History Creator / LFrankBaum

* AlliterativeTitle: ''The Magical Monarch of Mo''.

* CloudCuckooLand: A lot of his fictional countries, but especially Mo in ''The Magical Monarch of Mo''. For point of reference, this is a place where the treatment for sore throat is to remove a person's neck, turn it inside out, put it out to ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curing_(food_preservation) cure,]]'' turn it right-side-in again, and put the person's neck back. You can also get out of a deep pit by pushing the side so hard it flips the pit upside-down so you're at the top, not the bottom.

* WeirdWeather: ''The Magical Monarch of Mo'' is about a {{Cloudcuckooland}} where it rains lemonade and snows popcorn, "and the lightning in the sky resembles the most beautiful fireworks; and the thunder is usually a chorus from the opera of ''Theatre/{{Tannhaeuser}}''." The land, rain, and snow all return in ''The Scarecrow of Oz''.

* SharedUniverse: It may not have started this way, but by ''Literature/TheRoadToOz'' and it's MassiveMultiplayerCrossover ending it was canon that all of Baum's fantasy novels took place in the same universe. Later on when maps of Oz and the continent it resides on were created it was revealed that all of Baum's fantasies take place on the same continent. This later allowed Baum to rescue Trot and Cap'n Bill after their series was cancelled by having them end up in Oz.

** Baum even [[ExaggeratedTrope exaggerates]] this trope, because the [[Literature/LandOfOz ''Land of Oz'']] series is known for its SurpriseCreepy, with a fair amount of FamilyUnfriendlyViolence and NightmareFuel for a little kid's series. Many readers have also noticed some oddities about how Oz is presented (often due to ValuesDissonance), such as how [[BanOnMagic no one but the two regents are allowed to use magic]] or how the former Wizard of Oz is [[DesignatedHero treated as a "good man" despite all his previous misdeeds]]. It's essentially a dictatorship, [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans but it's a ''benevolent'' one, so few citizens are unsatisfied]]. ''Still, these UnfortunateImplications are enough to make writers brainstorm''. So the [[Literature/LandOfOz ''Land of Oz'']] books is reinterpreted as more [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotPolitical political than intended]]. As a result, Oz and its characters routinely get referenced in dark, political manners and many adaptations politicize the setting. Glinda the Good Witch and the Wizard of Oz are especially prone to getting reinterpreted as more [[AdaptationalVillainy amoral than intended]]. The Emerald City will also be turned into a StepfordSuburbia that looks pretty and shiny but hides darker secrets underneath. To resume, ''Creator/LFrankBaum unintendedly created a whole literary genre, that is a Sub-trope to FracturedFairytale called DystopianOz''.

** The ''[[Literature/TheWonderfulWizardOfOz Oz]]'' books are now public domain, at least those published before 1923, which includes all of Baum's work. Certain aspects from later books and adaptations are still copyrighted, most famously the [[Film/TheWizardOfOz 1939 film's]] [[AdaptationDyeJob Ruby Slippers]] (they're silver in the original).

[[caption-width-right:200:Picture missing the ball and chain attached to silver shoes.]]

Lyman (long for "L.") Frank Baum (May 15, 1856 – May 6, 1919) was an American author, best known for ''Literature/TheWonderfulWizardOfOz''--a work so popular that, in fact, he was chained to the series and wrote Oz book after Oz book while longing to write ''anything'' else. That the series was in no way pre-planned helps explain what a ContinuitySnarl the ''Oz'' books are, as well as the fact that he often juggled various side projects while rushing out yearly ''Oz'' books, such as theater productions (arguably his true passion over writing) and later, silent films for his short-lived film studio. Baum also wrote many novels for adult audiences under various pen names.

He wrote the second ''Oz'' book to capitalize on the success of the stage version of ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'', and although he didn't plan to turn it into a series he was talked into writing four more books by the publisher. After trying to end the series at six books and move onto a new fantasy adventure series starring his characters Trot and Cap'n Bill, some bad theater investments and poor book sales necessitated his return to the ''Oz'' series after only a three year absence, which he would be stuck writing for the rest of his life.

