Customer Reviews

The Magic of Oz (Dover Children's Classics)

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As the Beatles sang: "It's getting very near the end." This is the second-to-last of Books of Wonder's marvelous reissues of L. Frank Baum's Oz books (yes, folks, there's much *more* to Oz than the movie!) and the book itself is one of the gems of the entire series. One of the darker (yet most delightful) of Baum's original books features Kiki Aru, would-be sorcerer, wreaking havoc throughout the Land of Oz with his powerful word of transformation: "Pyrxqzgl." Like editor Peter Glassgold says in his afterword, I too spent hours as a kid trying to figure out how that should be pronounced! Baum never lived to see this or his final Oz book ("Glinda of Oz") published, but the maturity, mystic adventure and sheer fun of this book makes it one of the best in the series. I wonder what gems he would have given us had he lived longer! All of Baum's Oz books are excellent suggestions for parents searching for Christmas gifts for their kids who have read the three Harry Potter books to shreds. I'm sorry to see this excellent repackaging of the series nearly at an end, but as I discovered as a kid, the books themselves never end--they're there for us to re-read and re-discover for all time.

A great book, one of the best in the series! This book is now available in a reprint of the original version....it's a beauty. This edition is reccomended.

I first heard this story 53 years ago in second grade. Our teacher read a portion each day. It was truly a magical time for me. I was transformed and delighted by the glass cat, the idea of miniature monkeys jumping out of Ozma's birthday cake and most of all the amazing flower that bloomed over and over again. Years later I read it again sure that the bloom would have come off the rose (figuratively speaking) and found I was enchanted again. Then I had the chance to read it to second graders of a new generation - one filled with Yu-gi-oh and Sponge Bob and I was pleasantly surprised to find them listening to the old-fashioned story told with antiquated vocabulary with the same enthusiasm I did. Most of my students had never even heard the original Wizard of Oz story or had even seen the movie!! I have since purchased other titles in this series to give to my students so that each will have one as part of their upbringing but this still remains to be my favorite Oz book.

The only thing that I had remembered about reading this book as a child were the magic word "Pyrzqxgl" and the constantly changing flower that the glass cat finds. Happily for me, Baum has filled the book with a sea of these charming little details that are a large part of what still make the Oz novels so wonderful to read for kids and bigger kids.

Magic of Oz focuses on the darker side of Oz. The trouble this time comes from a discontented Munchkin teenager who steals the power of transformation. He is able to brew this trouble because of the alienated beasts in the Forest of Gugu. Fortunately, the wicked plans are foiled by the Wizard and Dorothy in time for everyone to celebrate the birthday of Ozma. Additionally, the Nome King loose end is finally tied up for good.

Magic of Oz is the thirteenth and pentultimate book in the series. As in Glinda of Oz, the book suffers from some recycling of older themes and evident author fatigue. Still, definitely worth the time for fans of Oz. Particular points for the Neill illustrations of the Li-Mon-Eags-- creepy!

This is a beautiful edition of a marvelous story. The entire series is a great addition toany family library.

The enchantment of this book begins with the cover; even as a child I was intrigued by this artwork, which seemed to suggest mystery, magic, and mischief. Well, the story behind the cover really delivers; truly, this book demonstrates just how L. Frank Baum was mastering his craft at this stage of his life. Sadly, this was the second-to-last book he was to pen before passing away. In "Magic" Baum falls back on a wide and familiar cast of characters including Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion, and the Wizard--as well as perennial villain of The Nome King (who, delightfully, just seems impervious to reform). Baum seems to have taken this approach in many of his later books, bringing in as many characters as he could; this approach works with marvelous success. For a kid, it's like getting to go to a birthday party with all of your favorite people; and "Magic" is one heck of a party. In this book, Baum really explores magic and how it is enacted in the Land of Oz; a departure, in a way, because generally the Oz books are about queer creatures and magical objects, and not about the use of magic itself. The parallel adventures of the separate groups of characters in this book help make it one of the most suspenseful in the series and it all ties together quite neatly. John R. Neil's illustrations are wonderful, as is this particular edition of the book. I say "Magic" is a book that all fantasy lovers should read--don't let this tale slip into the oblivion of time. If your children are Harry Potter fans (especially the younger set), then introduce them to the Oz series--and this book in particular.

The Magic of Oz, the 13th novel detailing the adventures of the fairy country's inhabitants, was published in June of 1919. Sadly, beloved author L. Frank didn't live to see the release, succumbing to a stroke caused by lifelong health issues a month prior. It's heartbreaking to read what turned out to be his final preface where he assures his child readers that "from now on I hope to be able to give prompt attention to each and every letter with which my readers favor me."

The story opens on the top of Mount Munch, a towering hill located in the Munchkin Country. One munchkin by the name of Bini Aru learned the magical word Pyrzqxgl that can transform any person or object into whatever he wishes. Once Princess Ozma banned the use of magic in the land of Oz (except for Glinda the Good Witch and the Wizard), Bini kept a piece of paper with the word's correct pronunciation in a loose floorboard in his magical lab.

One day, his mischievous son Kiki Aru sneaks into his father's lab while his parents are out and literally stumbles over the magical word, transforming himself into hawk and flying all over Oz. In the land of Ev, he meets Ruggedo a.k.a. The Metal Monarch formerly known as the Nome King and is persuaded by the wicked villian to help him seek revenge on Princess Ozma and little Dorothy by turning every human inhabitant into animals and seizing control over Oz.

Meanwhile in the Emerald City, all the citizens are buzzing about in preparation for Ozma's upcoming birthday celebration. It seems that everyone but Dorothy knows what their present to the child ruler will be. With the help of the Wizard, the Cowardly Lion, and the Hungry Tiger, the girl sets out for the Forest of Gugu to train some monkeys for a special performance at Ozma's party, not aware of Ruggedo's devious plans. Will Oz be overtaken by Ruggedo? You'll have to read it to find out.

The best thing about Magic is how wildly imaginative the art of sorcery is here. Magic's been used in all of the Oz books, but this installment takes a look at it on a deeper level and Baum laid the ground rules that would appear in future books from Ruth Plumly Thompson and the others. Neill's better than ever with his fantastic illustrations. My favorite is that of the Li-Mon-Eags, the forms Ruggedo and Kiki take on made up the heads of lions, the bodies of monkeys, the wings of eagles and the tails of donkeys. It's quite a sight! Grab a slice of Ozma's birthday cake, take a seat in the nearest comfy chair, and soak in The Magic of Oz.

The book came quickly and is in excellent condition. Very good price for such a nice book.

The Magic of Oz (Books of Wonder) by L. Frank Baum is the next to last book in the oz series written by Baum. This time Ruggedo the ex-nome king once more is stirring up more trouble then ever before and he is assisted by Kiki Aru whom has learned a remarkable magic word. In this story we once more meet our favorite oz charachters like the cowardly lion, dorothy, ozma, and many others. The Magic of Oz is filled with exciting adventures, wonderfull thrills and has grand illustrations that capture the spirit and essence of the magical world of oz. I can not wait to read the last of Baums oz books and then continue with the rest of the oz books written by other authors.

This book has all the ingredients of a great Oz book, starting with a plot lifted from Wagner: an unworldly person with poor moral instincts but with unusual power gets drawn onto the wrong side of a covert grudge war waged by an exploitative villian against the ruling authority. (This is one of Wagner's favorite plots. It happens in four of his ten successful operas and in one of them it happens twice.) The story features some characters Oz fans like to hear about: the Glass Cat, Trot and Cap'n Bill, Ruggedo, the Wizard, the Cowardly Lion, Kalidahs. And some interesting new magic. Plus a long-standing Baum tradition, a semi-civilized community of talking animals.

But it doesn't quite gel. The conspirators' plan is too goofy--why do they need an army when they know how to say "pyrzqxgl"? --and the book's assumptions are unsatisfactory. They avoid being reported in Glinda's Royal Record Book, by transforming into animals??? Even though as animals they do things that affect humans significantly? Even though they transform six monkeys into giant human soldiers, and Loo the Unicorn into a person? Also, there are too many sub-plots, poorly integrated, and the main characters sort of drop out of the story two thirds of the way through. And can't someone besides Ozma have a birthday?