Czarnoksieżnik z Krainy Oz

L. Frank Baum

Daughters of Destiny

L. Frank Baum

Danger, intrigue, and adventure await you in one of L. Frank Baums rarest works! Baum published the novel under the pen name Schuyler Staunton, one of his several pseudonyms (Baum arrived at the name by adding one letter to the name of his late maternal uncle, Schuyler Stanton). Daughters of Destiny unfolds in the Middle Eastern country of Baluchistan and is an exciting page-turner from start to finish. Conflict occurs when the American Construction Syndicate wants to build a railroad across a city in Pakistan, as part of their plans for global development. The company appoints a commission, headed by Colonel Piedmont Moore, to obtain the right of way from the Baluchi ruler. What follows is a complex but tightly-woven plot that involves subterfuge and conspiracy, poisonings and attempted assassinations, sword fights and a pursuit in the desert, a scheming femme fatale, disguises and false identities all the ingredients of melodrama.

Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz

L. Frank Baum

Originally published in 1908, while Baum was resident in Coronado, California, Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz is considered one of the darker of the Oz tales. However, it also is enlivened by Baums considerable wit, penchant for puns, and dry social commentary. This fourth Oz novel sees Kansas farm-girl Dorothy Gale once again transported to magical lands, this time thanks to a California earthquake, during which our heroine falls into the depths of the earth, together with a boy name Zeb, his carriage-horse Jim, and Dorothys mischievous kitten, Eureka. Deep beneath the earth, Dorothy is reunited with her old friend the Wizard of Oz and his troupe of nine tiny piglets. Together, they embark on an adventure through the earth dealing with angry vegetables, invisible people and bears, and wooden gargoyles. Eventually, after confronting a cave full of dragonettes, the travelers are rescued by Ozma of Oz, who transports them to the Emerald City. Here Dorothy and Wizard meet many old friends, while Eureka meets trouble...

Glinda of Oz

L. Frank Baum

As this last Oz story from L. Frank Baum opens, Dorothy Gale and Ozma have been dispatched by Glinda on a peacekeeping mission. Dorothy and Ozma discover that a war is brewing in a distant and unexplored part of Oz, between two mysterious races, the Flatheads and the Skeezers, both of whom have come under the power of cruel dictators. They have never heard of either of these people but they worry that people might be harmed in a war. The girls set out to try to prevent the fighting, not knowing what dangers await them. This begins a quick but grand adventure for the two friends, which will eventually involve all of her other friends, and quite an assortment of strange but wonderful beings they are; the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion, but also Tik Tok, Jack Pumpkinhead, and so many others. A rousing tale of suspense, magic, and adventure, Glinda of Oz is the fourteenth and final Oz book and its a grand conclusion to Baums chronicles of Americas favorite fairyland.

John Dough and the Cherub

L. Frank Baum

Originally published in 1906, John Dough and the Cherub remains a whimsical fantasy tale for all ages, by the author of the classic Oz books. John Dough is a gingerbread man who has come alive because the baker who made him poured quite unwittingly a great quantity of the precious Essence of Vitality into the dough from which he was formed. John escapes from several people who want to eat him, and arrives on the Isle of Phreex. His new friend and constant companion is Chick, the Cherub, a very beautiful child of indeterminate sex. After a good deal of travel and many adventures, John becomes ruler of the Twin Kingdoms of Hiland and Loland, where a prophecy stated that the next king would not be made of flesh and blood. So come journey with John Dough the gingerbread man, his good friends Chick the Cherub and Para Bruin the Rubber Bear, and as Baker par excellence Jules Grogrande would say, Bon appetite!

Mother Goose in Prose

L. Frank Baum

None of us, whether children or adults, needs an introduction to Mother Goose. Those things which are earliest impressed upon our minds cling to them most tenaciously. Published three years before L. Frank Baum achieved fame with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, this engaging volume added an exciting new dimension to old, much-loved verses. The book contains 22 prose fables based on famous nursery rhymes: Old King Cole, Little Miss Muffet, The Cat and the Fiddle and many others. Baum gives the stories English settings and ambience, with mentions of London, the Sussex downs, and the River Dee. His tactic in the book is to take the often-nonsensical nursery rhymes and weave coherent, or at least self-consistent, stories from them. This wonderful collection of short stories is another delightful addition to anyone who is a fan of Baums work. Based on famous Mother Goose rhymes, all stories are fascinating background tales of the various characters involved.

