Average customer rating:
- Classic Stories revisited
- difficult to read
- all the books none of the pictures
- Look For Border's Edition
- The books of OZ
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15 Books in 1: L. Frank Baum's Original "Oz" Series. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The Marvelous Land of Oz, Ozma of Oz, Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz, The Road to Oz, The Emerald City of Oz, The Patchwork Girl Of Oz, Little Wizard Stories of Oz, Tik-Tok of Oz, The Scarecrow Of Oz, Rinkitink In Oz, The Lost Princess Of Oz, The Tin Woodman Of Oz, The Magic of Oz, and Glinda Of Oz.
L, Frank Baum
Manufacturer: Shoes and Ships and Sealing Wax Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General | Classics by Age | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Oz | Fantasy & Adventure | Series | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Baum, L. Frank | ( B ) | Authors & Illustrators, A-Z | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Wizard of Oz | Book Characters | Popular Characters | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 0954840135 |
Book Description
This unique '15 books in 1' edition of L. Frank Baum's original "Oz" series contains the following complete works: "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz", "The Marvelous Land of Oz", "Ozma of Oz", "Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz", "The Road to Oz", "The Emerald City of Oz", "The Patchwork Girl Of Oz", "Little Wizard Stories of Oz", "Tik-Tok of Oz", "The Scarecrow Of Oz", "Rinkitink In Oz", "The Lost Princess Of Oz", "The Tin Woodman Of Oz", "The Magic of Oz", and "Glinda Of Oz". For over a hundred years, L. Frank Baum's classic fairy stories about the land of Oz have been delighting children and parents alike. Now, for the first time, the entire Oz series is available in this single, great-value, edition!
Customer Reviews:
Classic Stories revisited.......2007-10-10
Frank Baum is a classic writer that had a beautiful writing style that children should revisit that Grandparents enjoyed. These stories should be available in every library in our country as classic tales. My daughter is reading more and her imagination is in full bloom with this collection of books. The publisher and person responsible for puting this collection together should be applauded!
difficult to read.......2007-08-13
This book is condensed, I mean two pages printed on one page so the lettering is very small and none of the original art work is included. I did not realize when I bought it that the letters would be small. I also thought the original art work would be included. It's not bad if you want to read it with a magnifying glass.
all the books none of the pictures.......2007-06-25
I was wondering how they could fit all 15 oz books into 1 volume. the answer is by having no illustrations, two columns per page, and very small print. I felt like I was reading a text book more than a childrens set of books. it still works for a bedtime story for my son (though he really wants pictures), but for something to keep my son occupied while we ride on the bus it's a bit big to tote around. the story's are as I expected, designed for kids with no really scary parts and super simple plots; dull for a grown up but good for younger kids.
Look For Border's Edition.......2007-04-25
I give this book 5 stars because it is "OZ". I purchased something similar, but much much better from Border's , two years ago. Available from Amazon, look for 'The OZ Chronicles'. Volume 1 and Volume 2 contain all of Baum's Oz books. Green Leather Hardcovers, great size print. Volume 3 contains Baum's other books and stories. Incredible find and value.
The books of OZ.......2007-02-07
Great to have all of the stories included in one book. I don't need to worry about finding all the books to read. Great buy!
Book Description
Jack Frost is up to no good again! This time, he's stolen the seven jewels from Queen Titania's crown. Without them, the Jewel Fairies can't do their jobs. The magic in Fairyland is fading fast!
Without her magic emerald, Emily the Emerald Fairy can't see the future! Can Rachel and Kirsty help make things right again?
Find the sparkly jewel in each book and help bring the magic back to Fairyland!
Average customer rating:
- What a book!
- Stories Great, Edition Not
- A very dated children's fantasy
- An Magnificient Compilation
- I've never read anything so bad!
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Wizard of Oz, Marvelous Land, Ozma, Dorothy, Road, Emerald City, Patchwork Girl, Tik-Tok, Scarecrow, Rinkitink, Lost Princess, Tin Woodman, Magic, Glinda, Little Wizard Stories
L. Frank Baum
Manufacturer: Kahley House Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Stories | Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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Baum, L. Frank | ( B ) | Authors & Illustrators, A-Z | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0978891422 |
Book Description
Although most children today are introduced to the world of Oz through the classic 1939 movie, L. Frank Baum has been captivating the hearts of the young, and not so young, for over a hundred years. This delightful compilation includes all fifteen books written by L. Frank Baum: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The Marvelous Land of Oz, Ozma of Oz, Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz, The Road to Oz, The Emerald City of Oz, The Patchwork Girl Of Oz, Little Wizard Stories of Oz, Tik-Tok of Oz, The Scarecrow Of Oz, Rinkitink In Oz, The Lost Princess Of Oz, The Tin Woodman Of Oz, The Magic of Oz, and Glinda Of Oz. Perhaps there is no better, or fitting, introduction one could give to this compilation than the author's note that Baum himself writes in his very first book, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." Here he reveals the true intention of his work. Folklore, legends, myths and fairy tales have followed childhood through the ages, for every healthy youngster has a wholesome and instinctive love for stories fantastic, marvelous and manifestly unreal. The winged fairies of Grimm and Andersen have brought more happiness to childish hearts than all other human creations. Yet the old time fairy tale, having served for generations, may now be classed as "historical" in the children's library; for the time has come for a series of newer "wonder tales" in which the stereotyped genie, dwarf and fairy are eliminated, together with all the horrible and blood-curdling incidents devised by their authors to point a fearsome moral to each tale. Modern education includes morality; therefore the modern child seeks only entertainment in its wonder tales and gladly dispenses with all disagreeable incident. Having this thought in mind, the story of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" was written solely to please children of today. It aspires to being a modernized fairy tale, in which the wonderment and joy are retained and the heartaches and nightmares are left out.
Customer Reviews:
What a book!.......2007-05-07
For those who love the Wizard of Oz there's nothing quite like having the complete set of related stories. My kids and I are reading and re-reading, carry the book with us on vacations and keep it on the bedside table at home. Wonderful gift for children (and adults) of all ages!
Stories Great, Edition Not.......2007-04-13
I honestly cannot understand giving any Oz story a rating of one because of the content. These stories are classic. I AM giving this edition a one, though, because this is probably the poorest excuse for a book that I have ever seen.
My first and biggest issue with this edition is the fact that the editor/publisher chose not to have paragraph breaks. Each chapter is a paragraph. It's terrible. Next, as these pages are large (almost as big as a typical textbook), you would expect columns to be used. Not the case. It's just one long line after one long line on the pages. The publisher did not even choose to put the next chapter on a fresh page, merely spacing once and beginning anew. It's extremely frustrating.
The next thing that finally make me close the book was the abundance of errors in the text. I honestly do not think this is L. Frank Baum's fault. I feel these errors are there because the editor and publishers were so intent on putting this on the market that they overlooked important things. Mostly, I am referring to technical and mechanical errors, but a few sentences don't even make sense. And, the thing I just REALLY couldn't get over was the fact that all of the chapter titles are in capital letters, and then randomly there was a title with lowercase letters! Such inattention to a book is unacceptable to me. I AM returning this book and getting a nicer edition!
By the way, I did try to contact the publishing company about this, but its Web site is not properly functioning.
A very dated children's fantasy.......2007-04-08
Nowadays, with the popularity of Harry Potter, there has been something of a re-examination of children's literature, in particular, the idea that it can't also be enjoyable for adults to read. Even older works, such as The Chronicles of Narnia have been reappreciated. It was along these lines that I decided to read L. Frank Baum's Oz books, figuring that, if nothing else, they would be a quick read. In addition, I felt I would get a better understanding of Gregory Maguire's Oz books (Wicked and Son of a Witch), which are much more based on Baum than any movie. After reading all fifteen "books" that comprise The Complete Oz, I have to say, I'm a little disappointed.
Like most people, my exposure to Baum's works was limited to the fantastic adaptation of his first Oz book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, featuring Judy Garland. The cinematic adaptation only loosely follows the story, and there are many things that do not appear in the movie. Most importantly, while the movie pretty much explains the whole adventure as a dream, the book makes the land of Oz quite real; subsequent stories has Dorothy shifting back-and-forth from Kansas to Oz until several books in when she moves there permanently with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry (and Toto).
Although the characters change from story to story, the main characters are Dorothy and Ozma, the ruler of Oz. There are a number of other recurring characters, including the familiar Scarecrow, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, Wizard and Glinda the Good Witch, along with others like Tik Tok, Jack Pumpkinhead and the Shaggy Man. Each story typically has the characters exploring a new and strange land where they must solve some problem. Occasionally, the Emerald City of Oz is threatened by invaders, who are typically repulsed with great ease. Only the Nome King appears as an enemy in several books.
The problem with the Oz books is that, as imaginative as they are, they are not all that well-written. I realize I am applying an adult reader's scrutiny to stories designed for pre-teens, but I think only the youngest of readers would not see through Baum's plot holes and last-minute rescues. A standard Oz story would have certain characters in dire straits only to be rescued by Glinda or Ozma, who happen to be watching everything through a magic mirror. Everything is perfect in Oz...too perfect to create anything but the weakest form of danger. And I think even most young readers nowadays would find Baum's sugary language too cloying to be palatable. I suppose one hundred years ago, this may have fit with contemporary tastes, but there is just a lot out there that's better nowadays.
The Complete Oz is over 700 pages, but each page contains at least twice as much text as the page in a normal book. What the volume contains are only the fifteen stories: no illustrations or background material accompanies the text, which means that this massive volume is unlikely to even appeal to the only readers who might be able to enjoy it. Under some circumstances, I might even give this book two stars; I know, however, that I am not truly the target audience, so I am giving it an extra star to make up for that. Nonetheless, even if you feel that these might be good stories for children you know (and it is certainly G-rated stuff), you are better off buying these stories in a more kid-friendly format.
An Magnificient Compilation.......2007-02-14
I have been searching for a volume that contains all of the Oz stories, and this one is the "keeper". The editor did a great job with his type setting, making the stories more clear, and overall presentation of these classics. It's a great value at an honest price. I continue to recommend it to my friends and family.
I've never read anything so bad!.......2007-02-06
The stories in this book, and most everything I've been forced to read from this author, are extremely bad. They are the most shallow stories Ive ever read! There is no character depth, the landscapes are ill defined and unbelievable, the stories are so repetative there's no point in reading more than one (and why would you want to anyway!) and the story is so underdeveloped that the characters simply state what they are doing and thinking all the time! Besides that, the wonderful imagination I was lead to believe is displayed in these books is missing, as 9/10 of his characters are characters obviously based on the works of other great fiction/fantasy writers and myths/legends of various regions. The only things moderately inventive are the mechanical men, a fascination he takes too far in having at least one such character in all his books!
