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Oz #8
Tik-Tok of Oz
If you thought the Oz story begins and ends with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, you're in for a pleasant surprise. L. Frank Baum penned an entire series dealing with this fantastical—and sometimes terrifying—wonderland. Tik-Tok of Oz, the eighth book in the original series, follows the adventures of a young girl from Oklahoma who lands in Oz via a shipwreck and meets up with a strange character called The Shaggy Man.
ebook
First published January 1, 1914
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About the author
L. Frank Baum
3,278 books2,787 followersalso wrote under the names:
* Edith van Dyne,
* Floyd Akers,
* Schuyler Staunton,
* John Estes Cooke,
* Suzanne Metcalf,
* Laura Bancroft,
* Louis F. Baum,
* Captain Hugh Fitzgerald
Lyman Frank Baum was an American author best known for his children's fantasy books, particularly The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, part of a series. In addition to the 14 Oz books, Baum penned 41 other novels (not including four lost, unpublished novels), 83 short stories, over 200 poems, and at least 42 scripts. He made numerous attempts to bring his works to the stage and screen; the 1939 adaptation of the first Oz book became a landmark of 20th-century cinema.
Born and raised in Chittenango, New York, Baum moved west after an unsuccessful stint as a theater producer and playwright. He and his wife opened a store in South Dakota and he edited and published a newspaper. They then moved to Chicago, where he worked as a newspaper reporter and published children's literature, coming out with the first Oz book in 1900. While continuing his writing, among his final projects he sought to establish a film studio focused on children's films in Los Angeles, California.
His works anticipated such later commonplaces as television, augmented reality, laptop computers (The Master Key), wireless telephones (Tik-Tok of Oz), women in high-risk and action-heavy occupations (Mary Louise in the Country), and the ubiquity of advertising on clothing (Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work).
* Edith van Dyne,
* Floyd Akers,
* Schuyler Staunton,
* John Estes Cooke,
* Suzanne Metcalf,
* Laura Bancroft,
* Louis F. Baum,
* Captain Hugh Fitzgerald
Lyman Frank Baum was an American author best known for his children's fantasy books, particularly The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, part of a series. In addition to the 14 Oz books, Baum penned 41 other novels (not including four lost, unpublished novels), 83 short stories, over 200 poems, and at least 42 scripts. He made numerous attempts to bring his works to the stage and screen; the 1939 adaptation of the first Oz book became a landmark of 20th-century cinema.
Born and raised in Chittenango, New York, Baum moved west after an unsuccessful stint as a theater producer and playwright. He and his wife opened a store in South Dakota and he edited and published a newspaper. They then moved to Chicago, where he worked as a newspaper reporter and published children's literature, coming out with the first Oz book in 1900. While continuing his writing, among his final projects he sought to establish a film studio focused on children's films in Los Angeles, California.
His works anticipated such later commonplaces as television, augmented reality, laptop computers (The Master Key), wireless telephones (Tik-Tok of Oz), women in high-risk and action-heavy occupations (Mary Louise in the Country), and the ubiquity of advertising on clothing (Aunt Jane's Nieces at Work).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 458 reviews
August 19, 2011
Mr. Baum, Mr. Baum, Mr. Baum. Really?? Don't you remember that Shaggy and Polychrome met each other and traveled together three books ago? Or that the Love Magnet doesn't need to be seen to work? And why on earth did you change the Nome King's name from Roquat to Ruggedo? Even my 9-year-old remembered that Ozma had told him his name after he drank from the Waters of Oblivion before she sent him back home through the tunnel. If Ozma has the Nome King's Magic Belt, she doesn't need the Wizard to transport people anywhere - she can do it herself. And your mental map of Oz is completely screwed up. Glinda was in the *south*, not the north.
A little consistency! Is that too much to ask?!
More so than the others, this book seemed to be a rehash and thrown-together bit of a bunch of stories. (For one example, Dorothy and Billina shipwrecked back in book #3, just like Betsy and Hank were in this one.) I liked the puns (Queen Ann Soforth) and the alliteration in every chapter title ("Tik-Tok Tackles a Tough Task"), but, I'm afraid, little else.
For more book reviews, come visit my blog, Build Enough Bookshelves.
A little consistency! Is that too much to ask?!
More so than the others, this book seemed to be a rehash and thrown-together bit of a bunch of stories. (For one example, Dorothy and Billina shipwrecked back in book #3, just like Betsy and Hank were in this one.) I liked the puns (Queen Ann Soforth) and the alliteration in every chapter title ("Tik-Tok Tackles a Tough Task"), but, I'm afraid, little else.
For more book reviews, come visit my blog, Build Enough Bookshelves.
November 20, 2018
Everything we've come to expect from an Oz book, this time with added dragons! (I love me some dragons, I do...)
