The Emerald City of Oz (1910) was the sixth Oz book written by L. Frank Baum,
a title he hoped would be the last. In this book, Dorothy and her impoverished
Uncle Henry and Aunt Em are on the brink of losing their Kansas farm.
Consequently, Ozma invites them all to live in the Emerald City. They then
explore the countryside, visiting a series of strange beings including the
Cuttenclips, the Fuddles, the Rigmaroles, the Flutterbudgets, and the residents
of Utensia, Bunbury and Bunnybury. Aunt Em and Uncle Henry also meet old friends
like the Wizard, the Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger, the Scarecrow, the Tin
Woodman, Jack Pumpkinhead and H. M. Wogglebug T. E. The travelers’ idyll is
brought short by the plot of an old enemy, the Nome King. Seeking revenge for
the loss of his magic belt, the Nome King has an underground tunnel built so he
can invade and plunder Oz and enslave its peoples. Our friends manage to defeat
the Nome King and his allies, but sobered by this threat, Glinda and Ozma decide
to cut off Oz from the outside world forever. Happily for Oz fans, forever
lasted only three years. Baum invented a way to reopen communications with Oz
and eight more Oz books were published between 1913-1920. (Summary by Judy
Bieber)