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A review by crankylibrarian
The Emerald Burrito of Oz by Mark Levinthal, John Skipp
4.0
The best Oz "reboot" I've read, next to Philip Jose Farmer's classic A Barnstormer in Oz. Unlike nearly every other reimagining, "Burrito" grasps a key concept of Oz-verse: women are the heroes, not sidekicks or lovers. Thus we have a cracking adventure told jointly by American expat Aurora Jones and her visiting best bud Gene, but Aurora is the bad ass hero, who has to rescue her somewhat wimpy friend. ( And no, unlike almost every similar story, Aurora and Gene do not have a romance; they are over that and remain good platonic friends ).
The Skipp/Leventhal Oz is a more dangerous, grown-up world than in Baum, (people have sex, drink, and die) but it retains the trippy weirdness and magical optimism of the original: sentient trees who only part with their leaves if you're polite, a populace who respond to the threat of war with a "Festival of Fun" as they prepare their weapons. And the glorious triumvirate of Dorothy, Ozma and Glinda remain in charge, (no sign of the bumbling wizard). That the now 40 year old Dorothy is the object of hero worship for Aurora is a brilliant touch.
Oz-ficionados will get a kick out of the many throw-away references to the L Frank Baum books, (especially the Emerald City of Oz. If you don't crack up at the "Bunnybury Precision Drill Team" or Aurora's desperate desire to smack the Flutterbudgets, well....all I can say is, you just had to be there.
The Skipp/Leventhal Oz is a more dangerous, grown-up world than in Baum, (people have sex, drink, and die) but it retains the trippy weirdness and magical optimism of the original: sentient trees who only part with their leaves if you're polite, a populace who respond to the threat of war with a "Festival of Fun" as they prepare their weapons. And the glorious triumvirate of Dorothy, Ozma and Glinda remain in charge, (no sign of the bumbling wizard). That the now 40 year old Dorothy is the object of hero worship for Aurora is a brilliant touch.
Oz-ficionados will get a kick out of the many throw-away references to the L Frank Baum books, (especially the Emerald City of Oz. If you don't crack up at the "Bunnybury Precision Drill Team" or Aurora's desperate desire to smack the Flutterbudgets, well....all I can say is, you just had to be there.