MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR
We have nothing to fear from the little girl and her dog. Do not be alarmed. She is in need of our assistance. Help her if you are able. But never forget our enemy. I fear the Wicked Witch of the West lurks evermore closely.
- Glenda, Good Witch of the South
JANUARY CHAPTER ROUND-UP
The Cyclone, while a short chapter, packed much worth remembering. For a start, the upbringing of Dorothy seems to be a sad one for a child. Taken in by Aunt Em (a once bright and colorful woman who finds her life greyed and dimmed by her surroundings) and Uncle Henry (a man whose entire day is devoted to his farm and nothing more). They neglect the child and if not for her dog, Toto, she likely would not be as happy and carefree as she is. It is during a tremendous cyclone dropping down and pulling her house up by its roots that we meet her, alone, spinning through space and time, unsure of where it may land.
In The Council with the Munchkins, Dorothy awakes to discover strange people, small in stature, very pleased because she has killed their ruler. Dorothy finds accusation most troubling as she is just a girl and has never killed another living thing in her life. And yet, there, just beneath her house, are a pair of silver shoes. She may not want to take credit but that is exactly what she is given for her good deed. Now, all Dorothy can think of is returning home to her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry who must be sick with worry. An elderly woman claiming to be a “good witch” (because in Oz there are either good or wicked witches) arrives to help Dorothy get home as best she can. She must take her dog and walk along the yellow brick road until they reach the Emerald City where a wizard is sure to help her.
How Dorothy Saved the Scarecrow might be up for debate as it doesn’t seem like he really needed “saving” as in he required help. He was simply on a stick in the ground doing his job. Dorothy does help him down and offers to help him reach the wizard to ask him for help in getting brains. But does he need brains? Thus far, Scarecrow seems to exhibit signs of reason (ie as he is made of straw he can carry her basket without ever growing weary), fear (ie he knows that matches pose a serious threat to his existence).
Where will our travelers end up next? A recap on the next 4 chapters will come in our second issue. Till then, remember you can engage in conversation amongst each other in the comments section of each chapter.
Happy Reading!
TOO MANY RESOURCES
Here are just a few links and images I discovered along the way…
The Daily Ozmapolitan - You will not stop scrolling. Trust me. I only wish The Oz Gazette will be just as informative some day.
The Oz Club - I truly had no idea. I found myself spending countless hours here and before I closed the page I became a member! Yeah, you just might get hooked like I did. Are any of you a member of the Oz Club already?
THE OTHER YELLOW BRICK ROAD
Coming soon to the Oz Gazette, another twist on the classic, but unlike anything you’ve ever read before. This one will have you hooked from chapter one and with any luck will find its way into the hands of others in the coming years. This is a story nearly 10 years in the making and it’s finally found a home, here, as a serial, in the Oz Gazette. Stay tuned for more updates to come.
CALLING ALL FICTION WRITERS
If you would like to share a story about a resident of Oz, we want to hear from you! Send us a message in the comments and we’ll reach out with more details on how you can submit a story and perhaps you’ll see it in the next issue of The Oz Gazette!