Oz Time Goes By

When trying to come up with a comprehensive timeline for the Oz series, such as the Royal Timeline of Oz, the main problem actually comes in with the first few books.

It's a popular idea that the books take place around when they were published, or maybe a year or two before, and for the most part the evidence supports this. With the earlier books, though, it's trickier.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was published in 1899 and The Emerald City of Oz in 1910, yet Dorothy is still only ten or eleven at the time of the latter. So it's pretty much necessary to condense the number of years over which these books take place, although exactly how can't be determined for certain. I've seen it suggested that Emerald City could take place as early as 1903, although most chronologists choose a somewhat later date. The earthquake in which Dorothy is caught in Dorothy and the Wizard is almost certainly based on a real one that hit San Francisco in 1906, but we're not specifically told that it IS this quake, and I find it rather unlikely that six years had passed between Wizard and DotWiz.

To further complicate matters, there are several books that take place during the period in which Dorothy was still living in Kansas, probably mostly due to copyright reasons. Most of these stories take place over only a few days, but whether or not someone accepts them can affect how long it was between Dorothy's first visit to Oz and her finally deciding to live there. Tyler Jones proposed that Dorothy's aging could have been slowed by her time in Oz, but I'm not so keen on that idea.

In addition to Dorothy, we also have Button-Bright, who first visits Oz when quite young in Road, and is still younger than Trot when he moves there in Scarecrow. Since Trot claims to be ten in Giant Horse, it's likely that Button-Bright is nine years old at the most. Six years passed in between the publication of these two books, which means it might be helpful to condense the years between them as well, albeit not as much as with the earlier books.

Rinkitink is also an interesting case, as it's based on an earlier manuscript, but with references added to fit it into its designated place in the series. J.L. Bell proposed the idea that the Nome King in Rinkitink might actually be Ruggedo, which would necessitate pushing this one back to before Tik-Tok. This would mean disregarding King Rinkitink's song about Hank the Mule, as Hank doesn't come to the Emerald City until the end of Tik-Tok, but that's hardly a significant part of the story. Still, I generally prefer keeping Rinkitink as the tenth book in the series, and just figuring there was some other reason why Kaliko was acting out of character.

As far as the Ruth Plumly Thompson books go, 1930's Yellow Knight has Speedy thinking of Charles Lindbergh, who made his famous flight in May 1927. As such, the story probably doesn't take place any earlier than 1928. I usually like to think of her books as taking place the year before they were published, but there could be a problem here as well.

Dorothy Maryott's essay on Silver Princess says that Thompson began writing it in February 1937, and the story takes place in May of an unspecified year. So wouldn't it have had to have taken place in 1936 at the latest, in order for it to be history when Thompson wrote it? I think there's plenty of wiggle room here, though. Sure, the authors presented themselves as historians, but this can't be taken TOO seriously. Some more recent authors, particularly Chris Dulabone, have taken to actually writing the year in which a book takes place within the story, which is helpful to those of us who want to keep timelines straight, but comes across as a bit weird when the characters themselves use the AD system of years. In that way, I prefer Melody Grandy's books, which tend to date everything from the beginning of Ozma's reign. There's no specific date for this that's agreed upon either, but 1902 is a popular supposition.

In Other Lands Than Ours

L. Frank Baum and his wife Maud took a trip overseas in 1906. During their trip, they kept pen and paper handy, Frank working on a few books while Maud would write home about their trip.

These days, it might be difficult for us to realize how a letter might get circulated since such things have become far more personal. Think of it like an e-mail you'd send to your family, except you send it to one family member and have them send it around. These days, you'd either blog or expect them to keep up with your trip on Twitter or Facebook.

And that is what Maud's letters were: a lot like blogs about her trip overseas: nothing notable and not an item of serious study, but her personal experience and thoughts on what she'd seen.

Apparently, the family was so taken with Maud's delightful letters they wanted to keep them, but upon returning home, Frank had a better idea than splitting the letters up among the family: he collected them all, did some minor editing, and included his photographs and privately printed In Other Lands Than Ours, so family members could have all the letters in a very dignified form.

