Graphic Novel: The Blue Witch of Oz

Little Adventures In Oz: Volume 2 by Eric Shanower, IDW Publishing, San Diego, CA, 2010.

This is one of five graphic novels written and illustrated by Eric Shanower.  They were first published separately before 2010.  The five are:

The Enchanted Apples of Oz

The Ice King of Oz

The Forgotten Forest of Oz

The Secret Island of Oz

The Blue Witch of Oz

The Blue Witch of Oz  Dorothy gets to thinking about good witches and bad witches.  There are four evil witches, for each direction, but only three good.  So where is the Good Witch of the East.  The starts a new adventure Dorothy and Scarecrow.  Saw Horse gives them a ride as far as he can go, s they have reached a mountain.  They are able to make it to an enchanted island, having walked on alligator logs.  They discover there the glass cat, Bungle.  There they discover a recurring nightmare—The Blue Witch and her brother-in-law who also practices magic have each cursed each other and the same moment, which has caused a loop in time.  They are fighting over the Princess’ son, who was stolen and raised by the brother-in-law.  The double curse keeps happening every day, but how to get them out of the recurring events.  It is Bungle, who steps in the way and reflects the curses, that causes them to come to reality.  And now they must deal with the parentage of the boy.  A journey to Ozma is in order. 

Graphic Novel: The Secret Island of Oz

Little Adventures In Oz: Volume 2 by Eric Shanower, IDW Publishing, San Diego, CA, 2010.

This is one of five graphic novels written and illustrated by Eric Shanower.  They were first published separately before 2010.  The five are:

The Enchanted Apples of Oz

The Ice King of Oz

The Forgotten Forest of Oz

The Secret Island of Oz

The Blue Witch of Oz

The Secret Land of Oz starts with a sad gardener.  He is said as he has every type of fish in his pond except one, the elusive the Crimson-Tailed Guipperug.  Of course the fish is badly needed, but requires a trip to forbidden mountain, which makes awful noises.  The Cowardly Lion (who is really a brave lion despite having fear when he does brave things) as King of the Quadling Country has been there many times.  Scarecrow also joins Dorothy on the trip, and an uninvited guest, Eureka the Cat who would like to dine on fish.  Lion talks to the fish and discovers the Crimson-Tailed Guipperug very solitary and not easily found.  They go inside of a fish to continue their journey, and use a magical finding amulet given Dorothy by the Wizard.  However they all pop out of the fish’s mouth in a whirlpool and end up on the other side of the whirlpool in an unexplored country.  The country is inside the mysterious mountain.  Dorothy and Eureka and a new friend, Knot Boy (he is made of wood) are separated from Lion and Scarecrow.  In an attempt to find them they go in room locked by the King—breaking the law.  The Princess catches them.  The Princess and Knot Boy were once friends, but now the Princess feels too good for Knot Boy. 

In the meantime Scarecrow and Lion are in a cave with a giant snake and giant frog who would like to eat them.  Dorothy comes upon them in the middle of a confrontation.  They use the Wizard’s shrinking potion on the snake, and Knot Boy rescues the Princess from the Frog.  Now how to get out of the mysterious mountain.  They are welcomed by the King as heroes, and he gives them a boat with which to ride up the whirlpool which surrounds the country.  At the arrive safe.  Eureka finds a Crimson-Tailed Guipperug; and when they ask it to come to the Emerald City and be admired by all, its response is classic, “No, thank you.  I’d rather stay here.  The Emerald City may be wonderful, but I don’t want to live in captivity and be stared at by strangers.  I’m a wild fish and this is my home.”  This book has two themes.  The first is to know who you are and live up to that.  The second is not to forget your friends.

Graphic Novel: The Forgotten Forest of Oz

Little Adventures In Oz: Volume 2 by Eric Shanower, IDW Publishing, San Diego, CA, 2010.

This is one of five graphic novels written and illustrated by Eric Shanower.  They were first published separately before 2010.  The five are:

The Enchanted Apples of Oz

The Ice King of Oz

The Forgotten Forest of Oz

The Secret Island of Oz

The Blue Witch of Oz

The Forgotten Forest of Oz deals with a wood nymph, who is banned from the forest for having kissed a man.  The Law of the forest is very strict.  She is taken in by the King of the Trolls, and becomes the Queen of the Trolls when they marry.  Over time our Nymph, now made mortal when she was banished, becomes bitter with the wood nymphs.  She seeks revenge, and with her encouragement, the Troll King goes to war with the Nymphs.  The recruit the dragons to help as the nymphs have great magic.  They hope to attack at night, and conquer the Nymphs before the can mount a defense.  Our queen is still not happy, and determines to drink of the Waters of Oblivion from the Emerald City.  She sends a large flying bat.  However Toto and Dorothy notice the bat and hitch a ride.  They are flown over the desert to the land of the trolls.  The scare crow and the wooden horse notice their plight, and take off after them.  Fortunately nether of them breath, nor is made of flesh, so they are able to travel through the desert.  They arrive to save Dorothy and Toto who are now prisoners of the Queen.  However they make good their escape.  They have heard the plans to invade the forest, and they are off, pursued by the queen aboard her bat.  The Queen realizes she has been tricked by the Troll King, first into kissing a man (who turns out to have been the Troll King in disguise) and then used to spark an invasion.  She finally realizes her love is for the forest.  Now how does she stop an invasion she started?  Dorothy and the wooden horse play into the solution, as they hurry to warn the forest queen.  Our wood nymph sews confusion and doubt amongst the dragons.  When they see the lights of the wood nymphs coming towards them, they are convinced the Troll King is leading them into a trap.  Only the Nymph Queen can restore the nymph, who realizes her love is the forest. 