Ozma of Oz

L. Frank Baum

Dorothy Gale returns in this third entry in L. Frank Baums Oz series, after her notable absence in the second volume, The Marvelous Land of Oz. Here you will meet such beloved old friends as the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion. Dorothy is shipwrecked and lands on the shores of a fairy country that adjoins Oz, the land of Ev. There she meets that oozy marvel: Tiktok, a wind-up mechanical man; a talking chicken, Billina; the Hungry Tiger, whose appetite is never quite satisfied; and Ozma, the girl Ruler of Oz who is leading a quest to rescue the royal family of Ev from their captivity by the Nome King. She also meets some strange people too: Princess Langwidere who wears a different head a day and strange Wheelers with wheels for hands and feet. But even Ozma is no match for the clever king, and its up to Dorothy to save everyone from terrible danger. But will the Nome Kings enchantments be too much even for the plucky little girl from Kansas?

Queen Zixi of Ix. Or, The Story of the Magic Cloak

L. Frank Baum

Another enchanting tale of juvenile literature from the creator of The Wizard of Oz. L. Frank Baum dedicated the book Queen Zixi of Ix, or The Story of the Magic Cloak to his oldest son, Frank Joslyn Baum. In it, the queen of fairies creates a magic cloak which grants its wearer a single wish. Meanwhile, an orphan boy becomes the new king of Noland and his sister gains the cloak which is stolen by the Queen of Zixi, who wishes her mirror to show her as the beautiful young woman she appears instead of showing her appearance at her true age of 683 years. Adventures ensue, armies attack and retreat, and good wins out when the fairy queen takes back the magic cloak. The cloak turns out to be a source of trouble as well as a blessing. Baum packs this adventure with his customary humor, inventive fantasies, and captivating characters.

Rinkitink in Oz

L. Frank Baum

Rinkitink in Oz is the tenth book in the Oz series written by L. Frank Baum, first published in 1916. It was originally written in 1905 as a stand alone fantasy work and subsequently rewritten as an Oz book. Therefore, most of the action takes place outside of Oz in neighboring fairy countries. Rinkitink, a plump jolly fellow, and his grouchy goat Bilbil assist Inga, the crown prince of Pingaree, in reclaiming his lost kingdom from invaders. Inga is helped in his efforts by three magic pearls: one, blue, giving him superhuman strength; one, pink, protecting him from harm; and one, white, providing him with words of wisdom. But when the pearls are lost, can Queen Ozma, watching events on her magic mirror, save the day? Thrilling tale of adventure from a master storyteller, Rinkitink in Oz is sure to enjoyed by Oz fans far and wide and by all who delight in tales of enchantment and adventure.

Sam Steeles Adventures in Panama

L. Frank Baum

Sam Steele is now captain of a ship an old and battered craft, but his own command. He is sailing it around South America to California. A storm forces Sams ship to the Panamanian coast. There, the travelers encounter the Techla Indians, descendants of the Aztecs. The Techlas are hostile to outsiders; Sam and his crew are tempted by the Indians abundant gold and gems. Traveling ashore in Moits amphibious auto, the Americans attempt to manipulate the Techla, without success. Sam Steeles Adventures in Panama is a boys adventure novel written by L. Frank Baum, and published in 1907 under the pseudonym Capt. Hugh Fitzgerald. The book was a sequel to the first Sam Steele novel, Sam Steeles Adventures on Land and Sea. The book was reprinted two years later, in 1908, with the alternative title The Boy Fortune Hunters in Alaska.