As I said, Maud writes mainly about her experience. It's been noted her information about what she saw overseas isn't entirely accurate, either by her mis-remembering or mis-hearing information, or the tour information was more interested in good stories for tourists than being accurate.

This trip is important for Baum scholars as it influenced a number of Baum's work: The Last Egyptian, The Boy Fortune Hunters in Egypt, Aunt Jane's Nieces Abroad, Daughters of Destiny, and it's also likely he picked up a bit of inspiration that he later molded into characters and places in the Oz books. To have a first hand account of the trip is a great aid.

It also gives a peek into the patriotism Baum and his wife shared, later imparted into characters in The Boy Fortune Hunters and Aunt Jane's Nieces series. There are also a few little bits about Frank himself, he was generally ignorant of the old masters of art, saying "he can tell one old master from another as soon as he reads the name on the frame," and his opinion of an opera they attend is pretty poor.

The edition I have is a new edition by Pumpernickel Pickle with a completely new design. The book had been previously been reproduced as a photo-facsimile by Scholar's Facsimiles and Reprints, but it is now out of print and used copies cost upwards of $40 while the Pumpernickel Pickle one, being print on demand, is a brand new copy for $23. As I type, an original edition is on eBay, and has already passed $200 in bidding. (Still a week left, so it could go pretty high.) I understand that the original and Scholar's edition has the photos at a larger size and thus, clearer, but I'm all right with this one.

The Tin Castle of Oz

There are many types of Oz books now that fan written books are out there. The Tin Castle of Oz is a very different type of Oz book.

The story is told in flashback and explains how the Tin Castle of the Tin Woodman was built.

While fine tinsmiths are at work, the Tin Woodman and the Scarecrow joined by a Winkie boy named Gelh to go to the Munchkin Forest to collect used cocoons made by the tintipillars when they turn into tinselflies. These cocoons can be unraveled into thread, then woven into cloth to make comfortable tin cushions and beds for the castle.

Meanwhile, tinsmith Timorous has designed a model for the Castle, one of three, and he's anxious to know which one the Tin Woodman will pick, and he sets out to find the Tin Woodman to get a decision so work can begin on the castle as soon as possible.

Peter Schulenberg introduces a whimsical cast of new characters. Aside from Gelh and Timorous, there is also Mort, a man made of yellow bricks who maintains the yellow brick road, giant friendly mosquitoes, a rubber rabbit named Rupart, talking Lanif trees, the tintipillars, and a rat named Packey Rat.

As whimsical and fun as the story is, I didn't feel so into the story as I did with other stories: the reason being there is no threat presented to the characters. There is no villain, just a variety of problems for them to solve, which they do, usually ahead of time, or the answer unveils itself. It's not that it's bad, but it flows too smoothly with no friction between anyone, so there's little to grasp the reader's attention. Or at least, mine. I did feel some of the problems encountered could have been rearranged for a better suspense, but as it is, the book is out and there's no changing it now.

So, if you want a story explaining how the Tin Woodman got his Castle, here you go. It's a fun, sweet story, but not very exciting.

Get your copy from Tails of the Cowardly Lion and Friends.

Technically, it's Oz

Okay, earlier this week I reviewed The Dinamonster of Oz and complained that Kenneth Baum underestimated his father's creation in stating that the people of Oz ignored chemistry, electricity, and "modern science" in favor of magic. I stand by that.

In The Patchwork Girl of Oz, the Shaggy Man sings that "magic is a science." Now, "science" is kind of a broad term, really. Generally, it means a study of how certain things work. Already, you're likely seeing that Baum's studious Glinda and the Wizard are both examples of scientists if you consider magic a science.

Chemistry is a more scientifically advanced version of what was once called alchemy, which was considered magic. In The Patchwork Girl of Oz, we discover that some plants (seven leaf clovers) and even parts of animals (the Woozy's hairs and a wing of a yellow butterfly) contain magical elements. The thing to remember is that Dr. Pipt was still using an old form of magic, while Glinda has a remedy ready that does not require these specific ingredients. Apparently, Glinda's magic is much more advanced, meaning there have been some developments in magic in Oz.

