Tag Archives: the enchanted island of oz

Fact Within Fiction

It’s a strange thing to me that a world presented in a work of fiction can be basically just like ours, except without that work, and often related ones, existing in it, even if it’s very popular in the real … Continue reading

Posted in Characters, Comics, Eloise Jarvis McGraw, Humor, Jack Snow, John R. Neill, L. Frank Baum, Magic, Melody Grandy, Oz, Oz Authors, Rachel Cosgrove Payes, Ruth Plumly Thompson | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

If Wishes Were Streetcars

The Wish Express, by Ruth Plumly Thompson – This could essentially be considered the author’s first book, although it wasn’t published in that form during her lifetime. Before she took over the Oz series from L. Frank Baum, she serialized … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, Authors, Book Reviews, Fairy Tales, History, Humor, L. Frank Baum, Lewis Carroll, Oz, Oz Authors, Places, Politics, Ruth Plumly Thompson | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Literary History Drags On

I shared this article on the history of dragons in Western literature on Facebook, and there was a comment about how Oz wasn’t represented in it. It does, however, quote Ruth Berman, a long-time Oz fan; and I think she’s … Continue reading

Posted in Authors, Characters, Humor, J.R.R. Tolkien, John R. Neill, L. Frank Baum, Lewis Carroll, Monsters, Mythology, Oz, Oz Authors, Places, Ruth Plumly Thompson | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Companimals

Animal companions are a recurring theme in the Oz books, starting with Dorothy’s dog Toto. Kids reading the books were likely used to pets, so it makes sense. Since animals talk in Oz, however, some animal characters are more equal … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, Characters, L. Frank Baum, Oz, Oz Authors, Places, Rachel Cosgrove Payes, Relationships, Ruth Plumly Thompson | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign

The program books at the Winkie Convention/OzCon International, edited by David Maxine, have some pretty good essays and other material. My first contribution appeared in this year’s, which also included Robert Pattrick’s story about the Tin Woodman and Tin Soldier … Continue reading

Posted in Eloise Jarvis McGraw, Eric Shanower, Humor, John R. Neill, L. Frank Baum, Language, Oz, Oz Authors, Places, Ruth Plumly Thompson | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 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

Spectacle Spectacular

I find it interesting that the Frogman in The Lost Princess of Oz is said to wear “great spectacles with gold rims, not because his eyes were bad, but because the spectacles made him look wise.” I don’t know how … Continue reading

Posted in Characters, Eric Shanower, John R. Neill, L. Frank Baum, Magic Items, Oz, Oz Authors, Ruth Plumly Thompson | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Fairyland Lost

Anyone who’s read the Oz books from The Emerald City of Oz on knows that residence in that fairyland grants certain magical effects, including a lack of aging unless you want to grow older, and presumably the inability to die … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, Comics, Eric Shanower, John R. Neill, L. Frank Baum, Magic, Oz, Oz Authors, Phil Lewin, Rachel Cosgrove Payes, Ruth Plumly Thompson | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sizing Up and Down

Characters changing in size is a pretty frequent occurrence in the Oz books. It’s sort of a transformation, but not entirely, as someone exposed to such magic keeps the same shape. At least, that seems to be the case for … Continue reading

Posted in Characters, Eric Shanower, John R. Neill, L. Frank Baum, Magic, Magic Items, March Laumer, Melody Grandy, Oz, Oz Authors, Phyllis Ann Karr, Rachel Cosgrove Payes, Ruth Plumly Thompson | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Gaming the System

I already wrote a post about sports and games in the Oz series, but I had a few more ideas along those lines that I thought I could develop somewhat. Characters in the books are frequently seen playing games, and … Continue reading

Posted in Board Games, Chess, Chris Dulabone, Dick Martin, Eloise Jarvis McGraw, Games, John R. Neill, L. Frank Baum, Oz, Oz Authors, Places, Ruth Plumly Thompson, Sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments