An Introduction to Oz Before Dorothy

by Tarl Telford

  Munificent Games in the East. City of Luneska falls into the desert. Kalinya takes Locasta in as a servant.

  "Boq" Lilboq Malarl Liyonechka born April 30, 1848 AD.

  Ondri-baba receives the magic eye, and also the walking hut with the Sapphire Stove (1168 Ozy / 1852 AD).

  * * * * *

  Story History

  1168 Ozy / 1852 AD / 48 BDG

  Events occurring in HH1: The Orphan Sorceress of Oz

  Abracadabra Bazaar involving Glinda; Kalinya announces that Locasta is her apprentice.

  Disappearance of the Ruby Palace.

  Death of King Oz, the 17th.

  King Pastoria, the Proud

  Pastoria Mackoo Luneska Tonnason

  (Coronation: 1168 Ozy / August 1, 1852 AD / 48 BDG)

  Coronation of Pastoria.

  Glinda driven from the North.

  Battle of Winkie Plains; Arrival of the Wizard.

  Third Witch Wars begin; Discovery of Bloodsand.

  Destruction of North Village by Ondri-baba.

  Creation of the Sandy Army.

  Glinda settles in the South.

  Destruction of South Castle and the collapse of the Twisted Lighthouse.

  Disappearance of Quelala.

  Battle of Emerald Prairie.

  Kalinya becomes the Witch Queen and protector of the Munchkins; Battle of Munchkin Fields.

  Construction begins on Emerald City.

  Conquering of the Winkies by the Winged Monkeys; Ondri-baba "frees" the Winkies and becomes their Witch Queen.

  Glinda's sixteenth birthday. Banishment of Kalinya on a cloud by Glinda, the Good.

  Kalinya meets with Nikidik on Mount Munch.

  1170 Ozy / 1854 AD / 46 BDG

  Events occurring in HH2: Dark Dreams in Oz.

  Sky Wizard's Ball.

  Great Rift in the sky.

  Creation of the Kalidahs.

  Creation of the Crown of the Dreamer.

  Battle of the Thunder Colossus; Wizard's Nightmare that reshaped Oz.

  Events occurring in HH3: Dark Wind in Oz.

  Time of Wild Magic.

  Creation of the Gun Tree.

  Creation of the Hammer-Heads and Porcelain Peoples (Dainty China Country).

  Giant Hourglass turned over for two days. Time of No Death.

  Destruction of the Great Tower.

  Destruction and burning of Central City.

  Ku-Klip creates the first Klipper.

  Death and resurrection of the Wizard.

  Battle of Emerald City.

  Pastoria the Proud moves to Emerald City.

  Self-imposed exile of the Wizard.

  Promethus becomes the Guardian of the Gate in Emerald City.

  1205 Ozy / 1889 AD / 11 BDG

  Birth of Ozma Tippetarius, Wednesday, August 21, 1889. Her father is Pastoria.

  1214 Ozy / 1898 AD / 2 BDG

  Events occurring in HH: Tintinnabulation, or The Ringing of the Bells

  Nick Chopper (Tin Woodman) and Captain Fyter (Tin Soldier) both receive their tin bodies.

  1216 Ozy / 1900 AD / 1 ADG

  Creation of the Scarecrow (May 5, 1900)

  Arrival of Dorothy Gale at the Emerald City (May 11, 1900)

  Cabbages and Cyclones: The Untold Story Behind Dorothy's Story

  How do cabbages verify the hidden history behind Dorothy's trip to Oz? If the original author thinks it is important enough to put into the novel, it must be significant, right? Of course. In researching cabbages, this author discovered some very interesting historical facts that confirm the timeline in L. Frank Baum's classic story, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

  Dorothy's journey perfectly matches with the mentions of cabbages in the original text. Let's explore the facts.

  When and Where did Dorothy live?

  First of all, we have to make a determination where Dorothy lived. That is going to decide everything else. We know that she lived in Kansas, but no official location is given. So we are going to assume that Dorothy's Home is in Seweard County, Kansas. Inasmuch as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was published in 1900, let us assume that this is the year that Dorothy visited the Emerald City for the first time.

