Crooked Lane Books
284 Pages
I know this is two book reviews in a row that deal with “The Wizard of Oz” but sometimes these things come in bunches. Apparently several authors each wrote about Oz, or some part of it, and I apparently read them. I know there are more to come, too, that are on my list. Be prepared. Oz is a magical place. And After Oz by Gordon McAlpine is quite magical.
It’s 1896 and a tornado has destroyed the Gale farm. Their niece, Dorothy, disappeared, but returned after a short disappearance. And she returns with a fantastic story. She tells a very detailed and intricate tale of visiting another world beyond Kansas where there were magical beings, both benevolent and malevolent. She tells of a powerful wizard and of an evil witch, the latter of which was brought to her demise by Dorothy and her new friends. It seems much too strange to actually be true. She must have been carried off by the twister and in her stupor, dreamed of this Land of Oz.
However, when the death of a local woman appears to have ties to Dorothy’s stories and evidence that seems to implicate the young girl, her stories are looked upon with fresh eyes. The death of a local woman, mysteriously matching the description of the wicked witch that Dorothy killed in that other place, quickly leads to the young girl being put into an insane asylum. Despite her relative youth, she must have committed this heinous crime, and used the stories of another world to protect her fragile mind from the murderous deed.
Dorothy is treated by a young psychologist, Dr. Evelyn Grace Wilford. As she works with Dorothy, Evelyn discovers that the girl’s story stays consistent with the details. Could there be some truth to the stories, or is there something more going on behind the scenes? Will the young doctor jeopardize her career by following her gut, or will she heed the words of her peers and mentors?
Ultimately, while this book takes in a grand view of “The Wizard of Oz,” it is much more than that. This is the story of a small town where everyone knows everyone else and they all think there can be no secrets left to be uncovered. What the town discovers in the aftermath of Dorothy Gale’s confessions is terribly salacious for the conservative community. This novel explores the dynamics of rural, smalltown America and sets it against something wondrous. Societal norms are challenged. Intolerance is put on trial in this book as well as the dire straits of living hand to mouth in an unforgiving Kansas at the turn of the twentieth century.
In Gordon McAlpine’s After Oz, Dorothy is a much darker person than we meet in the original story. It’s almost as if Oz sucked the color and light out of her before throwing her back to Kansas. McAlpine takes the story and continues it into something greater than a simple sequel. This is a murder-mystery, a social commentary, and an exploration of the human spirit of the day, all rolled into one. You will not be disappointed if you pick up this book to read.
After Oz was published after Gordon McAlpine passed away at the young age of sixty-two. This book was one of his dreams. He was a well-known author, whose popular books were often quirky. This one definitely was. Because of this book, I have been on the prowl for his earlier works. According to many websites, McAlpine was taken from us far too soon. His works live on as a memorial to him, waiting for the next reader to turn the next page. Personally, I want to read everything else he’s written if it’s half as good as After Oz.
Craig Bacon once tried to read L. Frank Baum’s sequels to The Wizard of Oz. He had a hard time finding anything after the fourth book of the series.