Santa Claus in Oz is the second Oz book from Richard Capwell, and a delightful addition to the writings on the magical land of Oz first described in the books written over 100 years ago by L. Frank Baum. His first Oz book issued earlier this year was called The Red Gorilla of Oz. While this Santa Claus book takes place a little over a year after Red Gorilla ends, it can be read on its own.
The story starts with Santa Claus visiting Ozma's palace in the Emerald City. Santa tells Ozma that he is dying because the fairy-made Cloak of Immortality he wears is falling apart. He hopes that she, being a fairy, can help. The only clue they have is mysterious message and a magical compass devised by two long-gone manufacturers named Smith & Tinker, famous in the L. Frank Baum novels for creating the clockwork man Tik-Tok.
Santa asks Button Bright, another Baum character who is the perennial careless youth, to help him on a quest that takes them all over Oz. Meanwhile, the Wizard of Oz, assisted by the moonbeam fairy Iliana, is intrigued by a jar of keys left by Smith & Tinker in the Emerald City and starts to delve into Oz's ancient history.
Capwell has written another exciting adventure that skillfully weaves Oz's past lore into a marvelous new adventure. Glinda's secret past, hinted at in The Red Gorilla of Oz is revealed as the quests of Santa and the Wizard merge in a thrilling conclusion.
Illustrated with very simple line drawings by the author, this is a book that pleased me as an avid reader of Ozianic literature. I am not sure it will do well with those unfamiliar with Baum's writings.
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