Average customer rating:
- Solid Introduction to Oz for the new generation
- A classic Oz story by a modern author
- Loved all except pages 25-100
- deeper, more traditional, but could be more coherent
- Dori and Em to the Rescue of Oz
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The Emerald Wand of Oz
Sherwood Smith
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0060296070
Release Date: 2005-06-14 |
Book Description
Meet Em and Dori, two modern-day descendants of Dorothy Gale (yes, THAT Dorothy), who follow in her famous footsteps to the magical land of Oz -- and adventure.
Dori loves reading all of the wonderful old Oz books, imagining what it would be like to meet the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man, and the Scarecrow. Her younger sister, Em, thinks that believing in Oz is for babies and that the magical snow globe Dori claims was left to them by Dorothy Gale is just an old souvenir. But when a tornado suddenly deposits the sisters in a place where unicorns hold beauty contests, Nome princes walk through solid rock, and magic takes care of daily chores, they realize they're not in Kansas anymore.
However, this is a new Oz, different in many ways from how it was when Dorothy traveled down the yellow brick road. Strange dark clouds hover over the Emerald City, Princess Ozma and her people are under an evil spell cast by Bastinda, the new Wicked Witch of the West, and Dorothy is nowhere to be found! It is up to Em and Dori to reverse the spell and save the people of Oz. But to do that they must get hold of the magic wand used to cast it -- a wand that belongs to the wicked witch!
Whether this is your first trip to Oz or you have visited many times before, prepare to be enchanted by Sherwood Smith's fresh new adventure!
Customer Reviews:
Solid Introduction to Oz for the new generation.......2006-06-24
This first of a projected series of Oz books serves as an excellent introduction to young readers who have probably seen the 1939 film, and possibly knew that L. Frank Baum wrote a book about Oz, but have no idea that other Oz books exist.
The opening begins in Oz, introducing two strong female characters, one familiar from the movie (Glinda) and one not (Ozma)--and then shifts to two sisters in Lawrence, Kansas, one of whom loves the Oz books, and the other who thinks fantasy is babyish. The girls' relationship is further strained by the imminent separation of their parents--a situation to which far too many children nowdays can relate. But that is kept firmly in the background as the girls are swept via tornado (familiar from both movie and first book) to Oz, and then have to adjust, each in her own way.
The pacing through the earlier sections is leisurely, introducing concepts slowly. Even third grade readers should be able to pick up clues about the world of Oz.
One the girls meet the mysterious Rik, the pacing accelerates, and includes more of the famous Oz characters from Baum's books. They must overcome the niece of the Wicked Witch at her castle, which is full of scary and funny boobytraps.
Accessible to younger readers, and appealing to older reluctant readers, this book is recommended for school libraries. Perhaps it will spark a renewal of interest in the original Oz books, which are sadly neglected in library choices these days.
A classic Oz story by a modern author.......2006-06-12
The Emerald Wand of Oz is an Oz story in the classic form created by L. Frank Baum over 100 years ago. Yet it has a modern flavor that may make it acceptable to a young audience.
It has a seal on the front cover proclaiming that Smith has an Official License to be Royal Historian of Oz that comes from The L. Frank Baum Family Trust. Before the Baum Oz books came into the public domain this was very important because the family trust controlled the use and depiction of the characters created by Baum. Lately this has been less relevant, and many authors have taken their hand to writing non-official Oz books with varying degrees of success.
In this book two sisters from Lawrence Kansas who believe they are related to Dorothy Gale get transported to Oz by a tornado. They get adopted into a community of children who groom a herd of wild unicorns, and pick up a strange friend who, like them, wants to escape from the possessive and vain unicorns. Their goal is to find Glinda and ask to be returned home to Kansas. Yet, as in so many Oz stories, there is a threat to the fairy land of Oz . This time it is the neice of the Wicked Witch of the West, who has taken up residence in her aunt's old castle, and has cast a spell on the fairy ruler Ozma, the good witch Glinda, and the Wizard. As in the classic Oz stories, a group of Ozzy characters who seem silly and helpless join together to defeat the villain and restore order. Once things are returned to normal, there is a banquet in the Emerald City, and the children are returned to their normal life much more mature and aware of the importance of group action and compassion.
This is planned to be the first of a three volume series by Smith, and so there are parts of the plot that do not get resolved. This gives the plot a loose feeling that Baum would never have tolerated. Sadly, Byron Preiss who was funding this project tragically died last July, and his publishing company declared bankrupcy this February. So the future of the project is deeply in question. Hopefully, someone will pick it up and see it to completion. Smith feels that the other two books are even better than this one, and it would be a shame if they never see print.
Loved all except pages 25-100.......2006-04-06
I've been an Oz fan for almost fifty years, and I found this book to be pretty close to Baum's spirit--except for those 75 pages, which went on and on and on and on about some unicorns who reminded me of the worst sappy unicorn stories of the 1980s. I suppose those scenes were put in to appeal to little girls, but as an old lady I found them tedious. Page after page of currying the unicorns, combing their manes and tails, decorating them with flowers, etc. Ugh. I know the author meant it to be tedious, but five pages would have been plenty.
I loved the illustrations, especially the cover with its art deco style. And I loved the gekko guards! Laugh-out-loud funny. The traditional characters like Scraps and Bungle seemed genuine (and they've been old friends of mine all my life). Also loved the little aha moments that only Oz fans would get, for example when Dori looks around and realizes the flowers are all shades of red, and it begins to dawn on her where she is, or when she figures out what Rik is scared of and the reader realizes what he must be.
