The Royal Book of Oz

Rating:
Summary: Tells of the Scarecrow's search for his roots
Review: Before his death Baum left notes for more Oz stories: Royal Book Of Oz tells of the Scarecrow's search for his roots, and his rescue by his friends. John R. Neill's black and white illustrations make for an excellent, authentic addition to this involving story.

Rating:
Summary: A great Oz adventure, not AS great as the rest.
Review: I must say that I disagree more strongly with the two negative reviews this book has received than with any other reviews I have ever seen on amazon.com. The first time I read this book I realized that it was the best Oz book I had ever read, and I still think so. It has everything one could possibly desire in an Oz book--humor, suspense, a deeply intriguing storyline that clears up mysteries that go back to "The Wizard of Oz," and material that deepens our understanding of nearly all the characters. Thompson's depictions of Baum's characters were somewhat different from Baum's but still consistent with them, just as her style was different from Baum's but equally well suited to writing Oz books; in this book both her characterizations and her style get off to a flying start. If, as one reviewer said, she improved in later Oz books, why did she keep featuring Sir Hokus, Doubty and Camy (whom I consider excellent characters) rather than letting them fade out of the series? Also, I must disagree with the reviewer who feels that the Wogglebug was always perfectly kind and sweet. Even Baum depicts him as having a self-satisfied, intellectually superior side to his personality. In this book he does hurt the Scarecrow's feelings, but clearly does not realize how deeply hurtful his comments will be; and Thompson makes clear at the end of the book that the Wogglebug feels profoundly sorry for what he did. The Oz book that truly contains an overly unpleasant depiction of Professor Wogglebug is John R. Neill's "The Runaway in Oz" (which was not published until the 1990's, when it was published by Books of Wonder). To sum up, "The Royal Book of Oz" is my favorite Oz book, and it amazes me that it was Ruth Plumly Thompson's very first book in the series (and, I think, her first novel of any kind)!

Rating:
Summary: A lively, funny Oz book
Review: On a quest for his family tree, the Scarecrow travels to the Munchkin farm where Dorothy originally met him. He falls down a magic beanstalk (the pole Dorothy rescued him from) and finds himself in a strange land, the Silver Islands, where he is proclaimed to be the re-created Emperor Chang Wang Woe. Meanwhile, when Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion realize that the Scarecrow is missing from the Emerald City, they go off in search of him. In this story, you'll meet many delightful new characters, such as the Doubtful Dromedary, the Comfortable Camel, and (my favorite) Sir Hokus of Pokes. Like Ruth Plumly Thompson's other Oz books, this one is as lively and at least as funny as L. Frank Baum's series. Thompson wrote 19 Oz books, so if you like this one, there are lots more to enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: When Knighthood Was In Flower
Review: The first of the 19 Oz titles she authored, Ruth Plumly Thompson's The Royal Book Of Oz (1921) has met with occasional opposition over the years, largely due to the bold steps Thompson took in addressing questions Oz creator L. Frank Baum's 13 original books left unanswered. Thompson was personally elected by Baum himself to become the next "Royal Historian of Oz," a fact that should carry more weight with sensitive fans. While Baum deserves enormous credit for creating and sustaining America's premier fantasy land, Thompson's books were almost always exceptional; her style was smooth, convincing, and full of the imagination necessary to further the series. Any author following Baum certainly had a difficult task ahead of them.

As The Royal Book Of Oz opens, Professor Wooglebug has lighted on the idea of composing a book of his own, one that will trace the genealogy of all members of the Oz Royal Family. While Scraps the Patchwork Girl and several of the others are content with and honest about their humble origins, the aggressive Professor brazenly stresses the importance of legitimate family relationships, bluntly declaring to the assembled that outstanding Oz citizen the Scarecrow has none. Thompson's portrayal of the Wooglebug as an arrogant interloper and snob has offended some, but Thompson was only taking the Wooglebug's already established sense of elitism to its logical conclusion. His superior attitude does not go unnoticed by the others, especially the sensitive Dorothy; or by the Scarecrow himself, who first inexplicably came to life while strapped to a beanpole in the Munchkin country. Embarrassed and despondent, the Scarecrow sets out alone to discover if he has a legitimate "family tree."