In Glinda of Oz, we come across an advanced case of traditional science merged with magic in the submerged Skeezer City. Glinda, the Wizard, Ozma, and Dorothy discover that Queen Coo-ee-oh's magic sets into motion the machinery that raises and sinks the island and launches the submarine boats. This is accomplished through two old forms of magic: a magic word and a burning of a magic substance. Magic is science in Oz and it can operate technology. Magic words and substances react with the machines and make them operate, like electricity.

Baum also suggests the possibility of electric lights in Oz. He wisely doesn't come out and say "The lights were electric," but many homes and the Emerald City seem to be well-lit. In The Annotated Wizard of Oz, Michael Patrick Hearn suggests an electric light "as bright as the sun" may light the Wizard's throne room. Neill and Denslow do not show electric lights or any apparatus to turn them on or off, but in addition, few candles or lanterns are seen.

In Tik-Tok of Oz, Quox is given an electric light on his tail and one of the Ladies of Light is Electra, who represents electric lights. It is made perfectly clear here that electricity—and thus advancing technology—is part of this fairyland.

In The Road to Oz, we can see telephone lines outside of Jack Pumpkinhead's house, and in The Emerald City of Oz, a telephone is by Ozma in one picture. These are Neill's touches and not Baum's, but in Tik-Tok of Oz, Ozma and the Shaggy Man use small handheld devices to speak to each other while Ozma is in the Emerald City and the Shaggy Man is just above the Nome King's dominions. Not only does Oz have a phone service, it also has cell phones.

So, Oz wasn't keeping up with America's technology, it was actually far ahead of it.

Now, why doesn't this technology come into play in the Oz stories? Why can't Trot and Cap'n Bill whip out their cell phones when they're stuck on the Island of the Magic Flower and call Glinda or Ozma for help?

I think I have a very simple answer: the technology is there, but no one wants it.

If you view Oz as a whole history, now taking into account the entire Famous Forty, Thompson and Neill give us two big advancements in technology: the Ozoplanes and the Scalawagons. Oz has space ships and luxury cars. Ignoring changes in authors, by The Wonder City of Oz, an Ozoplane is grounded and being used as a (secondary?) home by Jack Pumpkinhead in the Emerald City. As soon as Lucky Bucky in Oz, use of Scalawagons seems to have dropped. And let's not forget what Shaggy, Ojo, Bungle, and the Woozy thought about Dr. Pipt's phonograph machine!

Why? Simply, the people of Oz prefer a simpler way of life, even if it does mean more work for them. Remember that these people don't die, so they got all the time in the world to kill and be set in their ways. Yes, a luxury Scalawagon might be more convenient, but it's not as much fun as adventuring down the yellow brick road. And frankly, the Ozoplanes seemed to have brought more trouble than good, likely shooting down their continued use.

I wouldn't be surprised if Oz has supercomputers and Ozma could keep an eye on what people say about her on the internet, but who wants the internet when you live in Oz?

So, was Baum's Oz ignorant of "modern science?" I say no. Magic is infused in their way of developing science and technology and the people in Oz are likely far ahead of us when it comes to technology, but a significant difference between Oz and America is that the people of Oz just are not interested in technology. Maybe someone who needs a special piece of equipment will be open to assistance, but most people just don't care about it. They have two good hands to work with, and that's what they feel like they need.

The Forgotten Forest of Oz - Treasury Edition

And IDW releases The Forgotten Forest of Oz once more! Let's see... if we count all versions of Adventures of Oz as one printing, and then Little Adventures in Oz as another, this would be the third time.

From what it sounds like, they were reissuing graphic novels in an oversize "Treasury Edition" format. By oversize, I mean a little over 13 inches tall. That's a big book!

When Shanower was approached to have one of his Oz graphic novels reprinted in this format, he chose The Forgotten Forest of Oz, his favorite of his five graphic novels.

