Status
Available
Genres
Publication
HarperCollins (1990), 272 pages
Description
Classic Literature. Fantasy. Juvenile Fiction. HTML: Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz is the fourth book in Baum's Oz series. The series chronicles the further adventures of Dorothy both in and out of Oz, as she deals with the characters, situations and desires which continue to spill over from her first fateful adventure..
User reviews
LibraryThing member kaionvin
Dorothy's traveling through San Francisco, when a earthquake occurs and she falls into the Earth. Once again, she's traveling through some dangerous magical lands, this time accompanied with her eat Eureka, her cousin Zeb, and his cab-horse Jim.
I couldn't help notice that this is the first book of
To be fair, Dorothy and the Wizard are the most interesting characters here: Dorothy her usual common-sense self and taking everything in stride (particularly now that fairy lands are basically normal to her now) and the Wizard managing halfway between magician and humbug. In contrast, Baum doesn't seem to be too interested in Zeb or Jim as characters (and poor Zeb is the only human visitor in the Oz books who never gets a return, let's face it, because he's boring and he's a teenage boy).
Despite the overall disappointing "plot", there's still a lot of Baum's trademark inventions on display. I don't think anyone who reads this can forget the land of the vegetable people (who gain consciousness when they're plucked full grown off the vine)—a rather unsettling passage enhanced by some wonderful line illustrations by John R. Neill. Or the land of the invisible people (who voluntary stay so to avoid being eaten by the invisible killer bears). Those are the kind of dark, weird one-off creatures that made the Oz books memorable, long past any generic stumbling-about storylines.
I couldn't help notice that this is the first book of
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the series where Baum doesn't proclaim it to be the last Oz book ever in the introduction. I guess by this point Baum was resigned to the selling power of Oz, and it sort of shows in how much of Dorothy feels like him settling on a formula instead of the major tonal shifts he tried with Marvelous Land and Ozma (which made them back-to-back highs). I mean, what says more sequel fatigue than bringing back two favorite characters from previous books, and putting their names in the title!To be fair, Dorothy and the Wizard are the most interesting characters here: Dorothy her usual common-sense self and taking everything in stride (particularly now that fairy lands are basically normal to her now) and the Wizard managing halfway between magician and humbug. In contrast, Baum doesn't seem to be too interested in Zeb or Jim as characters (and poor Zeb is the only human visitor in the Oz books who never gets a return, let's face it, because he's boring and he's a teenage boy).
Despite the overall disappointing "plot", there's still a lot of Baum's trademark inventions on display. I don't think anyone who reads this can forget the land of the vegetable people (who gain consciousness when they're plucked full grown off the vine)—a rather unsettling passage enhanced by some wonderful line illustrations by John R. Neill. Or the land of the invisible people (who voluntary stay so to avoid being eaten by the invisible killer bears). Those are the kind of dark, weird one-off creatures that made the Oz books memorable, long past any generic stumbling-about storylines.
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LibraryThing member matthewbloome
This was very well done. This volume follows Dorothy into another fairy world, this time being joined by her new kitten Eureka, her California cousin Zeb, his old horse Jim, and the wizard Oz with his nine miniature piglets. They make their way through multiple adventures in many lands, all in a
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quest to return to the surface world. Finally, they end up trapped just below their goal of the surface and call on Ozma to whisk them away to Oz when things seem hopeless. Eureka the cat and Jim the horse make bad impressions in Oz. There's a trial over Eureka trying to eat one of the nine piglets, which turns out to be untrue, and Dorothy, Zeb, Jim, and Eureka all return home. Oz stays in Oz and becomes Ozma's royal wizard. Ozma stays in charge. Happy story. Good book. Show Less
LibraryThing member Stevil2001
I read this aloud to my three-year-old son. I recollect that this was one of my favorite Oz books as a kid. I don't think it's a coincidence that it was just one of two that I owned as a Dover edition. The Dover editions aren't facsimiles to the extent that the Books of Wonder ones are—they are
It's a dark story, something the Shanower & Young comic adaptation brought out to good success. Unlike other Oz books, where our hero makes friends as they travel, Dorothy never really does; the people who are with her from the beginning (Eureka the Kitten, her cousin's cousin Zeb, Jim the Cab-Horse, and later, the Wizard) are the only people who journey with her. The lands they travel through have little respite for them: vegetable people who cannot feel sympathy, a valley of invisible bears who can slaughter you at any moment, the wooden gargoyles who don't speak a word, the dragonettes who would eat you if only they could. The best our heroes can hope for is indifference, such as they receive from the Braided Man. My favorite part this time though was a small one; as the adventuring party climbs a subterranean mountain, they look out on a strange sea and strange sky... and it's utterly indifferent to them. Insignificance is the best they can hope for beneath the surface of the Earth.
I didn't find it disturbing as a kid, I don't think, and my son didn't either as far as I could tell. Baum as always never dwells on this kind of stuff, and treats it all completely matter-of-factly. Our heroes are a little more callous than usual (the Wizard kills pretty easily), but they are in a callous world. Like in Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Ozma, one of the pleasures is the group of dynamic characters, all of whom contribute to saving the day in their own way at various times. I have seen commenters complain about Eureka and say Baum must not have like cats... but to me, Baum just captures what it is to be a cat, something he always excels at with his talking animal characters. Yes, she's selfish and annoying, but that's what makes her fun. The jokes at the trial of Eureka went over my son's head, but I enjoyed them. Indeed, this one was a pleasure to read throughout. It's dark, but it's also some of Baum's most imaginative work, with good tension despite the fact that it's a pretty linear journey. I like the handling of the Wizard here, and there's something moving about him being given a place in Oz at the book's end... even if does require Baum to ignore some of the basic facts he establishes in Marvelous Land about the Wizard, Mombi, Ozma, and Ozma's father! The backstory of Oz being divided between four wicked witches is a tantalizing one, though.
The main problem, of course, is the frankly stupid way Dorothy gets out of the subterranean world. At the end of Ozma, Ozma told Dorothy she'd look for her in the Magic Picture once a week, and magic her to Oz via the Magic Belt if she made a sign was in trouble. Here, we are told Ozma looks in the Magic Picture once per day.... but somehow Dorothy doesn't think to signal Ozma until two-thirds of the way into the book! It's a move that utterly destroys the tension, and makes Dorothy look like an idiot to boot. (Not that my son noticed.) But if you keep on reading, it's easy enough to ignore.
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trade paperbacks, they have no end papers, the color plates are in black and white. But the book is reproduced at its original size, with all of its interior illustrations intact, meaning that this was one of my best examples of the artistry of John R. Neill, and thus the book was brought to life in my imagination. It's a dark story, something the Shanower & Young comic adaptation brought out to good success. Unlike other Oz books, where our hero makes friends as they travel, Dorothy never really does; the people who are with her from the beginning (Eureka the Kitten, her cousin's cousin Zeb, Jim the Cab-Horse, and later, the Wizard) are the only people who journey with her. The lands they travel through have little respite for them: vegetable people who cannot feel sympathy, a valley of invisible bears who can slaughter you at any moment, the wooden gargoyles who don't speak a word, the dragonettes who would eat you if only they could. The best our heroes can hope for is indifference, such as they receive from the Braided Man. My favorite part this time though was a small one; as the adventuring party climbs a subterranean mountain, they look out on a strange sea and strange sky... and it's utterly indifferent to them. Insignificance is the best they can hope for beneath the surface of the Earth.
I didn't find it disturbing as a kid, I don't think, and my son didn't either as far as I could tell. Baum as always never dwells on this kind of stuff, and treats it all completely matter-of-factly. Our heroes are a little more callous than usual (the Wizard kills pretty easily), but they are in a callous world. Like in Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Ozma, one of the pleasures is the group of dynamic characters, all of whom contribute to saving the day in their own way at various times. I have seen commenters complain about Eureka and say Baum must not have like cats... but to me, Baum just captures what it is to be a cat, something he always excels at with his talking animal characters. Yes, she's selfish and annoying, but that's what makes her fun. The jokes at the trial of Eureka went over my son's head, but I enjoyed them. Indeed, this one was a pleasure to read throughout. It's dark, but it's also some of Baum's most imaginative work, with good tension despite the fact that it's a pretty linear journey. I like the handling of the Wizard here, and there's something moving about him being given a place in Oz at the book's end... even if does require Baum to ignore some of the basic facts he establishes in Marvelous Land about the Wizard, Mombi, Ozma, and Ozma's father! The backstory of Oz being divided between four wicked witches is a tantalizing one, though.
The main problem, of course, is the frankly stupid way Dorothy gets out of the subterranean world. At the end of Ozma, Ozma told Dorothy she'd look for her in the Magic Picture once a week, and magic her to Oz via the Magic Belt if she made a sign was in trouble. Here, we are told Ozma looks in the Magic Picture once per day.... but somehow Dorothy doesn't think to signal Ozma until two-thirds of the way into the book! It's a move that utterly destroys the tension, and makes Dorothy look like an idiot to boot. (Not that my son noticed.) But if you keep on reading, it's easy enough to ignore.
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LibraryThing member capiam1234
If it wasn't for the ending trial this would have been a waste of time. Various episodes throughout with no real plot. It seemed like the author was just trying to bring all the characters together from the past three books.
LibraryThing member bzedan
More violence, which frankly make the books better. If you're going for that Grimm thing, you should just let people get chopped up or the whole thing feels weird. There are some mean people in this one. Including weird-ass vegetable folk.
LibraryThing member andyray
this is not the original baum book where dorothy meets the wizard, but a followup with new adventures. I gave it high ratings because of the imaginative entities dorothy and those with her meet. i also like the talking kitten, hen, horse, and nine little piglets the qizard carried around in his
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pocket. the water boogle professor, wise with all book knowledge, was a trip. the kitten in her laconic nastiness poured into the mould of a cat's personality in my mind.These so=called "children's books" resurrect the delight of imagination in me at 67 years of age and i hope children never never ever become so "sophisticated" to not enjoy them. Show Less
LibraryThing member TheLostEntwife
The imagination of L. Frank Baum astonishes me. Just when you think he can't possibly come up with something new and unique, he did it again in this fourth book of Oz.
Creative method of traveling back to Oz? Check. Interesting new people and dangers? Check. Lessons learned? Check.
Then there's..
I think, however, one of my favorite parts of each of these books is quickly becoming the letter to his readers that Baum includes in the forward. His appreciation of the children, of their enthusiasm and his humble joy at the love for his characters make reading the book that much sweeter.
Fun, fun addition to the books.
Creative method of traveling back to Oz? Check. Interesting new people and dangers? Check. Lessons learned? Check.
Then there's..
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unusual things - such as walking on air, people made of vegetables, fruit that makes one invisible, miniature piglets and a whole slew of new characters to fall in love with (Eureka the Cat had me laughing). I think, however, one of my favorite parts of each of these books is quickly becoming the letter to his readers that Baum includes in the forward. His appreciation of the children, of their enthusiasm and his humble joy at the love for his characters make reading the book that much sweeter.
Fun, fun addition to the books.
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LibraryThing member Aerow
The fourth book in the series starts off with Dorothy in California visiting family when an earthquake occurs. A rift opens up in the earth and Dorothy falls through the crack - of course - with a horse, buggy, buggy driver, and her kitten. The adventure begins when the come to a soft landing due
Dorothy's journey takes her from vegetable people in a land where you can walk on air, to a valley with invisible people and animals due to a certain fruit that causes the invisibility, to wooden gargoyles, and finally back to OZ where she meets her old friends from the last three books.
As always, Dorothy is sent back home to her worrying Auntie and Uncle. A very charming read, as always, and good breath of fresh air between heavier novels!
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to gravity being less inside the earth than it is outside the earth. Soon, the Wizard of Oz follows since his air balloon also got sucked down into the crack.Dorothy's journey takes her from vegetable people in a land where you can walk on air, to a valley with invisible people and animals due to a certain fruit that causes the invisibility, to wooden gargoyles, and finally back to OZ where she meets her old friends from the last three books.
As always, Dorothy is sent back home to her worrying Auntie and Uncle. A very charming read, as always, and good breath of fresh air between heavier novels!
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LibraryThing member Chris177
This is the fourth book in the L. Frank Baum’s Oz series of books. In this book, as the name suggests, the Wizard returns to Oz. He and Dorothy find themselves drawn into the Earth and back to Oz. This is an interesting story that is a bit different from the other stories found in the series.
LibraryThing member mirrani
This isn't as much of an Oz book as some, taking place mostly somewhere within the earth. Our main characters only make it to Oz near to the end. This doesn't mean that Baum's storytelling was wasted, however. Everyone goes on a typical Oz-like journey through all sorts of unusual countries, giving
Not a favorite in the series, but not a mistake at all, this book has all of the wonderful characteristics of an Oz story while introducing many new lands outside of Oz or its neighbors. Every turn in the adventure brings more to the imagination than could be possible with many other writers.
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the reader's mind so much to work with in terms of creating a visual for the places that they should "see" in the text.Not a favorite in the series, but not a mistake at all, this book has all of the wonderful characteristics of an Oz story while introducing many new lands outside of Oz or its neighbors. Every turn in the adventure brings more to the imagination than could be possible with many other writers.
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LibraryThing member capiam1234
If it wasn't for the ending trial this would have been a waste of time. Various episodes throughout with no real plot. It seemed like the author was just trying to bring all the characters together from the past three books.
LibraryThing member antiquary
Dorothy and the wizard fall through a crack in the earth and eventually reach Oz. The climax of the story is the trial of the kitten Eureka for allegedly eating one of the wizard's nine performing piglets. It is rather a let-down.
LibraryThing member EmScape
Another 'journey to Oz, meet strange people along the way' tale. Moderately interesting. Enjoyed the Wizard's reunion with Oz.
LibraryThing member CareBear36
I was rather disappointed to see Dorothy make such a big comeback in the series considering I absolutely cannot stand her. Her character is written as weak and idiotic to the point of extreme annoyance and ridiculous sexism (seriously you really needed to say Dorothy fainted while Zeb did not
Plot-wise this book is rather random, but the adventures are interesting. As with the other Oz books, I would not recommend for very young children, considering some of the more violent scenes, but overall a fun adventure tale.
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because he is a boy).Plot-wise this book is rather random, but the adventures are interesting. As with the other Oz books, I would not recommend for very young children, considering some of the more violent scenes, but overall a fun adventure tale.
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LibraryThing member AngelaRenea
Maybe it was because I expected something for an older reader but I wasn't impressed with this book. In addition I did not realize they this was the fourth book in the series and did not actually know what was going on. Other than that I think the book was a little slow and if took way too long to
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finish this because I just couldn't get into it. Show Less
LibraryThing member BookConcierge
This is the fourth book in Baum’s “Wizard of Oz” series of fantastical children’s adventure books.
We’re not in Kansas anymore! The book starts with Dorothy visiting California with Uncle Henry, when an earthquake opens a passage to another land. Dorothy, her kitten Eureka (Toto is
The series are enjoyable children’s books that have remained popular over generations, and are now in their second century.
We’re not in Kansas anymore! The book starts with Dorothy visiting California with Uncle Henry, when an earthquake opens a passage to another land. Dorothy, her kitten Eureka (Toto is
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nowhere to be found in this book), and her new friend Zeb fall through the crak along with the horse Jim and the buggy, eventually alighting in the Land of the Mangaboos (a people who grow like vegetables). There they meet up with the Wizard of Oz (whose ballon has again run away with him), and begin numerous adventures in their quest to get back to earth’s surface. The series are enjoyable children’s books that have remained popular over generations, and are now in their second century.
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LibraryThing member SoulFlower1981
I decided to try to get through the books of Oz that are written by L. Frank Baum this year and I have thus far gotten through the first four books of the series. I am finding them fascinating because this and the previous book (Ozma of Oz) take place mainly outside of the land of Oz itself and in
I do, however, like the book even though they are not truly Oz stories in my opinion. I enjoy reading them because they are whimsical and light-hearted in a way that most children's books simply are not. These books are truly something that I can see someone reading to their children before bedtime to make them believe that anything can happen in their lives. They are beautiful stories. There are times that Baum is harsh though in his writing about certain characters, such as in this book he again treats the sawhorse badly because of how he was created. He also calls the Wizard a humbug repeatedly. Some of these words feel like they are rude and putting someone down, which I don't like. They are classics though and they are produced from a different time period. They are an enjoyable read and easy to understand why they have stood the test of time.
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other fairy lands that Baum has created for the stories. It is interesting to see him say that they are Oz stories simply because they contain the characters briefly or at the end of the tale. I do, however, like the book even though they are not truly Oz stories in my opinion. I enjoy reading them because they are whimsical and light-hearted in a way that most children's books simply are not. These books are truly something that I can see someone reading to their children before bedtime to make them believe that anything can happen in their lives. They are beautiful stories. There are times that Baum is harsh though in his writing about certain characters, such as in this book he again treats the sawhorse badly because of how he was created. He also calls the Wizard a humbug repeatedly. Some of these words feel like they are rude and putting someone down, which I don't like. They are classics though and they are produced from a different time period. They are an enjoyable read and easy to understand why they have stood the test of time.
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LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
Originally published in 1908, this fourth Oz novel sees Kansas farm-girl Dorothy Gale once again transported to magical lands, this time thanks to a California earthquake, during which our heroine falls into the depths of the earth, together with a boy name Zeb, his carriage-horse Jim, and
I was struck, reading Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz, by the many stratagems that Baum must employ in these early Oz books, to transport his heroine to that magical land. In the first, she is whisked away by a cyclone, in the third she is washed overboard in a terrible storm, and here she falls into the earth during an earthquake! Eventually the borders of Oz are closed (I forget in which title this occurs), but until that point the author must contend with the question of how to reunite his characters. The result, I am finding, is that a great deal of the action of the story takes place outside of Oz. However that may be, I enjoyed my reread of this installment of the series, although sometimes Dorothy's "adorable" little-girl accent grated a bit - I don't recall her speaking this way in the original...? - and I could have lived without the trial of Eureka, at the close of the book. Still, I was entertained to meet the Wizard again, and look forward to my reread of the fifth Oz novel, The Road to Oz.
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Dorothy's mischievous kitten, Eureka. Far underground, in the strange land of the Mangaboos - heartless root-people who grows on bushes - Dorothy and co. meet up with the Wizard (that is to say, the original Wizard from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz), who has also fallen into the earth. Together the companions face many dangers, from the xenophobic Mangaboos to the ferocious invisible bears of the Valley of Voe, on their long journey back to the surface of the earth. Eventually, after confronting a cave full of dragonettes, the travelers are rescued by Ozma of Oz, who transports them to the Emerald City. Here Dorothy and Wizard meet many old friends, while Eureka meets trouble...I was struck, reading Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz, by the many stratagems that Baum must employ in these early Oz books, to transport his heroine to that magical land. In the first, she is whisked away by a cyclone, in the third she is washed overboard in a terrible storm, and here she falls into the earth during an earthquake! Eventually the borders of Oz are closed (I forget in which title this occurs), but until that point the author must contend with the question of how to reunite his characters. The result, I am finding, is that a great deal of the action of the story takes place outside of Oz. However that may be, I enjoyed my reread of this installment of the series, although sometimes Dorothy's "adorable" little-girl accent grated a bit - I don't recall her speaking this way in the original...? - and I could have lived without the trial of Eureka, at the close of the book. Still, I was entertained to meet the Wizard again, and look forward to my reread of the fifth Oz novel, The Road to Oz.