Graphic Novel: The Ice King of Oz

Little Adventures in Oz Vol. 1, The Enchanted Apples of Oz, Eric Shanower writer and illustrator, IDW Publishing, San Diego, CA, 2010.

Shanower completed five graphic novel stories in his Oz Series.  This is the second.  The five are: 

The Enchanted Apples of Oz

The Ice King of Oz

The Forgotten Forest of Oz

The Secret Island of Oz

The Blue Witch of Oz

The Ice King:  By albatross, Ozma of Oz receives a request from the Ice King that a delegation from his realm to Oz.  How can such a request be denies.  Somehow the Ice King has a magical way for the delegation to arrive in Emerald City.  I especially like the image in the throne room when the inhabitants of Oz greet the delegation from the Ice King.  There are so many familiar characters that I consider my friends.  Lion, Tiger, Toto, The Wizard, Jack, Scarecrow, Tinman Dorothy and Ozma and so many more.  This delegation arrives with a proposal of marriage, between the Ice King and Dorothy.  The proposal is declined, but they are set to show the delegation the country the next morning, but they are gone, as is Ozma.  Now to rescue Ozma, and how to do so because the Ice King has a realm where outside magic is not effective.  Scarecrow, Tin Man and Dorothy are selected.  They are joined by a fourth member, a candle man—who use to be a candle maker until cursed by The Wicked Witch of the West.  Glinda makes a flying vehicle of emeralds to carry them over the great desert.  The candle man is very useful, because he has a flame to warm the others in an ice kingdom.  However when he does, he gets smaller, he is melting away.  Anyway, there is no hope of success against the Ice King, unless you could melt his heart; which our candle maker is able to do.  Upon return to Ozma is able to stabilize to stop future shrinkage, but he will be forever small.

Graphic Novel: The Enchanted Apples of Oz

Little Adventures in Oz Vol. 1, The Enchanted Apples of Oz, Eric Shanower writer and illustrator, IDW Publishing, 2010, San Diego, CA

Shanower completed five graphic novel stories in his Oz Series.  This is the first.  The others are: 

The Ice King of Oz

The Forgotten Forest of Oz

The Secret Island of Oz

The Blue Witch of Oz

The Enchanted Apples of Oz

I really like these books, because in the illustrations and the dialogue, the creator captures the spirit of L. Frank Baum.  However, he does not capture the wit, which I guess is harder to replicate.  However it is the best, non-Baum story I have ready.  This book deals with a struggling magician, Bortag, who wants to use magic to get love.  His love happens to be the Wicked Witch of the South, and he steals the magic apples, which supply Oz with its magic, to waken her.  She does waken, but does not return Bortag’s affections.  However she has an unquenchable desire for more apples.  This will completely leave Oz without magic.  The witch grows in power as others fade.  She gets the magic built that Dorothy wears.  Bortag returns to fix things, but still leaves with the built, until he repents.  The belt does not bring happiness, but he already has this in his friend Drox, a flying dolphin.  The moral is given in the last picture, “True happiness is never far away.”

Book Review: Mother Goose in Prose

Mother Goose in Prose by: L Frank Baum
This is L Frank Baum's first children's book, but showed the promise of what was to come.  In this book, he takes several Mother Goose nursery rhymes, and then tells the rest of the story.  There are 22 different stories. If you ever wanted to know the rest of the story with regards to Mother Goose then here it is.  I found the background story, or the beginning story very amusing, and sometimes humorous.  It makes some of those stories have a new meaning.

Movie Review: **^The Marvelous Land of Oz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuX8Jzv6_ZA
This is a dramatic production from Children's Musical Theater of Minnesota.  It was presented in 1981.  This musical follows pretty well the book, leaving out a few parts as would be expected.  It has all the characters important in the book, Tip, Scarecrow, Nick Chopper the Tin Woosdman, Jack Pumpkinhead, Woogle Bug, Glinda, Jinjur, Jellia, Mombi. I really disliked Mombi's character.  She was too witchy and had too large a part.  In reading the book she was more a mean sorceress, although she was ugly.  She dominated the show in an ugly way.  However the Tinman, Scarecrow and Tip were very good.  The music was forgettable.  I did find the song of Glinda talking to Tip enjoyable.  "Look to your own heart for there you will find the courage to face tomorrow.  There's no other heart that knows, look to your own heart."

Book Review: The Magic of Oz

 

This is another delightful read.  I didn’t harvest as much whit, but the story was very entertaining.  We have the Gnome King coming into play again.  A young lad, who is tired of taking orders and wants to explore, comes upon a magical word which will transform whatever he wants something to transform into.  You just have to be careful not to transform yourself into something that cannot talk.  When the Gnome King sees this power in action, he manipulates the boy into helping him extract revenge upon the people of Oz and to capture the land for themselves. 

They may very likely have been successful, because using the ability to transform things they try to convince the animal to join them.  The animals are wary, but decide to think about it.  In the meantime Dorothy and the Wizard come upon the animals.  They are already mad for the things the Gnome King has told them.

This story shows how your own pride can destroy your plans, especially when your plans are evil to begin with.  Our story includes plenty of treachery, and lots of magic.  I will leave you to read the book to find out how pride frustrates the Gnome King and his companion.

