The Forest Monster of Oz

You've got to be taught to hate and fear. You've got to be taught from year to year, It's got to be drummed in your dear little ear-- You've got to be carefully taught!

You've got to be taught to be afraid Of people whose eyes are oddly made And people whose skin is a different shade-- You've got to be carefully taught.

You've got to be taught before it's too late, Before you are six or seven or eight, To hate all the people your relatives hate-- You've got to be carefully taught!

Love is quite different. It grows by itself.

It will grow like a weed On a mountain of stones; You don't have to feed Or put fat on its bones; It can live on a smile Or a note of a song; It may starve for a while, But it stumbles along, Stumbles along with its banner unfurled, The joy and the beauty, the hope of the world.

--Oscar Hammerstein II

THE FOREST MONSTER OF OZ

By Bob Evans

(author of Dorothy's Mystical Adventures in Oz, Abducted to Oz, etc.)

and Chris Dulabone

(author of Toto in Oz, The Lunechien Forest of Oz, etc.)

Illustrated by Doré Meers

Founded on and continuing the famous Oz stories by

L. Frank Baum

Royal Historian of Oz

This book is dedicated to Lachie Dunn who first discovered the existence of Saber-Tooth Light-bulbs

CHAPTER 1

THE COWARDLY LION'S HEROIC DEED

In all the world, there is no country or township known that can ever compare against the beauty and magnitude of the Marvelous Land of Oz. This is not a debatable issue. The Land of Oz is not only beautiful with the glittering gemstones that are found commonplace in this remarkable fairyland, but its enchantment goes ever farther. In all the territory of Oz, there is clean, fresh air and gorgeous trees and scenery. There is peace and quiet when such is desired, and there is high adventure and excitement at other times. In Oz, no one ever grows older than he chooses, and death is practically unheard of. The country is situated in the center of a vast continent, and is surrounded by an impassable Deadly Desert.

Although the vast Deadly Desert Around Oz aptly prevents tourism from abroad, those who are fortunate enough to live on the proper side of this sandy enigma will surely testify that the land is as no other.

The country itself is divided into five distinct regions. The most important of these is the Emerald City. This famous area lies in the exact center of the oblong land, and is home to the supreme ruler over Oz. Her name is Ozma, and she is but a tiny child. Even so, no other ruler in any other country has ever been more respected, loved, or envied. To the south of Ozma's remarkable palace is the Quadling Country. This is ruled over by a powerful Witch named Glinda the Good. In the Quadling Country, red is the favored color, and most of the buildings, walls and furniture are distinctly red in hue. To the west lies the Winkie Country, which is a land where everything is bright and yellow-colored. To the north is the purple Gillikin territory, and to the east live the Munchkins. Among these little people, blue was clearly the color of preference.

It is to this easternmost region that I wish to direct your attention. It was in the blue Munchkin Country of Oz that a house happened to fall from the sky and land with a loud crash atop a most unfortunate Wicked Witch.