Tag Archives: scare city

You Can See ‘Em Work

For the 2004 Oziana, John Bell took over as editor, as well as the author of one of the stories. The cover picture, which wraps around, was drawn by Don Marquez, and includes his takes on many different established characters. … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Atticus Gannaway, Book Reviews, Characters, Families, John R. Neill, L. Frank Baum, Language, Magic, Magic Items, Names, Onyx Madden/Jim Nitch, Oz, Oz Authors, Places, Ray Powell, Ruth Plumly Thompson | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Offbeat Officials of Oz

The Oz books have a lot of small royal courts with unusually-titled officials. This is something we see much more often in Ruth Plumly Thompson, but L. Frank Baum did have a few examples. In John Dough and the Cherub, … Continue reading

Posted in Authors, C.S. Lewis, Characters, Chronicles of Narnia, Humor, L. Frank Baum, Magic Items, Names, Oz, Oz Authors, Places, Ruth Plumly Thompson | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

All’s Fair in Oz

It’s interesting how much of the Oz series can be seen as referencing circuses and fairs. I guess it’s not surprising for children’s books of the time (or, really, even today, although the traditional circus is severely waning in popularity). … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, Characters, Dick Martin, Eloise Jarvis McGraw, L. Frank Baum, Monsters, Oz, Oz Authors, Places, Ruth Plumly Thompson | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

You Will Be Assimilated

It’s become a cliché in the Oz series that the magical land is full of insular themed communities where the inhabitants either want to turn visitors into beings like them, or sometimes just keep them as slaves. In Ruth Plumly … Continue reading

Posted in Dick Martin, Eloise Jarvis McGraw, John R. Neill, L. Frank Baum, Magic Items, Oz, Oz Authors, Places, Ruth Plumly Thompson, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Southern Hozpitality

Now we turn to the Quadling Country, literally the “little four” country. The name suggests that it’s the fourth of the main Oz countries to be united. It’s probably at least partially inspired by the Southern United States, which explains … Continue reading

Posted in Dick Martin, Eloise Jarvis McGraw, Eric Shanower, L. Frank Baum, Maps, Oz, Oz Authors, Places, Rachel Cosgrove Payes, Ruth Plumly Thompson, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Ghosting Through Life

Even though Oz has a community of Halloween-style monsters, it seems to be pretty light on ghosts and ghouls. While L. Frank Baum did write ghost stories (“My Ruby Wedding Ring” comes to mind), he tended to leave the afterlife … Continue reading

Posted in Characters, Oz | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Talismans and Trinkets

I suppose it’s a blight on my record as a nerd that I’ve never played Dungeons & Dragons. I have, however, seen enough about it to know some of what’s in it, and the magical items interest me. While I … Continue reading

Posted in Magic Items, Oz | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments