| Long ago, the Kingdom of Radbad, in the southwest corner of the Quadling Country, used to supply all the dress goods in Oz. But King Fumbo spent all his money on books and tobacco, and the population shrank from 2700 to 27. One day, a violent wind storm blows Fumbo's head away. Grampa, an old soldier with a wooden leg and veteran of 980 battles, joins the king's son, Prince Tatters, on a mission to find his father's head and seek his fortune. They are joined by an iron weather cock blown in from Kansas by the storm, whom they name Bill. Over the next few days, Grampa, Tatters, and Bill are waylaid by bandits, fall down a cavern to the Garden of Gorba (where they meet a beautiful floral fairy named Urtha, who joins their group), and have further adventures on islands of fire and ice.
Meanwhile, Princess Dorothy gets lost outside the Emerald City with Toto and meets Percy Vere, the Forgetful Poet of Perhaps City, who is searching for his kingdom's lost princess. The two different parties eventually meet and find themselves buffeted in the Kingdom of Play, as well as having to outsmart the old and ugly wizard of Perhaps City, Abrog. Thompson published this, her fourth Oz book, in 1924. | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of book - humorous or laughable FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past Explore/1st contact/ enviro story Yes Explore: Is this an adult or child's book? - Kid's book (ages 7-14) Descript. of chases or violence - 10 % planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20 % Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 40 % Main Character Identity: - Male Profession/status: Main Adversary Identity: - Male Age: - long-lived adults Profession/status: Has magical powers? Yes Magical/mental powers of main antagonist: - can cast all sorts of spells Eccentric: Yes How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount How sensitive is this character? Setting Earth setting: - 20th century Takes place on Earth? Yes Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - no torture/death scientific jargon? (SF only) - none/very little science jargon needed How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |
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