A new podcast is up, it's an interview with Edward Einhorn, a bit of a follow-up to our Einhorn-a-thon sometime back. You can listen with the player below, or download it at the podcast website.
Sadly, due to some technical difficulties with my updated recording software, some parts of the talk were missing in the recorded file, so I had to remove even more pieces of audio so it would make perfect sense. However, the finished product should be pleasing to Oz fans.
Showing posts with label Edward Einhorn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Edward Einhorn. Show all posts
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Einhorn-a-thon #4
The warm reception of Paradox in Oz led to Einhorn penning another Oz book, The Living House of Oz, which was published in 2005. If you read up about Unauthorized Magic, you can guess that the titular house is the same that Buddy and his mother live in.
The story opens by elaborating on the little we learned from Unauthorized Magic about the House and its inhabitants. Buddy and his mother are very devoted to each other, though she often spends most her time working on her unlawful enchantments.
Also, some of the formerly inanimate objects are introduced. Most have personalities based on what they actually are, but the most eccentric character among them is the Earl of Habadashery, a living hat stand. When a question arises among the inhabitants of the Living House, the Earl immediately fabricates a ridiculous answer. Don't worry, though, this is not so overdone that it gets irritating. In fact, the Earl becomes endearing and actually manages to save the day at the end. (Just how you'll have to discover for yourself.)
The Living House has recently relocated outside of Tonsoria, a kingdom Einhorn mentioned in Paradox in Oz, but we only met its young girl ruler then. Coming across Brussle's Barber Shop (which Ozma visited in Paradox in Oz), Buddy finds it deserted. Princess Ayala of Tonsoria arrives and meets him, but then both are kidnapped by men in large wigs!
Looking for her son, Buddy's mother arrives in Tonsoria, consulting Sir Dye, Lady Twist, and Princess Talia, Ayala's little sister who knows more than anyone could guess. When Buddy's mother uses magic to show where Ayala and Buddy are, Glinda arrives on the scene. Upon questioning, Buddy's mother reveals her name is Mordra, and everyone sees she looks like a younger version of the Wicked Witch of the West!
For the time being, Glinda allows Mordra to help her find Buddy and Ayala, but when a mysterious beast arrives, Mordra panics and transports herself and Buddy back to the Living House. However, Glinda soon arrives and arrests Mordra and takes her to the Emerald City.
As for Buddy, the Earl, and the rest in the Living House, they can only do what they feel is right: go rescue Mordra!
On the journey, Buddy meets many interesting characters, some from Baum's books, some of Einhorn's creation. And soon, Buddy becomes an item of speculation himself, he appears to have some sort of magical powers of his own. Where did these come from, however?
And as for Mordra, what will Ozma do to ensure that her law against unauthorized magic will not be broken again? (By the way, a very humorous trial occurs in that storyline.)
The Living House of Oz is filled with humor and adventure, very different from Paradox in Oz, but we weren't asking for that book again. While I loved the brain-bending puzzles in Paradox, Living House is written in a way that you don't miss them, as they aren't really important to this plot. Einhorn proved he wasn't going to write the same story twice, and that's the most you should ask for from any author.
The story opens by elaborating on the little we learned from Unauthorized Magic about the House and its inhabitants. Buddy and his mother are very devoted to each other, though she often spends most her time working on her unlawful enchantments.
Also, some of the formerly inanimate objects are introduced. Most have personalities based on what they actually are, but the most eccentric character among them is the Earl of Habadashery, a living hat stand. When a question arises among the inhabitants of the Living House, the Earl immediately fabricates a ridiculous answer. Don't worry, though, this is not so overdone that it gets irritating. In fact, the Earl becomes endearing and actually manages to save the day at the end. (Just how you'll have to discover for yourself.)
The Living House has recently relocated outside of Tonsoria, a kingdom Einhorn mentioned in Paradox in Oz, but we only met its young girl ruler then. Coming across Brussle's Barber Shop (which Ozma visited in Paradox in Oz), Buddy finds it deserted. Princess Ayala of Tonsoria arrives and meets him, but then both are kidnapped by men in large wigs!
Looking for her son, Buddy's mother arrives in Tonsoria, consulting Sir Dye, Lady Twist, and Princess Talia, Ayala's little sister who knows more than anyone could guess. When Buddy's mother uses magic to show where Ayala and Buddy are, Glinda arrives on the scene. Upon questioning, Buddy's mother reveals her name is Mordra, and everyone sees she looks like a younger version of the Wicked Witch of the West!
For the time being, Glinda allows Mordra to help her find Buddy and Ayala, but when a mysterious beast arrives, Mordra panics and transports herself and Buddy back to the Living House. However, Glinda soon arrives and arrests Mordra and takes her to the Emerald City.
As for Buddy, the Earl, and the rest in the Living House, they can only do what they feel is right: go rescue Mordra!
On the journey, Buddy meets many interesting characters, some from Baum's books, some of Einhorn's creation. And soon, Buddy becomes an item of speculation himself, he appears to have some sort of magical powers of his own. Where did these come from, however?
And as for Mordra, what will Ozma do to ensure that her law against unauthorized magic will not be broken again? (By the way, a very humorous trial occurs in that storyline.)
The Living House of Oz is filled with humor and adventure, very different from Paradox in Oz, but we weren't asking for that book again. While I loved the brain-bending puzzles in Paradox, Living House is written in a way that you don't miss them, as they aren't really important to this plot. Einhorn proved he wasn't going to write the same story twice, and that's the most you should ask for from any author.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Unauthorised Magic in Oz (Sam's View)
For Jared's view, see this blog.
I have never read Edward Einhorn's Oz books Paradox in Oz (though at a younger age I was interested in getting that book) and The Living House of Oz, but I have seen the Puppet Performance that combines the two books into Unauthorised Magic in Oz.
I really liked this show. The way the puppeteers and "actors" played the characters (Dr Majestico with a European Professor style, Omby Amby an English soldier, etc.), and the Living House was excellent: in a solid design, the narration and how he fills in the blanks.
This was a funny show, in that the constant insistence of accomplishing the impossible: destroying an indestructible with a spell. Dr Majestico is pretty determined, and doesn't listen to the authorities of Oz (Glinda and Omby Amby), which makes them a bit tired.
The music and sound effects are also done quite well, among them Glinda's background played out by a harp, and the showing of how time is passed by quickly.
We do see the people working behind the scenes, sometimes that can be distracting, but it doesn't happen constantly and is not too much of a problem.
The only thing I'm not too fond of is how some words aren't right being said in Oz, like how Glinda is VAGUELY MGM-like even though here she is more motherly-teacher like, and Buddy having a rough voice. And I prefer her wearing white than red and/or pink, but at least she is drawn superbly by Eric Shanower.
I do hope to read Paradox in Oz someday, and even The Living House of Oz before too long, and if this under half hour dramatisation is anything to go by, it'll be worth reading with great illustrations.
Saturday, February 06, 2010
Einhorn-a-thon #3
As Hungry Tiger Press geared up to release Paradox in Oz, they printed another short story by Einhorn in Oz-Story 5, this one called Unauthorized Magic. In the editor's note, it is noted that this story is not a prequel to Paradox in Oz, but a nice chance to meet some of the characters from that book. As the story reveals, it would be set after Paradox.
Omby Amby (the Soldier With The Green Whiskers) is led by a boy named Buddy to investigate a use of unauthorized magic in the Munchkin Forest. It is Dr. Majestico, working on a challenge by Tempus: he must create an irresistible explosion to destroy an indestructible house. The paradox being that if the house isn't destroyed, the explosion wasn't irresistible. If the house is destroyed, then it wasn't indestructible. And now Omby Amby arrives to throw another factor into the paradox: in this time period, it is illegal for unauthorized magic users to use magic.
However, Dr. Majestico ignores Omby Amby and tells him that if he needs Ozma's consent to do magic, then her consent should be sought. As Omby goes to Ozma with Majestico's reply, Buddy returns to his home - a living house in which all the contents also live - and tells his mother of Dr. Majestico and Omby Amby's problems. As it turns out, Buddy's mother is a sorceress, using a spell to shield her activity from the Magic Picture and Glinda's Book of Records. If Ozma and Glinda are in the area, can she find a way to prevent them from nosing around and finding her? Can Dr. Majestico ever solve his great conundrum?
Playing with dialogue and using wordplay again, this Einhorn story is delightful. With a fun, brain-bending challenge for the readers to solve, paradoxes, parrot-oxes, and some great characters make this a great short story. Also, it turned out to be a nice bridging point in between Einhorn's first Oz novel and his second one.
Oz-Story 5 is now unavailable, so this seems to be another Oz short story for Einhorn's forthcoming book of short stories. And now, I and a few other Oz fans hope that book comes soon!
Omby Amby (the Soldier With The Green Whiskers) is led by a boy named Buddy to investigate a use of unauthorized magic in the Munchkin Forest. It is Dr. Majestico, working on a challenge by Tempus: he must create an irresistible explosion to destroy an indestructible house. The paradox being that if the house isn't destroyed, the explosion wasn't irresistible. If the house is destroyed, then it wasn't indestructible. And now Omby Amby arrives to throw another factor into the paradox: in this time period, it is illegal for unauthorized magic users to use magic.
However, Dr. Majestico ignores Omby Amby and tells him that if he needs Ozma's consent to do magic, then her consent should be sought. As Omby goes to Ozma with Majestico's reply, Buddy returns to his home - a living house in which all the contents also live - and tells his mother of Dr. Majestico and Omby Amby's problems. As it turns out, Buddy's mother is a sorceress, using a spell to shield her activity from the Magic Picture and Glinda's Book of Records. If Ozma and Glinda are in the area, can she find a way to prevent them from nosing around and finding her? Can Dr. Majestico ever solve his great conundrum?
Playing with dialogue and using wordplay again, this Einhorn story is delightful. With a fun, brain-bending challenge for the readers to solve, paradoxes, parrot-oxes, and some great characters make this a great short story. Also, it turned out to be a nice bridging point in between Einhorn's first Oz novel and his second one.
Oz-Story 5 is now unavailable, so this seems to be another Oz short story for Einhorn's forthcoming book of short stories. And now, I and a few other Oz fans hope that book comes soon!
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Einhorn-a-thon #2
After Ozma Sees Herself appeared in Oz-Story, Einhorn got to work on a full-length Oz novel. Paradox in Oz was published in 2000, the 100th anniversary of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
The story opens with the citizens of Oz coming to Ozma in hordes with problems they're having due to aging. Somehow, the anti-aging spell on Oz is no longer effective. Ozma hurries to Glinda, who tells her that the enchantment is a time spell that the Book Of Records says ran about the time Ozma took the throne. When a recent earthquake happened, Glinda found an entry that said the Aging Enchantment was cast on the Man Who Lives Backwards and all of Oz. It turns out the Man Who Lives Backwards is a baby Omby Amby brought to Glinda, saying that Ozma sent him, having found the baby in a room where Mombi's magic tools had been stored after they had been confiscated. In order to discover what happened, Ozma needs to meet the Man Who Lives Backwards as an adult, meaning she must go back in time, and in order to do that, she needs to use a Parrot-Ox.
In order to find a Parrot-Ox, Ozma must find a paradox, and Glinda helps her find one. Tempus, the Parrot-Ox appears. He agrees to take Ozma back in time, and Glinda gives Ozma a ring to change time with, if necessary. Tempus takes Ozma a little too far back in time and she is stranded at just a few moments before Oz became a fairyland.
While trying to find Tempus, Ozma meets Dr. Majestico, a researcher who wants to prove magic doesn't exist. In fact, he's written down an equation on paper to prove it, and called it a "paradox." Ozma has found this paper, and thinking he said it was a Parrot-Ox, runs away from him. She soon recognizes a fountain as the Fountain of Oblivion and keeps the current King (known only as King Oz) from drinking from it. Suddenly, the enchantment that made Oz a fairyland is cast, and as Oz becomes magic, King Oz becomes exaggeratedly evil, and so does Oz.
The paper turns into Tempus and he and Ozma fly forward in time, and discover Oz is very different now. The cruel Wizard of Oz rules the Obsidian City with an iron fist, his cruel assistants Wantowin Battles and Nick Chopper at his side. Glinda is in jail until she is rescued by the Good Witch Mombi, and this Oz's Ozma is a blonde! Oz is now a cruel fairyland. Can Ozma restore Oz to it's former self as well as restore the Aging Enchantment?
One can tell from these first few chapters that Einhorn enjoys wordplay and puzzling conundrums. Also, we get to deal with time travel, the Butterfly Effect being a big factor here. (Back to the Future, anyone?) As the story continues, Einhorn plays with such puns and sometimes the story doesn't seem like it's making much sense, until you think about it, and it does, and then you think about it harder, then it doesn't. In fact, I'm not exactly sure I exactly figured out how the enchantment was cast and broken, but anyways, the important thing is, I enjoyed it!
The story opens with the citizens of Oz coming to Ozma in hordes with problems they're having due to aging. Somehow, the anti-aging spell on Oz is no longer effective. Ozma hurries to Glinda, who tells her that the enchantment is a time spell that the Book Of Records says ran about the time Ozma took the throne. When a recent earthquake happened, Glinda found an entry that said the Aging Enchantment was cast on the Man Who Lives Backwards and all of Oz. It turns out the Man Who Lives Backwards is a baby Omby Amby brought to Glinda, saying that Ozma sent him, having found the baby in a room where Mombi's magic tools had been stored after they had been confiscated. In order to discover what happened, Ozma needs to meet the Man Who Lives Backwards as an adult, meaning she must go back in time, and in order to do that, she needs to use a Parrot-Ox.
