Today is L. Frank Baum’s birthday!

Today is L. Frank Baum’s birthday!

L. Frank Baum’s birthdate at The Measured Circle’s Geek Time Trip

Baum, the author of the original (Wizard of) Oz books and many others, was born on May 15, 1856…161 years ago today.

Since the books are in the public domain (not under copyright protection), there are many versions of the books, and those versions come in and out of availability.

For this post, I’m going to link to this one, although I’m going to give you a warning as well:

L. Frank Baum Ultimate Collection (at AmazonSmile: benefit a non-profit of your choice by shopping*)

My warning is because it does include The Woggle-Bug Book. That one, which isn’t part of the proper series (the “Famous Fourteen” original novels), contains extensive ethnic humor, including “the n word”. I would not consider this edition to be for children, but for collectors…and it is a comprehensive collection, including pseudonymous works and short stories.

I’m a big Oz fan, and Baum was a pioneer in many ways.

The idea of a fantasy series of books (like Harry Potter), where fans lined up for the new book, and where there was extensive fandom, was solidly put in place by Oz.

Baum also had “crossovers”, where characters from one series would appear in another. The author wasn’t really happy to be “stuck in Oz”, and tried to end the series (an in-universe way was found to get around it when demand was too great to stop). Crossovers allowed Baum to bring less popular characters into Oz, hoping for an osmotic (“ozmotic”?) boost.

Also importantly, Baum tried to make Oz a multimedia franchise. From the books to stage plays (including a very successful musical) to movies (silents), Baum preceded (some would say presaged) Disney in that, and now, that’s common. Baum also did toys and tie-ins for Oz (the tie-in part, and the attempt to have the same property appeal to many people, is what leads to The Woggle-Bug Book. That itself is tied into a play which was intended for a more mature audience).

I’m not generally a re-reader, but I have been re-reading the Famous Fourteen before I go to sleep.

I can understand if some of what Baum said and wrote makes some people hesitant to read the books…I wrote about that issue more than six years ago in this blog:

The art and the artist

However, Baum also is progressive in some ways…the leaders, and lead characters, in the Oz books, are not always what was typical at the time.

I will say this: pop culture, especially children’s literature, would be very different without L. Frank Baum. 🙂

Bonus deal:

Today’s

Kindle Daily Deal (at AmazonSmile…benefit a non-profit of your choice by shopping*)

includes many books in the “Dummies” series. While I don’t like the name of the series, I do think they generally do a good job in making what can be daunting topics accessible to newbies.

Enjoy!

 

---

My current Amazon Giveaways

Amazon Giveaway for And Then There Were None!

https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/3e6a60b4814649a3

Winner:Randomly selected after Giveaway has ended, up to 1 winner.
Requirements for participation:
Resident of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia
Follow @TMCGTT on twitter
18+ years of age (or legal age)

Start:May 12, 2017 6:24 PM PDT
End:Jun 11, 2017 11:59 PM PDT

===

Star Wars Day through 40 years of Star Wars!

Giveaway by Bufo Calvin

Prize: Star Wars: Thrawn by Timothy Zahn (at AmazonSmile*)

• Winner:Randomly selected after Giveaway has ended, up to 1 winners.

• Requirements for participation:
  • Resident of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia
  • Follow @TMCGTT on twitter
  • 18+ years of age (or legal age)

Giveaway:
https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/0ce7b24b32a4a670

Start:May 4, 2017 6:32 AM PDT
End:Jun 3, 2017 11:59 PM PDT

It’s going on that long in part so that it covers the actual 40th anniversary of Star Wars (of the release in the USA) on May 25th 2017. Also, this book, which has good reviews and is new, is $14.99 in the Kindle edition…which is a lot for me for a giveaway. 🙂

Good luck, and may the Force be with you!

—

One Murder More (at AmazonSmile: benefit a non-profit of your choice by shopping*)

the award-winning, highly-rated mystery by my sibling, Kris Calvin!

Giveaway: https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/398897583537603c

• Winner:Randomly selected after Giveaway has ended, up to 1 winners.
• Requirements for participation:
• Resident of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia
• 18+ years of age (or legal age)
• Follow Kris Calvin on Amazon (to my knowledge, all that you’ll get is a notification when Kris publishes a new book in the Kindle store, although I don’t know that for sure…that’s all I’ve ever seen for authors I follow, I think. Kris is working on the second book in the Maren Kane mystery series.

Start:May 10, 2017 7:44 AM PDT
End:May 17, 2017 11:59 PM PDT

Thanks to the hundreds of people who have entered my previous giveaways for a chance to win Kris’ book! I don’t benefit directly from Kris’ book, although we have had a lot of conversations about it. 🙂

—

Join thousands of readers and try the free ILMK magazine at Flipboard!

All aboard our new The Measured Circle’s Geek Time Trip at The History Project!

 * I am linking to the same thing at the regular Amazon site, and at AmazonSmile. When you shop at AmazonSmile, half a percent of your purchase price on eligible items goes to a non-profit you choose. It will feel just like shopping at Amazon: you’ll be using your same account. The one thing for you that is different is that you pick a non-profit the first time you go (which you can change whenever you want)…and the good feeling you’ll get.  Shop ’til you help!  

This post by Bufo Calvin originally appeared in the I Love My Kindle blog. To support this or other blogs/organizations, buy  Amazon Gift Cards from a link on the site, then use those to buy your items. There will be no cost to you, and a benefit to them.