Thompson's ingenious solution to the cause of the Scarecrow's sentience was probably something even she thought a gamble. Returning to the Munchkin country and the exact site of his origin, the Scarecrow discovers that his former beanpole extends far into the earth, and while digging at its base, tumbles into a hole that inexplicably opens around it. He falls a great distance - Thompson suggests that the Silver Island kingdom into which he eventually emerges is one the opposite side of the earth. Greeted in a great royal palace by a throng of awed silver - skinned Asians, the Scarecrow discovers that he not only has 3 sons, 15 grandchildren, and thousands of loyal subjects, but a vast kingdom. For the Scarecrow is none other than the reincarnation of the country's former emperor, dead now some 50 years. Initially thrilled if a little dismayed, the Scarecrow comes to regret the enormous responsibility that his "family tree" and his subject's expectations bring.

Meanwhile, a thankfully limited expedition composed of Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion has set out in search of their missing patriot, who Dorothy suspects has been wounded by the Professor's remarks. Thompson must have been an admirer of Lewis Carroll, for, as in later Thompson titles, many of the team's adventures have a Wonderland - like character. In one dazzlingly executed chapter, Dorothy and the Lion find themselves trapped in the strange city of Pokes ("Pocus"), where the residents contently live in perpetual drowse and move more slowly than their pet snails. There the journeyers discover Arthurian knight Sir Hocus, who has been held captive by the sleepwalking spell for centuries. The strange, very specific physical laws that govern Pokes are cleverly set into motion, and Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion are quickly ensnared. In a later adventure, they find themselves in the city of Fix, where the large-footed inhabitants never move from the spot on which they've chosen to settle; the anthropomorphic beds, dining tables, chairs, and even the trees and roads come to them instead. King Fix Sit's prim, short-tempered, and heretical dialogues with his three guests are particularly Alice - inspired.

Sir Hocus's status as an Arthurian knight has ruffled the sensibilities of some Oz fans, but most readers will agree there is more than enough room in Oz for the introduction of a great variety of characters from myth, folklore, literature, and history. Baum himself used the earth - guarding gnomes of Paracelsus, and freely adapted Europe's fairy mythology for his own purposes. Sir Hocus's somewhat scatter - brained notions of courtly romance and valor are one of the highlights of The Royal Book Of Oz; in later books, Sir Hocus frequently reappears as a valued member of the Royal Family. Thompson's Dorothy is an independent spirit, and free of the precious quality with which she was often burdened. Most impressive of all Thompson's characterizations is the Cowardly Lion; anxious, nervous, and weary in the face of danger, he nonetheless sinks his teeth into the opposition and emerges victorious. Depicted as a real, three - dimensional, physically threatening lion, he is no longer the stock character he had become in several of the earlier books.

As in Kabumpo In Oz and the books that followed, Thompson's characters frequently have depth and cast shadows. Wisely focusing on and exploiting the potential of a small cast, Thompson provides readers with a story that is both warm and interesting, though the first half of the book is stronger than the second. John R. Neill's drawings are particularly inventive, though his dated portrayal of Asians may offend some. Each chapter opens with an elaborate two - page illustration; there are numerous pictures in color. Opening with a message to readers in which widow Maude Baum passes the "Royal Historian" crown on to Thompson, The Royal Book Of Oz provides its audience with a wonderful stroll off the yellow-brick road and into unexplored and little - suspected hinterlands of Oz.

Rating:
Summary: Not REALLY an Oz book
Review: The Royal Book of Oz is Thompson's first, but strangest Oz book. Here, Thompson displays the talents and the imagination that made her famous as a writer, but her abilities seem misdirected. Here she manages to introduce elements into the Oz canon that have annoyed Oz fans for 80 years. Her insistence that the Scarecrow is the reincarnation of an Oriental king has to be seen to be believed, and is quietly rejected (or ignored) by most Oz fans. The introduction of Sir Hokus of Pokes brings English folklore, (complete with references to knights, quests, damsels in distress, dragons and other such stock ingredients) to the Oz mix, badly, and unnessarily. The Comfortable Camel and Doubtful Dromedary are the most smelly, repugnant, cud-chewing characters ever brought to life on paper, and are sure to elicit groans from new readers, unaware that they're supposed to be funny. The mixing (or clashing) of all these different inspirations and cultures make for some mighty strange, almost narcotic reading. Thankfully, by her next book, Thompson "got it," and she wrote 18 excellent Oz books for you to look forward to. If you want to start with a GOOD Thompson Oz book, I recommend buying Kabumpo in Oz (my personal favorite) or The Silver Princess in Oz...now those are good OZ books.