* ExpansionPackWorld: The continent of Nonestica, which later was revealed to be the location of Oz, Ev, Mo, the Forest of Burzee, and nearly every other fantasy location in Baum’s work.

Lyman (long for "L.") Frank Baum (May 15, 1856 – May 6, 1919) was an American author, best known for ''Literature/TheWonderfulWizardOfOz''--a work so popular that, in fact, he was chained to the series and wrote Oz book after Oz book while longing to write ''anything'' else. That the series was in now way pre-planned helps explain what a ContinuitySnarl the ''Oz'' books are, as well as the fact that he often juggled various side projects while rushing out yearly ''Oz'' books, such as theater productions (arguably his true passion over writing) and later, silent films for his short-lived film studio. Baum also wrote many novels for adult audiences under various pen names.

Lyman (long for "L.") Frank Baum (May 15, 1856 – May 6, 1919) was an American author, best known for ''Literature/TheWonderfulWizardOfOz''--a work so popular that, in fact, he was chained to the series and wrote Oz book after Oz book while longing to write ''anything'' else. This helps explain what a ContinuitySnarl the ''Oz'' books are, as well as the fact that he often juggled various side projects while rushing out yearly ''Oz'' books, such as theater productions (arguably his true passion over writing) and later, silent films for his short-lived film studio. Baum also wrote many novels for adult audiences under various pen names.

* GrowsOnTrees: ''Literature/TheMagicalMonarchOfMo''. In the land of Mo, everything the people need in their daily lives grows on trees. This includes swords, hats, rings, peanuts, medicine, preserved apricots, shrimp salad, animal crackers, and bicycles.

* PublicDomainCharacter: SantaClaus.
** The ''[[Literature/TheWonderfulWizardOfOz Oz]]'' books are now public domain as well, at least those published before 1923, which includes all of Baum's work. Certain aspects from later books and adaptations are still copyrighted, most famously the [[Film/TheWizardOfOz 1939 film's]] [[AdaptationDyeJob Ruby Slippers]] (they're silver in the original).

Before being utterly trapped by Oz, he wrote a number of other works, such as his first best selling book ''Mother Goose in Prose'', and ''WesternAnimation/TheLifeAndAdventuresOfSantaClaus''.

* The first 14 books of the Literature/LandOfOz series, with specific books with trope pages being:

* DirectLineToTheAuthor: Was fond of using this trope in the introductions to the ''Oz'' books, and since they're in a SharedUniverse with his other fantasy books one could presume this trope applied with all of his books, whether stated or not. For instance, after Oz was shut off from the rest of the world, he was able to find a way to communicate with Oz via telegraph in order to get more stories.

* SharedUniverse: It may not have started this way, but by ''Literature/TheRoadToOz'' and it's MassiveMultiplayerCrossover ending it was canon that at least all of Baum's fantasy novels took place in the same universe. Later on when maps of Oz and the continent it resides on were created it was revealed that all of Baum's fantasies take place on the same continent. This later allowed Baum to rescue Trot and Cap'n Bill after their series was cancelled by having them end up in Oz.

Lyman (long for "L.") Frank Baum (May 15, 1856 – May 6, 1919) was an American author, best known for ''Literature/TheWonderfulWizardOfOz''--a work so popular that, in fact, he was chained to the series and wrote Oz book after Oz book while longing to write ''anything'' else. This helps explain what a ContinuitySnarl the ''Oz'' books are, as well as the fact that he often juggled various side projects while releasing yearly ''Oz'' books, such as theater productions (arguably his true passion over writing) and later, silent films for his short-lived film studio. Baum also wrote many novels for adult audiences under various pen names.