Only the fact that I know this is the first book of a series keeps me from being more annoyed at the dangling loose ends. I especially wanted to know if those creepy children with the unicorns were like that because of the wand, or if they were inherently creepy, or did it have something to do with the cloud? Knowing that would color my whole perception of Smith's version of Oz. Anyway, I'll look forward to the next book and see if my questions get answered.
deeper, more traditional, but could be more coherent.......2005-09-10
email: jasonc65@comcast.net
Lately, there have been new Oz books exploring darker and more adult themes, especially "Wicked". Now, this book is more along the lines of the traditional Oz books, with fewer introtructions to weird characters, and a more strongly felt sense that Oz could be in real danger. A new Wicked Witch is introduced, one who is not so old and ugly, but is just as allergic to water. She has to be defeated by two new characters from the real world, who are said to be related to Dorothy.
I liked how the the author uses the theme of fantasy as metaphor for the imagination, a motif explored by several traditional fantasy writers. Especially given the name of the unbelieving aunt, it seems as if the author has read Narnia, and so Narnia fans will suspect that this is another Susan story. Since the elder of the two sisters thinks like her aunt and disbelieves, she has to learn to appreciate the value of the imagination. In the beginning, she closes her mind to the evidence that the animals can really talk, and therefore hears only animal noises. By the end, she has grown to care as much about Oz as her younger sister.
One of the problems that plagued most of the traditional Oz was the lack of a coherent imaginary world whose facts were consistently explained, an area in which the British authors tend to accel, and in which the Oz authors are usually lacking. Unfortunately, the author does not do any better than the first two Oz books. Like Baum, she will leave the reader wondering how a witch with very little power compared to Glinda and the Wizard could conceive a treacherous plot and so easily pull it off. One would think that when an ambitious young teenage girl with a green wand approaches the throne, Ozma would suspect something. And then when she next attacks Glinda's palace, one would expect her to put up her defenses. Instead, with scant explanation of what has gone on before, the reader is left amused with an Oz in which not only its inhabitants have lost their wits, but so have their leaders. But perhaps after having experienced Katrina and being reminded that even in the real world, leaders are not always their sharpest, we can all relate.
Dori and Em to the Rescue of Oz.......2005-09-07
I couldn't wait to get this new 'Story of Oz' book and I had Angus & Robertson get a copy so that I wouldn't have to wait too long to get it (since Oz is an American-written story and I'm Australian). I loved reading this book, and I was very eager to find out what happened in this book and see more of William Stout's illustrations . . . here's how the story goes (don't worry, not everything that happens in the story is written in my synopsis/review. A lot more happens in the book).
Glinda the Good and Ozma are worried about Dorothy, who has been gone for quite for a while. Meanwhile, Em starts to make another fight with Dori, when a storm begins to take form, and Dori, looking at a snow-globe, witnesses Princess Ozma having vistors, one of which does something to her and the Cowardly Lion. Em interrupts Dori's watching, and a tornado appears. The girls try to join their mother, but in all the dangerous excitement, they instead get caught up in the wind and find themselves in a peaceful place, with red surroundings. Dori joyfully realizes that they are in Oz, while Em refuses to believe what's happening, which blinds her, stopping her from seeing the true beauty and magic of Oz. They see Unicorns, and meet some children who do beauty contests with the Unicorns, which the girls join in doing. Later, however, when Em meets a mermaid named Larpa, she realizes that they really are in Oz. The two girls go looking around, and after they see a dark cloud (with strange creatures) in the sky - which occassionally appears throughout the story - they meet a boy named Rik, who joins them in their journey to Glinda's Palace. But when they get there, Glinda doesn't act like her usual self. Later, while staying in her palace, Dori and Em try to figure out what's wrong with Oz, when suddenly Dori and Rik are captured by the Winged Monkeys, leaving Em alone with the Patchwork Girl. Dori and Rik are taken to the giant-lizard guarded castle of Bastinda, niece of the Wicked Witch of the West, who vows revenge against Dorothy. The Scarecrow, Jack Pumpkinhead and Bungle the Glass Cat appear and agree to help with the rescue. Rik manages to escape and find Bastinda, who discovers something . . . shocking. A trick was played on her! Rik and Dori then make their escape from their tower prison, setting off and avoiding booby-traps throughout the castle, while the others make their way into the castle. Em gains the Golden Cap and asks for the Winged Monkeys to help. Soon, they all meet up and are cornered by Bastinda, until she gets defeated (*BUT* - Don't think that just because she's the Witch of the West's niece that she can be melted by water). They return to the Emearld City, where they restore Ozma to normal. At the celebration, Dori and Em meet many famous Oz characters. Next morning, Em, Dori, Ozma and Glinda talk to eachother about certain matters before seeing another dark cloud over the palace, which the Royal Rulers say they will investigate. The sisters are then returned home to their parents and (awful) Aunt Susan - who was responsible for Em's earlier behavoiur - even if their adventure in Oz can't be easily believed. But in keeping the snow-globe, the girls hope that maybe someday not only will their dad come back to live them, but also they will make their return to Oz . . .
This was a great book, sometimes slow and a bit long, but greatly enjoyable. 32 Chapters and 262 pages of reading, with excitement, danger and even funny happenings. There are pictures by William Stout, but unfortunately not a lot. Apart from the cover which has Ozma, Scarecrow and the Glass Cat, William only draws 10 pictures which are Dori, Em, Glory the Unicorn, Larpa the Mermaid, a dragon in a cloud, Scraps the Patchwork Girl, Jack Pumpkinhead and the Glass Cat, Bastinda, the Leader of the Winged Monkeys and Princess Ozma and he should've drawn a lot more. Of course, there are a few little mistakes: at the end of the original 'Wonderful Wizard' story, Glinda said that she would give the Golden Cap to the Monkey King after Dorothy and her friends returned to their homes, so how could Bastinda have regained their three services? Also, lunch-pail trees are said to exist in Oz, when actually they originated in the Kingdom of Ev in the 'Ozma of Oz' book. I like how in this book Em represents the people who know only Oz by MGM, and Dori represents the people who know and love Oz by the original books. William even extends this idea by drawing her surrounded by other books like 'Queen Zixi of Ix' and 'Mother Goose in Prose' by Baum and 'Grimms' Fairy Tales'. His illustration of Bastinda is good, but I definitely think that he should've drawn more of her gown. We also meet Rikiko, the Nome King's son. If William Stout did do other pictures, they are unfortuantely not included in here. One of the best things about this book is how Sherwood includes a secret magic thing, made by Glinda, which takes place during Dorothy's visits to and returns from Oz in L. Frank Baum's first few books. Even though I have read about visiting Glinda's palace and the Emerald Throne Room in earlier books, this book had me imagine those places in an entirely new design. And there are a few new magical items that appear ion this adventure, apart from just the Golden Cap and the Snow-Globe.
If Sherwood Smith really is going to write more Oz Stories, then I look forward to getting them as well, and hopefully Em and Dori will have more adventures in Oz.
Book Description
Join the living marionette Pocotristi Sostenuto—better known as Poco—on his desperate search for the missing Rundelstone of Oz.
Poco and his fellow Troupadours travel through remote corners of the magical Land of Oz, presenting plays to entertain the inhabitants. But after a triumphant performance in Whitheraway Castle, Poco suddenly finds himself alone and thrust into a new line of work—as major-domo to Slyddwyn the Whitherd.
Soon, unanswered questions trouble Poco. Who is the mysterious black-bearded stranger repeatedly donning disguises to gain entrance to the castle? What scheme is Slyddwyn the Whitherd planning? And where did Poco's fellow players really go?
To get answers, Poco must find the mysterious Rundelstone—and he better find it fast, or else the sun will never rise again on the hidden Oz kingdom of Fyordi-Zik.
At first, Poco's only ally is a Gillikin boy named Rolly. But even when Ozma, Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion, and the Wizard of Oz join Poco, can anyone hope to untangle the devious designs of Slyddwyn?
The Rundelstone of Oz bursts with magic and surprises right up to its final page.
Customer Reviews:
A "must" for Oz fans.......2001-11-07
In The Rundelstone Of Oz, author Eloise McGraw demonstrates the kind of writing skills that have marked her as a three time Newbery honoree. The latest entry into the legendary fantasy world of Oz first created by L. Frank Baum, The Rundelstone Of Oz is a welcome addition that will become as classic an entertainment as any in the Oz series. Superbly illustrated by Eric Shanower in the "Oz Tradition", The Rundelstone Of Oz is a "must" for Oz fans, as well as a highly recommended acquisition for school and community library collections.
Book Description
The last in the trilogy of Forgotten Realms novels from Thomas M. Reid. This is the concluding novel in a trilogy exploring the political intrigue of a mercenary society in the Forgotten Realms world. Author Thomas M. Reid has written the entire trilogy, which takes place in an area of the world little before explored in novels.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Series as a whole.......2007-03-31
Great Series! As Forgotten Realms books go this series was a great read. It's nice to see a series cover a different area of the Realms other than the more popular "conflicted" areas. The characters were interesting and the plot and story carried it well enough that the books were a fairly easy read.
A good conclusion.......2007-02-21
The Emerald Scepter" is the final book of the "Scions of Arrabar" trilogy, set in Chondath. The previous two books had a fantastic and unpredictable plot, supported by a large number of more or less average characters, speaking in terms of development, of course.
This novel picks off just where the last one ended. Reid throws even more twists into the story, keeping the high standard he set in previous installments. The last third-or-so of the book deals with tying loose ends and brings a satisfying end to the whole story.
Reid throws an emphasis on development of his protagonists, maybe something he should've done earlier. Two main characters, Vambran and his sister Emriana, get "fleshed out" only in the third installment of the series. Better ever than never, I guess. Same can be told of the villain, Junce Roundface.
Otherwise, Reid keeps the fast pace we got used to in previous books, combat scenes are compact and short, as are the descriptions of places and characters.
"The Scions of Arrabar" is a good trilogy, truly highlighted by the masterfully woven plot. I give it four stars, the same I give to this book, although the second book was the best of the lot in my opinion.
Check it out.
Yet another great story by Reid.......2006-08-10
I thoroughly enjoyed the conclusion to the Scions Trilogy. Like his other books, Reid captures the interest of the reader using intrigue, and an ingenious storyline full of deception and plot twists without relying upon spetacular, but short-lived displays of power (Ed Greenwood?). Reid holds our attention to the end.
Ended well.......2006-03-18
This, the third book in the Scions of Arrabar, was a good book to enjoy on a long flight from Beijing. The characters were well done, but not complete. Maybe it was just me. oVer all, liked it and would recommend it.
Good fantasy.
If you like books like this one, might I suggest another I've recently come across. The Unsuspecting Mage by Brian S. Pratt. It's another fantasy adventure sure to please. I highly recommend it.
Reid finishes well.......2006-02-01
The Emerald Scepter is the final book in the Scions of Arrabar Trilogy, but you wouldn't be able to tell from reading it! It seems to me that Trilogys and many of the standalones just won't let you walk away with a solid ending ( which is fine, but sometimes I wish for one )
I enjoyed the story as it 'obviously' carried over from book two, but had to check back ( in both books as I read them ) to understand what was going on. I never really 'felt' for many of the characters ( Especially not the main, Vambrin ) except for Emriana and Arbeendk ( the 'monkey' looking man on the front of The Emerald Scepter ). Many times I felt the story was rushed and choppy, but all did come to a well balanced ending that tied up the loose ends ( though adding new ones ).
As I stated in my review of The Ruby Guardian a general lover of fantasy can enjoy these books, but it is not the 'cream of the crop'.
Average customer rating:
- Not Free SF Reader
- Very Irish & Very Fanciful
- A great group of stories
- Ah, Irish Magic!
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Emerald Magic: Great Tales of Irish Fantasy
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Anthologies | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
De Lint, Charles | ( D ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Duane, Diane | ( D ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Lee, Tanith | ( L ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Lindskold, Jane | ( L ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Saberhagen, Fred | ( S ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Yolen, Jane | ( Y ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Bradbury, Ray | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Hardcover | Bradbury, Ray | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Anthologies | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Epic | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Historical | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Magic & Wizards | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0765305046 |
Book Description
From New York Times bestselling author Andrew M. Greeley, a collection of all new Irish tales to treasure and enjoy hough the Emerald Isle is no stranger to tales of the fantastic (everything from the Hound Cuchlain to Darby O'Gill and his leprechaun friends), most of the fantasy works dealing with Ireland have limited themselves to either ancient history/Celtic legends and lore, sentimental tales of wee folk, or ghostly tales of hauntings in old desterted castles. Needless to say, there is more to the history and culture of Ireland than the sort of entertainment fare popularized each year around March 17th. Emerald Magic presents the entire cavalcade of Eire from its earliest beginnings right up to the current climate that has begotten such popular phenomenons as the rock band U2 and the novels of Roddy Doyle as the backdrop for a collection of all new stories of the fantastic. Ideal for any fan of Irish books and perfectly timed for the Saint Patrick's Day season, Emerald Magic will be a collection to be treasured and enjoyed. Featuring works by such bestselling authors as: Ray BradburyJacqueline Carey Tanith LeeCecilia Dart-Thorton Peter TremayneMorgan Llywelyn Fred SaberhagenL.E. Modesitt Charles de LintJudith Tarr Jane LindskoldElizabeth Haydon Andrew M. GreeleyJane Yolen Adam StempleDiane Duane
Customer Reviews:
Not Free SF Reader.......2007-10-07
This was better than I expected, actually. Greeley divides the book into two parts, actual stories involving the fairdinkum mythological types such as leprechauns, sidhe, and other such supernatural beings, and 'literary fantasies' in the latter, where you get space swan pilots and a time stranded Fianna, etc. The first half is where the good stuff is generally, but Tremayne's in the latter is good, although a pretty standard vampire storie, no faerie to be seen.
Emerald Magic : Herself - Diane Duane
Emerald Magic : Speir-Bhan - Tanith Lee
Emerald Magic : Troubles - Jane Yolen and Adam Stemple
Emerald Magic : The Hermit and the Sidhe - Judith Tarr
Emerald Magic : The Merrow - Elizabeth Haydon
Emerald Magic : The Butter Spirit's Tithe [Newford] - Charles de Lint
Emerald Magic : Banshee - Ray Bradbury
Emerald Magic : Peace in Heaven? - Andrew M. Greeley
Emerald Magic : The Lady in Grey - Jane Lindskold
Emerald Magic : A Drop of Something Special in the Blood - Fred Saberhagen
Emerald Magic : For the Blood Is the Life - Peter Tremayne
Emerald Magic : Long the Clouds Are Over Me Tonight - Cecilia Dart-Thornton
Emerald Magic : The Swan Pilot - L. E. Modesitt
Emerald Magic : The Isle of Women - Jacqueline Carey
Emerald Magic : The Cat with No Name - Morgan Llywelyn
Celtic tiger expansion requires Joyceian swansong solution.
4 out of 5
Faerie werefox hero longevity deal.
4 out of 5
Paddy pub brawl plan.
3 out of 5
Pro-magic loner choice.
2.5 out of 5
Spudless, merwoman remains.
3 out of 5
Grey Man relief band.
3.5 out of 5
Noisy dead woman waits for the obnoxious.
4 out of 5
Seraph Shee.
3 out of 5
In the way of us.
2.5 out of 5
I'm a syphilitic sucker for Lucy.
3 out of 5
Showbiz suckers.
4 out of 5
Oisin the legends, really.
3 out of 5
Irish eyes are flying.
3.5 out of 5
Beardless men easier to reel in.
3.5 out of 5
Moggy warning.