Also, we finally get some answers as to why Toto seems to be the only animal in Oz who can't talk! About time...
Also, we finally get some answers as to why Toto seems to be the only animal in Oz who can't talk! About time...
June 16, 2016
Holy shit Toto talked! Review to come (maybe)
August 17, 2012
I don't know, but as I read this, I wondered whether this book was originally a non Oz book that was reworked to be fit into the Oz series. There are some glaring inconsistencies--for instance, Polychrome and the Shaggy Man not only met in Road to Oz but spent most of the book in each other's company, yet neither seems to know the other in this book, the Love Magnet works differently than in Road to Oz, and for a land that's been cut off, it's remarkably easy for the inhabitants of Oz to get out to where ever the the bulk of the story takes place. And the Nome King remembers everything about his encounters with Oz but can't remember his real name. He even remembers Polychrome, although he doesn't remember that he's never met her. What I mostly noticed is that the tone of this book seems very different than other Oz books. I still like it, it just seemed a bit "one of these things is not like the other"-ish.
Update: I did some research and found that Tik-Tok of Oz is based on a play called The Tik-Tok Man of Oz. Which, I guess, explains some of the continuity errors, the Shaggy Man breaking out into song in the middle of the book, and why the book at times seems like it was written by somebody else.
Update: I did some research and found that Tik-Tok of Oz is based on a play called The Tik-Tok Man of Oz. Which, I guess, explains some of the continuity errors, the Shaggy Man breaking out into song in the middle of the book, and why the book at times seems like it was written by somebody else.
February 8, 2018
I so enjoy the knowledge of the fact that Dorothy sends these stories of Oz to America via wireless telegraph. Plus, I love the fact that Baum just invented the idea of cellphones decades before any such thing was on the market. Oh, and I relish in knowing that there's an actual tree that grows books – in the land of Oz, obviously, not here.
Sadly, I didn't get to see too much of Dorothy (or Toto, for that matter). And on another note, I'm really getting tired of the Shaggy Man's love magnet.
HOWEVER, THE STORY IS COMPLETELY REDEEMED... When Toto (in the short moment that he makes an appearance) does something so unexpected, something I've wanted for SO LONG... IT HAPPENS!!!!! And so this title gets 5 stars from me – because of the wonderful and blissful event.
Sadly, I didn't get to see too much of Dorothy (or Toto, for that matter). And on another note, I'm really getting tired of the Shaggy Man's love magnet.
HOWEVER, THE STORY IS COMPLETELY REDEEMED... When Toto (in the short moment that he makes an appearance) does something so unexpected, something I've wanted for SO LONG... IT HAPPENS!!!!! And so this title gets 5 stars from me – because of the wonderful and blissful event.
June 21, 2024
Queen Ann Soforth of Oogaboo, a remote corner of the Land of Oz, sets out with her army of eighteen to conquer the world in this eighth Oz novel from L. Frank Baum. Quickly transported by Glinda the Good to the barren dominions of the Nome King, the company eventually meets up with some other travelers, in the form of shipwrecked Oklahoma girl Betsy Bobbin and Hank the mule, Ozga the dispossessed Rose Princess, the Shaggy Man, and Polychrome, the Rainbow's Daughter. Ann and her army fall in with the Shaggy Man's quest to rescue his long lost brother from the Nome King, and they are soon joined by the mechanical copper man Tik-Tok, whom they rescue from a well. After some adventures in a fairy-land on the other side of the world, courtesy of the Hollow Tube, they eventually do manage to make their way to the Nome King's underground stronghold where, with the help of Quox the dragon, they defeat their enemy...
As many other online reviewers have noted, Baum recycles any number of characters and plot-lines in Tik-Tok of Oz, which, despite its title, is more the story of a diverse ensemble of characters, than of one alone. The girl-led army has been seen before in Oziana, in the form of General Jinjur's Army of Revolt, in The Marvelous Land of Oz . The Shaggy Man first appeared in The Road to Oz , as did Polychrome, but their reappearance is not unusual, given Baum's fondness for bringing back his characters. Betsy Bobbin and Hank, on the other hand, are clearly inspired by Dorothy and Billina the yellow hen, who are likewise shipwrecked in Ozma of Oz , also discover Tik-Tok imprisoned and rescue him, and also become involved in an adventure opposing the terrible Nome King. That similarity of plot is not accidental, something discussed in the brief editor's note at the beginning of the edition I read. Apparently this tale began as a stage adaptation of Ozma of Oz , in which Baum was forced to change a number of the characters' names, because he had already signed away the stage rights to the real ones. Having created a slightly different adventure, with a few new characters thrown in, he then turned the stage play (The Tik-Tok Man of Oz) into an entirely new novel. Recycling indeed!
Despite its lack of originality with regard to the story-line and characters, I quite enjoyed Tik-Tok of Oz, no doubt owing to the fact that the book upon which it is based, Ozma of Oz , is my favorite of the entire series. Unsurprisingly, the tale here held together fairly well, and was engaging. As always, the artwork from John R. Neill was just enchanting! Recommended to Oz fans.
As many other online reviewers have noted, Baum recycles any number of characters and plot-lines in Tik-Tok of Oz, which, despite its title, is more the story of a diverse ensemble of characters, than of one alone. The girl-led army has been seen before in Oziana, in the form of General Jinjur's Army of Revolt, in The Marvelous Land of Oz . The Shaggy Man first appeared in The Road to Oz , as did Polychrome, but their reappearance is not unusual, given Baum's fondness for bringing back his characters. Betsy Bobbin and Hank, on the other hand, are clearly inspired by Dorothy and Billina the yellow hen, who are likewise shipwrecked in Ozma of Oz , also discover Tik-Tok imprisoned and rescue him, and also become involved in an adventure opposing the terrible Nome King. That similarity of plot is not accidental, something discussed in the brief editor's note at the beginning of the edition I read. Apparently this tale began as a stage adaptation of Ozma of Oz , in which Baum was forced to change a number of the characters' names, because he had already signed away the stage rights to the real ones. Having created a slightly different adventure, with a few new characters thrown in, he then turned the stage play (The Tik-Tok Man of Oz) into an entirely new novel. Recycling indeed!
Despite its lack of originality with regard to the story-line and characters, I quite enjoyed Tik-Tok of Oz, no doubt owing to the fact that the book upon which it is based, Ozma of Oz , is my favorite of the entire series. Unsurprisingly, the tale here held together fairly well, and was engaging. As always, the artwork from John R. Neill was just enchanting! Recommended to Oz fans.
June 8, 2011
Best part of this story, written in 1914, was when Ozma called the Shaggy Man on a "wireless telephone", a device invented by the Wizard that allowed them to converse with perfect ease without a wire connection. Yes, the Wizard invented cellphones. Crazy!!
December 17, 2017
Certainly the worst of the first eight Oz books, and I only don't include the ones thereafter because I haven't read them. Was it written by a disinterested ghostwriter? Where are the creativity and party dynamic? The first third of the book is a dull exercise in assembling the characters; you can almost see Baum (was it really you?!) checking them off a list. Many elements, from plot to characters, are lifeless rehashes.
I also remember loving Tik-Tok when he was first discovered and wound up, but there is little fun to him here in his titular book.
Tik-Tok of Oz is an all-around dustmagnet that does disservice to the series.
I also remember loving Tik-Tok when he was first discovered and wound up, but there is little fun to him here in his titular book.
Tik-Tok of Oz is an all-around dustmagnet that does disservice to the series.
October 27, 2007
Even roses can be misogynists.
January 13, 2016
This has been one of the biggest disappointments in the Oz series. The story is all over the place, Baum can't decide if the Nome King deserves redemption or not, and we have a character named "Ugly One."
There are two good things about this book. One, I finally figured out what it is that I don't like about Ozma. She's mean and she's a little dense. So, Ugly One is Shaggy Mans brother, and Shaggy has spent this never-ending book looking for him. Once Shaggy finds him, Ozma sends everyone back to where they belong, except for Shaggy, Ugly, Betsy, and Hank because 3 of the members aren't current residents of Oz and she can't let just anyone live in Oz. Except, she quickly decides to let Betsy live there so Dorothy can have a play mate and she can't separate Betsy and Hank. But she doesn't owe anything to Ugly. I mean, she says that. But she knows that Shaggy won't come back without him, but everyone in Oz loves Shaggy. Why is this an issue? You let the Wizard stay in Oz! So finally, after everyone says that they want Ugly to come live in Oz and Ozma agrees, she has the Wizard do the magic instead of just using the Magic Belt from the stupid Nome King. I just don't like her.
The other good thing in this book: Dorothy finally convinces Toto to speak. Every other animal in Oz can speak, so it didn't make sense that he couldn't. It was the fault of Dorothy not to make Toto talk sooner.
I will push through and finish the series, but I'm going to take a break. This book wore me out.
There are two good things about this book. One, I finally figured out what it is that I don't like about Ozma. She's mean and she's a little dense. So, Ugly One is Shaggy Mans brother, and Shaggy has spent this never-ending book looking for him. Once Shaggy finds him, Ozma sends everyone back to where they belong, except for Shaggy, Ugly, Betsy, and Hank because 3 of the members aren't current residents of Oz and she can't let just anyone live in Oz. Except, she quickly decides to let Betsy live there so Dorothy can have a play mate and she can't separate Betsy and Hank. But she doesn't owe anything to Ugly. I mean, she says that. But she knows that Shaggy won't come back without him, but everyone in Oz loves Shaggy. Why is this an issue? You let the Wizard stay in Oz! So finally, after everyone says that they want Ugly to come live in Oz and Ozma agrees, she has the Wizard do the magic instead of just using the Magic Belt from the stupid Nome King. I just don't like her.
