"The Curious Cruise of Captain Santa" is the seventy-second book in the Oz series originally started by L. Frank Baum. It was written by Ruth Plumly Thompson and published in 1926. It is one of the many Borderland of Oz stories, taking place outside of Oz but still within the realm of Baum's fairyland.
This is actually a second sequel to Baum's "The Life and Adventures of Santa Clause," which is its own version. But it is important to understand that this is also a story not done by Baum. So you have a person who is doing their own interpretation and style.
The one thing that makes this book very odd is the idea that Santa is captaining a sea vessel. The reason he is doing this is because he is out looking for new toy ideas out in the ocean. He is joined by a boy chimneysweep named Jimmy Christmas, a penguin named Penny, and a polar bear named Huggerumbo.
Although it starts off at the North Pole, it ends up in the south seas and eventually in fairyland. The way they get to fairyland is by sailing past the sun before it sets. There is a sort of gateway next to it that you can sail around. This was actually a neat visual, and they did illustrate it.
Now, please understand, this story was written in the early days of Ruth Plumly Thomson's Oz career. The books of hers around this time were not very good. I was pretty much forced to just put up with them for a long time. This book is nothing different. It's actually a fairly annoying read full of silly writing intended to intensely patronize little children. The real sense of adventure and danger is not really there.
Even when the crew encounters a bunch of hungry cannibals on an island, I never really felt like they were any danger because everything was just so silly. She takes every opportunity to make jokes, and nothing is ever serious. The jokes are often really lame and not, in any way, well delivered. Also... making up words that don't exist is not as amusing as she probably thinks they are.
Other than the fact that Santa Clause looks pretty damn good in a sailor's cap, this book is really dry and uninteresting. Early Thompson is pretty much like that. I don't really recommend this book.
This blog was written on January 6, 2023.
Thank you for reading my blog! Did you enjoy it? Either way, you can comment below, or you can email me at tkwadeauthor@gmail.com. Also stop by my Amazon.com listing by clicking this link: https://www.amazon.com/T.K.-Wade/e/B07BQK9RTZ
Check out my books! Thanks!
I appreciate that you mention the good things about a book you don't recommend. It is an honest assessment, thus, a credible critique. Sad that this book did not live up to its interesting premise.
ReplyDeleteOh, I think there is always a little good in every book I read. It's worth mentioning it.
DeleteIt's a shame the book wasn't very good. If danger isn't dangerous it really takes the fun away. Interesting though that Santa is a canon character in Oz.
ReplyDeleteYou gotta convince me that the bad things are bad for me to care.
DeleteIt is important when being humorous that it does not take away from the seriousness of the work. Comedy is often used to relieve tension, so use it only when necessary. A certain level of tension can help to retain the reader's interest.
ReplyDeleteThis book had zero tension.
Delete