3 out of 5
Very Irish & Very Fanciful.......2004-07-16
I suggest pausing between stories to clear the mind. All the writers bring their own style, but also that Irish lyrical writing. To really savor each one, you need to avoid rushing straight through.
Not being well-grounded in all the creatures of Irish folklore, some of the scarier stories surprised me. These are not your Lucky Charm leprechauns.
I'd also recommend Norah Roberts'A Little Magic which embraces Irish fantasies with a romantic flair.
A great group of stories.......2004-02-19
This wonderful book is a collection of some fifteen stories of Irish magic. The authors of the stories are all masters of the writing profession - Tanith Lee, Ray Bradbury, Fred Saberhagen, Morgan Llywelyn, and others. The book is arranged into two groups: The Little People, and Literary Fantastics, but don't imagine that it is quite that clear. The stories all range in setting from the ancient past to the very modern, and each is a masterpiece, ranging from the sad to the heartwarming to the hilarious.
As you might expect with an anthology, I found some of the stories to be better than others. I loved Cecilia Dart-Thornton and Jacqueline Carey's stories of ancient times (I always loved the old Irish heroic stories), and also Fred Saberhagen horror story. Those are my three favorites, but my hat is off to Peter Tremayne's story, which juxtaposes the horrors of yesterday with those of today. (I wish I could tell you about it, but that would be spoiling things!)
Yep, this is a great group of stories. If you like Irish stories, then you absolutely most get this book. And even if it's just that you like good modern stories of the fantastic, you will love this book. I highly recommend it!
Ah, Irish Magic!.......2004-02-05
What a lovely book! I gave it as a gift to myself, because Father Greeley is one of my guilty pleasures. I have always been a huge fan of the work of Charles De Lint, and the Butter Spirit's tithe was a great read, very fun. Likewise Elizabeth Haydon, whose prose has always reminded me a little bit of William Butler Yeats, infuses her charming take with the poetry only found in Irish blood. Judith Tarr, an author I had not read before, also impressed me favorably.
There is not a truly bad story in here, though I thought the Carey and Yolen tales could have been a bit better told. But all in all, this is a wonderful collection for anyone who enjoys great storytelling, a great variety of interpretation, and magic.
Customer Reviews:
for parents........2002-04-09
i read these books when i was in fourth grade. they were my absoulute favorites because the had the girls as the heroes in a world full of magic. these books are great for young readers because the plots aren't to complicated but are advanced enough that they won't feel that it's too little kid.it does have a few complicated words so it will help with reading skills.
Adventurous and Exciting!.......1999-10-18
I loved Princess Emily's friend, Arabell, because she reminds me of my imaginary friend. I recommend this book because it is full of adventure and excitement. I liked when Arabell cured Sweet William. I read this book in one evening.
This is a great book!.......1999-10-01
This is a wonderful book.I like to read books in the Jewel Kingdom series,this book is about the brave princess Emily and her new fairy friend, princess Arabell.My best friend loves Jewel Kingdom books as well,in fact she is mad about them.I sugest you read The Ruby princess sees a ghost, its even better.
An interesting, wonderful, book, well worth looking at........1999-01-31
It shows what friendship is all about
The jewel princesses are great !.......1998-11-23
I really like the jewel kingdom books. My most favorite jewel princess is emily the emerald princess. I'm almost 11 and I know these are beginner books but I still like there adventures and there animal friends.
Customer Reviews:
Entertaining Stories for Adults and Children.......2003-06-01
Lyman Frank Baum (1856-1919) is best known today as the author of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," a children's story written in 1900. But following the success of that book, Baum wrote thirteen other Oz stories before his death from a stroke in 1919. Moreover, Baum wrote dozens of other children's tales, plays, and general stories. He was extraordinarily prolific, churning out five books in the year 1907 alone. In addition to this immense body of work, Baum worked as a journalist, a printer, a chicken breeder, an actor, a theater manager, an oil salesman, a playwright, and many other equally esoteric occupations. Despite this litany of accomplishments, it is that one little story about a Kansas girl and her dog that people remember, and even that is due to the 1939 film adaptation with Judy Garland as Dorothy. This Penguin Classics volume compiles three of Baum's Oz stories, "The Wizard of Oz," "The Emerald City of Oz," and "Glinda of Oz." With a dandy introduction by Jack Zipes, a bibliography of pertinent literature about Baum, and explanatory endnotes, this is an excellent introduction to a marvelous trio of stories written by an enormously talented individual.
The introduction outlines the highpoints of Baum's life as well as academic analyses on his Oz stories. According to Zipes, these stories reflect personal aspects of the author's life as well as social aspects of American society. Zipes's own analysis is that Oz represents a matriarchal utopia based on socialist principles. In Oz, women rule as witches and princesses while magic and good deeds serve the denizens without relying on capitalistic tendencies of competition and money. The introduction also refers to academics that saw "The Wizard of Oz" as a thinly veiled allegory concerning the Populist movement of the late 19th century, which was the reason I decided to read the stories. Regardless of academic analysis or cultural insights, these stories turned out to be a fascinating and entertaining read, full of puns, irony, and wacky creatures. I had fun reading these stories.
The first story in the collection, "The Wizard of Oz," should be instantly recognizable to most people. It differs considerably from the film version, however. Dorothy and Toto do meet the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion just as they do in the movie, but there are more adventures in the book version. There are differences too: in the story, the winged monkeys only obey the wicked witch because she can summon them with a magic cap. The witch also holds Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion in bondage for a period of time. I understand why the movie made several changes in the tale, but reading the story is as much if not more fun than seeing the film.
