Ozoplaning With the Wizard of Oz [Paperback]

Ruth Plumly Thompson (Author), L. Frank Baum (Author), John R. Neill (Illustrator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0929605578 | ISBN-13: 978-0929605579 | Publication Date: October 1996

Soar to the Stratosphere with Dorothy, the Scarecrow, and the Wizard of Oz himself as they attempt to find the missing Ozoplane and save Oz and Jellia Jamb from the clutches of King Strut in Ruth Plumly Thompson's OZOPLANING WITH THE WIZARD OF OZ. The Wizard of Oz has built two Ozzy spaceships to present to Princess Ozma. But before he can show them to her one of them mysteriously takes off with the Tin Woodman, Jellia Jamb, and the Soldier with the Green Whiskers aboard. The errant spaceship flies to Stratovania where King Strut learns of Oz and decides it really belongs to him--and he want Jellia to become his wife! Discover a whole new look for the classic Oz books! Terrific new full-color cover by Oz illustrator Eric Shanower. A new Foreword by BOOKLIST columnist Michael Cart. ALL of John R. Neill's original illustrations - Bigger and better than ever! Additional OZOPLANING artwork by Eric Shanower! A Hundred Years of Jellia Jamb - Picture Gallery! A collection of Thompson poems about the Sky Fairies!

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ruth Plumly Thompson wrote twenty-one volumes in the famous Oz series. She introduced such beloved characters as Jinnicky the Red Jinn, Sir Hokus, Speedy, Terrybubble, and best-loved of all, Kabumpo, the elegant elephant. Thompson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 27, 1891. She had two sisters, Dorothy and Janet, and one brother, Richard. When Thompson was two years old her father became night editor of The New York Times and the family moved to Brooklyn, New York. Her father died suddenly in 1895 and Thompson's mother returned to Philadelphia with the four young children. In 1914 Thompson began writing an elaborate children's page for the Philadelphia Public Ledger. The weekly page contained poems, stories, fables, helpful columns about pets, dolls, toys, and much more. Her first book, THE PERHAPPSEY CHAPS (1918) was a collection of fairy poems from the Public Ledger, and a similar volume of fairy tales, THE PRINCESS OF COZYTOWN, was published in 1922. In 1920 Thompson was contracted by the Reilly and Lee Company to continue the Oz series after L. Frank Baum's death in 1919. Her first Oz book, THE ROYAL BOOK OF OZ (1921), was credited to Baum with the additional byline "Enlarged and edited by Ruth Plumly Thompson." But the book was solely the work of Thompson. In 1921, she gave up her job at the Public Ledger and devoted herself to writing an Oz book each year until 1939. Reilly and Lee also published an omnibus volume of Thompson's Ledger material called THE WONDER BOOK (1929). From the mid-1930s to mid-1940s Thompson worked as editor of the David McKay Company's King Comics, providing an editorial page and short story for almost every issue. She wrote editorials for Ace Comics and Magic Comics, too. David McKay also published Thompson's KING KOJO (1936), originally serialized in the pages of King Comics. In the 1940s and '50s Thompson sold many stories to Jack and Jill magazine and she wrote Jack and Jill's "Perky Puppet" page until Decem --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Books of Wonder (October 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0929605578
• ISBN-13: 978-0929605579
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,138,949 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Oz Royal Family Takes To The Air, March 3, 2003

By 

J. E. Barnes - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ozoplaning With the Wizard of Oz (Paperback)

1939 was a banner year for Oz: MGM studios released its classic film adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz, and Royal Historian Ruth Plumly Thompson issued her last official Oz novel, Ozoplaning With The Wizard Of Oz, which, as serendipity would have it, was also one of her finest.

Probably due to the release of the film, Ozoplaning With The Wizard Of Oz opens on a crisp fall evening when the cast of the first book - and thus the cast of the film - are celebrating the anniversary of Dorothy' arrival in Oz. Sparing no detail and demonstrating Oz's reality principle, an elaborate cake has been prepared with a model of Dorothy's Kansas house in its center, the house that fell to Oz in a cyclone and happily, accidentally, and conveniently crushed the Wicked Witch Of The West. The Little Wizard, who has grown quite stout, has another surprise: his latest invention, two airships that are equal part rocket, airplane, and hot air balloon. With Ozma temporarily away from the Emerald City, the group, accompanied by newly matured maid - in - waiting Jellia Jamb ('Jelly and Jam') and the Soldier With The Green Whiskers, take to the skies adventuring.

After several weak and disposable titles, Thompson's Ozoplaning With The Wizard Of Oz has the distinction of being the fastest moving and most economic novel in the entire Oz chronicle. There is no superfluous padding whatsoever, and, looking ahead to illustrator John R. Neill's The Wonder City In Oz (1940), the novel has a loose, kooky, post - romantic tone which perfectly suits Baum's utopist fairyland. No longer a 'sweet, darling little maid' perennially restricted to the background, Jellia Jamb is modern young lady - not a little girl - with a feisty, determined spirit and a bright mind. Happily, it is Jellia, and not Dorothy (who, in defiance of the laws of the kingdom, also seems to have matured considerably), who is the book's protagonist. Thompson also allows the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman to stand center stage, utterly freeing the characters from the dreary limitations Baum often saddled them with in his later titles. Never has the Tin Woodman been this lively, decisive, vigorous, and comical. Thompson's characterization of the Cowardly Lion was the most realized of any of the Oz writers, a talent again demonstrated here. Thankfully, none of the lead characters are transformed into beasts, no overly sweet or obnoxious sidekick animals are introduced, and no one speaks in broken baby talk.

Though the narrative eventually falls back on the overused idea of the Emerald City being invaded by outside forces, the writing throughout is so rollicking and enthusiastic that the inevitable invasion seems almost fresh. In an unusual touch, Thompson has the only briefly seen Trot, Betsy, Tik - Tok, and the Patchwork Girl fleeing the invasion rather than heroically standing their ground. In another refreshing twist, aggressive flying King Strut of The Strat decides to attack the Emerald City only after the Tin Woodman declares Strut's sky kingdom a new colony of Oz. Deeply offended when told that he and his people are now subjects of Ozma, Strut reasonably feels that it is his kingdom that has been invaded, and decides to take the offensive.

Ozoplaning With The Wizard Of Oz is one of the classic entries in the series, touching as it does on both established Oz history as well as Oz history to come. At the fireside party in the opening chapters, early Oz history is thoroughly and joyfully recounted by the attendees. Thompson's Jellia Jamb will remind readers of a kinder, less boisterous Jenny Jump, and the Wizard's cat - like "kit bag" of magic may have been the inspiration for Jenny Jump's "handbag of fairy gifts." For reasons unknown, Thompson changes the true name of the Soldier With The Green Whiskers from the established Omby Amby to Wantowin Battles ('Want To Win Battles'), but, regardless, the Soldier, who is far more of a coward than the Lion, adds excellent comic relief to the story.

Regarding Oz mythology, with its occasionally shifting laws, rules and regulations, Jellia states early in the novel, "If I live to be a million, I'll never forget the day she (Dorothy) came to the castle with the Cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman. Not if I live to be a million!" As Oz scholars know, Oz is not only a non - earthly paradise but also an approximation of the Christian concept of the afterlife. Presuming she is genuinely alive in the earthly sense of the word, Jellia will live to be a million, and, in fact, will live forever, since no one dies in Oz and only the unlucky or unfavored - like the Wicked Witch of the West - can be destroyed. Not only does the opening chapter take the unusual step of informing the reader that it is autumn in Oz (one of the airships has been christened "the Oztober"), but, at the book's end, Dorothy mentions Halloween. Unfortunately the highly potent idea of celebrating Halloween in Oz is explored no further.

Reflecting the book's light, fun tone, John R. Neill's illustrations are among his most brazenly comic. Particularly interesting is Neill's drawing of Glinda the Good's castle in the red Quadling country, which is unexpectedly massive beyond belief. Highly recommended for both children and adults, as well as for established Oz fans and new readers.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars High Flying Fun from Oz!, October 17, 2000

By 

Justin Richards (AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ozoplaning With the Wizard of Oz (Paperback)

This is Thompson's last official Oz book, but also one of her best! The Wizard has inventing flying airships---OZOPLANES and it's a high flying adventure above the skies of Oz as an Ozoplane takes off in hot pursuit of the other Ozoplane which went off accidently! Turns out, King Strutoovious wants to conquer the Land of Oz and Glinda and Ozma are away! This was a great book which is expected from Ruth Plumly Thompson's sense of humor!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Finally!, January 16, 2006

By 

John A Lee III "jal3" (San Antonio, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ozoplaning With the Wizard of Oz (Paperback)

As a great Oz fan since childhood, I have long wanted to explore the Oz books written after Baum's death. They were out of print when I was a kid. When I first encountered Thompson's books as an adult, I was at first disappointed. They were just not as good. In time though, as I read through the series, they did get better. I did notice one particular phenomenon, though. She did better with characters she created herself instead of the originals. It was as if she was more comfortable writing for them. Some of her later books were as good as some of Baum's lesser efforts. (That's pretty good)

This one breaks new ground. It features characters from the original WIZARD OF OZ. Dorothy, the Wizard, Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, the Cowardly Lion, the Soldier with the Green Whiskers and Jellia Jamb are the principals. Jellia was a very minor character but has a place of prominence in this one. This is unusual, especially for Thompson's later work. She did a very good job. It is not as good as Baum's best but it is a good effort anyway. It's too bad it was her last one.

The story involves a reunion. The Wizard has gathered the personages from the original story to celebrate Dorothy's first trip to Oz. While there, he shows off his newest inventions: magical aeroplanes. While investigating these new devices, the soldier accidentally launches one with himself, the Tin Woodman and Jellia aboard. They wind up in an airborne kingdom with unsavory inhabitants who resolve to conquer Oz. Meanwhile, the Wizard and the rest of the party try to catch up in the other plane. While doing so, they have to do the obligatory adventuring such as rescue a kingdom, save a princess and meet new magical peoples.

It started off a bit slow but finished well. That goes for the series as well as this book. It was worth the effort.