The Marvelous Land of Oz - Retelling

🖋 The Thorned Quill

From the Ink & Thorn Studio somewhere in Grimmveil

The Marvelous Land of Oz - Retelling

↪ A Grimmveil Fairytale

Written by L. Frank Baum and first published in 1904, The Marvelous Land of Oz is the second Oz book and very much not Dorothy’s story at first. This tale is about power, identity, revolution, and the dangerous assumption that rulers stay put just because people say they should.

Dorothy is absent for most of this book. Oz does not wait for her.

Let me show you.

In the north of Oz, on a poor farm ruled by a woman called Mombi, lived a boy named Tip. Mombi was a witch, and not a pleasant one. She dabbled in spells the way others dabble in cruelty. Tip knew enough to be afraid.

One day, while Mombi was away, Tip discovered her secret collection of enchanted heads. Human heads. Carefully labeled. Carefully preserved. Side note - this is Oz reminding you it can be deeply unsettling when it wants to be.

Tip panicked.

He fled.

Taking with him a wooden man he had made for fun, a figure named Jack Pumpkinhead, whose head was carved from a pumpkin and brought to life by one of Mombi’s spells. Jack was gentle, kind, and extremely literal. He followed Tip because that is what friends do.

They escaped north, where Tip learned something important.

Oz was ruled by a Scarecrow.

Yes. That Scarecrow.

But not everyone approved.

A rebellious army called the Army of Revolt, led by General Jinjur, marched on the Emerald City armed with knitting needles. Satire sharp enough to draw blood. They overthrew the Scarecrow with embarrassing ease.

The Scarecrow fled.

He joined Tip and Jack, along with the Tin Woodman, who now ruled the Winkies. Together they planned to reclaim the Emerald City.

They returned with help from Glinda the Good, who was not amused by any of this nonsense.

Glinda restored order swiftly.

Then she revealed the truth.

Tip was not a boy.

Tip was Princess Ozma, the rightful ruler of Oz, transformed and hidden by Mombi years ago. Glinda reversed the spell. Tip became Ozma. Identity restored. Throne reclaimed.

Mombi was punished. The Scarecrow stepped aside. The Tin Woodman returned to his land.

Oz had its queen.

Only then did Dorothy return to Oz, invited this time, not stranded. She met Ozma and stayed as her guest, not as a lost child, but as a friend.

And Oz, at last, was stable.

For now.