The other good thing in this book: Dorothy finally convinces Toto to speak. Every other animal in Oz can speak, so it didn't make sense that he couldn't. It was the fault of Dorothy not to make Toto talk sooner.
I will push through and finish the series, but I'm going to take a break. This book wore me out.
September 2, 2023
There are still some amusing bits in this eighth Oz epic, but the plot is made from 90% recycled materials and there are WAY too many characters for any of them to shine properly. The titular Tik-Tok is maybe the 12th most prominent or consequential persona in another quest to the Nome King's domain to deal with the devilish sorcerer once and for all.
The pictures are still good fun though:
Six more in the series and I'll see it through to the end. They're too light and quick to give up just because of a ho-hum entry.
The pictures are still good fun though:
Six more in the series and I'll see it through to the end. They're too light and quick to give up just because of a ho-hum entry.
February 22, 2012
This is actually one of my favorites, but it only gets four (or 4.5?) stars for a few reasons. One of them is the recurring gendered nature of styles of foolishness. I am referring to Ann Soforth choosing to conscript the men of Oogaboo into an army and conquer the world, much the same way Jellia Jamb conscripted an army of girls to conquer the Emerald City back in The Land of Oz, their motivations being they are tired of housework. Which could be a feminist kind of thing, except it's not. They're both presented as foolishly stepping out of their places - they should be happy at home. Ann's army is not a serious threat to anyone, and we all know that it's ludicrous of the Nome King to take them seriously even for a second. (This is because women belong at home, not conquering the world.) When men (like the Nome King) lead armies in the Oz books, they are threatening.
And it's a weird thing, because for the most part, Baum is pretty good at having active female characters - Dorothy, Betsy, Ozma-who-was-Tip, Scraps, Eureka and the Glass Cat - with agency and unique personalities. Although so far in the series the human and fairy girls are all super pretty. Like, that's all we hear about, is how Ozma is so pretty, and Glinda is so pretty, and the Rose Princess is so pretty, and Polychrome is even prettier, and Dorothy is also fairly pretty, and together they're the prettiest girls ever, and they wear the prettiest clothes, they're so pretty. Because prettiness is a requirement for benevolently powerful women - if they're ugly, they're bad witches, like the Wicked Witch of the West and (in the next book, which I've read already because I'm behind on my reviews) old Blinkie. Also Eureka and the Glass Cat are vain, but Toto and the Woozy are affable. The Sawhorse is vain, but it's about his abilities rather than his looks.
I guess that's also partly an old-fashioned thing and partly a writing-for-children thing, but it still bothers me.
Anyway, now to what I liked, because I liked a lot. And honestly, he's better on gender than many contemporary authors.
I like that the fiercest guy in Oogaboo is a reader who grows book trees. Although also he's kind of a tool - "when we return to Oogaboo, I'll take all the marbles away from the children and melt them up and make, a marble statue of myself for all to look upon and admire." But of course he does refuse to attack the helpless ladies, so, uh, that's good.
I really enjoy the Rak, and also the bit that essentially his punch line.
Let's count the ways people have gotten to Oz:
1. tornado
2. (everyone is already there)
3. deliberately, via magic carpet - after being washed overboard in a storm
4. deliberately, via magic belt - after falling into the ground in an earthquake
5. deliberately, via sand boat - after getting lost on the road to Butterfield
6. deliberately, via magic belt
7. (everyone is already there)
8. deliberately, via magic belt - after being washed overboard in a storm
That was fun. Baum is leaning toward the washed overboard in a storm trend; he's used it twice in 8 books. That is 25% of the time! I'll keep you updated as I proceed through the series.
P.S. I can't believe he blew up Betsy's whole freaking ship and sank it. That is a lot of people dying! But of course this is not dwelled on.
Here's another thing Baum likes: picking plant person rulers when they have deliberately been left on the bush by their people. It happens in Dorothy and the Wizard with the Mangaboos and now in Tik-Tok with the Rose People. Maybe he thought he didn't explore the concept fully the first time.
This is the book where Roquat is renamed Ruggedo. Baum explains that he forgot his name after drinking the Waters of Oblivion, but I'm pretty sure Baum just didn't like the name and wanted a chance to pick a new one. Also, question: I thought the Nome King could do no magic without the magic belt. But suddenly in this book he can do spells! Did he go learn from somebody? Or what?