Book Review: The Tin Woodman of Oz

"The Tin Woodman of Oz: A Faithful Story of the Astonishing Adventure Undertaken by the Tin Woodman, Assisted by Woot the Wanderer, the Scarecrow of Oz, and Polychrome, the Rainbow's Daughter" is another gem from L. Frank Baum.  In this book, Scarecrow, Tin Woodman and Woot the Wanderer take off on an adventure to find the Woodman's former lover, Nimmie Amee.  Woor reminds the Tinman of his duty, seeing as how she is likely still waiting for his return. 
The Tin Woodman responds, “Beautiful things may be admired, if not loved,” asserted the Tin man.  “Flowers are beautiful, for instance, but we are not inclined to marry them.  Duty, on the contrary, is a bugle call to action, whether you are inclined to act, or not.  In this case, I obey the bugle call of duty.”  So the Tinman agrees to seek her out of duty rather than love.  The Tinman's heart is kind, not loving.  The Scarecrow commened that the Tin Woodman has a kind heart and not a loving heart.  “Even so, I am not sure it isn’t best for the girl,” said the Scarecrow, who seemed very intelligent for a straw man, “for a loving husband is not always kind, while a kind husband is sure to make any girl content.”
I enjoyed the poem of the Scarecrow:
“What sound is so sweet
As the straw from the wheat
When it crunkles so tender and low?
    It is yellow and bright,
    So it gives me delight
To crunkle wherever I go.

    “Sweet, fresh, golden Straw!
    There is surely no flaw
In a stuffing so clean and compact.
    It creaks when I walk,
    And it thrills when I talk,
And its fragrance is fine, for a fact.

“To cut me don’t hurt,
    For I’ve no blood to squirt,
And I therefore can suffer no pain;
    The straw that I use
Doesn’t lump up or bruise,
Though it’s pounded again and again!

    “I know it is said
    That my beautiful head
Has brains of mixed wheat-straw and bran,
    But my thoughts are so good
    I’d not change, if I could,
For the brains of a common meat man.

    “Content with my lot,
    I’m glad that I’m not
Like others I meet day by day;
    If my insides get musty,
    Or mussed-up, or dusty,
I get newly stuffed right away.”

Our travelers are captured by a Yookihoo Giantess who transforms them into other shapes.  “Be contented with your fate, for discontent leads to unhappiness, and unhappiness, in any form, is the greatest evil that can befall you.”  The manage to escape by stealing an apron from the Giantess which has power to open the doors.  However now the Scarecrow is a stuffed bear, the Tinman a tin owl, Woot a green monkey and the meet Polychrome, the Rainbow's daughter who had been transposed into a canary. 
Tommy Kwikstep had wished himself twenty legs, but when they developed corns he was miserable.  Polychrome restores him by magic and he thanks her, “And I am resolved never to speak again without taking time to think carefully on what I am going to say, for I realize that speech without thought is dangerous.
Ozma meets our group, as she was following them in her mirror.  She restores them and they are on the road again.  The face more adventures, meeting a fellow suitor for Nimmie Amee, who had a similar fate to our Tinman, as he is a tin soldier.  They also hear of Chopfyt, who is a compendium of the cast off parts of our two Tinmen.  This story has a bit of a twist at the end, as these two are determined to offer themselves to her and she may marry whom she chooses.  Another quote from the Scarecrow I thought I might share when he talks of the importance of using our brains appropriately.

Scarecrow: “Dear me!” remarked the Scarecrow, “what unhappy thoughts you have, to be sure.  This is proof that born brains cannot equal manufactured brains, for my brains dwell only on facts and never borrow trouble.  When there is occasion for my brains to think, they think, but I would be ashamed of my brains if they kept shoot out thoughts that were merely fears and imaginings, such as do no good, but are likely to do harm.”  “Your oil can, friend Woodman, is filled with oil, but you only apply the oil to your joints, drop by drop, as you need it, and do not keep spilling it where it will do no good.  Thoughts should be restrained in the same way as you oil, and only applied when necessary, and for a good purpose.  If used carefully, thoughts are good things to have.”  Polychrome laughed at him, for the Rainbow’s Daughter knew more about thoughts than the Scarecrow did.  But the others were solemn, feeling they had been rebuked, and tramped on in silence.
Another stellar book, of a traveling adventure from L. Frank Baum.

Movie Review: *****The Dreamer of Oz (1990)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMMjwMkpcXw
Every once in a while you find something very good and so unexpected, you want to let everyone know about it.  If you follow this blog, you know I am a fan of l. Frank Baum, and the Oz series, and his other books.  I found this made for TV movie very enjoyable.  This is the history of L. Frank Baum, and the history of his writing the stories of OZ, starting with “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.”  Baum was a delightful teller of tales, however they were not well received in the publishing community at first.  John Ritter stars as Baum and Annette O'Toole as his wife, Maude.  Baum was a regular character, with business ups and downs, and a heart condition, until age 40. His first break was "Mother Goose: in Prose" followed by "Father Goose: in Prose."  However the Oz book was his first love.  No one wanted to produce it.  He went from publisher to publisher and still no luck.  He was at his wits end.  He finally proposed self publishing the book, and that was the turning point.
This is a motivational movie about a relationship, but also about a very gifted and creative man.  This is a great family movie.

