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A review by hazelalaska
Oz Reimagined: New Tales from the Emerald City and Beyond by John Joseph Adams, Douglas Cohen (Editor)
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
3.5 stars
While I enjoyed some stories in this, it was a mixed bag, as story collections usually are. At some points I was really into it, but at other points, with several stories in a row I didn't like, I found myself questioning whether I really liked the collection or just the whole idea of it. I ended up dnfing three of the stories for various reasons, but some of them also surprised me in a good way, too.
The Great Zeppelin Heist of Oz- I enjoyed the writing in this; it was very witty, though at times it felt more like the Alice in Wonderland nonsense style. However, I wasn't a fan of where the plot ultimately went.
Emeralds to Emeralds, Dust to Dust- I enjoyed this one, but I felt that maybe a short story wasn't the best format for something like this because it felt like there wasn't enough space to develop the characters and the mystery, and the answer was super obvious. I think this could have been a longer story, and I would totally be open to seeing an Oz detective series, because it was kind of fun. I think the whole thing just needed more room to develop.
Lost Girls of Oz- I didn't end up liking this one much, which is strange because normally I enjoy stories told through letters. I felt like the scope of the story was too large to be told as a short story, as it feels like it was just getting started. It felt like it could be the beginning for a longer story.
The Boy Detective of Oz- I was very disappointed in this one, as it is apparently connected to a separate series and makes little sense unless you've read from that series (which I haven't.) Personally, I think that stories in a themed collection with multiple authors should be standalone stories and it should not be assumed that you've read something from a separate series which is necessary to understand it. I ended up giving up on this story as I only understood about half of what was happening.
Dorothy Dreams- I found this one to be okay, but I saw a lot of people in their reviews saying they really liked this one, so I expected to like it more. I did like the whole Oz being the afterlife thing, but I didn't like how it was rather unsubtle, and how it went the Chronicles of Narnia route.
Dead Blue- I liked the concept, but I was expecting more from it. It was very short, and not much happened. It felt like it could be the beginning for a longer story, which I actually wouldn't mind seeing.
One Flew Over the Rainbow- I dnfed this story as well. I don't like when authors turn these sorts of stories into mental illness/ mental hospital things. I feel like it's just been overdone, particularly with Alice in Wonderland, and it takes the enchantment and whimsy out of it for me. It turns it into something too real, too serious for my taste.
The Veiled Shanghai- For the first 75% of this one I thought it was just okay, telling the same story with a different setting and a different culture, but with the last 25% I found myself really enjoying it.
Beyond the Naked Eye- I really enjoyed this one as well. It felt like The Wizard of Oz meets The Hunger Games. I did wish it was longer, though, so we could actually see the game in progress.
A Tornado of Dorothys- I loved this one, as it went to the more sinister side while also maintaining the magic of Oz. I liked the idea of history repeating itself over and over.
Blown Away- I didn't like where this one ended up going, and I felt I didn't really understand what was happening at the end.
City So Bright- I started off skimming this one but dnfed it because I just found I didn't like the narrator or the overall tone.
Off to See the Emperor- I think this was my favorite of the collection, which surprised me because I read Ender's Game by Card before and didn't like it. This seemed like one of the stories that most captured the spirit of the original Oz.
A Meeting in Oz- I didn't end up liking this one, as it was pretty dark and depressing. It was missing the sparkle that makes Oz appealing to me.
The Cobbler of Oz- I loved this one, as I felt it really captured the magic of Oz. I liked the characters and the overall tone, which in some ways felt like a fairy tale.
While I enjoyed some stories in this, it was a mixed bag, as story collections usually are. At some points I was really into it, but at other points, with several stories in a row I didn't like, I found myself questioning whether I really liked the collection or just the whole idea of it. I ended up dnfing three of the stories for various reasons, but some of them also surprised me in a good way, too.
The Great Zeppelin Heist of Oz- I enjoyed the writing in this; it was very witty, though at times it felt more like the Alice in Wonderland nonsense style. However, I wasn't a fan of where the plot ultimately went.
Emeralds to Emeralds, Dust to Dust- I enjoyed this one, but I felt that maybe a short story wasn't the best format for something like this because it felt like there wasn't enough space to develop the characters and the mystery, and the answer was super obvious. I think this could have been a longer story, and I would totally be open to seeing an Oz detective series, because it was kind of fun. I think the whole thing just needed more room to develop.
Lost Girls of Oz- I didn't end up liking this one much, which is strange because normally I enjoy stories told through letters. I felt like the scope of the story was too large to be told as a short story, as it feels like it was just getting started. It felt like it could be the beginning for a longer story.
The Boy Detective of Oz- I was very disappointed in this one, as it is apparently connected to a separate series and makes little sense unless you've read from that series (which I haven't.) Personally, I think that stories in a themed collection with multiple authors should be standalone stories and it should not be assumed that you've read something from a separate series which is necessary to understand it. I ended up giving up on this story as I only understood about half of what was happening.
Dorothy Dreams- I found this one to be okay, but I saw a lot of people in their reviews saying they really liked this one, so I expected to like it more. I did like the whole Oz being the afterlife thing, but I didn't like how it was rather unsubtle, and how it went the Chronicles of Narnia route.
Dead Blue- I liked the concept, but I was expecting more from it. It was very short, and not much happened. It felt like it could be the beginning for a longer story, which I actually wouldn't mind seeing.
One Flew Over the Rainbow- I dnfed this story as well. I don't like when authors turn these sorts of stories into mental illness/ mental hospital things. I feel like it's just been overdone, particularly with Alice in Wonderland, and it takes the enchantment and whimsy out of it for me. It turns it into something too real, too serious for my taste.
The Veiled Shanghai- For the first 75% of this one I thought it was just okay, telling the same story with a different setting and a different culture, but with the last 25% I found myself really enjoying it.
Beyond the Naked Eye- I really enjoyed this one as well. It felt like The Wizard of Oz meets The Hunger Games. I did wish it was longer, though, so we could actually see the game in progress.
A Tornado of Dorothys- I loved this one, as it went to the more sinister side while also maintaining the magic of Oz. I liked the idea of history repeating itself over and over.
Blown Away- I didn't like where this one ended up going, and I felt I didn't really understand what was happening at the end.
City So Bright- I started off skimming this one but dnfed it because I just found I didn't like the narrator or the overall tone.
Off to See the Emperor- I think this was my favorite of the collection, which surprised me because I read Ender's Game by Card before and didn't like it. This seemed like one of the stories that most captured the spirit of the original Oz.
A Meeting in Oz- I didn't end up liking this one, as it was pretty dark and depressing. It was missing the sparkle that makes Oz appealing to me.
The Cobbler of Oz- I loved this one, as I felt it really captured the magic of Oz. I liked the characters and the overall tone, which in some ways felt like a fairy tale.