Customer Reviews

The Emerald Burrito of Oz

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It's a rare thing when the atmosphere in a book seems so real and speaks to me on such a level that I want to find a way in and live there. "Burrito" was like "The Wizard of Oz" on acid. Trippy, dippy, full 'o' fun. The safest form of pure escapism that I've had the pleasure to come across in a loooooong time. One of the things that makes this stellar read so much fun is the character's familiarity, but all twisted up in a whole new light. I especially loved the TinMan, nuff said. The writers really know how to make you see what & who they're talking about, even if you've never seen them or it before. I loved the relationships between everyone and REALLY loved a certain little, oh I don't know what to call him, gremlin(?) and the way he mangled the English language. You know what they say about singers? How only a truly great singer can sing off key? Carol Burnett and her comedy sketches come to mind. Well, this amazing book shows that it's doubly true for writers. I didn't want it end and I wish there was more. Now where's that gate?

What do you get when you mix the magical land of Oz, CIA hijinks, a possessed laptop, occasional dismemberment, fabulous Mexican food, and a hottie named Aurora Quixote Jones? THE EMERALD BURRITO OF OZ, of course! This ain't your daddy's Oz, no question. Instead, it's more like APOCALYPSE NOW meets THE WIZARD OF OZ as directed by Terry Gilliam. Authors John Skipp (of Skipp & Spector splatterpunk fame) and Marc Levinthal (who co-wrote the score for the film VALLEY GIRL) reinvent Oz for the new Millennium, managing to make the fabled land over the rainbow wonderful and surreal and comic and terrifying. GET THIS BOOK!!!!

My working knowledge of "The Wizard of Oz" is limited to what the movies have done with it. Having been inundated in childhood with the classic 1939 movie, and then later enjoying "Return to Oz" and later still that "Tin-Man" cable miniseries, my exposure is probably twice as much as most people. Still, I have no real frame of reference to Baum's original series of books, so I came into "The Emerald Burrito of Oz" about as unsullied by expectation as is humanly possible when it comes to source material so ingrained into the pop culture fabric. So I'm unsure as to the extent of revisionism at work here, but I assume this accessible, post-modern fantasy from John Skipp and Marc Levinthal is plenty respectful, yet still a bit more iconoclastic.

The conceit at play here is that Oz is real. The Baum books and the MGM movie came out (inaccurately inspired by true events) but shortly after World War II it was made public that Oz was a real place ... sure, it's another dimension, but one easy enough to travel back and forth from, if you can get a visa. The point of departure: Kansas. Our heroes are Aurora, a longtime expatriate fully involved in the politics of Oz, and her old friend Gene, who's embarking on his first visit with the same fresh eyes the reader has. The story is presented from their dual perspectives - alternating war dispatches written by two compulsive diarists with two very different viewpoints and voices. Through them we get the entire Oz experience as shady goings-on and government and corporate interests heat up into full scale war over the annexation of the beloved fantasyscape.

But that's big picture stuff, and not as important or well drawn as the richness of character Skipp and Levinthal conjure up. The world of Oz as it's been effected by our modern world is fully realized (and our world seems to have inherited a little magic itself, since throwaway lines reveal that Al Gore is president and Keith Richards is dead - apparently there's a clearer justice in a post-Oz Earth - nothing against Richards) but no big idea or imaginative detail is ever dwelled on long enough to give the impression that the "world building" or "high concept" take any kind of priority. The contact between the two worlds - the pragmatic present day US and the magical land of Oz with it's limitless possibilities and topsy turvy laws of physics - and what that convergence implies for both - is just the crux of the plot. One of the most apparently inconsequential of developments - Oz's first Mexican restaurant - is the hub from which the story and characters all spoke out in their various directions.

Conceptually, what is one of the most purely American of all fantasy stories has to be attacked and defended from a modern American viewpoint - and the largest looming darkness in the Emerald Burrito (both the book and it's namesake restaurant) is U.S. imperialism invading the familiar fantasy world. Though the writing is never so heavy-handed as to actually come out and say it like that, the concept of corporate and government interest encroaching on the purity of a cherished neverwhere is beautifully executed ... especially in lieu of how many Oz-related feature films are currently in the works. How the characters develop, grow and are revealed alongside the issue of a government conspiracy going up against the magical oligarchy of Oz is graceful and simple (though not simplisic) and much smaller-scale than one would imagine. There's not much of a sweeping epic quality at work here, instead we're treated to the small dilemmas, personal wonders and introspective musings of the core characters as they're tossed about by the grander aspects.