  Kansas had a slow year for tornadoes in 1900. However, there was an outbreak of tornadoes on the Plains on May 5-6, 1900. Let's assume that this storm system reached up to Kansas from Nebraska and pulled Dorothy's house into the air.

  What is the deal with cabbages?

  Let's go to Dorothy's return to Kansas.

  Aunt Em had just come out of the house to water the cabbages when she looked up and saw Dorothy running toward her.

  "My darling child!" she cried, folding the little girl in her arms and covering her face with kisses. "Where in the world did you come from?"

  "From the Land of Oz," said Dorothy gravely. "And here is Toto, too. And oh, Aunt Em! I'm so glad to be at home again!"

  -- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Chapter 24 "Home Again" (emphasis added)

  This is a key clue for the timeline of Dorothy's travels. It is a second testament that Dorothy's timeline in Oz is accurate.

  How do cabbages grow?

  Next we consult the Farmer's Almanac to get some important information about cabbages. Points with an asterisk (*) are copied from the Old Farmer's Almanac.

  * Start cabbage seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last spring frost. See frost dates for your area here.

  What are the frost dates for Liberal, Kansas? Last Spring Frost (50% Probability) is April 16. Now let's count backwards with our cabbage seeds 8 weeks and stop at Monday, February 26, 1900.

  * Transplant outdoors 2 to 3 weeks before the last expected frost date. Choose a cloudy afternoon.

  Cabbages transplanted outdoors about 3 weeks (18 days this time) before final frost. Friday, March 16, 1900.

  * Harvest when heads reach desired size and are firm. This will take around 70 days for most green cabbage varieties.

  Most early varieties will produce 1- to 3-pound heads.

  The first crop can be harvested about 70 days after planting. This would be Monday, May 7, 1900. But wait, weren't there storms at this time? Yes. Yes, there were. So, the first cabbage harvest gave limited crops due to the cyclones that passed through May 5-6, 1900.

  * To get two crops from early cabbage plants, cut the cabbage head out of the plant, leaving the outer leaves and root in the garden. The plant will send up new heads--pinch them off until only four or so smaller heads remain. When these grow to tennis-ball size, they'll be perfect for salad.

  So the first crop of cabbages was damaged. The second crop will be due in about 70 days (if we read the almanac correctly).

  Dorothy's journey in Oz takes her 65 days. This brings her home just before the second harvest of cabbages. It wasn't just a dream (like the movie). How do we know this? Because of cabbages.

  Cabbage logic

  As an author and explorer of literary clues, this journey was exciting. At the outset, the purpose of this exercise was to poke holes in Baum's timeline and find fault. However, the corroborating evidence of storms in early May 1900 and the harvesting cycle of cabbages convinced this author of the plausibility of Dorothy's journey.

  How do Dragons and Faeries fit into Oz?

  L. Frank Baum included the dragonettes in his novel, Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz. The reference to dragons in Atlantis went as follows:

  "Permit me to say," returned the dragonette, "that you are rather impolite to call us names, knowing that we cannot resent your insults. We consider ourselves very beautiful in appearance, for mother has told us so, and she knows. And we are of an excellent family and have a pedigree that I challenge any humans to equal, as it extends back about twenty thousand years, to the time of the famous Green Dragon of Atlantis, who lived in a time when humans had not yet been created..."

  --Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz, Chapter 13, "The Den of the Dragonettes"

  * * * * *

  The Faeries followed the Dragons to this new w
orld from the motherworld. They were in pursuit of a treasure most precious that the Dragons had stolen--the princess. King Nonesticus of the Faeries wielded an emerald blade. This blade was so sharp that it could cut through shadows and sever darkness from light.

