By Gregory Maguire
Review by Edmund Beltejar
Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore.
Nearly a century after The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was first published, children's book author Gregory Maguire wrote a gripping revisionist adult novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. A biography of that scary, green-faced, childhood icon of malevolence: the Wicked Witch of the West.
In Wicked, we are told the whole story-cradle to puddle-of Elphaba (the name Maguire gave her is taken from the initials of her creator, L. Frank Baum), who would eventually become the Wicked Witch of the West. Our previous caricature-ish opinions about the Wicked Witch are turned inside out in light of additional information presented in the novel.
Maguire gives us much insight into (and rarely contradicts) the all too familiar iconography of L. Frank Baum's magical world of Oz. Elphaba's green skin and her aversion to water, the ruby slippers, the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man, and the Scarecrow all have terribly fascinating stories behind them.
During crossroads in Elphaba's life, Yackle, a dwarf-like creature appears. Not unlike the Fates in Greek mythology, Yackle steers the story from the sidelines, twisting people, things, and circumstances to her will.
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For full stories, grab a copy of Speed's SEPTEMBER 2006 issue in bookstores and newsstands near you.
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