I'm trying my best to harp on this without giving too much away, because like the best of both fantasy and Bizarro, there's an onslaught of ideas planted in the same garden alongside insane and visceral events that are better left as surprises. Skipp is known for co-founding splatterpunk, and those stylistic flourishes show up along with stylistic trimmings that resemble cyberpunk, steampunk, dieselpunk - all the buzz genres effortlessly outdone here - as hard fantasy creatures (some I presume are from Baum, some I presume are not) both majestic and malevolent are pitted against government spooks and normal folks alike. And consequently every encounter, every showdown, every connection is powerful. All the traditional characters one would expect to see show up as well -- Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion (and Toto too!) and they're all appropriately skewed from their most popular inceptions, along with truly clever and revelatory spins on the most famous of Wizard of Oz cliches -- "there's no place like home!"

I've seen Bizarro authors take everything from the Bible to slasher movies and skewer, mix, remix and mingle them with a wit and profundity that's rarely given recognition - folding pop culture and general culture into a surreal, absurd, sharp, spiky, sometimes perverse and often uncomfortably personal 8-bit leatherbound literary playground that's so much more than just "weird for the sake of weird" and with those pieces of ciches, standards and staples create something original and engaging. "The Emerald Burrito of Oz" is the perfect example of how pastiche, satire, tribute and parody can coalesce the same way. With a slew of post-modern fantasy/fairy tale re-imaginings, re-tellings and Freudian readings out there, Skipp and Levinthal have wormed something immediate, heartfelt and recognizably human through all the trappings of their concept. Wherever your sensibilities lie - whether you're a Gene, an Aurora or even a Dorothy, it's a great read that will sate your bloodlust for fractured (and mended) fables.

I devoured the Emerald Burrito way back in 2002 when originally released by Babbage Press. This is an awesome read that deserves a wider audience, one that it will hopefully find now that its published by cult favourites, Eraserhead Press - a match made in heaven in my humble opinion.

I convinced the SF book buyer at a well known high street shop to stock this title, which takes its cue from the original Oz series and certainly puts its own spin on things. A literary mash-up way ahead of the curve, it should be as popular as the Gothic / Olympic Games thrills of Jane Eyre Nike, the crazy voyage into the heart of biology's darkness that is Wide Sargasso Semen or the dub heavy culture clash of Sense and Sensimilla.

Simply put it's a book that should be read and cherished, respect to Eraserhead Press for this timely re-release.

Expanding on the familiar and established mythos of Oz, the authors present a new story worthy of succession suited for adult tastes. Clearly elaborating that what was once magical to a child is insane to an adult.
Intending to set on a vacation to the land of Oz for the first time to see an old friend, Gene passes customs and travels through the dimensional gate into Oz, only to find himself in the middle of a civil war. He barely stumbles into Oz before almost being killed, and getting drafted into a squad led by the Tin Man. When you are familiar with the source material, there is a sense of irony about having your neck saved by someone who couldn't handle his own neck. It is clear that the violence that was only implied in the original books is now brought to the fore-front from the beginning.
The story is told through an alternating perspective with his friend, Aurora, who works in the titular Emerald Burrito restaurant. This is a woman who has immigrated along with many humans, and has found a happy life cooking for the hyper-colourful citizens of the Emerald City. Portrayed as a strong and respected woman she has adapted to the crazy atmosphere, and has maintained a well rounded life there.
The world is lush and detailed, but not in a rose-coloured gloss that is only suited for children, more of a what the, that is crazy, you are crazy, please stop being so damn cheerful kind of way. This was an aspect that I really enjoyed, the excited tourist of Gene, who had heard the stories and is now overwhelmed by the clear insanity of Oz. Absolutely imaginative, light hearted and grim at the same time. There is such a good mix of explanation and mystery presented. It some how captures that sparkle of imagination without ever crushing it with too much complexity. Yet there is always the curve ball of absurdity thrown at you just for fun. Much of this comes from the great cast of characters and how they fit in this world.
The over-all narrative of this was surprisingly strong, bringing in new evils, while creating a strong mythos of it's own. The beloved characters of the past have grown and still have their basic character intact, for the most part they are treated as cameos, but always as heroes. A couple do still have full parts that play out however.
The dialog was fantastic, sharp and funny, and never seemed needless or overblown. Really great characterizations with the two main characters, even if there were parts that they were unsure of their roles, they were determined and true.
The story built steadily through the book, slowly providing the pieces to the overall picture as the grand finale approached. There wasn't a moment that I was disappointed, and found this trip to Oz to be much better than I remembered as a child.

Bringing the world of Frank Baum's Oz into the Bizarro genre isn't exactly hard. With its sentient plants, travel by tornado, enchanted footwear, talking tin men, anthroporphic lions and chatty scarecrows, the Oz books have always been considerably stranger than people seem to acknowledge.

That said, John Skipp and Marc Levinthal did not slack off when diving in to this twisted world, recontextualizing Oz in a modern context where CIA black-ops, substance abuse, anarchism, fascism and Mexican cuisine are lurking around every corner.

Following Gene of Los Angeles' trip through the magical land, we meet the large looming figure of Aurora Quixote Jones. Together, these two form the core of this story, sharing thrilling and entertaining run-ins with the classic Oz characters we know and love.

The TinMan is re-imagined as a consumate bad-ass. His haunted and dangerous presence is a magnificent juxtaposition against the effite whiner so many people know from the movie The Wizard of Oz. Dorothy's appearance before a climactic battle envisions the girl from Kansas as utterly transformed: a strong, dangerous and discreetly sexy heroine.

The overall feel is of a story that would be entertaining in any imaginary world, but that takes on added resonance by being placed in Oz. A must read for fans of bizarro, the original Oz novels, and fans of the movie looking to have their world rocked to their very core.

What an enjoyable read. When Baum wrote his Oz books, they were for a different time and a different audience. Skipp and Levinthal write for a 21st century adult audience, and it makes sense. Not that the sense of whimsy is lost. In fact, it's amazing out much of that is retained though the inhabitants of the Emerald city, and yes, all the favorites are there; Scarecrow, Lion, Dorothy, Toto, the Tin Woodsman ( a very grim version of him!), Glinda, and Ozma, as well as a cast of lesser known as well as some new characters.

The book switches back and forth between the journal-like writings of Gene of Los Angeles, a newly arrived visitor and his friend, Aurora Jones who has been in residence for some time and is part owner of the only existing Mexican restaurant in all of Emerald City. The writing is smart and snappy and imaginative, giving voice to both of these two characters. Not only is it a lot of fun to read, but it pulls you into a vibrant world full of interesting characters. It's amazing how much empathy they garner for the cast.

One of the surprises I have found in the Bizarro Genre in general is that, no matter how strange or even disgusting things get, there is a lot of heart in them, and you end up becoming emotionally attached to the characters, just like you would in any good work of fiction. There is romance and near death experiences and suspense and horror, all perfectly paced alongside the whimsy and sometimes subtle, sometimes broad, humor.

The premise is this. Oz has been kept secret by the government since it'd discovery, but it's carefully controlled borders have been opened up for two way travel. Yes, Munchkins are working Hot Dog stands and Pumping Gas in Kansas, while US citizens are wandering around Oz. There is conspiracy (do you really believe that the government as well as big corporations could resist trying to find a way to use Oz and its citizens for their own designs? Of course, it backfires in a big way and our heroes, both the immigrants and the natives are left to fix things or pay the price.

All in all, a wonderful read, leaving me hungry for me. The original series, after all, was 14 books. Unlikely as it might be, if a sequel is ever written, I'd pick it up without hesitation.

It really is- it's a masterpiece. I'm neither joking nor exaggerating- a book with 'Burrito' in the title, and set in Oz, is an absolute masterpiece.

It's almost difficult to describe in words how much I LOVED reading this book- and loved the book itself. (The two don't necessarily go together- I've enjoyed reading books I didn't really end up liking, and I've liked books I didn't really enjoy actually reading). The fact that Skipp and Levinthal gifted the world this book is something that makes me want to explode in kittens and joy.

The book is neither a sequel (per se) or a re-imagining- it's more of tribute to Baum's original Oz books (of which there were fifteen- and 'Emerald Burrito' pulls off of more than than just 'Wizard'), utilizing the characters and setting, but warping them into something else. As if Hollywood and Baum only got a fuzzy picture of what the REAL Oz is like.

And this is the real Oz. Happiness and violence, blood and war and cannibalism and fear- and an overabundance of good cheer. And really amazing Mexican food, a really awesome Dorothy, creepy Dark Lord wizards from the CIA and a 'haunted' laptop.

This is the best book I've read this year- and one of my now all-time favorite novels. It's brilliant. You will never really understand the term 'page turner' until you try and put this book down- I put other things aside until I finished it (which I did in two sittings). It's seriously addictive.

Do yourself a favor and buy this little gem of a book- I guarantee you won't regret it.

So the United States has finally found a portal to the magical Land of Oz. A place where inanimate objects come alive, where animals are intelligent and where childhood characters take on a darker, more realistic interpretation. A gruesome war is being waged by the mysterious Hollow Man interlaced with anterior motives that hit a little too close to home.

The underlying political themes make for a fascinating read. This, coupled with the insanity that ensues, keeps things interesting while the narrative flips back and forth between Gene Speilman and Aurora Jones. Chockfull of munchkins, flying monkeys, enigmatic black blobs, blood, ogres and a black market for animal meat; there is certainly something for everyone.

I will be the first to admit that I was skeptical of an Oz related book, thankfully, this feeling didn't last long.
The characters tell the story their own way, which makes the switching between the protagonists such a fun experience.
I can't recommend this book highly enough! Fast and fun read, and very likely to be a cult hit beyond its bizarro fan-base.