Sam Steeles Adventures on Land and Sea

L. Frank Baum

L. Frank Baum, the author of the famous Oz books, wrote a number of series for children (and occasionally, books for older readers) under a variety of pseudonyms. Among those you can find many examples of adventure fiction, including this, the inaugural title of the Sam Steele series. Sam Steele is the son of a sea captain; his father is reported killed in a shipwreck, and Sam is quickly cheated of his inheritance. Now an orphan, he meets his maternal uncle, Naboth Perkins, another sea captain and ship-owner; together the two set sail in the Pacific trade. At home again, Sam and Naboth discover that Sams father Captain Steele has survived shipwreck, with the loss of a leg. Re-united with his father, Sam regains his lost patrimony. Unusually for Baum, the tale of Sam Steeles Adventures on Land and Sea is told in the first person, by the title character.

Sky Island

L. Frank Baum

Sky Island was the second of three titles written by Baum featuring a spunky girl from California, Trot, and her companion, the old sailorman, Capn Bill. L. Frank Baum had hoped to end the Oz series and introduced Trot and Capn Bill in The Sea Fairies. In Sky Island, Button Bright has found a magic umbrella, which allows him to go anyplace in the world in seconds. He meets Trot and Capn Bill during his adventures, and the three decide to go to Sky Island, and small island without a name off the coast. But the umbrella instead take them up over the ocean. They land in a land of blue, where they are taken prisoner by the terrible Boolooroo. They must find a way to escape servitude, and on the way help the blue people. Will they escape? Will they ever find their way home? A charming addition to your collection of Oz books, this volume will delight long-time Oz fans as well as newcomers to L. Frank Baums realms of fantasy.

The Boy Fortune Hunters in China

L. Frank Baum

The fourth in a series, The Boy Fortune Hunters in China appeared in 1909, published by Reilly & Britton under Baums pseudonym, Floyd Akers. Unlike most of L. Frank Baums work, the series is told in first person narrative by the protagonist, 16 year-old Sam Steele. Sams father is a sea captain who was reported killed in a shipwreck. After being cheated of his inheritance, he finds his uncle and they set sail in the Pacific. Here, Sam Steele and his two pals, Joe and Archie, have fished a wounded Chinese Prince out of the ocean. Prince Kai Lun Po rewards the boys with detailed directions on how to plunder his family tomb of its treasure and he gives them his blessing to do so. All the boys have to do is get to China, hoodwink the palace staff, and get past Fo-Chu, the Sacred Ape that guards the treasure! Come adventuring with young Sam on one of his most exciting and dangerous adventures in China!

The Boy Fortune Hunters in Egypt

L. Frank Baum

Writing under a pseudonym, the prolific Wizard of Oz author created a series of far-flung adventure tales starring Sam Steele, a resourceful young sailor. In this story of mystery, deceit, and murder, Sam and his companions seek the legendary wealth of Karnak a 2,000-year-old treasure buried in the desert sands. The adventure begins when Sam rescues an escaped cabin boy from a sinking dinghy in Boston Harbor. Runaway Joe Herring, along with pampered aristocrat Archie Ackley, accompany Sam to Alexandria, Egypt. There, the trio learn of the legendary lost riches of Karnak and Luxor a wealth of pearls, gold, precious gems, and historic papyrus rolls, all hidden from invading Persians. Relying upon their pluck, luck, and quick wits, the American boys follow an ancient caravan route to uncover a secret from beyond the grave. Unusually for Baum, the tale of The Boy Fortune Hunters in Egypt is told in the first person, by the title character.

The Boy Fortune Hunters in the South Seas

L. Frank Baum

If you like the books by Iain Lawrence The Wreckers, The Smugglers, and The Buccaneers youll love the adventures of Sam Steele. The Boy Fortune Hunters series began in 1906 with the novel Sam Steeles Adventures on Land and Sea (later re-published as The Boy Fortune Hunters in Alaska). The series lasted six novels, ending in 1911 with the novel The Boy Fortune Hunters in the South Seas. Here, Sam Steele and crew are shipwrecked on a forbidding and mysterious island where the natives worship a powerful Pearl God in a temple overflowing with the most luxurious pearls in the world. Sam is delighted at the prospect of such enormous riches but the boy-king of the island is forced to sentence Sam to a watery grave. Airplane rescues, uncharted islands, revolutionaries, a lost king, and riches beyond imagination await you as you travel with the Boy Fortune Hunters to fabulous adventure in the South Seas!