Book Review: The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus: L Frank Baum

I was looking for something not Oz but Baum at the used book store, and this is what I found.  This book was published in 1902, or shortly after the Wizard of Oz and before the second Oz book The Marvelous Land of Oz.  It tells Baum's version of where Santa Claus came from, and how he came to be Santa Claus with hints into different customs.  NeClaus is the name given him by the fairy princess after he is taken in by Wood Nymph Necile.  The name means Necile's Little One.  The Ak; Master Woodsman takes a liking to him, and allows him to stay.  It is also he who shows Claus his own kind as a young man after he had lived with the immortals his entire childhood.  Claus decides to live among his own kind, but stays close to the forest people in the Laughing Valley of Hohaho.   Claus takes it upon himself to make children happy, by making them toys.  They were not any toys at the time.  In doing so he makes himself an enemy of Awgwas who like children to be miserable.  They try to kill him, and each time he is rescued by the immortals.  Finally there is a great battle and the Awgwas and their hosts are destroyed, and Claus is free to deliver toys to the people of the world.  He notices that reindeer and deliver faster than he with a sleigh.  However the reindeer are controlled by Knooks who can be grouchy.  They finally agree Claus can use reindeer on day a year, Christmas Eve.  The reindeer have a special diet and favors from the other immortals so they can perform this task. Claus is given the name Santa by the children of the world.  Finally Claus grows old and death is sure to overtake him, putting a stop to annual toy delivery.  However Ak takes pity on him, and Claus is given the cloak of immortality, and thus has the energy of a youth but the appearance of an old man.
This little book has an explanation for many Christmas traditions including the Christmas Tree, the sleigh, bells, chimneys, toys, workshop, etc. etc.  This quotes I found insightful

The Ak: Yet suffering in moderation, is the natural lot of mortals, and it is not out place to interfere with the laws of nature.

narrator: But it is the law while Evil, unopposed, may accomplish terrible deeds, the power of Good can never be overthrown when opposed to Evil.

Narrator speaking of Claus: For a generous deed lives longer than a great battle or a king's decree or a scholar's essay, because it spreads and leaves its mark on all nature and endures through many generations.

"In all this world there is nothing so beautiful as a happy child," says good old Santa Claus; and if he had his way the children would all be beautiful, for all would be happy.

Movie Review: *****Oz The Great and Powerful (2013)

I love L Frank Baum, and this movie captured his spirit.  It is his spirit and wit that made the Oz series so popular.
Instead of starting with a little girl from Kansas, this movie starts with a con-man magician from Kansas.  He escapes an upset husband of a  woman he had been pursuing.  The pursuer happens to be the strong-man of the carnival.  He escapes in a balloon, which happens to go into a tornado, and he is whisked off to Oz.
The director, like in the ‘Wonderful Wizard of Oz”, has used black and white until this point, and then we enter a colorful world.  This world is  controlled by three governing witches, one good, one bad and one we are not so sure.  However it takes some time to determine which, witch, is which.  (I like that.)

The theme of the show is repeated several times by the wizard, “You can do anything if you believe.”  However the wizard doesn’t really believe this of himself.  It isn’t until faced with an impossible crisis that he actually begins to believe in himself.  When he releases his own skills, slight of hand, creativity, use of the moving camera, etc that he truly begins to become a wizard, although a humbug wizard at that.

This movie has fantastic characters.  James Franco portrays Oz, and Michelle Williams Glinda.  We also meet Theodora (Mila Kunis), who is not yet the evil which she eventually becomes. Evanora (Rachel Weisz) is already evil and deceitful.  Oz surrounds himself with the "China Girl" (Joey King) and Finley (Zach Braff), a flying monkey.  We also meet the munchkins, who can't fight, but are very good singers.  The Tinkers, who can build anything. 

I recommend this movie highly.  I think it is fun.  Sheri and Caleb both had issues with special effects surrounding the China Girl.  I didn't have any problems.  I thought this character was one of the most intriguing, delicate but tough at the same time.  Many characters have dual roles as in "Wonderful Wizard of Oz".

Book Review: Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz

This book continues the adventures of Oz.  This is the fourth installment and was published in 1908.  In this book we see the underworld magical Kingdoms.  This book starts in California, shortly after the San Francisco Quake.  Dorothy, the Wizard and his nine trick piglets, Zeb, the horse Jim and Dorothy’s cat Eureka all fall into the earth as the result of an earthquake. 
They come upon a glass city, populated by the Mangaboos, a vegetable people.  Being vegetables, they have no heart, and as a result are not very likeable and have difficulty showing mercy or kindness to anyone.  Our travelers are forced into a pit, which turns out to be a road to more adventures. 
The come upon an invisible people.  They are invisible because they eat form a fruit which makes them so.  The piglets eat of the fruit, and are invisible.  However the Wizard is able to get them back into his pocket.  The people all prefer to stay invisible all the time so as to avoid the bears.  The bears are also invisible.  The fruit is very good.  However our travelers prefer to stay visible.  They almost meet there fate at the hands of the bears, except for a local who tells them about a plant which makes them buoyant.  They use this, and all walk into the river.  The bears don’t know this secret.  They escape to a mountain, and begin the long climb up. 
The meet a braided man who makes flutters (wind to blow flags) and holes, donut holes, post holes etc.  He stacked several post holes on top of each other and fell into the earth and that is why he is there. 
They continue their trek up and come upon the world of the Gargoyles.  In this world everything is made of wood, even the people.  The Gargoyles are flying creatures.  They do not like noise.  However they overcome the travelers, and take them to a tower where they are locked up without wings.  Eureka, being a cat, explores and is able to climb (or go) down and discovers the wings of the Gargoyles are detachable.  The Wizard lowers Zeb, using the horses tackle, and Zeb comes back with enough stolen wings to attach them to the horse and the buggy.  Being a magical kingdom they work, and the travelers are off again.  They reach another tunnel, which comes to an end, as they can see the surface of the earth. 
In our last story, Dorothy had stolen the Gnomes magic belt.  Ozma uses this to bring all these friends, old and new to Oz.  Everything would have turned out happy, except a piglet comes up missing, and it is assumed Eureka ate the little thing.  This piglet had been a gift to Ozma from the Wizard.  A trial ensues, and the Wizard proposes using another piglet to confuse the jury, and get Eureka off, because destroying Eureka for murder would make everyone unhappy.  Eureka won’t have it, pointing out the differences between this piglet and the missing piglet.  Eureka then confides she had intended to eat the little piglet, but he fell into a vase and was saved.  The court is able to save the piglet, but still no one trusts or likes Eureka. 