Lyman (long for "L.") Frank Baum (May 15, 1856 – May 6, 1919) was an American author, best known for ''Literature/TheWonderfulWizardOfOz''--a work so popular that, in fact, he was chained to the series and wrote Oz book after Oz book while longing to write ''anything'' else. Which helps explain what a ContinuitySnarl the Oz books are. He wrote the second book to capitalize on the success of the stage version of ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'', and although he didn't plan to turn it into a series he was talked into writing four more books by the publisher. After trying to end the series at six books and move onto a new fantasy adventure series starring his characters Trot and Cap'n Bill, some bad theater investments and poor book sales necessitated his return to the ''Oz'' series after only three years, which he would be stuck writing for the rest of his life.

Before being utterly trapped by Oz, he wrote a number of other works, such as ''WesternAnimation/TheLifeAndAdventuresOfSantaClaus''. He also wrote many novels for adult audiences under various pen names.

Lyman (long for "L.") Frank Baum (May 15, 1856 – May 6, 1919) was an American author, best known for ''Literature/TheWonderfulWizardOfOz''--a work so popular that, in fact, he was chained to the series and wrote Oz book after Oz book while longing to write ''anything'' else. Which helps explain what a ContinuitySnarl the Oz books are. Before being utterly trapped by Oz, he wrote a number of other works, such as ''WesternAnimation/TheLifeAndAdventuresOfSantaClaus''.

* Literature/LandOfOz series as a whole, with specific books with trope pages being:

->''"When I was young I longed to write a great novel that should win me fame. Now that I am getting old my first book is written to amuse children. For aside from my evident inability to do anything "great," I have learned to regard fame as a will-o-the-wisp which, when caught, is not worth the possession; but to please a child is a sweet and lovely thing that warms one's heart and brings its own reward."''

** Not only that, but the ''Land of Oz'' series is known for its SurpriseCreepy, with a fair amount of FamilyUnfriendlyViolence and NightmareFuel for a little kid's series. Many readers have also noticed some oddities about how Oz is presented (often due to ValuesDissonance), such as how [[BanOnMagic no one but the two regents are allowed to use magic]] or how the former Wizard of Oz is [[DesignatedHero treated as a "good man" despite all his previous misdeeds]]. It's essentially a dictatorship, [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans but it's a ''benevolent'' one, so few citizens are unsatisfied]]. ''Still, these UnfortunateImplications are enough to make writers brainstorm''. So the ''Land of Oz'' books is reinterpreted as more [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotPolitical political than intended]]. As a result, Oz and its characters routinely get referenced in dark, political manners and many adaptations politicize the setting. Glinda the Good Witch and the Wizard of Oz are especially prone to getting reinterpreted as more [[AdaptationalVillainy amoral than intended]]. The Emerald City will also be turned into a StepfordSuburbia that looks pretty and shiny but hides darker secrets underneath. To resume, ''Creator/LFrankBaum unintendedly created a whole literary genre, that is a Sub-trope to FracturedFairytale called DystopianOz''.

** Not only that, but the Oz series is known for its SurpriseCreepy, with a fair amount of FamilyUnfriendlyViolence and NightmareFuel for a little kid's series. Many readers have also noticed some oddities about how Oz is presented (often due to ValuesDissonance), such as how [[BanOnMagic no one but the two regents are allowed to use magic]] or how the former Wizard of Oz is [[DesignatedHero treated as a "good man" despite all his previous misdeeds]]. It's essentially a dictatorship, [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans but it's a ''benevolent'' one, so few citizens are unsatisfied]]. Still, these implications are enough to make writers brainstorm. So the ''Land of Oz'' books is reinterpreted as more [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotPolitical political than intended]]. As a result, Oz and its characters routinely get referenced in dark, political manners and many adaptations politicize the setting. Glinda the Good Witch and the Wizard of Oz are especially prone to getting reinterpreted as more [[AdaptationalVillainy amoral than intended]]. The Emerald City will also be turned into a StepfordSuburbia that looks pretty and shiny but hides darker secrets underneath. To resume, ''Creator/LFrankBaum unintendedly created a whole literary genre, that is a Sub-trope to FracturedFairytale called DystopianOz''.