We've talked about Forgotten Forest before, in full spoilery detail, here. But for those who haven't read it before and don't want to be spoiled, but are interested, here's a shorter summary from my little review of the Little Adventures in Oz collections:

• Wood Nymph Nelanthe is banished from the Forest of Burzee for kissing a mortal man. The King of the Trolls befriends her and makes her his queen, and she helps him plan an attack on Burzee. However, she wishes she could just forget and has her giant bat Nightshade steal some of the Water of Oblivion. When Nightshade accidentally brings back Dorothy and Toto, can our friends from Oz (including the Scarecrow and the Sawhorse) escape to warn the Forest of Burzee in time?

 I really enjoy this one, though while Shanower may find it his favorite, I think The Ice King of Oz rivals it as my favorite of his five. But, no matter. The story is well-done with some excellently developed characters and the artwork is superb as ever.

Of course, the oversize format allows you to enjoy the details of Shanower's artwork even more than before, though the large size might make you think twice before you take it to read somewhere other than home. (Particularly if you have the Little Adventures in Oz books.)

As for additional material, all the pictures that appeared for the story in the now out of print Adventures in Oz collection are reproduced here and then some. The front cover is completely new to this edition, while on the back is the cover representing the story first used for Little Adventures in Oz Vol. 2. The original edition's front cover is reproduced right after the story, so all three covers the story has had are present. The inside front cover shows the Scarecrow on the Yellow Brick Road, while the inside back cover is a biography of Shanower and a couple photos.

There are more character designs and preliminary art not found in Adventures in Oz and Shanower wrote a completely new appendix to go along with it. Also, when we get to the original ending, there is a third page that was not included in the original version. I won't spoil what happens on it, but it does answer a question I had about the story, though I did consider it an insignificant detail.

Just about the only negative thing to say is that there's a picture of Dorothy, Toto, the Scarecrow and the Sawhorse by the Forbidden Fountain after the story, and the picture quality is extremely soft. This is most noticeable on the writing on the fountain. Not sure what happened there, but that's a really minor niggle.

Overall, it's a nice new edition. There are likely Oz fans who already have three versions (original, Adventures, and Little Adventures) and they might balk at buying the same story yet again. Part of what hooked me was the price of only $10. That and Hungry Tiger Press was offering a limited bookplate with it for the first 100 customers, so why not?

Here's mine. I'm a little proud of ordering early in the morning two weeks ago now. Plus, Eric Shanower sketched a knotty-looking Sawhorse in my copy for me.

Get your copy from Hungry Tiger Press.

The Dinamonster of Oz

In 1941, Kenneth Gage Baum, L. Frank Baum's fourth son, sent a manuscript to Reilly & Lee for an Oz book. It wasn't rejected, per se, but they decided not to publish it. Probably because they didn't want to drop John R. Neill as writer of the Oz series. They did consider the Baum name a possible selling point, but likely the immediate value was not impressive given they'd recently concluded 19 moderately successful years with Thompson.

Finally, in 1991, it was published, thanks to Kenneth's daughter, granddaughter, and Chris Dulabone, who published it under his Buckethead Enterprises of Oz imprint.

The Nome King has made a Dinamonster to invade Oz: a mechanical giant with cranes for arms, a three-story office building for a head, and trapdoors in its feet to capture people with. And its first Ozzy prisoners: Dorothy, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion.

Inside the Dinamonster, they meet a boy from Omaha named Tripp who has a rocket plane he built with his dad. He manages to use the plane to get to Oz to get help.

In Oz, Glinda and the Scarecrow join Tripp as they head back across the desert (which isn't deadly anymore... umm...) to rescue the captive Ozians. But, even if they can, can they stop the Dinamonster and the Nomes once and for all?

To be honest, this isn't a bad Oz story. But I do have to wonder: how familiar were Baum's sons with their father's work? Not only is the desert around Oz just a desert, the Magic Picture has been replaced with a telescope, and Ozma's on a retreat, and once she returns, I realized she was acting just like Glinda, and Glinda was acting just like Ozma.

