Glinda of Oz: In Which Are Related the Exciting Experiences of Princess Ozma of Oz, and Dorothy, in Their Hazardous Journey to the Home of the Flatheads, and to the Magic Isle of the Skeezers, and How They Were Rescued from Dire Peril by the Sorcery of Glinda the Good

In Short

This final installment of the original series chronicles a mission of diplomacy that spirals into a high-stakes rescue. Princess Ozma and Dorothy Gale travel to a remote corner of Oz to mediate a feud between two peculiar cultures—the Flatheads and the Skeezers—only to find themselves imprisoned on a sinking island beneath a glass dome. It is a tale of magical ingenuity, featuring mechanical marvels and ancient sorcery, that highlights the importance of empathy and duty in governance. The work remains a foundational piece of American fantasy, capturing the whimsy and moral clarity of its predecessors.

The Story

Princess Ozma, the beloved Ruler of Oz, receives word of an escalating conflict between the Flatheads, who live atop a high mountain, and the Skeezers, who occupy a Magic Isle in a nearby lake. Determined to resolve the matter peacefully, Ozma sets out with Dorothy, arriving at the Flathead mountain to meet the "Su-dic," or Supreme Dictator. The Su-dic is a bitter, power-hungry man who blames the Skeezer Queen, Coo-ee-oh, for transforming his wife into a Golden Pig. Ozma’s attempts at mediation are interrupted by the sudden news that the Skeezer island has been submerged, trapped under a protective glass dome at the bottom of the lake.

Traveling to the island, Ozma and Dorothy are welcomed by the Skeezers, but they soon discover that Queen Coo-ee-oh is a volatile sorceress who intends to use the sunken island as a fortress. Through a series of magical gambits, the Su-ee-oh is herself transformed into a Diamond Swan, leaving her without the knowledge required to raise the island back to the surface. Ozma and Dorothy are now trapped in a race against time, as the air supply under the dome begins to fail.

Back in the Emerald City, Glinda the Good senses their peril. She convenes a council of the most notable figures in Oz—including the Wizard, the Scarecrow, and the Frogman—to orchestrate a rescue. While the heroes struggle to find a way to reach the sunken island, they learn of three "Adepts" at magic—wise women who were once betrayed by Coo-ee-oh and turned into fishes. Through the clever interference of a young man named Ervic and a reclusive witch named Red Reera, these Adepts are restored to their human forms.

With the Adepts’ specialized knowledge of the island’s mechanical and magical defenses, Glinda leads a mission to the lake. She successfully raises the island, reuniting the prisoners with their rescuers. In the aftermath, the Adepts restore order to the region. Glinda uses her own sorcery to heal the Flatheads, permanently curing their physical and intellectual deformities, and transforms the former rulers, the Su-dic and his wife, into productive, well-adjusted citizens. The story concludes with the restoration of harmony, as the newly named "Mountaineers" and the Skeezers pledge their loyalty to Ozma, and the royal party returns to the Emerald City, satisfied that their duty has been fulfilled.

How It Unfolds

The call to duty Ozma and Dorothy depart the Emerald City to mediate a brewing war between two isolated, hostile peoples. They encounter the Su-dic, a man whose resentment toward his neighbors has led him to abandon reason for petty revenge.

The trapped rulers Upon reaching the Skeezer island, the protagonists find themselves cut off from the outside world when the Queen sinks the entire island beneath the water. They are forced to navigate the Queen’s complex, mechanical palace while waiting for a rescue that seems increasingly unlikely.

The council of experts Glinda assembles the best minds of Oz, including the Wizard and the Shaggy Man, to devise a plan. They realize that only the three betrayed Adepts hold the key to the island’s hidden machinery.

The discovery of the fishes The search for the Adepts leads to a tense encounter with the witch Red Reera, who reveals the truth about the missing women. Their restoration provides the necessary magical insight to undo the Queen’s enchantments.

The final restoration Glinda brings the island to the surface, effectively ending the conflict. The book closes with the permanent transformation of the Flatheads into healthy, intelligent citizens, ensuring a lasting peace for the kingdom.

The People

Princess Ozma is the serene, diplomatic center of the story. Her power lies not in martial strength, but in her ability to "win hearts." She remains calm even when trapped in a sinking island, serving as a foil to the volatile and selfish rulers she encounters. Dorothy Gale provides the grounded, "Earth child" perspective; she is observant and pragmatic, often suggesting the simple ideas that lead to breakthroughs when the magical experts are otherwise stumped.

The Su-dic represents the destructive nature of unchecked anger and vanity. He is a man who would rather rule a kingdom of slaves than live in peace with his neighbors. His transformation from a bitter, flat-headed tyrant into a functioning citizen serves as the book’s clearest moral arc. Queen Coo-ee-oh is a similarly tragic figure of vanity; her obsession with her own beauty and power ultimately renders her a prisoner of her own spells. The three Adepts—Audah, Aurah, and Aujah—bring a sense of ancient, grounded wisdom to the plot, acting as the necessary bridge between the chaotic magic of the past and the ordered, benevolent rule of Ozma.

In Its Own Voice

"You are yourself the most powerful fairy in Oz, although both I and the Wizard have more varied arts of magic at our command."

Glinda explains to Ozma that her true strength is in character rather than mere spell-casting.

"I've been too busy to leave home," he explained, looking at the floor instead of into Ozma's eyes.

The Su-dic offers a transparent lie to the Princess, revealing the depths of his deception and unwillingness to participate in diplomacy.

"You'll need some companion, Ozma," Dorothy pleaded, insisting on her role as a loyal friend during the dangerous journey ahead.

What It's Really About

At its heart, this is a meditation on the responsibilities of leadership. It argues that true authority is not found in the possession of magical "canned brains" or stolen charms, but in the willingness to serve others and heal broken systems. The book explores the tension between isolationism—represented by the Flatheads and Skeezers—and the integrated, peaceful society of Oz. It suggests that conflict often arises from ignorance and the hoarding of resources, and that the duty of a ruler is to facilitate the education and moral development of their people. By turning the "Flatheads" into "Mountaineers," the book posits that social and intellectual equality are the foundations upon which a lasting, fair society must be built.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the classic blend of fairy-tale logic and mechanical wonder will find much to admire here. There is a distinct pleasure in watching the "council" work together; seeing the Scarecrow, the Wizard, and Glinda combine their various skills is like watching a master-class in team-building.

However, a modern reader should be prepared for the period-specific attitudes embedded in the narrative. The premise of "canned brains" as a metaphor for intelligence, and the initial depiction of the Flatheads as physically and intellectually inferior, reflects the anxieties and prejudices of the early 20th century. While the story resolves these issues through "healing" and transformation, the underlying logic is firmly rooted in its time. The prose itself is warm and rhythmic, though the dialogue occasionally carries the heavy, slightly archaic cadence of the era. It is best read as a historical artifact that still manages to be a genuinely engaging adventure. If you appreciate fantasy that favors wit, cooperation, and the triumph of goodness over cruelty, you will find the final journey to the Magic Isle to be a rewarding, if complex, experience. It stays with you not just for the magic, but for the quiet, unshakable resolve of its heroine.