantastic magical Land of Oz in search of the Tin Woodman's long-lost sweetheart. In a series of adventures sure to thrill Oz fans both old and new, these beloved friends face such challenges as a selfish giantess and a group of quarrelsome dragons--all to fulfill a promise made long ago to a beautiful Munchkin girl.
The Tin Woodman sits on the glittering tin throne of his splendid tin castle, ruling the Winkle Country of the Land of Oz with the help of his best friend, the Scarecrow. All is peaceful and well, but when a young wanderer named Woot asks the Tin Woodman how he came to be made of tin, the emperor recalls his days as a flesh-and-blood woodchopper and his love for Nimmie Amee, a Munchkin girl so fair that the sunsets blushed when they fell upon her.
The three quickly decide to set out on a daring quest to reunite the Tin Woodman with his lost love and ask Nimmie Amee to be Empress of the Winkie Country. During their travels, they battle dragons and loons, a mighty sorceress, and an all-too-hungry beast called the Hippo-gy-raf. Luckily, they are joined in their search by their old friend Polychrome, the Rainbow's Daughter, and are aided by Dorothy and Princess Ozma--the powerful fairy ruler of the Land of Oz. But just when they think their troubles are over and their quest is complete, they discover a surprise that leaves all of them truly astounded!
This deluxe edition of the rare first edition features all twelve of Oz artist John R. Neill's beautiful color plates, along with his nearly one hundred black-and-white drawings, making this a book sure to be treasured for years to come.
In a series of adventures sure to thrill OZ fans both old and new, the Tin Woodman and the Scarecrow journey across the magical Land of Oz in search of the Tin Woodman's long-lost sweetheart, a beautiful Munchkin girl. This deluxe edition of the rare first edition features all twelve of Oz artist John R. Neill's beautiful color plates, along with his nearly one hundred black and white drawings, and is a great way to celebrate the upcoming centenary of Oz!
The Magic of Oz
In this witty and imaginative tale, the “Royal Historian of Oz,” L. Frank Baum, takes young readers back across The Great Sandy Desert for more exciting adventures in the wondrous Land of Oz. Old friends such as Dorothy, the Wizard, and the Cowardly Lion reappear, along with endearing new characters — the Glass Cat, the Hungry Tiger, Little Trot, Cap’n Bill, the Lonesome Duck, and others.
Seeking special birthday presents to express their devotion to the wise and beautiful Princess Ozma, the friends venture beyond the Emerald City and into unknown territory. Little Trot and Cap’n Bill find themselves stuck — literally! — on an enchanted island, while Dorothy and the Wizard uncover a treasonous plot. It seems that Kiki Aru, the foolish son of a magician, and Ruggedo, the evil King of the Nomes, intend to recruit an army of forest-dwelling beasts, overthrow Princess Ozma, and enslave the citizens of Oz. Can Dorothy and the Wizard foil the conspirators’ plans and rescue their stranded comrades? You’ll find out in the pages of this exciting story.
Graced by a wonderful array of original black-and-white drawings by John R. Neill, as well as 12 captivating full-color plates, this spirited tale will thrill readers of all ages.
Glinda of Oz
Peace, prosperity, and happiness are the rule in the marvelous Land of Oz, but in a faraway corner of this magical domain dwell two tribes--the Flatheads and the Skeezers--who have declared war on each other. Determined to keep her subjects from fighting, the Ruler of Oz, Princess Ozma, along with her dearest friend, Princess Dorothy Gale (formerly of Kansas), embarks on a quest to restore peace.When the Supreme Dictator of the Flatheads refuses to cooperate with Ozma, she and Dorothy seek out Queen Coo-ee-oh of the Skeezers, hoping she will be more reasonable. But the queen imprisons Ozma and Dorothy in her grand city and then traps them by submerging the whole city under water. Now it is up to Glinda the Good to save the day. She assembles all of Ozma's counsellors--including such beloved Oz friends as the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, Cowardly Lion, Patchwork Girl, Shaggy Man, Tik-Tok, and Wizard of Oz--and they set out to rescue their friends. Will the magic powers of Glinda and the Wizard combined be enough to free Ozma and Dorothy?
A rousing tale of suspense, magic, and adventure, Glinda of Oz is the fourteenth and final Oz book by L. Frank Baum. It's a grand conclusion to his chronicles of America's favorite fairyland. This deluxe gift edition features all twelve of Oz artist John R. Neill's beautiful color plates, along with his nearly one hundred black-and-white pictures, making it a perfect gift for all Oz fans, new and old.
I'm pretty sure I read The Wizard of Oz as a kid, but I don't really remember doing so. On the other hand I've seen the movie several times and almost know it by heart. So as I've lately been trying to catch up on all the kids classics I missed reading when I was younger, decided I should make sure I've read this one too.
The introduction was actually quite interesting but Baum wanted people to understand that while this is a fairy tale, he felt that kids spent enough time learning about morals and being good at home and at school that they needed a story with no underlying lesson to teach. So this isn't a story where if you are good, good things happen, and if you are bad, bad things happen. This is just a story of a girl that gets swept up by a tornado and dropped into the magical land of Oz. Whether he tried to weave in more allegorical themes into the story as well is entirely plausible, however, ultimately I think a person can read something into anything, even if it wasn't there to begin with. Sometimes a story is just a story!