I love the part where Tik-Tok negotiates his salary. I love that when they're talking to the Private Citizen, everyone is like, "oh! you're Ti-ti-ti Hoo-choo! Of course!" because obviously they've all heard of him? I have always loved the maidens of light - I mean, as a kid I thought this was the most wonderful thing. I like the three-course nuts! I want them to grow in my garden! They are like the lunch and dinner pails from Ozma of Oz, it seems to be - yet a third concept he revisits a second time in this book! I don't understand why sometimes Ozma can wish people around with the magic belt and sometimes she has to rely on the Wizard to do a spell or ask Glinda to do stuff for her. There seems to be no logic to the system, except for Baum sometimes realizing that the magic belt is too easy. I really like that Baum has thought of the wireless telephone already in like 1910. I love the surprise about Toto!
As I said, this is one of my favorites.
P.S. Shaggy is still kind of obnoxious, especially in his behavior to Poly.
And it's a weird thing, because for the most part, Baum is pretty good at having active female characters - Dorothy, Betsy, Ozma-who-was-Tip, Scraps, Eureka and the Glass Cat - with agency and unique personalities. Although so far in the series the human and fairy girls are all super pretty. Like, that's all we hear about, is how Ozma is so pretty, and Glinda is so pretty, and the Rose Princess is so pretty, and Polychrome is even prettier, and Dorothy is also fairly pretty, and together they're the prettiest girls ever, and they wear the prettiest clothes, they're so pretty. Because prettiness is a requirement for benevolently powerful women - if they're ugly, they're bad witches, like the Wicked Witch of the West and (in the next book, which I've read already because I'm behind on my reviews) old Blinkie. Also Eureka and the Glass Cat are vain, but Toto and the Woozy are affable. The Sawhorse is vain, but it's about his abilities rather than his looks.
I guess that's also partly an old-fashioned thing and partly a writing-for-children thing, but it still bothers me.
Anyway, now to what I liked, because I liked a lot. And honestly, he's better on gender than many contemporary authors.
I like that the fiercest guy in Oogaboo is a reader who grows book trees. Although also he's kind of a tool - "when we return to Oogaboo, I'll take all the marbles away from the children and melt them up and make, a marble statue of myself for all to look upon and admire." But of course he does refuse to attack the helpless ladies, so, uh, that's good.
I really enjoy the Rak, and also the bit that essentially his punch line.
Let's count the ways people have gotten to Oz:
1. tornado
2. (everyone is already there)
3. deliberately, via magic carpet - after being washed overboard in a storm
4. deliberately, via magic belt - after falling into the ground in an earthquake
5. deliberately, via sand boat - after getting lost on the road to Butterfield
6. deliberately, via magic belt
7. (everyone is already there)
8. deliberately, via magic belt - after being washed overboard in a storm
That was fun. Baum is leaning toward the washed overboard in a storm trend; he's used it twice in 8 books. That is 25% of the time! I'll keep you updated as I proceed through the series.
P.S. I can't believe he blew up Betsy's whole freaking ship and sank it. That is a lot of people dying! But of course this is not dwelled on.
Here's another thing Baum likes: picking plant person rulers when they have deliberately been left on the bush by their people. It happens in Dorothy and the Wizard with the Mangaboos and now in Tik-Tok with the Rose People. Maybe he thought he didn't explore the concept fully the first time.
This is the book where Roquat is renamed Ruggedo. Baum explains that he forgot his name after drinking the Waters of Oblivion, but I'm pretty sure Baum just didn't like the name and wanted a chance to pick a new one. Also, question: I thought the Nome King could do no magic without the magic belt. But suddenly in this book he can do spells! Did he go learn from somebody? Or what?
I love the part where Tik-Tok negotiates his salary. I love that when they're talking to the Private Citizen, everyone is like, "oh! you're Ti-ti-ti Hoo-choo! Of course!" because obviously they've all heard of him? I have always loved the maidens of light - I mean, as a kid I thought this was the most wonderful thing. I like the three-course nuts! I want them to grow in my garden! They are like the lunch and dinner pails from Ozma of Oz, it seems to be - yet a third concept he revisits a second time in this book! I don't understand why sometimes Ozma can wish people around with the magic belt and sometimes she has to rely on the Wizard to do a spell or ask Glinda to do stuff for her. There seems to be no logic to the system, except for Baum sometimes realizing that the magic belt is too easy. I really like that Baum has thought of the wireless telephone already in like 1910. I love the surprise about Toto!
As I said, this is one of my favorites.
P.S. Shaggy is still kind of obnoxious, especially in his behavior to Poly.
January 9, 2021
It's nice to revisit the land of Oz once in a while. The nostalgia!
January 13, 2022
Imperialism is fine when it happens to the right people or what's the lesson here? Only saving grace is the shaggy man
March 11, 2019
Thanks to my buddy, we are slowly working our way through the entire Oz collection.
