Pirates in Oz (Wonderful Oz Books, No 25)

Like too many Oz books (including Baum's), it's pretty much a wander-around-meeting-weirdos story with minimal plot. But this one has some great stuff in it. Starting with Pigasus, the flying pig. When I want to explain, briefly, to a novice, what's great about RP Thompson, I describe Pigasus. And Ruggedo's adventures are absorbing, and we get the best pictures of him, cowering and snarling. PIRATES is his last major appearance; in HANDY MANDY he's a bit part. PIRATES is also his most sympathetic appearance. We are actually glad, for instance, when he gets to eat and rest well as King of Menankypoo rather than sleeping on the ground. And you'll cheer for him when he uses the Standing Stick on the pirates.

Most of Ruth Plumly Thompson's Oz books cannot compare to those of L. Frank Baum. That is still true but her later ones are a lot closer and show a steady improvement. In general, she tends to use her own character creations for the main story line and rely on Baum's for window dressing. That is still true but it is also true that the quality of writing for her own characters is better. That is the case with Peter in this volume This is Peter's 3rd trip to the magical kingdoms. He is a young boy from Philadelphia and is a strong character with all the youthful exuberance to be expected of a young boy. In this story, he hooks up with a soft hearted pirate and a king whose subjects have rebelled. They learn that the pirate's mutinous crew and the king's erstwhile subjects have joined forces with the gnome king who is out to conquer Oz yet again. Most of the action in this book takes place outside of Oz. That was the case with some of Baum's best work and it also seems to be the case for Thompson. The adventure story is a good one and John R. Neil's illustrations must be considered definitive for all things Oz. This one is worth the read.