Glinda of Oz by L. Frank Baum #Ozathon24

In L. Frank Baum’s final Oz book, published a year after his death, Ozma learns from Glinda’s Great Book of Records that two tribes in the distant Gillikin country are about to go to war. 

The Skeezers have declared war on the Flatheads, and although Ozma has never heard of either faction previously, she now feels a sense of responsibility:

“I am the ruler of all of the Land of Oz, which includes the Gillikin Country, the Quadling Country, the Winkie Country, as well as the Emerald City, and being the Princess of this fairy land it is my duty to make all my people – wherever they may be – happy and content and to settle their disputes and keep them from quarreling. So while the Skeezers and Flatheads may not know me or that I am their lawful Ruler, I now know that they inhabit my kingdom and are my subjects, so I would not be doing my duty if I kept away from them and allowed them to fight.”

“That’s a fact, Ozma,” commented Dorothy. “You’ve got to go up to the Gillikin Country and make these people behave themselves and make up their quarrels. But how are you going to do it?”

It seems naive of Ozma to approach these warring factions with only Dorothy as back-up. While she has banned the use of magic in Oz, we know from previous books that some individuals in far-flung parts of Oz - either because they don't know of her mandate or don't care - are still magicking away. When she and Dorothy reach the mountain where the Flatheads live, they find people whose heads are literally flat on top where their brains should be, dressed in metal clothing (they carry a can of brains). Their leader, the Supreme Dictator, known as Su-dic, explains that the conflict with the Skeezers began because the Flatheads were told to stop fishing in the Skeezers' lake. The angry-fish lovers decided to poison all the fish so no one could enjoy them. The Skeezer Queen Coo-ee-oh turned Su-dic's wife into a Golden Pig before the poison could be used. When Ozma opines that the Flatheads were in the wrong, Su-dic tries to throw them in prison but Ozma quickly turns herself and Dorothy invisible so they can make a quick getaway to hear the Skeezers' side of the conflict.

Queen Coo-ee-oh is haughty and even more obstinate than Su-dic. She rejects Ozma's efforts to prevent a war and makes Ozma and Dorothy prisoners in her glass-domed island. Their jailer, Lady Aurex, explains that the Flatheads used to be ruled by three Adepts, who were beautiful and kind. Queen Coo-ee-oh was jealous and transformed them into fishes that now live in the lake. Before the fighting begins, Coo-ee-oh submerges the island and tries to attack the Flatheads via submarine. Instead, she is turned into a swan, leaving the men with her helpless when Coo-ee-oh loses her magic. They cannot get back into the domed island and the Skeezers watching from behind glass cannot get out. Ervic, one of Coo-ee-oh's soldiers and a more assertive Skeezer than most, is approached by the three transformed fish, and follows their instructions to get them turned back into Adepts with magical powers. In the meantime, when Glinda sees that Ozma and Dorothy are trapped in an underwater island, she rouses everyone (except the Hungry Tiger) to march to Gillikin country to the rescue. It takes a lot of joint effort (and magic) to raise the sunken island from the lake and liberate both the Skeezers and then the Flatheads. Su-dic is deposed and all the Flatheads get magical surgery that puts their can of brains inside their now-oval heads. The Adepts return to govern the Flatheads (renamed Mountaineers) while Lady Aurex is named queen of the Skeezers.

Katharine Rogers, author of L. Frank Baum, Creator of Oz, opines that Baum believed political leaders had led their countries into WWI the way the Flatheads and Skeezers wanted to drag their peace-loving people into conflict. And even the skilled Glinda cannot raise the island from the lake without help, including a surprising suggestion from Scraps, the Patchwork Girl. Part of the appeal of the story is the nonstop adventure and, as always, quirky inhabitants of Oz as well as old friends. Although Ozma is ostensibly a captive for much of the book and has to be rescued by Glinda, she is working the room and planning how she will help the Skeezers once free.

"I'm very glad I went to see these peoples," said Princess Ozma, "for I not only prevented any further warfare between them, but they have been freed from the rule of the Su-dic and Coo-ee-oh and are now happy and loyal subjects of the Land of Oz. Which proves it is always wise to do one's duty, however unpleasant that duty may seem to be."

And those were Baum's final words to his many devoted readers!  Others would write Oz books (including J.R. Neill, his illustrator) but they were never the same, at least until Gregory Maguire came along.

Title: Glinda of Oz
Author: L. Frank Baum
Illustrator: J.R. Neill
Publication: 1920
Genre: Juvenile fantasy/series
Source: Library

Thanks to Lori at Entering the Enchanted Castle for suggesting this reread of the Oz books for Ozathon 2024.  She finished Glinda of Oz in December.  Here is a final family picture of my niece Katherine as Dorothy about 13 years ago!