An even bigger underestimation of his father's creation occurs in Kenneth claiming the people of Oz ignore "modern science," electricity, and chemistry in favor of magic. In the original Mr. Baum's work, Ozma, the Wizard, Glinda, and many other magic workers do all of these combined into one art, and, in fact, seem to be ahead of the Outside World, but the people of Oz seem to prefer a simpler way of life. (Probably something to do with immortality. They're set in their ways.) Blatantly saying they've been ignorant of it and saying they need to adopt it is just so un-Ozzy.

Tripp's a good, strong boy character, but he felt a lot like Speedy, who I would have preferred, though that would have been impossible.

Overall, I can see why Reilly & Lee said it would need work. A lot of the errors I pointed out could have been fixed and the story would have been intact. (Though given the editors they had on staff, I wouldn't have held my breath.) Kenneth does keep a good pace, but the inaccuracies are glaring, and the focus on introducing "modern science" to Oz bogs the story down because it is not needed.

Wait... Is it just me or is the idea of a mechanical giant invading a country reminding anyone of The Magical Monarch of Mo?

It's worthwhile reading for a curious story from the Baum family. The book edition, though, has a problem with footnotes added to attempt to explain the glaring inaccuracies. I think it would have been better if an editor had been brought on to correct the inaccuracies, or have them noted elsewhere, or not noted at all.

Dorothy Gita Morena provides illustrations, but as whimsical as they are, there are far too few.

The book is still available from Chris Dulabone for $10.

The Box of Robbers - first pictures

Victor (Luke Seymour) stretches after confinement, much
to the surprise of Martha (McKenzie Lewis), in an outtake.

 My little brother Arthur was over here and we began editing his short film based on L. Frank Baum's "The Box of Robbers."

We didn't finish due to my video editor suddenly refusing to work, but he was sure he could finish editing it in class tomorrow.

He informed me that part of the assignment was that the film needed to be five minutes long, so he's going to create two different cuts: one short one for the assignment, and a longer one he'll release on YouTube. He's also expressed interest in a behind-the-scenes video featuring a lot of outtakes.

Victor (Luke), Luigi (Zach Robertson), and Beni (Zach Weber)
are surprised to discover they aren't in Italy anymore...

Just be warned about that, the cast is entirely composed of teenagers. Those are some rowdy bandits, as I've seen just by looking over the footage...

Arthur adapted the story very faithfully, though given he couldn't make it a period piece, he did a fine job of placing it in modern times.

I did ask about the possibility of putting it on DVD, but Arthur regrets that selling DVDs to Baum film collectors will not be possible because he used a camera from OTC, a state-funded college, meaning he can't sell footage shot with tax-funded cameras. (I did suggest the DVDs be sold at cost, and he said he'd ask.) He'd like to do commentary for it, since it's his first attempt at a seriously-done short film.

Finally, I made a suggestion as to when Arthur would put the full version on YouTube, and when I explained my suggestion, he agreed: May 15, 2012.

Aunt Jane's Nieces in the Red Cross

And now for the last Aunt Jane's Nieces book. It's been fun going over one of L. Frank Baum's non-fantasy series, and maybe I'll do it again soon.

I have two copies of Aunt Jane's Nieces in the Red Cross. The one you see in the above photo on the left is from 1915, as based on a gift inscription inside. The one on the right is from about 1918. It is still from Reilly & Britton, who would become Reilly & Lee shortly afterward.

The 1915 version was the first vintage Aunt Jane's Nieces book I bought as I found it for sale online for only $5, and it is worth so much more. Not only does it have its dustjacket, but the cover is also clean and the pages have barely yellowed. I noticed a spot where it looked like the page cracked somehow, but that was it. Very minimal damage and age has been quite kind to it! If I ever sold my Baum collection, I could bet on this one being a big seller. (No, I'm NOT interested in selling.)

The 1918 version hasn't been so lucky. The cover is quite dingy, the pages have yellowed, and the inner half of the front endpaper is missing.

So, why do I have two copies? We'll get to that.