In order to find a Parrot-Ox, Ozma must find a paradox, and Glinda helps her find one. Tempus, the Parrot-Ox appears. He agrees to take Ozma back in time, and Glinda gives Ozma a ring to change time with, if necessary. Tempus takes Ozma a little too far back in time and she is stranded at just a few moments before Oz became a fairyland.
While trying to find Tempus, Ozma meets Dr. Majestico, a researcher who wants to prove magic doesn't exist. In fact, he's written down an equation on paper to prove it, and called it a "paradox." Ozma has found this paper, and thinking he said it was a Parrot-Ox, runs away from him. She soon recognizes a fountain as the Fountain of Oblivion and keeps the current King (known only as King Oz) from drinking from it. Suddenly, the enchantment that made Oz a fairyland is cast, and as Oz becomes magic, King Oz becomes exaggeratedly evil, and so does Oz.
The paper turns into Tempus and he and Ozma fly forward in time, and discover Oz is very different now. The cruel Wizard of Oz rules the Obsidian City with an iron fist, his cruel assistants Wantowin Battles and Nick Chopper at his side. Glinda is in jail until she is rescued by the Good Witch Mombi, and this Oz's Ozma is a blonde! Oz is now a cruel fairyland. Can Ozma restore Oz to it's former self as well as restore the Aging Enchantment?
One can tell from these first few chapters that Einhorn enjoys wordplay and puzzling conundrums. Also, we get to deal with time travel, the Butterfly Effect being a big factor here. (Back to the Future, anyone?) As the story continues, Einhorn plays with such puns and sometimes the story doesn't seem like it's making much sense, until you think about it, and it does, and then you think about it harder, then it doesn't. In fact, I'm not exactly sure I exactly figured out how the enchantment was cast and broken, but anyways, the important thing is, I enjoyed it!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Einhorn-a-thon #1
This is an examination blog, and thus contains massive spoilers. If you have not read this story and don't want it spoiled for you, it might be best not to read very much of this blog, or none at all.
It was 1997, and Hungry Tiger Press was releasing the third issue of their anthology magazine Oz-Story. A collection of Oz and Oz-related tales, poems and lyrics, and a full-length novel by L. Frank Baum.
In the third issue, the first story readers were treated to was Ozma Sees Herself by Edward Einhorn. A playwright and Oz fan, he wasn't exactly a big name at the time. But editor David Maxine was sure to print quality material.
The story opens with Ozma climbing a tree, escaping her duties as the ruler of Oz, setting this story just after The Marvelous Land of Oz. (I also noted that it doesn't mention the activities of the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, Jack Pumpkinhead, the Sawhorse, the Woggle-Bug, or the Gump, so it also doesn't contradict Queer Visitors from the Marvelous Land of Oz.) As she waits in the tree, the Cowardly Lion comes by, and she teases him with a couple acorns. Noting his cowardly nature, Ozma feels she has a right to not be a very good princess, just as the Lion is not a very good Lion. (Or so he says...)
Ozma and the Lion run off to the forest for a few days, so they plan, to escape royal life. When Ozma bathes in a pool, she sees what she thinks is a nymph, when in fact, it is her own reflection. When a tiger looks towards them and mutters, "Delicious," she fears for the nymph's safety and tries to intervene, offering herself to the tiger. The tiger, confused, tells her that it is her reflection.
Ozma fears that the tiger will eat her, but it tells her it has a conscience. (Yep, you're guessing it!) The Cowardly Lion arrives and recognizes the tiger as his friend, for it is, of course, the Hungry Tiger. They remind Ozma of her duty to Oz as its ruler, and Ozma knows they are right, and decides to go back.
I really liked this story, it fits with Baum (but not other popular additional stories), and it's a nice way to tie the Cowardly Lion and Hungry Tiger with Ozma.
Even better is the character development for Ozma. Rather than just having her decide she needs to accept her duty, it's more of a journey for her. Remember that she grew up as Tip, so her deciding to put away the playful, mischievous, and adventurous persona of Tip would have to be either a progression or a very firm decision. Einhorn starts Ozma on this progression. Ozma seeing what her duty in life is, and choosing duty over what she felt was her nature, is what the title means, as well as the incident of the nymph in the pool.
Oz-Story 3 has sold out from the publisher, though you might be able to get a second hand copy if you look hard enough. Einhorn mentioned sometime back he intends to include it in a forthcoming book of short stories that he's been working on, except his time to do so was limited. Until then, we can only look forward to it.
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