I enjoyed this adventure with Tik-Tok and the gang. Met a few new friends along the way.
Always happy in the end.
I enjoyed this adventure with Tik-Tok and the gang. Met a few new friends along the way.
Always happy in the end.
March 4, 2015
My favorite part of this book was when the Shaggy Man and Ozma talked to each other long distance using the Wizard's "wireless telephone" that he'd invented. I love it when fantasy and sci-fi predict the future. So Frank Baum actually invented the cell phone!
This was another good Oz story that actually had a clear antagonist (the oft-appearing Nome King, even though his first name was different in this book). There was also a main plot: a quest to rescue the Shaggy Man's brother from the Nome King. There were quite a lot of characters to keep up with in the traveling party, what with Queen Ann and her army, but Baum did a good job of focusing on just a few as the main protagonists and primary supporting characters, so remembering each and every officer in Ann's army was unimportant.
My main complaint about this book was the (larger than usual) number of inconsistencies. For example, Shaggy and Polychrome shared an adventure several books ago, but in this book, they acted as if they'd never met. The ending, while not as deus ex machina as some other books, still had an element of supreme convenience, and makes the reader wonder why Ozma and the Wizard didn't step in earlier in the story. There was no mention of Ozma's Magic Belt, and she relied on the Wizard to perform all of the magic that she would normally do (though one could reason that she did this in order to give the Wizard practice, since it was mentioned that he is now an apprentice of Glinda. But still, an explanation would have been nice.) And like "The Patchwork Girl of Oz," which featured the title character but not as the main protagonist, Tik-Tok is part of the adventuring party in this book, but he's hardly the main character. In fact, I kept forgetting about him (along with Ann and her army) until he had a line or someone gave him an order.
Props to Baum, though, for answering a long-time question of mine in this book. One of the inconsistencies about the magic of the world that had bugged me was that every animal from earth that ever travels to Oz (Billina the hen, the old cab horse, Hank the mule in this book, etc), is able to talk upon arriving. Except Toto. Dorothy and Toto now live in Oz, and still the dog only barks. Well, in this book, Ozma informs Dorothy that Toto can talk just like every other animal, but he simply chooses not to. Irate, Dorothy scolds him till he speaks, which he does, proving that he's been basically playing with her for all this time. Very amusing, and a quick but effective way to not only answer a world-building question, but to develop Toto as a character.
This was another good Oz story that actually had a clear antagonist (the oft-appearing Nome King, even though his first name was different in this book). There was also a main plot: a quest to rescue the Shaggy Man's brother from the Nome King. There were quite a lot of characters to keep up with in the traveling party, what with Queen Ann and her army, but Baum did a good job of focusing on just a few as the main protagonists and primary supporting characters, so remembering each and every officer in Ann's army was unimportant.
My main complaint about this book was the (larger than usual) number of inconsistencies. For example, Shaggy and Polychrome shared an adventure several books ago, but in this book, they acted as if they'd never met. The ending, while not as deus ex machina as some other books, still had an element of supreme convenience, and makes the reader wonder why Ozma and the Wizard didn't step in earlier in the story. There was no mention of Ozma's Magic Belt, and she relied on the Wizard to perform all of the magic that she would normally do (though one could reason that she did this in order to give the Wizard practice, since it was mentioned that he is now an apprentice of Glinda. But still, an explanation would have been nice.) And like "The Patchwork Girl of Oz," which featured the title character but not as the main protagonist, Tik-Tok is part of the adventuring party in this book, but he's hardly the main character. In fact, I kept forgetting about him (along with Ann and her army) until he had a line or someone gave him an order.
Props to Baum, though, for answering a long-time question of mine in this book. One of the inconsistencies about the magic of the world that had bugged me was that every animal from earth that ever travels to Oz (Billina the hen, the old cab horse, Hank the mule in this book, etc), is able to talk upon arriving. Except Toto. Dorothy and Toto now live in Oz, and still the dog only barks. Well, in this book, Ozma informs Dorothy that Toto can talk just like every other animal, but he simply chooses not to. Irate, Dorothy scolds him till he speaks, which he does, proving that he's been basically playing with her for all this time. Very amusing, and a quick but effective way to not only answer a world-building question, but to develop Toto as a character.
December 22, 2008
It cracks me up how he really tries to wrap up every book as the last and then he introduces the next one by very nicely saying "the kids won't leave me be." I enjoyed all the new characters and finally someone from Kansas other than Dorothy being obnoxious. The story mostly revolves around all new characters with Dorothy thrown in at the end.
July 10, 2020
Check out my reviews on the main page of each book.
May 24, 2020
Another wonderful Oz story. They're such fun, quick reads!
February 18, 2022
3,25
Il volume è carino e divertente e tornare nel mondo di Oz dopo un po' di tempo è stato un piacere. Ciò nonostante questo libro non è sicuramente perfetto.
Il volume è carino e divertente e tornare nel mondo di Oz dopo un po' di tempo è stato un piacere. Ciò nonostante questo libro non è sicuramente perfetto.
December 22, 2020
Maybe the cutest book I read this year! I loved how tidy the ending was, everybody got be happy. Even Ruggedo, the poor sap.
October 27, 2015
For a while this was going well, new characters, a new adventure, but quickly there was more of the same. Journeys through distant lands of Oz, evil characters that are easily reformed, saccharine morals and a pointless ending when everything is so easily resolved.
November 16, 2012
There's a movie called Return to Oz and I've always wandered about Tik Tok until I worked up to his book in the series. This is a great book especially for reading to children going to bed.
January 14, 2019
Hilarious as usual !
March 12, 2019
#OzAThon Book 8
I was considering giving this 2 Stars, because it‘s still very well written, but then I thought about it for a second and tried to find anything I like about this book and spoiler alert, the search was a lost cause.
Good writing alone just does not make a good book.
I have a lot of respect for Baum as a writer and what he accomplished, but come on, at this point he was just phoning it in for the fans.
The story, if we call it that, is a jumbled mess of characters and events coming together randomly and it’s loosely tied together.
We start the novel with Ann, Queen of a very small country within Oz who decides he wants to conquer the World. Of course she does. Then we meet Betsy and her mule Hank. Those two fellas are shipwrecked in Oz and run into the Shaggy Man who is on a mission to rescue his never-heard-about-before brother, sensitively named The Ugly One, who has been kidnapped by the Nome King. For some reason. Also, something with Polychrome.
Now, you might ask: "But what about Tik-Tok? The book is named after him!" Well, he is in this story, as a random side-character. Yeah, I don‘t get it either. Baum has never been great in choosing his book titles but this feels too random even for him. Why not at least call it "The Shaggy Man of Oz" because he is the only character with something resembling an arc.
This book is all over the place. There is no real story, a lot of characters appear, but no one leaves and impact. It feels just very random. I did not enjoy reading it at all.
Add a ton of inconsistencies to the mix as well. It seems like Baum forgot his own previous books while writing this. Some highlights include the relationship between Shaggy Man and Polychrome, how the Love Magnet works and that Ozma can use her Magic Belt to transport people everywhere.
Speaking of Oz‘ ruler, my God is she irritating.
Not even the usual funny Nome King could save this. First off, his name was changed because of the magic amnesia (I hate this trope) he suffered in the sixth book, but strangely he remembers everything else about his encounters with Ozians. Beats me. Inconsistencies wohooo.
On a random sidenote, they finally address the issue of Toto not talking... so cookie points here, I guess?
Whatever. Even reviewing this book is annoying. Easily the worst of the bunch so far.
I was considering giving this 2 Stars, because it‘s still very well written, but then I thought about it for a second and tried to find anything I like about this book and spoiler alert, the search was a lost cause.
Good writing alone just does not make a good book.
I have a lot of respect for Baum as a writer and what he accomplished, but come on, at this point he was just phoning it in for the fans.
The story, if we call it that, is a jumbled mess of characters and events coming together randomly and it’s loosely tied together.
We start the novel with Ann, Queen of a very small country within Oz who decides he wants to conquer the World. Of course she does. Then we meet Betsy and her mule Hank. Those two fellas are shipwrecked in Oz and run into the Shaggy Man who is on a mission to rescue his never-heard-about-before brother, sensitively named The Ugly One, who has been kidnapped by the Nome King. For some reason. Also, something with Polychrome.
Now, you might ask: "But what about Tik-Tok? The book is named after him!" Well, he is in this story, as a random side-character. Yeah, I don‘t get it either. Baum has never been great in choosing his book titles but this feels too random even for him. Why not at least call it "The Shaggy Man of Oz" because he is the only character with something resembling an arc.
This book is all over the place. There is no real story, a lot of characters appear, but no one leaves and impact. It feels just very random. I did not enjoy reading it at all.
Add a ton of inconsistencies to the mix as well. It seems like Baum forgot his own previous books while writing this. Some highlights include the relationship between Shaggy Man and Polychrome, how the Love Magnet works and that Ozma can use her Magic Belt to transport people everywhere.
Speaking of Oz‘ ruler, my God is she irritating.
Not even the usual funny Nome King could save this. First off, his name was changed because of the magic amnesia (I hate this trope) he suffered in the sixth book, but strangely he remembers everything else about his encounters with Ozians. Beats me. Inconsistencies wohooo.
On a random sidenote, they finally address the issue of Toto not talking... so cookie points here, I guess?