The book finds A. (okay, they actually call him "Ajo," short for A. Jones) and Maud Stanton coming to visit Patsy, Beth, and Uncle John in their New York home. Maud is taking leave from her acting to serve in the Red Cross tending to those injured the war overseas, and Ajo is going to use his yacht, the Arabella, as a hospital ship. They convince Patsy, Beth, and Uncle John to join them.

Time for some history: in 1914, about the time Baum would have been writing the book, other countries were at war with Germany. The United States of America was hesitant to get involved, in fact, we didn't join the fight until 1917, making this war that we ignored overseas World War I.

Uncle John is hesitant to get involved. Quite possibly one of the best exchanges of dialogue in Baum's work occurs in this book:

"Foreigners," said Uncle John weakly.
"Human beings," said the boy.

 Right there, Baum makes his stance clear: it doesn't matter if these people are American or Belgian or French or German: they are people and that's why they deserve help.

A skilled but disfigured surgeon called Dr. Gys joins the company. They stock up on medical supplies and after getting the proper documentation, head overseas to serve with the Red Cross for what will be three months.

Baum makes a rare anti-drug statement through Dr. Gys when Beth praises the effects of morphine for patients:

"Morphine," he replied, "has destroyed more people than it has saved. You play with fire when you feed it to anyone, under any circumstances. Nevertheless, I believe in its value on an expedition of this sort, and that is why I loaded up on the stuff. Let me advise you never to tell a patient that we are administering morphine. The result is all that he is concerned with and it is better he should not know what has relieved him."

During their time overseas, they are aided by a Belgian they call Maurie who says he's been separated from his wife and children because of the war. However, they discover his wife and her two children during their time overseas and she claims he's a scoundrel and spy. They don't believe her until one night he disappears with a German prisoner of war who was being treated on the ship, which causes them to fall out of favor with the local authorities.

Patsy helps a seemingly fatally-wounded soldier find his missing wife, and Dr. Gys makes a surgical experiment and manages to help the man recover.

Dr. Gys himself claims to be cowardly and wants to redeem himself. A few times, he has acted boldly and rashly around the soldiers. However, he knows he is of more service tending the ill and wounded and helping death come easily to those he cannot save. However, he makes no secret that he longs to die and be rid of his disfigured body.

Baum doesn't lighten up at all in this story: this is war. This isn't funny. This isn't happy. The tone is keenly felt throughout the book.

Finally, one day they are stationed just outside a battlefield and Patsy and Dr. Gys are trying to help a wounded man back to the ship when a piece of shrapnel kills Dr. Gys. Having had enough of the war, realizing more help will be coming from other countries, and noting they have lost their most valuable asset in Dr. Gys, they decide to return home.

That ending was all right for the neutral America in 1915, but when America entered the war in 1917, it smacked of poor taste. Basically, war was viewed as a wasteful thing, and the girls were simply commended for being unselfish in a matter that shouldn't have concerned them.

Not only was America involved with World War I in 1917, Baum's family was involved as two of his sons were serving in the war. The ending of the book was now no longer relevant, and it furthermore dated it, meaning sales of future copies would be low.

So, Baum revised the ending. That is why I have two copies: these are the two different versions. Tip for collectors, the first version has 20 chapters, while the second has 24 and the copyright page lists copyrights for both 1915 and 1918. Any version published by Reilly & Lee would be the later version.

The new version seems to have been released silently and it was not a big reissue. The only changes in front matter are the copyright page and the table of contents which looks cramped compared with past books. I didn't compare the books fully, but if there were any text edits before chapter 20, they were done very carefully so few new plates needed to be prepared, because all the paging is exactly the same.

The story is the same as before, until they arrive at the battlefield where Dr. Gys met his end in the original version. Here, instead of Patsy trying to get to a fallen soldier, they see a cameraman boldly taking footage of the war. A shell lands near him, ruining his camera and injuring him badly. Dr. Gys braves the field and recovers the cameraman and his film.

The cameraman is named Charlie Holmes and used to work with Maud in her movie studio. However, his injuries require him to have an arm amputated. He puts the best face he can on it.

