Book Review

Shadows of the Emerald City

This review was written by Mike Wever, the editor of Wanderings.

UPDATE (10/1/09): Comments about the editing of the collection have been removed because the publisher has assured me that there has been at least one more round of editing after the advance copy I received.

There are some people who will never grow up, who will never abandon the simple joys of their childhood. Then there are those who cannot grow up fast enough and yearn for the day when the last memories of their innocent years blow away in a harsh wind. Shadows of the Emerald City is strictly aimed at the latter.

This collection, edited by JW Schnarr, revisits the world of Oz through a series of modern, jilted lenses. These stories show versions of Dorothy as an older, sexual creature, Munchkins whose favorite food is not really candy, and all manner of fantastic creatures with very real flaws. A couple of the brashest stories offer alternate versions of the familiar story of The Wizard of Oz. There are no really good witches in this book, and the wicked ones are almost pitiable when you see things from their point of view.

The stories are a mixed lot, both in terms of subject matter and writing style. Two of my personal favorites were the brooding, post-apocalyptic tale “Dorothy of Kansas” by editor JW Schnarr and T.L. Barrett’s “The China People of Oz” which forgoes all of the well-known characters to focus on a tragic young girl who wishes to escape to the world she has read all about. I also suggest you make sure to read “The Utility of Love” by David Steffen and “Scarecrow’s Sunrise” by Gef Fox.

If you think back to The Wizard of Oz and wonder if little people who danced over a dead body were really so nice and sweet, or if you were scared to death of the Wicked Witch of the West as a child – and kind of liked it – then this book is for you.

Shadows of the Emerald City will be released on October 15th by Northern Frights Publishing. It will be available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble and most other bookstores.