Rinkitink in Oz
1993
Rinkitink in Oz
1993
The most unusual entry in the Oz canon begins far from the Emerald City, on the tranquil island of Pingaree. Prince Inga lives a sheltered life with his father, King Kitticut, until warships from the twin islands of Regos and Coregos shatter the peace, enslaving the people and scattering the royal family. Armed only with his courage and three magical pearls given by his father, Inga sets sail across the Nonestic Ocean to rescue those he loves. What follows is pure adventure story: daring rescues, close escapes, and an unlikely friendship with the rotund, jolly King Rinkitink and his long-suffering talking goat, Bilbil, whose sardonic commentary provides the book's sharpest humor. Their quest leads them into the caverns of the Nome King himself, where the real test of Inga's mettle begins. The book carries a secret history that makes it stranger and more fascinating than typical Oz fare. Baum wrote most of it in 1905 as a standalone fantasy, then refashioned it into an Oz novel a decade later, inserting Oz elements only at the climax. The result feels like an adventure novel wrapped in fairy tale clothing, and it harks back to the swashbuckling boys' books Baum loved as a child.
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