Rating:
Summary: Thompson's 1st In Oz Series Captures Baums Oz Magic & More!!
Review: This book in its initial release was instant an Oz classic, but now Books of Wonder rereleases Thompsons first installment in Baum's Oz Series. In "The Royal Book of Oz " Thompson recaptures all of Baum's Oz magic and addes some of her own. In this 15th Official Oz Book Thompson revives the series by bringing back such classic characters as the Scarecrow(who finally comes to understand why he is alive, who is family is, and faces a lot of serious dangers along the way)and brings us all new Oz characters to enjoy such as Sir Hokus of Pokes(a vallent knight), and the Comfortable Camel. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an Oz Book with a Thompson twist.

Rating:
Summary: Mr. Wogglebug is portrayed as HORRIBLE in this book!
Review: This book is OK, but what REALLY bothers me is that the Scarecrow is a big ol' weird-guy and not the one I MET from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. I know because I believe I can go to Oz in an alpha-state like thing. The Wogglebug (as some person said earlier) acts like a total jerk! He DOES! What a lughead! The Wogglebug IS kind, caring, and sweet just like the other girl above said. He would NOT hurt MY feelings, so why would he hurt the Scarecrows?!?! He IS a College Dean in this book, even though he wasn't in THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ. (Was he even there?) There are MANY new characters like Ozma, Bettsy, and Troot in here, so ENJOY this sequel to WIZARD OF OZ (The fifteenth maybe?) Just pretend the Wogglebug and Scarecrow are best friends. Well, time for me to travel to OZ!

-Teetuba the Witch

Rating:
Summary: Thompson's first Oz effort
Review: This book is Ruth Plumly Thompson's first foray into Oz writing (and it is entirely hers, despite the publishers' initial story that she had written it based on notes left by L. Frank Baum), and it is hardly her best work, but it isn't her worst, either. She does a good job working with Baum's characters, and the premise of the book is an attempt to solve one of the greatest mysteries left behind by Baum: why the Scarecrow is alive. I know some people have been dissatisfied with the explanation, but I have no problem with it. A weak point to this book is that it isn't especially tightly plotted, with some moments where the action stops for no reason.

Thompson seemed to want to make Oz more multicultural than Baum left it, and, to this end, she used this book to introduce an Arthurian knight and an Oriental kingdom. While this is admirable in a way, Thompson uses a lot of stereotypes in writing about foreign cultures. The Scarecrow considers the Oriental Silver Islanders to be "stupid," and is disturbed to find out that they eat cats. The illustrations are even worse in this respect. I would say these stereotypes are the only potentially offensive part of the book, though (unless you're of a similar mind to the Wogglebug fan who posted an earlier review, in reply to whom I can only say that the Wogglebug might be slightly meaner here than in Baum's books, but overall, he's just as Baum introduced him: a stuffy, stuck-up academic, who is rarely intentionally mean or unfriendly, but often rubs people the wrong way). I would say any Oz fan should read this at some point, but, if it's your first Thompson book, keep in mind that she gets better.

Rating:
Summary: Simply terrible!
Review: This has just got to be the worst book I have ever read, or at least the worst Oz book I have ever read. It both starts off bad and ends bad. Mr. Wogglebug (again in this book he is a professor) tells the Scarecrow that he has no family tree. But he would NEVER say a thing like that. It's IMPOSSIBLE for him to EVER hurt ANYONE'S feelings. Then the Scarecrow goes searching for his family tree, he finds his bean pole and comes to the Silver Islands where the inhabitant's look like China people. And he discovers that he is their emperor, Chang Wang Woe, and he has a rather large family, but he later returns to Oz. This book is SO stupid. So please don't read it. Mr. Wogglebug is really supposed to be kind, caring and sweet.