"A Murder in Oz" is a short story written by Jack Snow. It was published in 1958 after the man's death. Although it is not a complete book, it is considered one of the few canonized Oz stories falling into the timeline between "The Hidden Valley of Oz" and "Yankee in Oz."
The story opens with the main cast of Oz characters discussing the idea of murder and if anyone could actually be murdered in Oz. There has never actually been a murder in Oz since all living parts continue to keep living separately, even in a destroyed state.
Soon after this discussion commences, Ozma literally dies, which is unprecedented in the whole of Oz canon. After the Wizard checks on her, he claims that she did not just die... she was murdered. This leads into a sort of "who-dun-it" scenario.
Now, after a small investigation, the Wizard figures out that the only way Ozma could have been murdered was if she had done it herself... a sort of fairy suicide. However, it is soon realized that it was not particularly her who did it... but Tip. In "The Marvelous Land of Oz," the second book in the series, Tip was an adventurous boy who gets transformed into Ozma, who is absolutely female in every way. Tip's spirit finally rejects being female and kills her, taking his place as a boy once more.
After realizing the truth of this, The Wizard makes plans to make it so that both people can live separate lives in the land of Oz, although the story ends before any of this is realized.
The weird thing that happened to Tip/Ozma in the second book has been a thing of controversy and contention ever since it happened. Baum never really bothered to deal with the issue that a character who clearly existed was suddenly and completely another very different person. It was almost as if Tip himself was murdered. I admit to being one of those people who felt this way. It has been on my mind for over a decade.
Jack Snow was a very miserable and depressed person who became so obsessed with the Oz universe that it ended up leading to an early death. He drank himself to death. He died at 48. Many believe that he had some sort of gender dysphoria where he may have been either gay or saw himself as a female trapped in a male body. In the age he lived in, he must have felt trapped with nobody to listen to him, and so he dove headlong into the world of Oz where transformations were commonplace.
Believe it or not, this is actually a fairly common thing. Oz has been a sanctuary for people with upset minds like Jack Snow. I found out about this some time ago. Oz seems like it has near infinite possibilities and naturally a solution for all problems. Heck, the Wizard himself invented an actual wishing pill that can solve any problem by simply swallowing it.
I know this is kind of a sad way to end this review. I just wanted you to know Jack's story. As far as "A Murder in Oz," I do recommend it, but it is very hard to find. I had to pull a lot of strings just for the privilege of reading it. It goes down as one of the best Oz stories ever written and ultimately ties up an open end that was lingering in the series for far too long.
I do also want to say that, even though he has not written many Oz stories, Jack Snow is the only author I have read so far that is every bit as good if not better than L. Frank Baum himself. The man obsessed so much over Baum's universe that he ended up being the perfect spiritual successor to the original man who created it. The quality and love is so clearly there, and I am so incredibly thankful for what very little he did for the franchise.
This blog was written on May 9, 2023.
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Sad that the book was never finished. Yeah, Tip was REALLY a boy and Ozma is REALLY a girl, so they are worlds apart even as the same person. As things were, to save the one was to sacrifice the other. The wizard found the solution Jack Snow wanted in his real life, it seems. Like the book, his life ended incoclusively.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't finished, but that may have been by design. It's hard to say. Either way, it works as is.
DeleteIt's a shame that Jack Snow has such a sad life, at least he bothered to contribute to what he loved. It's great that the Tip / Ozma situation had a good resolution. Jack Snow was true to Baum's universe because he wrote with love.
ReplyDeleteWell said. I honestly adore everything that came out of the guy.
DeleteMany people are uncomfortable in their own skin. So, it makes sense that Oz would be a means of escape. It is when you wake up that you realize the problems are still there.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's sad.
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