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LibraryThing member nx74defiant
Dorothy and others are swallowed up by cracks in the earth, and fall into an underground cavern, where begin their adventures.
Not much in the way of a plot.
The best part was the trial of Eureka near the end.
Not much in the way of a plot.
The best part was the trial of Eureka near the end.
LibraryThing member LaurieGienapp
I thoroughly enjoyed the original Wizard of Oz, and some of the others... but this book felt like it had been written by a 4th grader. I was glad this was not the first Baum book I'd ever read, or I would never have read any others. It had a very unfinished feel to it, like it needed to go back to
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the editor another time or two. Show Less
LibraryThing member librisissimo
Baum introduces some new characters, of which Eureka the cat is the most interesting, and sends Dorothy and friends into some outrageous and dangerous adventures, which are inventive and entertaining, but have very little purpose other than to go from here to there.
They are rescued at the end by a
Ozma and the Wizard seem to have both forgotten his part in deposing her and selling her to Mombi, as they tell a totally new story about her forebears and the history of the country.
Baum most like chose the story in "Land of Oz" for simple convenience, as he had no intention of continuing the series; once committed, he didn't dare sully the character of the beloved wizard.
I suppose that the book/play "Wicked" adheres to the first version, although the remainder of the series (in my memory) conform to the less reprehensible figure.
They are rescued at the end by a
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literal deus et machina (The Nome King's magic belt) and none of the participants questions Dorothy as to why she didn't signal Ozma earlier when everyone was in mortal danger.Ozma and the Wizard seem to have both forgotten his part in deposing her and selling her to Mombi, as they tell a totally new story about her forebears and the history of the country.
Baum most like chose the story in "Land of Oz" for simple convenience, as he had no intention of continuing the series; once committed, he didn't dare sully the character of the beloved wizard.
I suppose that the book/play "Wicked" adheres to the first version, although the remainder of the series (in my memory) conform to the less reprehensible figure.
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LibraryThing member AliceAnna
Very good! The gang is back together! An earthquake sends the group to the center of the earth and they have to make their way back through a series of adventures. I'm really enjoying reading this series.
LibraryThing member GraceZ
This was one of the first Oz books I ever read. I'll always remember the PINHEAD part!
LibraryThing member Runa
Not the greatest of the Oz books. True, we get the return of the Wizard, but it lacks the excitement and intrigue of the other books. It's not until the gang reaches Emerald City that the book gets really exciting. I did like the idea behind the Kingdom of the Vegetables, but the way it came out,
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and the journey before it and after just fell really really flat. The new characters, Jim and Zeb, also added absolutely nothing to the plot that we didn't already . But still, it's L. Frank Baum, so I can't rate it all that badly. Not to mention, the reunion of the Wizard with the rest of Emerald City was just amazing to read, because after the Wizard of Oz, who would have thought we'd ever see that reunion, right? Awesome! Show Less
LibraryThing member comfypants
Dorothy and the Wizard journey to the center of the Earth.
2.5/4 (Okay).
There's some good stuff in here. For instance, one of the main characters is a kitten, and there's a weird scene with a Muppety old man. But most of it isn't particularly creative, nothing in it connects to anything else, and
(Aug. 2022)
2.5/4 (Okay).
There's some good stuff in here. For instance, one of the main characters is a kitten, and there's a weird scene with a Muppety old man. But most of it isn't particularly creative, nothing in it connects to anything else, and
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there are serious continuity problems.(Aug. 2022)
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Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1908
Physical description
272 p.; 6.75 inches
ISBN
0688098266 / 9780688098261