Illustrated by John R. Neill
159 pages
Published 1909
Read from February 12 to February 13
Rating: 2 out of 5
I figured I’d knock this one out real quick, since it’s the last Oz book included in my library’s omnibus volume. (Well, I guess it isn’t an omnibus if it’s only the first five books, but still.) My country is accelerating into fascism and I can’t spend all my time spiraling about it.
This time, Dorothy trustingly accompanies a drifter dubbed the shaggy man. They reach an enchanted crossroads, pick the seventh road, and inevitably bumble through a series of silly adventures in different parts of fairyland. Many of the lands and creatures this time around skew closer to Aesop than to Baum’s usual blend of rustic and clockwork aesthetics. Soon enough, though, Road reaches the typical Oz fare: checking in with every single companion from the previous four books, because that’s why we simply begged that Mama and Papa must get the new storybook! Also, Santa Claus shows up for a birthday party, because why not.
I have no idea if I’ll continue on with the next nine Oz books from Baum. These five have been a pleasant distraction, but aside from Ozma of Oz, and the ending of The Marvelous Land of Oz, they haven’t done much to distinguish themselves. I suppose if my library gets any of the later volumes, I might consider it.
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