A couple excerpts I liked: 
Speaking of the vegetable people:  “I don’t like these veg’table people,” said the little girl.  “They’re cold and flabby, like cabbages, in spite of their prettiness.”
“I agree with you.  It is because there is no warm blood in them,” remarked the Wizard.
“And they have no hears; so they can’t love anyone—not even themselves,” Declared the boy.

Before Eureka’s trial: They now separated to prepare for the sad ceremony; for whenever an appeal is made to law sorrow is almost certain to follow—even in a fairy-land like Oz. 

In prosecuting the case, the Woggle-Bug says he can see the Kitten in his “mind’s eye.”  This conversation follows: “What’s that?” asked the Scarecrow.
“I can see her in my mind’s eye—“
The mind has no eye,” declared the Scarecrow.  “It’s blind.”

Book Review: Ozma of Oz: L Frank Baum

This is the third in the Oz series published 1907.  This book introduces us to Dorothy again, but she is not traveling with Toto, but on a ship.  She becomes shipwrecked and survives by floating away in a chicken coop.  The next morning she discovers a talking chicken in the coop, and wonder of wonders, the chicken is talking.  This lets you know that Dorothy is close to a magical kingdom, but no Oz but the Kingdom of Ev.  Dorothy discovers a wind-up man, Tik-tok.  He is not alive, but has motion, talking and thinking capabilities if he is wound up properly.  He was built by Smith and Tinker.   However in visiting the Kingdom of Ev they run into trouble.  The Ev family is captured by the Nome King.  Their aunt is in charge and she wants Dorothy's head as it is pretty and young.  She would trade one of her own for it.  Dorothy refuses and ends up in the tower, Tik Tok runs down and becomes a statue in the parlor.  Bellina the chicken ends up in the hen house.
Luckily, friends from Oz, who have traveled across the desert by way of a magic carpet, arrive they next day as they are hoping to free the royalty of Ev.  They put things right, and no one is hurt except for Bellina who has had a row with a forward rooster.  Ozma is leading the company, and we see her for the first time in the role of leader of the People of Oz.  They set off the next do for the Nome Kingdom, which is under a mountain.  The Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger pull the chariot with Ozma and Dorothy and Bellina.  The Scarecrow rides the Saw Horse.  The Tin Man leads an army of 26 officers and one private. 
The Nome King has preserved the Family of Ev as bric a brac, ornaments throughout his kingdom.  He tricks the rescuers, and they all in turn join the Kings ornaments.  Dorothy makes a lucky guess, and escapes being changed.  However it is the smallest party member of all that saves the day.  She, as a chicken, was sleeping under the King's throne and woke up in time to hear the secrets which saved the company.  However she is unable to save the Tin Man, and they give him up for lost.  It is only by chance they find him, and all are happy.  Dorothy visits Oz for a few weeks, but her Uncle then is worried about her Uncle who has been ill.
A few witicisms.  When the hen can first talk she says, "If on is going to talk, it's best to talk correctly."  Talking of the army, "The generals commanded the colonels and the colonels commanded the majors and the majors commanded the captains and the captains commanded the private, who marched with an air of proud importance because it required so many officers to give him his orders.  (Reminds me of places with too many bosses and not enough workers.)  The hen requires the company to stop so she can lay her morning egg.  The Tin Man is impatient and says she must hurry.  However the Scarecrow responds, "No, no!" exclaimed the Scarecrow, "If she hurries she might lay scrambled eggs."  There is the same discussion as the past two books, heart vs. brains.  However this time Tik Tok is in the discussion, and he concedes he is inferior to his companions as he is not alive, and does not have emotions.
And this is a song the Saw Horse was singing:
"Would a wooden horse in a woodland go?
Aye, aye! I sigh, he would, although
Had he not a wooden head
He'd mount the mountain top instead."

I find L. Frank Baum to be an American treasure.  I know others have tried to write their own sequels to his stories, but nothing compares to the originals.

Book Review: Glinda of Oz

This story starts with Ozma going to intervene in the possible war between two groups of people in her kingdom, The Flatheads (whose brains come in cans) and the Skeezers who live on an island in the middle of a lake.  The Flatheads tried to steal the fish in the lake, and the Queen of the Skeezers Cooeeoh cursed the king's wive making her a golden pig.  Ozma and Dorothy travel together, but they are not successful in stopping the war.  However this time the King of the Flatheads, Sudic, gets the upper hand, and turns Cooeeoh into a diamond swan.  The only problem is Ozma and Dorothy and stranded on the island, which Cooeeoh, using magic, had caused to sink into the lake to keep it safe.  Glinda and a concourse of help, including the Wizard and other dignitaries come to the rescue.  It takes some problem solving and help of all, including three Adepts of Magic who had been turned to fish for many years.
These are some quotes I enjoyed

Ozma explaining why doing everything through magic is not such a good idea:  “No, no Dorothy, that wouldn’t do at all.  Instead of happiness your plan would bring weariness to the world.  If every one could wave a wand and have his wants fulfilled there would be little to wish for.  There would be no eager striving to obtain the difficult, and the pleasure of earning something longed for, and only to be secured by hard work and careful thought, would be utterly lost.  There would be nothing to do you see, and no interest in life and in our fellow creatures.  That is all that makes life worth our while—to do good deeds and to help those less fortunate than ourselves.”

