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Was (novel)
Encyclopedia
Was is a WFA nominated 1992
parallel novel
by Geoff Ryman
focussing on the (in some cases, tragic) lives of disparate individuals linked to one another by L. Frank Baum
's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
, and the musical
film version
. Ranging across time and space from the 1860s Kansas
to the late 1980s California
, among other locations, the novel's characters include a tapestry of characters, some real but most fictitious, whose lives indirectly affect each other.
male actor with AIDS
who goes on a pilgrimage of sorts to Manhattan
, Kansas and the "real" (but imaginary) Dorothy
on whom the book's fictional version of L. Frank Baum based the character.
Other characters include Baum, who makes an appearance as a substitute teacher in Kansas. Millie, a makeup girl on the set of the original film version
film narrates an encounter with Judy Garland
, its lead actress.
Jonathan's childhood, in contrast, involves his dependence on the imaginary characters from first airing of The Wizard of Oz on television.
A roughly fictionalized version of Judy Garland
's difficult life as a child actress is also shown, speculating on the marriage of her parents.
Was has been described as more somber than Frank Baums Oz, and an attempt to correct the deceptive fantasy of that work, illuminating the realistic implications of having a fantasy world to retreat to. It has also been called a critique of American society.
*The Publishing Triangle placed it number 79 on its list of best gay and lesbian novels, and the book was republished as a part of Orion's Masterworks series.
, with music by Joseph Thalken. A musical production sponsored by the American Musical Theatre Project premiered at the Ethel M. Barber Theatre at Northwestern University
in October 2005. An earlier version of the musical had appeared at the Human Race Theatre in Dayton
, Ohio
.
1992 in literature
The year 1992 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-New books:*Ben Aaronovitch - Transit*Julia Álvarez - How the García Girls Lost Their Accents*Paul Auster - Leviathan*Iain Banks - The Crow Road...
parallel novel
Parallel novel
This is a partial list of works of fiction that are written within, or derived from, the framework of another work of fiction by another author. This list does not include franchised book series, which are typically works licensed by the publisher of the original work to use its settings and...
by Geoff Ryman
Geoff Ryman
Geoffrey Charles Ryman is a writer of science fiction, fantasy and surrealistic or "slipstream" fiction.Ryman currently lectures in Creative Writing for University of Manchester's English Department. His most recent full-length novel, The King's Last Song, is set in Cambodia, both at the time of...
focussing on the (in some cases, tragic) lives of disparate individuals linked to one another by L. Frank Baum
L. Frank Baum
Lyman Frank Baum was an American author of children's books, best known for writing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz...
's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a children's novel written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W. W. Denslow. Originally published by the George M. Hill Company in Chicago on May 17, 1900, it has since been reprinted numerous times, most often under the name The Wizard of Oz, which is the name of...
, and the musical
Musical film
The musical film is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, though in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate...
film version
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)
The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming. Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf received credit for the screenplay, but there were uncredited contributions by others. The lyrics for the songs...
. Ranging across time and space from the 1860s Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
to the late 1980s California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, among other locations, the novel's characters include a tapestry of characters, some real but most fictitious, whose lives indirectly affect each other.
Plot summary
The novel is separated into three parts, Winter Kitchen, Summer Kitchen, and Oz Circle. The primary focus is put on Jonathan, a gayGay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
male actor with AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
who goes on a pilgrimage of sorts to Manhattan
Manhattan, Kansas
Manhattan is a city located in the northeastern part of the state of Kansas in the United States, at the junction of the Kansas River and Big Blue River. It is the county seat of Riley County and the city extends into Pottawatomie County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 52,281...
, Kansas and the "real" (but imaginary) Dorothy
Dorothy Gale
Dorothy Gale is the protagonist of many of the Oz novels by American author L. Frank Baum, and the best friend of Oz's ruler Princess Ozma. Dorothy first appears in Baum's classic children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and reappears in most of its sequels...
on whom the book's fictional version of L. Frank Baum based the character.
Other characters include Baum, who makes an appearance as a substitute teacher in Kansas. Millie, a makeup girl on the set of the original film version
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)
The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming. Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf received credit for the screenplay, but there were uncredited contributions by others. The lyrics for the songs...
film narrates an encounter with Judy Garland
Judy Garland
Judy Garland was an American actress and singer. Through a career that spanned 45 of her 47 years and for her renowned contralto voice, she attained international stardom as an actress in musical and dramatic roles, as a recording artist and on the concert stage...
, its lead actress.
Childhood
Was discusses a number of complex themes, including the importance of a stable childhood. Much of the novel is devoted to the dreary life that Dorothy Gael (surname different from Baum's character) leads with her aunt and uncle, Emma and Henry Gulch. Neither parental figure is capable of providing Dorothy with the affection or the attention she needs. As a result, Dorothy becomes silent at home and aggressive in school.Jonathan's childhood, in contrast, involves his dependence on the imaginary characters from first airing of The Wizard of Oz on television.
A roughly fictionalized version of Judy Garland
Judy Garland
Judy Garland was an American actress and singer. Through a career that spanned 45 of her 47 years and for her renowned contralto voice, she attained international stardom as an actress in musical and dramatic roles, as a recording artist and on the concert stage...
's difficult life as a child actress is also shown, speculating on the marriage of her parents.
Was has been described as more somber than Frank Baums Oz, and an attempt to correct the deceptive fantasy of that work, illuminating the realistic implications of having a fantasy world to retreat to. It has also been called a critique of American society.
Reception
Listed in The Gay Canon as one of the great books that every gay man should read.*The Publishing Triangle placed it number 79 on its list of best gay and lesbian novels, and the book was republished as a part of Orion's Masterworks series.
Awards and nominations
- Finalist for the World Fantasy Award
- Shortlisted for the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel, 1993
- Induucted into the Gaylactic Spectrum Awards Hall of Fame in 2002.
Musical adaptation
Tina Landau directed, Barry Kleinbort wrote the book and lyricsLyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
, with music by Joseph Thalken. A musical production sponsored by the American Musical Theatre Project premiered at the Ethel M. Barber Theatre at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
in October 2005. An earlier version of the musical had appeared at the Human Race Theatre in Dayton
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
External links
- Was at Worlds Without End