Book Review: Tik-Tok of Oz

This is the eight of the Oz series and is an enjoyable read.  However the title is a bit misleading.  This book is mostly about The Shaggy Man rescuing his brother.  His brother is called “The Ugly Man” because the Nome King had put an ugly curse on him.  He was captured by the Nome King when he was digging and prospecting for precious metals.  Shaggy Man was transported by virtue of the Nome King’s belt to the area, and then Tik-Tok was also transported to help.  Unfortunately Tik-Tok landed in a well, but with good luck the party came upon him and he is rescued.  A couple more members of the part were Betsy Bobbin and her mule. Also the Rose Princess Ozga, and Polychrome, the Rainbow Princess.  They come upon Queen Ann Soforth of Oogaboo and her generals and officers who are intent on conquering the world.  There was some protest from the wives of the officers when they left Oogaboo.  “Ann commanded them to keep silent, and that was the hardest order to obey they had ever received.” 

The army, Private Files resigned protesting over the request from the Queen to capture the party of travelers.  He established a relationship with Ozga, the Rose Princess. Tik-Tok becomes the army.  Then together they travel to confront the Nome King, but he used a trick, and sent them through a tube to the other side of the world.  However, this only angers Tittiti Hoochoo, the great Jin-jin, who rules the other side of the world.  He is the ruler because he is the only inhabitant who is not a King or a Queen..  “One who is Master of himself is always a King, if only of himself.  In this favored land all Kings and Queens are equal, and it is our privilege to bow before one supreme Ruler—The Private Citizen.”  He had told the Nome King not to use the tube.  He sent back a dragon with our travelers form Oz.  After everyone tried to conquer the Nome King, and failed, they called the dragon to help them.  The dragon first took away the Nome King’s magical abilities, and then sent him outside his own cave kingdom by chasing him with a few eggs.  (As we remember from previous episodes, the eggs are poison to the Nome people.)  Kaliko, the second in charge, now became the ruler of the Nomes.  They knew Shaggy Man’s brother was in a special forest, but didn’t know how to get to this forest.  The Nome King came back as he had been promised to be able to take his pocketsful of gems before being sent out to the cold world.  It was in following him that they discovered the secret forest, and “The Ugly Man.”  However, in his cursed state “Ugly” does not want to meet anyone.  The Nome King performed the magic, but has forgotten the antidote when he lost his magical powers.  He only remembers that a kiss is the cure, but who will kiss one so ugly?