  The battle raged across the entire world. The armies of the Faeries searched in vain for the lost princess. The armies of Serpentariis grew as they crafted strange things from the ground. Rock Faeries called Nomes, Growleywogs, Phanfasms, and other terrible things that had only existed between the worlds now had faces of their own. They battled for the dragons, but more than that, they battled for the name of the princess. They loved her, and they knew that the Faeries would steal her away like a child at night, if they were given the chance.

  The Faeries, too, created armies, but they were armies of men, brought through the gates from the motherworld, to battle the inhuman creatures. Civilizations rose and fell. Centuries passed, and then millennia. The stars themselves could not remember a time when the Dragons and Faeries did not wage their war.

  Things came through from the Realm of Dreams. The armies of men had grown into great civilizations, only to fall to their own nightmares. The very dreams that only men could dream were coming to life and being born in this world to haunt them. The magic from the motherworld gave life to the dreams of men in this world. The lost princess had grown and gained power over these dreams, and she had become their queen.

  Nonesticus would not leave without his daughter. He could have left and let the Dragons rule unquestioned on this world, but that would leave behind his precious daughter.

  He knew that the only chance that the Faeries had to rescue the lost princess would sever their ties to the motherworld. He made the choice for his people that no one would be left behind. If she stayed, then they would all stay. He sacrificed his family for a single daughter.

  He traveled alone to the gate where the Faeries and Dragons had entered this world. He held his emerald blade in his hand to sever light from dark. It would all end here.

  Yet Serpentariis waited for him. Their battle scarred the world. When Nonesticus had defeated Serpentariis, and raised his emerald blade for the final death blow, he hesitated. A voice echoed across the distance. He thought he heard the voice of his daughter, the lost princess, begging him to spare the life of his enemy. That hesitation cost him his life. Serpentariis attacked and drove Nonesticus through the portal.

  Between the worlds, their battle continued. For untold aeons they battled in the sky, the King and the Serpent.

  Then the emerald blade of Nonesticus found the gate. It severed the ties between the worlds. The two of them were thrust from the heavens back down to this world. The emerald blade shattered into five pieces. Three of those pieces were gathered and placed together on an altar in Carracaxus. One was buried in the heart of Nonesticus. The last and final piece was buried in the heart of Serpentariis. Not even the greatest of the Dragon surgeons could remove it. Slowly the life of the dragon drained away.

  The princess was saved, and she was returned to the family of her birth, but her safety came at a terrible cost. Her father, the great king, lay dying. Yet she stared out the window instead of kneeling at his bedside. At his burial, she shed not a single tear.

  The three emerald shards were taken by the elder sister of the lost princess and used to construct guardians to protect the land. That which was in the land was to stay, and that which was outside would remain outside. And so it was.

  --from The Dragon Gate of Oz (unpublished)

  * * * * *

  SECTION SEVEN

  Creators in Oz

  Over the decades since its creation, the Land of Oz has hosted numerous creators and artists. It has become a blank slate on which to tell stories. It is the quintessential American fairy tale. Included in this section are some thoughts about Oz as a storytelling template, a list of books by the author, and the last words of Oz creator, L. Frank Baum.

  Why Ozpunk Should Be a Thing

  There are several genres and sub-genres in "punk" storytelling. The most well-known of these is Steampunk. There are also the genres of Dieselpunk, Cyberpunk, Nanopunk, and more.

  Punk Storytelling

  So what is the idea of "punk" storytelling? According to one excellent article (linked below), punk storytelling explores...

  "...a breakdown in social structure, an alternative, normally self-made variation of a traditionally historical aesthetic, a parody that examines the atrocities of our society through a fantastical lens. It normally has strong Dystopian connotations..."

  --[Web Archive of] GeekyFreaky.com, "Allow us to Help the Differences Between Steampunk...and more"

  So it is a skewed version of our world, seen through the lens of another time and place. In other words, the creative storyteller looks at the cracked world (or what he or she sees as cracked) and paints the picture, cracks and all. A parody is a rewritten copy intended to entertain or to provoke. The artist or writer places their own biases and injustices in the story, and "the atrocities of our society" take center stage as society is deconstructed and put on fantastical trial. But isn't that what writers do?

