The Oz explosion is exponential. I was amazed to find that over 1000 books have been written and published as a result of that first volume which came out in 1900. Certainly Baum had achieved success with his first bestseller, Father Goose: His Book. Despite that book's popularity, none of its several sequels came close to the initial success. The Oz stories, however, were so popular that they outsold every one of Baum's other series books. So much so, that despite his efforts to end the series, popular opinion and financial needs forced him to continue writing Oz stories until his death in 1919.

Following Baum's passing, numerous authors took on the role of "Royal Historian" of Oz. In total, Reilly & Lee published 40 official books over a span of approximately 60 years. Since that time, countless authors have contributed their own narratives to the series. What is truly remarkable is the enduring allure of Oz, even a century after its "discovery." I can hardly think of any other single book, aside from the Bible, that has exerted such a profound influence on American culture.

In 1939, the MGM film featuring Judy Garland further entrenched Oz's significance in the American collective consciousness. Numerous films and television episodes over the last two decades have made references to Oz. "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.", "Lions, and tigers, and bears! Oh, my!", "I'll get you my pretty...and your little dog too!" are merely a few of the countless phrases that are heard in popular culture nearly daily.

It ultimately hinged on the vision of a single individual regarding a genuinely American Fairyland. In crafting The Wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum has certainly brought forth a more vibrant realm for everyone.