Category Archives: Plays

Serious About Series

Posted on March 9, 2023 by Nathan

I’ve finished reading the latest issue of The Baum Bugle, which is largely dedicated to Kabumpo in Oz. Editor Sarah Crozter co-wrote a piece with Nick Campbell on the book and Oz as a series in general. I’ve seen a … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Authors, Book Reviews, Cartoons, Characters, Christmas, Cults, Discworld, Dr. Seuss, Families, Games, Holidays, L. Frank Baum, Language, Magic, Names, Oz, Oz Authors, Plays, Religion, Ruth Plumly Thompson, Terry Pratchett, Toys | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

What Is a Neighbor?

Posted on January 6, 2023 by Nathan

The Ogress and the Orphans, by Kelly Barnhill – This is a children’s fantasy that seems very relevant to recent events, and it looks like that was done on purpose. The villain is a very Trumpish sort in many respects. … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Art, Authors, Book Reviews, Comics, Current Events, Edward Einhorn, Eric Shanower, Greek Mythology, Jasper Fforde, Magic, Mario, Monsters, Mythology, Oz, Oz Authors, Plays, Politics, Prejudice, Relationships, Rick Riordan, Thursday Next, Video Games | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

I’d Idle On with an Eidolon

Posted on November 27, 2022 by Nathan

I’d been interested in the origin of the term “eidolon” after hearing the Let’s Talk About Myths, Baby episodes on Euripides’ Helen, and remembering that the term had been used in the Final Fantasy series. It’s basically a phantom, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Final Fantasy, Greek Mythology, History, Magic, Mythology, Names, Plays, Relationships, Religion, Video Games | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Mistress of Misdirection

Posted on November 8, 2022 by Nathan

In my Oziana reread, I thought I might say a bit more about the 2012 issue, made up of a round robin story based on the brief fragment known only as “An Oz Book.” Robert Stanton Baum credited it to … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Art, Atticus Gannaway, Authors, Characters, Chris Dulabone, Dennis Anfuso, Dick Martin, Jared Davis, Jeff Rester, John R. Neill, L. Frank Baum, Magic, Magic Items, Maps, March Laumer, Marcus Mebes, Music, Names, Oz, Oz Authors, Phyllis Ann Karr, Places, Plays, Poetry, Rachel Cosgrove Payes, Ruth Plumly Thompson, Tom Holt | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

We’re Sunk

Posted on September 28, 2022 by Nathan

The King in Yellow, by Robert Chambers – This Gothic horror story from the 1890s is largely notable for being incorporated into H.P. Lovecraft’s mythology. The title is that of a play that exists within the universe of the book, but … Continue reading →

Posted in African, Authors, Book Reviews, Carribean, Catholicism, Characters, Christianity, Global Warming, Health, Judaism, L. Frank Baum, Magic, Magic Items, Monsters, Music, Mythology, Names, Neil Gaiman, Oz, Oz Authors, Plays, Relationships, Religion, Rick Riordan, Santeria, Science, Sesame Street, Television, Terry Pratchett, Voodoo, Yoruba | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Pound of Man’s Tin

Posted on July 27, 2022 by Nathan

I didn’t get a chance to write about the 1993 Oziana last week, so I’m doing that now. I quite like the cover this time, Bill Eubank’s version of Mount Rushmore with the big four characters, drawn in MGM style. … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Authors, Characters, Eric Shanower, John R. Neill, L. Frank Baum, Magic, Magic Items, Names, Onyx Madden/Jim Nitch, Oz, Oz Authors, Plays, William Shakespeare | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Heffalumps and Woozies

Posted on July 23, 2022 by Nathan

After two years when it just wasn’t possible, we finally had an in-person OzCon International this year. It was in Pomona, California again, and it was one day and some change, so I initially thought it wouldn’t make sense to … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Art, Atticus Gannaway, Celebrities, Characters, Eric Shanower, Food, Jack Snow, John R. Neill, L. Frank Baum, Oz, Oz Authors, Places, Plays, Ruth Plumly Thompson | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Lions Are a Beast’s Best King

Posted on May 5, 2022 by Nathan

I might as well move on with my Oziana reread to the 1982 issue, which has a rather more abstract and stylized cover than earlier ones. It has a picture of the Cowardly Lion and a mountain inside a larger … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Art, Characters, Humor, John R. Neill, L. Frank Baum, Magic, Magic Items, Monsters, Oz, Oz Authors, Plays, Relationships, Ruth Plumly Thompson | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Nonestic Promotion, Part 2: Didja Ever Hear of Oz?

Posted on January 26, 2022 by Nathan

While Ruth Plumly Thompson would eventually become frustrated at how little promotion Reilly & Lee did for the Oz books, they did make some attempts early on in her tenure as Royal Historian. One such promotion was a short play … Continue reading →

Posted in Advertising, Characters, Gina Wickwar, Humor, John R. Neill, L. Frank Baum, Magic, Magic Items, Music, Oz, Oz Authors, Plays, Ruth Plumly Thompson | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Nonestic Promotion

Posted on January 20, 2022 by Nathan

One thing I think about occasionally is the promotion that the Oz books received in their heyday. L. Frank Baum had been a salesman and a contributor to a magazine about decorating shop windows, so it’s not too surprising that he … Continue reading →

Posted in Plays, Ruth Plumly Thompson | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment