Emerald City

Emerald City: The New Adventures of Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz by Arnold Schildkret is a new take on the Oz tales that L. Frank Baum invented. Unlike so many of Baums followers who have through the years written imitations of the Oz books, Schildkret invents anew the main characters and the landscape of Oz. His conception of the Deadly Desert is especially different from that in other Oz books, as are his conceptions of Dorothy, Ozma, Roquat and most of all Uncle Henry. In addition, his book tells an exciting tale of adventure and conflict, including dangerous threats to the Land of Oz and even war. -Richard Tuerk, Professor Emeritus of Literature and Languages, Texas A&M University, Commerce, Texas.Author of Oz in Perspective: Magic and Myth in the L. Frank Baum BooksThe New Adventures of Dorothy and the Wizard of OzThe Story The Authors ViewEmerald City is a modern sequel to the Wizard of Oz novel and film. It is an original story based on the characters of the novels of Frank Baum. Emerald City is a story of the bond of loyalty and friendship in the Land of Oz. Post 9/11/2001, we can all relate to a story of a utopian city where everyone loves each other and in which good triumphs over evil. The World of Oz has been changed by the loss of the Love Magnet. With its loss comes the immanent danger of the loss of the city, destruction of its way of life, and destruction of all of its magical creatures and inhabitants. Other events seem to conspire to ensure the Kingdom will be lost to Roquat, the evil Nome King. It is the humanity and foibles of all of the characters, even the evil ones, which will stir you and tug on your emotions. Humor and sadness, love and hate, good and evil, loss and redemption are mixed in a potpourri of fantasy and reality. Recurrent themes throughout are understanding our differences, loving each other, giving strangers the benefit of the doubt, and standing together in the face of evil. The story plays on four levels, as a fairy tale for children, as science fiction, and social and political satire for teenagers and adults.