The Emerald City of Oz

L. Frank Baum

Join Dorothy and the Wonderful Wizard as they take Aunt Em and Uncle Henry on a fabulous tour of Oz. During their journey they encounter such amazing and amusing people as King Kleaver with his Spoon Brigade and Miss Cuttenclip of the land of paper dolls. Aunt Em and Uncle Henry also meet old friends like the Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, Jack Pumpkinhead and H. M. Wogglebug T. E. But while Dorothy and her friends play, the wicked Nome King has joined forces with the terrible Whimsies, the fearsome Growleywogs, and the evil Phanfasms in a plot to capture the Emerald City. Will Dorothys friends discover the danger before its too late? Can they rescue the Land of Oz from destruction? L. Frank Baum had intended to cease writing Oz stories with this book, but financial pressures prompted him to write and publish between 1913-1920 The Patchwork Girl of Oz, with seven other Oz books to follow.

The Enchanted Island of Yew

L. Frank Baum

The Island of Yew is set at some undisclosed place in the Earths global ocean in the middle of the sea. A fairy has become bored with her life, and convinces some young girls to transform her into a human boy so she can go on fast and furious adventures. Transformed, he is Prince Marvel, but he keeps his fairy powers, as they might prove handy in a world where you will quite likely encounter giants, dwarves, wizards, rowdy robber gangs, talking dragons, damsels in distress, and overgrown hedges. He takes as a sidekick a dedicated masochist, which is just one of the ways the author keeps things interesting. Full of magic, and fairies and evil hearted villains, this a good read for young adults with a love of gentle adventure stories. The Enchanted Island of Yew is a 1903 childrens book, a fantasy written by L. Frank Baum. It is not an Oz book, though materials in it show a clear relationship and resemblance with Baums most famous fantasy country.

The Fate of a Crown

L. Frank Baum

Need an adventure story with plots and counterplots? Intrigue? A love interest? Politics? Murder? Follow our young American hero, Robert Harcliffe, as he goes on the adventure of his lifetime. A young man just out of college goes to Brazil as secretary of the prime mover in the revolution, and by so doing begins a series of adventures that run from tragic to comic, ending with the success of the conspiracy, a straightening out of many tangles, and the marriage of the hero to one of the most brilliant and beautiful conspirators. Written by the famous Oz author L. Frank Baum under the alias of Schuyler Staunton, The Fate of a Crown is a stirring novel of the events of a South American revolution against the monarchy at the turn of the 20th Century. It was Baums first novel for an adult readership.

The Last Egyptian. A Romance of the Nile

L. Frank Baum

When Gerald Winston, an English Egyptologist travelling on the Nile, meets Kara, who claims to be the last descendant of a royal Egyptian family, the scientists curiosity is sparked by the story Kara tells. Is it true that Karas ancestor Ahtka-Ra, High Priest of Ămen, ruled Rameses II as his puppet? As Winston tries to learn more about the strange Egyptian and his mysterious tale, he is drawn into Karas insidious intrigues. A complex tale of embezzlement, forgery, arranged marriages, bigotry and cheating keep the reader guessing the outcome until the last chapter. The Last Egyptian: A Romance of the Nile was the only adventure novel and the last adult work of fiction of L. Frank Baum, creator of the Wizard of Oz, published eleven years after he wrote Mother Goose in Prose which first introduced a little girl by the name of Dorothy. Enjoy this masterpiece.