Sudic: “I’m sorry we couldn’t have roast pig,” said the Sudic, “but as the only pig we have is made of gold, we can’t eat her.  Also the Golden Pig happens to be my wife, and even were she not gold I am sure she would be too tough to eat.”

“It’s no use,” said Button Bright; “the old Swan is too much in love with herself to think of anything else.”

Book Review: Rinkitink in Oz

Rinkitin in of Oz  was published in 1916 and was the tenth book in the series.  This tale is not really about Oz, but about three islands that are on the ocean which surrounds the dessert, which surrounds the land of Oz.  Regos and Coregos are islands next to each other, and ruled by a husband and wife who are conquering people.  They have long desired to conquer the island of Pingaree.  The island has been protected by three pearls, given him to the king by the mermaids.  The pearls give, superhuman strength, protection from harm and words of wisdom.  In the past, they had come to conquer the island, but the pearls protected them.  The pearls are hid in a secret cellar in the palace.  This time when the men of the Island of Regos come to conquer, it happens so fast, the king is unable to get to the pearls, and all the people are taken prisoner, back to be slaves .  Everyone is taken, except for Inga, the kings son who hid in a tree, Rinkitink (a visiting king from another island) who had fallen in a well, and Bilbil a talking goat.  Inga retrieves the pearls, and by virtue of the pear of wisdom it lead is lead to a boat.  They pursue the conquering kidnappers.

 

This story has a lot of neat adventures, as Inga searches for his parents.  It takes us to the islands, which he quickly conquers with his pearls, but then he loses his pearls and for a while has to make good with what people think he can do.  However even after he has conquered both islands, he still does not find his parents, who have been sent to the kingdom of the Nomes.  It is only here that we finally meet visitors from Oz, including Dorothy, who has brought a bunch of eggs with her just in case.

Book Review: Little Wizard Stories of Oz

Little Wizard Stories of Oz:

This is a small book of short stories which adds depth to the Oz characters. 
After first being published individual in pamphlet form in 1913, these stories were combined into a book in 1914 with illustrations by John R. Neill.  The six stories are:
"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"
"The Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman"
In the first story, the Lion and the Tiger talk of their deep hidden desires, and wild natures.  The tiger says he would love to eat a fat baby, and the Lion to tear a person apart.  However when the opportunity arises, their true characters shine through.  The tiger, instead of eating the baby, resucues him and restores him to his mother.  The Lion, instead of tearing the mother apart, comforts her, and explains he could never hurt one who has been so scared.

Dorothy and Toto like to travel an explore Oz.  This causes the Wizard some stress for their safety.  One day when Dorothy is exploring, she is captures by the Crinklink.  He makes her do the dishes, and threatens to turn her into a button or something.  Toto, who is with Dorothy, finally has had enough, and takes after the Crinklink.  It is then we learn that Crinklink is really the Wizard transformed and we see the Wizards intent of teaching Dorothy a lesson. 

“In Tiktok and the Nome King,” Tiktok has traveled to the Nome country to ask the king for replacement parts.  However in being disturbed, the Nome King throws his mace at Tiktok, and breaks him all up.  He then begins to first feel he may be caught, and says to place him in the junk heap.  The King broods for several days about what he has done.  In the mean time his servant takes the parts, and puts Tiktok back together.  He makes new parts when they are needed, and he turns out better than before.   When Tiktok confronts him, he thinks it is a phantasm come to haunt him.  However the error is finally resolved, and the King sends Tiktok back to Oz with baskets of jewels, so Ozma doesn’t get angry about the way he treated Tiktok, and he resolves to control his anger unless someone annoys him.

In the adventure of “Ozma and the Little Wizard” Ozma and the wizard confront three Imps, who are actually very clever, but also very naughty.  They have for some time been harassing the people, and when asked to stop say they will not.  The wizard uses magic on them, first turning them into bushes.  But the bushes were able to move, and the attacked the Wizard and Ozma with their thorns.  The Wizard turns them to pigs next.  The pigs, after regrouping again attack our pair, tripping them.  The Wizard fell into a river.  He then tries doves, but the doves fly at them, trying to peck their eyes.  He finally turns them into buttons.  These buttons are tin, brass and lead.  The Wizard knows when they reform as the buttons turn to silver, gold and aluminum.

In the story “Jack Pumpkinhead and the Sawhorse” Ozma has seen two lost children in her magic mirror.  She sends Jack and the Sawhorse to rescue them.  Jack finds the children, tied to a tree by the people squirrels.  The Squirrel King, is upset as they were stealing their nuts to have something to eat so they wouldn’t starve.  When confronted by the king, Jack ignores him, and unties the knots with his fingers.  However there is a conflict with the squirrels, and in this jack’s head is squished by a limb.  He now cannot see or talk.  The Sawhorse is smart enough to tell the children to pick him up and that they should all mount.  The Sawhorse is very fast, and gets them all to safety.  Ozma has been watching events unfold, and sends the Wizard mounted on the Lion to the rescue.  The wizard is able to find jack a new pumpkinhead, and he is restored.