Now I'm pretty sure every kid has seen the movie. Which is why when I read the book I was surprised there were no ruby slippers, they were made of silver! Actually there are a lot of differences, which one kind of expects when a book is made into a movie, but because the movie is such a classic it almost feels as if it is the book that made the changes, and not the other way around. But no worries, the book is still a familiar place even if every now and then you find yourself thinking, "Wait, that's not how it goes...". I think the most interesting part is the secret behind the colour of the Emerald City. I'll let you read it yourself to find out what that is.
Also interesting is that in the book, Oz wasn't a dream caused by a bump on the head. It was a real place, and Baum wrote a series of Oz books following this one. Which is good, because while Dorothy and her friends encountered many of the peoples in the land of Oz, there were many that were mentioned but we never met.
January 2020
This year I decided to "complete series I started" and since Baum was alphabetically high on the list, and the books are free to download, I put them all on my eReader and starting working my way through them.
I was a little shocked at how cruel the characters were to each other, sure, it's a childish cruelty, but still, each character keeps pointing out their own flaws and everyone agrees, yes you are stupid/slow/whatever, and then the same character says mean things to the others. It is also often ridiculous (a successful revolt using only knitting needles as weapons...of course girls would only use those, they can't even get knives from the kitchen?) and the dialog is very stilted. I try to keep in mind when they were written, think of the violence in the early Disney cartoons for example, it was just the style of kids entertainment then. And as mentioned above, Baum wasn't out to teach kids anything, he just wanted them to have fun. And I guess for a certain age group that's so...but as an adult there is little of interest in these books, in fact they are kind of bad (as I understand it Baum didn't even want to write them but needed the money or was pressured, which happens to several authors such as Herbert and his Dune, and often shows). But they are short and quick reads so I'll see if I can get through the whole set of 14 of them. Must admit as I get further and further along I find the writing to get worse and worse, it's all so stilted, like a not very good amateur author (I try to keep in mind both the target audience and when it was written) but if someone wrote these stories now I'm not sure they'd have a ghost of a chance to get published. However, I'm sure kids will still enjoy the quirkiness of these stories, and the bizarre characters will inspire their imaginations, they won't care about the quality of the writing.
Also...I finally get the origin of that terryfing Oz movie sequel, you know the one where Dorothy goes through electroshock treatment (not in the book, she just gets to be shipwrecked back in Oz) and those creepy wheelies that squeak as they roll about, a sorceress that can change her head and has a fondness for mirrors, and even TikTok was kind of scary. That movie gave me nightmares, not sure what the makers of that movie thought, making that for kids. The books are not at all scary at least, every creepy evil thing turns out to be weak and no dangerous.
Anyway, as I write this paragraph I'm about at the halfway point and they get pretty repetive and all are sort of merging and mixing together in my head. And Baum is far from consistent in his storytelling, changing events from one book to the next, not that kids would care all that much. In fact one of the things I'm enjoying the most are his introductions to each book, you get an insight into his love/hate relationship with this world he created. There are times when he seems thrilled to be writing another Oz book, and other times he writes that "this is probably the last Oz book". He even had Ozma encase Oz in an impenetrable shield so no one could venture into Oz and no information could get out, basically pulling an Arthur Conan Doyle and killing everyone off in a more gentle way. But his need for money and his many fans forced him to find a loophole in his own designs (thanks to Marconi and the invention of the wireless) so he could keep on writing more. And this impenetrable shield exposes more and more holes as time goes on, in fact I think he almost forgot it was there for the convience of the story, pulling in more and more characters from the outside. He also falls into the trap that Piers Anthony did with Xanth, he basically wrote books that were nothing but a collection of ideas and puns sent in my his readers, so that there was no real plot or meaningful connection between events, just an excuse to make some goofy jokes one after another. But I'll keep going I think, I made it this far, I might as well finish!
Talking of finishing, apparently the series was so popular that after Baum stopped writing, others picked up where he left off, such that the Oz books number around 50 in total. Not sure I'm going to consider those as "completing the series", after all I don't know if Baum's estate even allowed it, or like in the case of Conan, there was a snaffu with the copyrights that allowed others in when he otherwise wouldn't have allowed it. But some of those books are available free on Gutenberg and on OpenLibrary so who knows, maybe I won't be able to resist reading the ones I can get my hands on for free, definitely won't pay for them. And of course the modern retellings like Maguire's Wicked (definitely want to read that one), or Dorothy Must Die (not so sure about that, sounds gruesome).
May 2020
It took about 4.5 months to read the whole series. Of course with Covid I haven't been using my ereader as much, I have to purposefully pick it up and read a bit since I'm no longer using public transit while I work from home. But I did it, I read them all, even the hard to find Little Wizard Stories of Oz which came up on Project Gutenberg.
On the whole, I still found most of the characters cruel, even in a world where everyone is supposed to be happy and friendly and no one gets hurt (the rules of the world change dramatically as the series evolves), most of the characters go around saying how wonderful they are (I have the best brains! is pretty common one) and how dumb or ugly everyone else is, but oh, well they can still be friends even if are just lowly meat bodies. It didn't seem to be kind the kind of role models I'd want my kids to read about! But kids view the world differently, and times have changed as well, so was an interesting exercise even if I'll probably forget most of the stories in a year or two. At least I'll know that not only was it not just a movie, but it was a whole collection of books.
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