Whatever. Even reviewing this book is annoying. Easily the worst of the bunch so far.
February 6, 2022
Como ya es usual, hay una fórmula tras las novelas de Frank L. Baum que casi siempre parte con un viaje hacia la tierra de Oz, desatado por un desastre natural (bueno, no todos realmente, pero la mayoría. Sería interesante especular por que los desastres naturales en nuestro mundo, llevan al mundo de Oz). En esta novela, aparecen nuevos y viejos personajes, pero se centra en especial en dos: Betsy Bobbin, una niña humana que llega a Oz con Hank, su mula, después de un naufragio en el mar, mientras que el otro es El hombre andrajoso (o el vagabundo) quien busca a su hermano secuestrado por el rey Gnomo. Aunque el titulo del libro se centra en Tik Tok, el ejercito mecánico de Oz, sus apariciones son escasas, pero en cambio aparecen otros muchos personajes: la Reina Ann quien quiere conquistar el mundo con su ejercito de ineptos; la reina de las Rosas, prima de Ozma quien nació en un invernadero y que ha sido exiliada de su propio reino; Policroma, la hija del arcoíris, a quien ya hemos visto en otras historias; al malvado rey Gnomo y a su chambelán Káliko; y a varios nuevos personajes que viven en la antípoda del reino de Oz, entre los que se cuenta Tititi Hoochoo, una especie de entidad poderosísima que reina con la razón y no con el corazón.
Esta octava novela de la serie, sin embargo, cuenta con ciertos elementos literarios que Baum no había manejado en novelas anteriores, como romper la cuarta pared y también con reflexiones un poco más profundas sobre la vida.
—Yo conocí a un niño que quería que le diera sarampión —dijo Betsy — porque los demás niños de su barrio tenían sarampión menos él y estaba muy triste porque no se contagiaba por más que trataba. Así que estoy segura de que las cosas que queremos y no podemos tener, en realidad no son buenas para nosotros ¿no crees, vagabundo?
— No siempre querida mía —respondió con sinceridad el vagabundo— si nunca quisiéramos tener algo nunca obtendríamos nada ni bueno ni malo. Creo que desear algo es natural y si seguimos lo que nos dicta la naturaleza no podemos equivocarnos.
—En cuanto a mí —dijo la reina Ann —creo que el mundo sería un lugar triste si no hubiera oro y joyas.
—Todas las cosas son buenas a su manera —dijo el vagabundo— pero podemos tener demasiado de en algo bueno y me dado cuenta de que el valor de algo depende de lo escaso que sea y de lo difícil que es obtenerlo.
Esta octava novela de la serie, sin embargo, cuenta con ciertos elementos literarios que Baum no había manejado en novelas anteriores, como romper la cuarta pared y también con reflexiones un poco más profundas sobre la vida.
—Yo conocí a un niño que quería que le diera sarampión —dijo Betsy — porque los demás niños de su barrio tenían sarampión menos él y estaba muy triste porque no se contagiaba por más que trataba. Así que estoy segura de que las cosas que queremos y no podemos tener, en realidad no son buenas para nosotros ¿no crees, vagabundo?
— No siempre querida mía —respondió con sinceridad el vagabundo— si nunca quisiéramos tener algo nunca obtendríamos nada ni bueno ni malo. Creo que desear algo es natural y si seguimos lo que nos dicta la naturaleza no podemos equivocarnos.
—En cuanto a mí —dijo la reina Ann —creo que el mundo sería un lugar triste si no hubiera oro y joyas.
—Todas las cosas son buenas a su manera —dijo el vagabundo— pero podemos tener demasiado de en algo bueno y me dado cuenta de que el valor de algo depende de lo escaso que sea y de lo difícil que es obtenerlo.
January 14, 2018
I think Baum must have done eeny meeny miney mo to choose the title of this book. There were so many characters, and Tik Tok didn't feature any more prominently than the others.
Baum did quite well to draw the different plot lines and characters together to their common aim of defeating the nome king. Some young readers might find the early part of the book a little fragmented, but overall it was a good addition to the Oz series.
I listened to the Librivox audiobook, which had terrific narration.
Baum did quite well to draw the different plot lines and characters together to their common aim of defeating the nome king. Some young readers might find the early part of the book a little fragmented, but overall it was a good addition to the Oz series.
I listened to the Librivox audiobook, which had terrific narration.
October 6, 2018
The nome king gets his in this story, as he imprison Shaggy man's brother, and buries Tik Tok, Queen Ann and the Army of Oogaboo plan to help break him out in the hopes of getting some loot, because she wants to conquer OZ. And lo and behold Toto actually talks!
March 17, 2025
Betsy Bobbin & Hank, Nome King, Shaggy Man’s Brother
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