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus

L. Frank Baum

Every child knows about Santa Claus, the jolly man who brings gifts to all on Christmas. There are many stories that tell of his life, but the delightful version relayed in The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus is by far the most charming and original of all. Orphaned at an infant Claus is found and raised in the magical Forest of Burzee by a wood-nymph Necile, who convinces the great Ak to allow her to raise Claus for her own. As he grows older he meets his fellow humans, and sees the neglect of children. This sets him on the path to making toys and becoming the beloved Saint Nicholas we are familiar with today. Along the way we learn the origins of the Christmas tree and Christmas stockings and discover the stories behind many Christmas secrets, like why Santa slides down chimneys, how he picks his reindeer, and how he delivers all his toys in one night. Only L. Frank Baum, the man who created the wonderful land of Oz, could have told Santas tale in such rich and imaginative detail!

The Lost Princess of Oz

L. Frank Baum

Who is stealing almost all of the magical treasures of Oz including the Magic Picture, the Wizards black bag, and Glindas Book of Records? Dorothy and her friends set out to comb all of Oz, not only for magic stolen from Glinda and the Wizard, but also for the kidnapped princess, Ozma. Along the way, they explore regions never seen in other Oz books, meeting strange and interesting people and animals, and falling into peril more than once. Deep in the Winkie Country, Dorothys search party learns that Ozma is the prisoner of a mysterious villain. But if their new foe is powerful enough to steal Princess Ozma and all their magical treasures, how will they defeat him with no magic of their own? In this 1917 addition to the Oz series, L. Frank Baum delights readers of all ages with a spellbinding mystery that involves nearly every one of the amazing cast of characters that populate Americas favorite fairyland.

The Magic of Oz

L. Frank Baum

In this witty and imaginative tale, the Royal Historian of Oz, L. Frank Baum, takes young readers back across The Great Sandy Desert for more exciting adventures in the wondrous Land of Oz. Old friends such as Dorothy, the Wizard, and the Cowardly Lion reappear, along with endearing new characters the Glass Cat, the Hungry Tiger, Little Trot, Capn Bill, the Lonesome Duck, and others. In this story, Ozmas kingdom is threatened once again by Nome Ruggedo, the dastardly former Nome King. This time hes teamed up with a young munchkin lad named Kiki Aru whos discovered a secret word which allows him to transform anyone into whatever shape he pleases. When Dorothy, the Wizard, Cowardly Lion, and Hungry Tiger are caught by the wily pair and changed into other shapes, can anyone stop them in time to save all of Oz? Or will Ruggedo finally get his revenge on Ozma and Dorothy? Youll find out in the pages of this exciting story.

The Marvellous Land of Oz

L. Frank Baum

The sequel to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, set shortly after the events in the first book. A fantastical tale of endless imagination, The Marvelous Land of Oz follows the adventures of a young boy named Tip, who, for as long as he can remember has been under the guardianship of a witch named Mombi in the Land of Oz. When Tips prank, in creating a pumpkin-headed man to frighten Mombi backfires, and he is threatened with the terrible fate of being made into a statue as punishment, the young boy runs away and heads for the Emerald City, taking the now living Jack Pumpkinhead with him. Here he meets with our old friends the Scarecrow and Tin Woodman, as well as some new friends like the Wooden Sawhorse, the Highly Magnified Woggle-Bug, and the amazing Gump. They thwart the wicked plans of the evil witch Mombi and overcome the rebellion of General Jinjur and her army of young women. This story is as exciting and endearing today as it was when first published more than 80 years ago.

The Master Key. An Electrical Fairy Tale

L. Frank Baum

The Master Key: An Electrical Fairy Tale was one of Baums earliest full length fantasy books for children, published in 1901 just one year after The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Rob Joslyn is in most respects an ordinary American teenager; his one distinguishing peculiarity is his passion for the new science and craft of electricity. He has his own laboratory in the attic of the family home, and has rigged the house with his electrical gadgets. One day, amid the bewildering cluster of circuits and wires in his workshop, Rob causes a blinding flash of light from which emerges the Demon of Electricity. A young boy receives a series of gifts, electrical gifts, and has a series of unusual adventures. Rob travels the world, rendering assistance to European heads of state and narrowly escaping disaster at the hands of primitive cannibals, Turks and Tatars, pirates, and evil scientists who try to steal his inventions.