The Sea Fairies (Illustrated First Edition): 100th Anniversary Edition

This book has no moral core, no plot, and no notable characters. I expected better from Baum. Some highlights of the weirdness that is this book: eating sentient creatures, a suicidal sea serpent, and enslaved lobsters (All of these are endorsed by our “good” characters)

Sure, SEA FAIRIES is plotless, and SKY ISLAND is much better, but SEA FAIRIES has some strange, thought-provoking characters (besides the first appearance of Trot and Cap'n Bill). Starting with Zog himself, one of the few villians in Baum who is totally, unredeemably evil, and the only one who correctly perceives exactly how evil he is. Satan-like, he mourns his own absurd existance, frowning when happy and smiling sweetly when angry. Equally thought-provoking is his slave Sacho, maybe the most Christ-like character in Baum. I never knew, and still don't, what to make of Anko. Baum's other comedic-but-formidable good-guys like the Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger are different because they are vulnerable and troubled; even Quox the Dragon is easier to believe in than Anko, who is one of the mightiest natural forces on the planet and represents good in one of Baum's most epic good-vs-evil battles (the only greater one is in SANTA CLAUS)--and the jokes he unconsciously spouts and riffs on are too lame even for Baum who used some very bad ones! Mistaking Nebuchadnezzar's name for "Nevercouldnever"--someone explain that to me please. It's not even good baby-talk. ** UPDATE: On the other hand, upon rereading I find that some of it is just gut-bustingly funny. For instance: "Oh, I'm very well, thank you," answered Anko. "I never remember to have had a pain but three times in my life. The last time was when Julius Sneezer was on earth." "You mean Julius Caesar," said Trot, correcting him. "No, I mean Julius Sneezer," insisted the Sea Serpent. "That was his real name--Sneezer. They called him Caesar sometimes just because he took everything he could lay hands on. I ought to know, because I saw him when he was alive. Did you see him when he was alive, Cap'n Bill?" Here's a question: does this edition include the incredibly beautiful color plates from the early editions? If yes, do they have the metallic border-pictures? These plates are some of Jno. R. Neill's very best work, fully as beautiful as the original color plates in THE EMERALD CITY OF OZ with the green metallic ink, and the wonderful water-colors in DOROTHY AND THE WIZARD.

This book was written establishing relationships between a curious girl and a family friend. They set off on a day trip that becomes a journey of good and evil. There are surprises of all types. New friends are made throughout the ocean and some lost contacts are found. I do recommend this book. I do see an element of the Wizard of the underwater OZ.

It's Not Oz L Frank Baum is perhaps one of the finest children's authors ever to have lived with his WIZARD OF OZ series occupying an honored place in the canon of juvenile literature. He wrote other books as well, though, and THE SEA FAIRIES is one of these. It has no connection at all to the OZ stories in its original issue. Oz fans will recognize, however, the two main characters of Trot and Capt. Bill. This book was their fist literary appearance. Later on, they were integrated into the Oz milieu. This story, I am sorry to say, is not one of Baum's best efforts. That being said, he sets such a high standard that this one is still pretty good. It is just not as good as his Oz books. The story seems a bit more simplistic but it still shows his love of wordplay and vivid imagination. The plot is a simple one. Trot and Capt. Bill are taken by mermaids for a visit to their magical, undersea kingdom. They go not as prisoners but as honored guests. While there, they are temporarily given the tails of mer-beings to allow them to get around easier. They tour the realms of the Mermaid Queen and see some of the queer inhabitants of her domain. While on the way to visit her overlord, however, they are abducted by an evil wizard and must devote their energies to staying alive until they are either rescued or find a way to escape. It is a good and uplifting story. It suffers only in comparison to Oz.

This was a great book! I love the Oz books, and this was just as good, if not better than some. It is about a girl named Trot and her wise old friend Cap'n Bill, a sailor who lost his leg and has lived with Trot's family ever since. They go deep into the ocean to see a beautiful mermaids palace, meet the sweet and lovely mermaids, and explore the ocean. One of Baum's best books, the descriptions are fabulous and humorous. Then the mermaids and their comrades ghet captured by the evil wizard, Zog, and they have to fight to stay alive, outwitting Zog's clever plans. I have always been fascinated with mermaids, and I have never been able to find a great book that really got into the lives of mermaids until now. GET THIS BOOK! END