Uncle John thinks Dr. Gys is being too rash and bold and putting many of them in unnecessary danger. Ajo thinks Uncle John is still against helping the wounded, but the old man is thinking nothing of the sort:

"No, said he, "we won't go home. We'll merely behave ourselves. I wasn't much interested in this venture at first, but the sacred mission on which we have embarked has grown upon me day by day; I am beginning to understand the horrors of war as I never imagined they could exist, and I thank God that we have had the opportunity to save so many brave men from suffering and perhaps death. I was drawn into this enterprise against my wish, as you will remember, but now that I'm in it, I mean to stay in it! My duty is here, in these stricken countries devastated by German cruelty, and I'm glad to be able to furnish brains and money to mitigate the suffering this inhuman war is causing to the poor soldiers and sailors who do their duty and ask no questions, but are crushed between the millstones of national diplomacy. They are my brothers, and, please God, I'll stand by them to the end. If you want to go home, Jones, take your ship and go. If any of the rest of you care to desert, go—now or whenever you please. But understand this: John Merrick is on the job just as long as he can be of use to his fellow creatures."

Applause for Mr. Baum there.

They continue their work and soon borrow a second skilled surgeon named Godrayal, who considers Gys to be lacking in skill. (Godrayal is credited with replacing a man's leg with that of another.) One day, while working on the fields, Gys is injured and is only semi-conscious. Godrayal not only operates on him, but attempts to restore his features from his old disfigurement. And, to the surprise of all, the experiment is successful and a very handsome Gys is the result.

The book tells us they were serving in the war yet, Maud and Charlie Holmes getting engaged to each other, and Beth soon falls in love with Dr. Gys and they are engaged as well. As almost a footnote, we are informed Patsy and Ajo begin to fall in love as well, and it is just as well that Uncle John "lost" Patsy to a husband last as she was his favorite. And then: THE END.

Aunt Jane's Nieces in the Red Cross was the final book in the series, despite it being one of the best selling series for Baum and Reilly & Britton. Given the serious tone and how the girls put aside their playful nature and work hard, further adventures would only feel like steps backward for the characters. In the revised version, even Uncle John has finally "grown up."

Being struck by how mature Baum could be after reading so many of his juveniles and all his adult novels, this one was really sobering and I'm putting it forward as one of Baum's best books. The character development over the series isn't the smoothest or the best, but here, Baum proved he could make his characters mature and stay in character. This was quite an accomplishment for any writer and Baum handled it well, even though I suspect his failing health and stress over his family in the war were a huge factor in the revision.

Oddly enough, it is the 1915 edition's text that comes up online these days and used in the poorly-done print on demand editions. Those may be typeset well and may be well-bound, but they do not include the original pictures and few use the original cover pictures. That was why when I decided to collect the series, I went for old editions. And I feel sure that insisting on older editions taught me quite a bit about the series' history.

Edith Van Dyne would continue with the new Mary Louise series, the first five of which are by Baum. (I think I have heard the fifth might be largely rewritten.) After Baum's death, this series was continued briefly. However, I don't own all of these yet. I'm keeping an eye out, though.

The Royal Podcast of Oz: Rankin-Bass in Oz

Sam and Jared discuss the very 60s treatment given to Baum's stories and characters with Rankin-Bass' Tales of the Wizard of Oz and the Return to Oz special. Get ready to sing along!

As always, you can listen and download at the podcast site or use the player below.
       

   
   
Podcast Powered By Podbean
   

Weekly Update: 'Dorothy of Oz' Trailer

Wait, what? There's an actual trailer for 'Dorothy of Oz'? You heard right... ET Online has a sneak peek at the first trailer for the animated musical, and... it looks nice actually! Watch it below...

Other than that, the 'Dorothy and the Witches of Oz' movie has a couple more reviews; and they're both very positive! Read them here and here. Meanwhile, the 'Witches of Oz' mini-series cut has been getting some pretty bad reviews that I won't link to here...

A Facebook page for the sequel to 'Dorothy and the Witches of Oz' has launched on Facebook as well... check that out here.

That's it for now, kiddos...