Finally we have “The Sacrecrow and the Tin Woodman.”  They are best of friends.  One day they decide to take a trip down the river the Scarecrow’s boat, which is shaped like an ear of corn.  They are deep in conversation, and not watching where they are going.  Suddenly the scarecrow sees a rock in the say and cries out, but too late.  In the collision the Tinman is knocked out of the boat, and finds himself at the bottom of the river.  The Scarecrow attempts to swim to him, but finds he is too light.  In this effort, one of the scarecrow’s painted on eyes become smeared and wipes off.  He becomes blind in that eye, but has his other eye.  The crows start to mock him, but they become part of the solutions.  By getting a rope around the Tinman, and himself as a counter weight, the crows pull the Tinman, and the Scarecrow into the air.  They decide to play a joke, and dumb our friends, and dump them in the top of a tree, one on each side so they counterbalance each other.  The Scarecrow is the same weight as he is holding the anchor from the boat.  However he forgets, letting go of the anchor, and they both fall to the ground.  The Wizard, riding the Sawhorse, has been sent to their rescue, and is able to but everything right.  The story ends with them back in the boat with the Wizard as and Sawhorse as guests.

Book Review: The Emerald City of Oz

This is the sixth of fourteen Frank L. Baum Oz books.  It is evident that Baum had intended this to be the last.  Baum has nice things to say about Dorothy.  "In this world in which we live simplicity and kindness are the only magic wands that work wonders, and in the Land of Oz Dorothy found these same qualities had won for her the and admiration of the people."  He also says good things about The Wizard. “When we try to deceive people we always make mistakes,” he said.  “But I’m getting to be a real wizard now, and Glinda the Good’s magic, that I am trying to practice, can never harm any one.”  “You were always a good man,” declared Dorothy, “even when you were a bad wizard.”
This book tells two stories, Dorothy, taking her aunt and uncle to tour the land of Oz; while the evil king of the Nomes, Roquat, plots the overthrow of the Land of Oz and The Emerald City.  We meet many delightful characters.  I think my favorite was Utensia, were eating utensils have come to life.  This section is a pun every paragraph.  Here are a few.  Utensia:  We have had dull times since the steel and grindstone eloped.  Colander high priest, he’s the holiest thing we have in the kingdom.  “I’d like to smooth this thing over in some way”, said the flat iron.
During Dorothy's travels we also meet the Rigamaroles: "Then they began talking to one another in long, deliberate speeches, where many words were used but little was said.  Some of the college lecturers and ministers are certainly related to these people."  Baum is not very flattering of them, but certainly met a few in his life. 
Like wise the Flutterbudgets: “Do ‘ifs’ really make Flutterbudgets?”  “I think the ‘ifs’ help,” he answered seriously.  “Foolish fears, and worries over nothing, with a mixture of nerves and ifs, will soon make a Flutterbudger of anyone.”  Both of these lands they left as quickly as possible to preserve their own attitudes.  How ever the also met a paper doll kingdom, a kingdom where everything, including the people was some type of bun, a kingdom of rabbits, and the fuddles, who were jig saw puzzles, and thus entertained others.
On the other hand, the Nome General Guph meets some of the evil characters.  The Whimsies, people with little heads who wore big masks:  "They foolishly imagined that no one would suspect the little heads that were inside the imitation ones, not knowing that it is folly to try to appear otherwise than as nature has made us."  The

Growleywogs who were strong.  "It seems unfortunate that strong people are usually disagreeable and overbearing that no one cares for them.  In fact, to be different from you fellow creatures is always a misfortune.  And lastly the Phanfasms, who are people who make others see things as they want them to see, rather than as they are.
Ozma decides not to oppose these enemies, thinking it is wrong to hurt others.  Everyone is feeling doomed, when the Scarecrow offers some advice.  “I believe it is wrong to worry over anything before it happens.”  The Tin Woodman also has some good advice:  “My tin brains are very bright, but that is all I claim for them,” said Nick Chopper, modestly.  “Yet I do not aspire to being very wise, for I have noticed that the happiest people are those who do not let their brains oppress them.”
This book has a funny twist, which comes as a result of the Scarecrow's excellent brains.  This is one of my favorite Oz book as it brings the good vs evil conflict into the plot.

Book Review: The Road to Oz

The Shaggy Man with Donkey Head

The Road to Oz: In Which Is Related How Dorothy Gale of Kansas, The Shaggy Man, Button Bright, and Polychrome the Rainbow's Daughter Met on an Enchanted Road and Followed it All the Way to the Marvelous Land of Oz.  This is the fifth installment of the Oz series, published in 1909, and tells the story of Dorothy's fourth trip to OZ.  Previously she flew to Oz in a house, crossed the dessert on a carpet after being shipwrecked in a magical kingdom, and made a trek underground until Ozma brought her with the use of a magic belt.  In this book we are introduced to the shaggy man, Button-Bright, and Polychrome, the Rainbow's daughter.  We are also introduced to three new kingdoms, on of foxes, Foxville, one of donkeys, Dunkiton, (“All donkeys are born wise,” was the reply, “so the only school we need is the school of experience.  Books are only for those who know nothing, and so are obliged to learn things form other people.”)  and one of strange creatures which throw there heads at you, Scoodlers.  This book starts with there ending up on an enchanted road, which we later learn was sent by Ozma: Roads,” observed the shaggy man, “don’t go anywhere.  They stay in one place, so folks can walk on them.”  Shaggy man:  “But I’ve learned from long experience that every road leads somewhere, or there wouldn’t be any road, so it’s likely that if we travel long enough, my dear, we will come to some place or another in the end.  What place it will be we can’t even guess at this moment, but we’re sure to find out when we get there.”
 There are a couple of comments about money, which remind me of the United Order.  “Money,” declared the shaggy man, “makes people proud and haughty; I don’t want to be proud and haughty.  All I want is to have people love me; and as long as I own the Love Magnet everyone I meet is sure to love me dearly.”
“If we used money to buy things with, instead of love and kindness and the desire to please one another, then we should be no better than the rest of the world,” declared the Tin Woodman.  “Fortunately money is not known in the Land of Oz at all.  We have no rich, and no poor; for what one wishes the others all try to give him, in order to make him happy, and no one in all Oz cares to have more than he can use.”
There are also some comments about music, in the form of a man who has reeds in his lung and consequently makes music as he breathes.
The Musicker:
It isn’t a noise that you hear,
But music, harmonic and clear.
My breath makes me play
Like an organ, all day—
That bass not is in my left ear.

Music has charms, and it may
Soothe even the savage, they say;
So if savage you feel
Just list to my reel,
For sooth to say that’s the real way.

“Did you ‘vite the Musicker?” asked Button-Bright.
“No, because he would be too noisy, and might interfere with the comfort of others.  When music is not very good, and is indulged in all the time, it is better that the performer should be alone,” said the Princess.
There are a couple comments about friends and reputation. 
Dorothy: “The queerness doesn’t matter as long as they’re friends.”

“Hush, Dorothy,” whispered the Tiger; “you’ll ruin my reputation if you are not more discreet.  It isn’t what we are, but what folks think we are, that counts in this world.
 But the best quote is one I have tried to apply to my life.  Sometimes it best to just do it.  Johnny Dooit comes to help them figure out away over the desert.  He builds a sand sail, which uses gliders and a sail to float across the desert.
Johnny Dooit

The only way to do a thing
Is do it when you can,
And do it cheerfully, and sing
And work and think and plan.
The only real unhappy one
Is he who dares to shirk;
The only really happy one
Is he who cares to work.

I enjoyed this book, although I think the traveling OZ book is starting to get a little bit old.  All of the OZ books have had traveling as a part up to now.

Book Review: The Marvelous Land of Oz

This is the second book in the series.  It was written in 1904.  This book is more about the characters, than the land, but is an enjoyable read.  We meet some new characters, Tip, Jack the Pumpkinhead, the Saw Horse, Jinjur, Mombi and the Wogglebug.  We also see the continuing adventures of the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman.  The plot summary has Kip escaping from Mombi, a mean sorceress.  Jinjur, and the army of rebellion, young women with knitting needles, take over the Emerald City, putting the Scarecrow out as ruler.  Kip, who has come to meet the Scarecrow for advise, the Scarecrow, Jack and the Saw Horse all escape on the Saw Horse to seek assistance form the emperor, The Tin Man.  After failing to retake the kingdom, they seek help from Glinda the Good.  Glinda is reluctant to help, but informs them the Wizard, who took power to the thrown, he the previous king's daughter, Ozma of Oz.  The plot then revolves around discovering where Ozma has been hidden.  I love some of the wit of L. Frank Baum.  Here are some samples:
To Jack Pumpkin Head
“Nonsense!”  said the Emperor—but in a kindly sympathetic tone.  “Do not, I beg of you, dampen today’s sun with the showers of tomorrow.  For before you head has time to spoil you can have it canned, and in that way it may be preserved indefinitely.”

Emperor (Tin Woodman)  “Experience does not always mean wisdom. “

“I suppose I must start my brains working,” replied his Majesty the Scarecrow; “for experience has taught me that I can do anything if I but take time to think it out.”

Scarecrow: Everything in life is unusual until you get accustomed to it.”

Sad-looking man to Scarecrow: …Since you went away the women have been running things to suit themselves.  I’m glad you have decided to come back and restore order, for doing housework and minding the children is wearing out the strength of every man in the Emerald City.”
“Hm!” said the Scarecrow, thoughtfully, “If it is such hard work as you say, how did the women manage it so easily?”
“I really do not know” replied the man, with a deep sigh.  “Perhaps the women are made of cast-iron.”

Nick the tin Woodman: “Why, when it comes to Law, I have nothing to say” answered that personage; “for laws were never meant to be understood, and it is foolish to make the attempt.”

“But I hope she cannot get at us,” exclaimed the Pumpkinhead, with a shiver of fear.  “She threatened to make tarts of me, you know.”
“Don’t worry,” said the Tin Woodman.  “It cannot matter greatly.  If you stay shut u up here you will spoil in time, anyway.  A good tart is far more admirable than a decayed intellect.”

Scarecrow to the Wogglebug: "Your mathematics seem to me very much like a bottle of mixed pickles--the more you fish for what you want the less chance you have of getting it."

"Suppose we try kindness," suggested the Tin Woodman.  "I've heard that anyone can be conquered with kindness, no matter how ugly they may be."

The book ends with the theme from the first: brains versus heart.  "You may have noticed that if one has money without brains, he cannot use it to advantage, but if one has brains without money, they will enable him to live comfortable to the end of his days."
   "At the same time," declared the Tin Woodman, "you must acknowledge that a good heart is a thing that brains can not create, and that money can not but.  Perhaps, after all, it is I who am the richest man in all the world."
   "You are both rich, my friends," said Ozma, gently; "and your riches are the only riches worth having--the riches of content!"