  Writers Critique Societal Norms

  Storytellers take their world and bring meaning to everyday situations. Given the canvas of another time and place to explore, and a society to critique, fantastic adventure abounds. The strength of the individual rising up against the overwhelming oppression of a dystopian society provides a central theme.

  So how does Oz fit into this?

  Oz is a Canvas

  Oz is a land that has only known monarchy. The rule of the kings and queens (and sometimes witches) is absolute. Freedom and independence are alien concepts. It seems to me that this blank canvas <> is ready to be painted by generations of artists. And it has been.

  Oz stories have been written more or less for over 115 years. Yet most of these stories attempt to continue the original stories that L. Frank Baum started. They build the whimsy and avoid preachiness or criticism. Their world is love, luck, and lollipops, because the shadows don't exist.

  There are a few Oz stories that explore the shadows. These are the stories that I term Ozpunk. When visitors from a modern society visit Oz, what happens...? That is up to the writer. What you, as a reader, interpret it to mean, is up to you.

  So Ozpunk is criticism of society, based in the world of Oz. What do you think?

  References:

  https://litreactor.com/columns/punkpunk-a-compendium-of-literary-punk-genres

  http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PunkPunk

  http://everything4writers.tumblr.com/post/131979019411/thewritingcafe-guide-to-writing-steampunk

  http://art-and-sterf.tumblr.com/post/49681277364/thats-not-victorian-hey-guys-so-were-all#notes

  http://www.geekyfreaky.com/2015/07/23/allow-us-to-help-the-differences-between-steampunk-dieselpunk-cyberpunk-post-apocalyptic-and-more/

  Now found at:

  https://web.archive.org/web/20160514110356/http://www.geekyfreaky.com/2015/07/23/allow-us-to-help-the-differences-between-steampunk-dieselpunk-cyberpunk-post-apocalyptic-and-more

  Oz is a Blank Slate: Why That Matters To You

  Set as merely an entertaining story without a moral, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz story has enchanted millions through the generations, and continues to build fans today. Why?

  Courage, Heart, Brains, and Hope. Four characteristics of dreamers.

  There have been many stories throughout the years since it first appeared both in book form and on Broadway's stage. Some stories have remained faithful to the whimsical and entertaining goal of the original. Some have turned the themes of Oz on their head. Some have sought to explore science fiction elements of this magical story. Why Oz?

  Adapted to Any Theme

  Because Oz is a blank slate, ready to be adapted to any theme. Think about the basic story of Oz--you probably remember Dorothy's story. She is carried away to a magical land, where she meets frie
nds, overcomes challenges, and unmasks a pretending wizard. Through all of this, she helps her friends achieve their goals. Her goals, however, remain unmet.

  Who among us has not been disappointed? Who has not seen everybody else get what they want, and still you wait empty-handed? But Dorothy was not left empty-handed for long. She discovered that she had the power the whole time to achieve her hopes. Her friends said it best when they reminded Dorothy that if she had not found them, they would not be as wise, as tender-hearted, or as courageous as they were in this moment.

  The Rules of Oz

  The magical Land of Oz is a place where troubles or worries are not terrifying. Where problems can be magic-wand-waved away, and where the most important thing is to have adventures and then a party. The rules are simple:

  There are opposing powers

  There are virtues embodied in individuals

  There is a hero who is driven forward and conquers, changing everything

  Why does this matter? Because Oz is the quintessential American Fairy Tale. And because every generation rewrites their fairy tales to give meaning to the world they live in.

  Other Blank Slate Fairy Tales

  Oz is a blank slate the same way that Cinderella, or Snow White, or Little Red Riding Hood are all blank slates. They are re-interpreted through the lens of the current generation of storytellers.

  This provides some enchanting view of Oz. It provides some terrifying views of Oz. Some may be memorable. Some may not be. But no matter how you accept the interpretation, you must remember that Oz is a land powered by human dreams, and it will continue to live as long as you keep dreaming.