"The Emerald City of Oz," published in 1910, recounts several more adventures of Dorothy in the Land of Oz. Baum used this story to expand this mysterious realm by having Dorothy bring Uncle Henry and Aunt Em to live in Oz permanently after the bank forecloses on the Kansas farm. Young Dorothy then acts as a tour guide for her family, setting out on an exploration of unknown regions of Oz. The author throws in some great puns in this installment, little jokes that surprisingly made me laugh out loud. For example, Dorothy's adventure in Utensia (where she stands trial in a dwelling full of animated cutlery, pots and pans, and utensils), her trip to Bunbury (a town inhabited by living pastries, buns, breads, and rolls), and her meeting with the Fuddles (people who literally fall to pieces when surprised by outsiders; Dorothy and her companions have to put them back together like a puzzle) are amusing to read. The best scene in the story has to be the Flutterbudgets, a town full of people who worry incessantly about nonexistent dangers. All of these explorations take place against the backdrop of an invasion of Oz by the evil Nome King and his evil allies the Growleywogs, the Whimsies, and the Phanfasms. This Oz story is quite amusing and tremendously clever.
"Glinda of Oz," released to the public in 1920 a year after Baum's death reunites nearly every character from the other Oz stories. Dorothy, now a princess of Oz, sets out with her friend and monarch Ozma to stop a war between the Flatheads and the Skeezers. When Dorothy and Ozma get trapped in the fighting, Glinda the Sorceress leads a ragtag group of characters to rescue the two. Along for the trip are the Wizard of Oz, who returned to Oz after the first book and is learning magic, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the funniest character, Button Bright, a boy whose sole attribute is his ability to constantly get lost. Glinda and company step into the situation and bring it to a resolution. Arguably the most interesting theme in "Glinda of Oz" is the limitations Baum places on the uses of magic in Oz. There are different types of magic and no one character (The Wizard, Glinda, Ozma) has a grasp on infinite stores of magic. Moreover, magic can only be used to assist people, not to harm them. Ozma and Glinda punish anyone who uses magic as a weapon.
These are great stories whether you pay attention to the social and cultural subtexts or not. Fans of the MGM extravaganza will find much here to expand on their knowledge of Dorothy, Tin Man, Scarecrow, Lion, and Glinda. Moreover, the addition of scads of other characters adds a richness and depth to the fantasy world of Oz beyond the scope of the film. I enjoyed these three stories so much I am considering reading a few of the other Oz stories, and hopefully you will too.
L. Frank Baum makes magic come alive.......2001-11-29
These stories are sheer genuis and a blessed light in our sometimes dark world. I read them to my children, ages 4 and 6, and we all are transported to a place over the rainbow, where things somehow turn out wonderfully happy. In the Emerald City and Glinda, we enjoyed hearing more adventures of Dorothy's friends. Ozma is indeed a great heroine for her people and for my two bright-eyed children. I could just picture where each land was that Dorothy visited with her aunt and uncle in the Emerald City book. And the eccentric rules each place had were enchanting.
A Wonderful Selecttion from a Wonderful World.......2001-06-29
Penguin Twentieth-Century Classics presents a nice selection of L. Frank Baum's Oz books with The Wizard of Oz, The Emerald City of Oz, and Glinda of Oz. It is a nice way to visit Oz beginning with the excellent essay, notes and bibliography by Jack Zipes to set the reader on the right foot along the Yellow Brick Road. After that the stories themselves will delight the reader in their own way with the versatile imagination of the author and will hopefully lead the unintiated to read more about Oz and to the more seasoned explorers it will bring back the joy felt when first going to this wonderful, wonderful land. A nice package.
Great.......2000-06-12
Anything by L. Frank Baum is going to be a good book for a person of any age to read. Oz is a fairy land that is full of imagination for any girl or boy. This is one of the best Oz books I've seen.
Customer Reviews:
fast.......2007-05-17
this got here in record time. Thank you my daughter could not wait to get them.
"Emily didn't mean to hurt anyone.".......2002-04-27
Emily, the Emerald Princess of Greenwood, is a mischievous prankster, playing tricks on everyone in her kingdom. However, when Staghorn, the palace gardener, gets caught in a snare while pruning in the Twisted Vines, everyone blames Emily; yet she wasn't the one responsible for hurting Staghorn. So, with the help of her unicorn friend Arden and her size-altering pan flute, Emily sets out to discover who did it, as well as find a way to clear her name.
"The Emerald Princess Plays a Trick" is the third book in The Jewel Kingdom series. Other Emerald Princess books: "The Emerald Princess Finds a Fairy" (#7) and "The Emerald Princess Follows a Unicorn" (#11). This is a great series for 6 to 9-year-old girls who like fantasy stories involving princesses, fairies, dwarves, unicorns, and other mythical creatures. Plus there are some great illustrations by Neal McPheeters.
great book........2002-03-21
this book is great and tells what will happen if you play too many tricks.
a great book.......1999-07-25
I have read alot of the jewel kingdom books and this is one of my favorites. I suggest you read the Emerald Princess follows a Unicorn and the Emerald Pricess finds a Fairy and all the other Jewel Kingdom books! I can hardly wait for the movie!
I really like this book!.......1998-12-02
I really Like this book! I like the part when Emily scares Roxanne.It is really good . I am getting another Emerald Princess Book. I have this one.
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