List of Oz characters (post-Baum)
This is a list of characters in the original sequel Oz books by L. Frank Baum's successors.
After Baum's death in 1919, publisher Reilly & Lee continued to produce annual Oz books, passing on the role of Royal Historian. Ruth Plumly Thompson took up the task in 1921, and wrote nineteen Oz books yearly through 1939. After Thompson, Reilly & Lee published seven more books in the series: three by John R. Neill, two by Jack Snow, one by Rachel R. Cosgrove, and a final book by Eloise Jarvis McGraw and Lauren Lynn McGraw. The books in Reilly & Lee's Oz series are called "the Famous Forty" by fans, and are considered the canonical Oz texts.
A–K
A-B-Sea Serpent
The A-B-Sea Serpent is a large snake made of alphabet blocks who comes from Mer City in the Nonestic Ocean.First appearing in Thompson's The Royal Book of Oz, the A-B-Sea Serpent and the Rattlesnake were on vacation in the Munchkin River where they encounter the Scarecrow. After A-B-Sea Serpent helped Scarecrow cross the Munchkin River, he invited A-B-Sea Serpent and Rattlesnake to the Emerald City to meet Princess Ozma, Betsy Bobbin, Patchwork Girl, and Tin Woodman.
Agnes
Agnes is a dragon who appeared in Thompson's The Giant Horse of Oz. She is the close friend and assistant of the Good Witch of the North.Belfaygor of Bourne
Belfaygor of Bourne is a major character in Thompson's Jack Pumpkinhead of Oz.Belfaygor resides in the Land of the Barons location of Bourne in the Quadling Country. He is in love with Shirley Sunshine, but because of a magic spell poorly cast by his Miserable Mesmerizer when he asked for a beard for his wedding day, his beard grows at such a rapid rate that he must carry scissors to constantly cut it. This causes severe problems when sleeping. When he is locked in a prison cell with Peter Brown, Jack Pumpkinhead, and Snif the iffin, all except Jack get a close-call as his beard grows in the night, filling so much of the cell that it makes it difficult to breathe.
Belfaygor's curse is often brought up in discussions of the inconsistencies about aging and death in the Land of Oz, as it indicates that mitosis continues to exist in Oz.
After Shirley Sunshine is rescued from Mogodore the Mighty, Belfaygore's beard disappears when he is caught and released from the pirate sack Peter found in Thompson's The Gnome King of Oz as well as the enchantment being broken by the Wizard of Oz. Afterward, he vows never to grow a beard again as he finally marries Shirley.
Jack Snow's encyclopedia Who's Who in Oz describes Belfaygor as ruler over all the other barons, although Thompson never implied that this was the case.
In the 2013 film Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return, Belfaygor is shown among the captives of the Jester that were turned into marionettes.
Belfaygor's name is similar to Belphegor, a spirit of sloth in medieval European demonology, but has no demonic attributes himself.
With the expiration of his source novel's copyright on 1 January 2025, Belfaygor entered the public domain.
Bell-snickle
Bell-snickle is the major villain of Neill's The Scalawagons of Oz. He is described as being like a blue-green buckwheat cake, and is proud to be a mystery. He interferes with the flabber-gas that operates the Scalawagons, sending them out of control. After his defeat, Jenny Jump used him as a rubber stamp in her shop.Bell-snickle appears to be named after the German folkloric character Belsnickel, but does not have any obvious resemblance to him.
Captain Samuel Salt
Captain Samuel Salt is the sea captain of the Crescent Moon who first appears in Thompson's Pirates in Oz.While he gained fame as a pirate captain, he was most interested in exploring causing his crew to abandon him and take two of his ships. When he arrived on Octagon Island, he encountered King Ako whose men also deserted him. The two of them left alongside Ako's companion Roger the Read Bird. The three of them met Peter Brown when they were looking for their deserted crew. After Ruggedo and the pirates are defeated, Captain Salt leaves the pirate business and remains in Oz as the Royal Explorer.
In Thompson's Captain Salt in Oz, Captain Salt had the Crescent Moon refitted by Jinnicky the Red Jinn. He, King Ako, Roger the Read Bird where they discovered Patrippany, Ozamaland, Peakenspire Island, the Sea Forest, and Seeweegia.
Captain Salt is one of Thompson's more popular Oz creations, but his copyright status has restricted his use by other authors. While his titular novel entered the public domain in 1965 due to a clerical oversight, his first appearance remains protected until 1 January 2027.
Clocker
Clocker is a clock-headed man who serves as the wise man of Menankypoo and first appears in Thompson's Pirates in Oz.He can only speak once every 15 minutes when the clock sounds and its cuckoo emerges with a note. The people of Menankypoo confined Clocker to Kadj the Conqueror's cave for "putting ideas in the former king's head." Clocker forms an alliance with Ruggedo in his latest plot to conquer the Land of Oz. This starts when they take advantage of the invading pirates and persuade them to side with Ruggedo. With help from Peter and Captain Salt, Princess Ozma thwarts the invasion and one of the things she does is keep Clocker so that he can be reprogrammed.
Comfortable Camel
The Comfortable Camel is a Bactrian camel who came to the Land of Oz in Thompson's The Royal Book of Oz. He and his companion the Doubtful Dromedary got lost in a sandstorm and ended up in Oz near the Deadly Desert where they met Dorothy Gale. The two of them assisted Dorothy Gale, Cowardly Lion, and Sir Hokes of Pokes in searching for ScarecrowCrunch
Crunch is a gigantic stone man who appears in Thompson's The Cowardly Lion of Oz. He was created by the wizard Wam during the early history of the Land of Oz. As Wam didn't have a purpose for Crunch, he wandered all over the Land of Oz.Many years later, Crunch met Notta Bit More and the Cowardly Lion when they fell from the Skyle. He did join their party until got impatient with the customs of non-magical beings. Crunch took the Cowardly Lion to Mustafa in Mudge so that Mustafa can add the Cowardly Lion to his collection of lions. Then Crunch turned the Cowardly Lion and Mustafa's collection of lions to stone. Glinda and the Wizard of Oz used their magic to freeze Crunch. Ozma states that Crunch's frozen body will remain in Mudge as her way to punish Mustafa.
Davy Jones
Davy Jones is a wooden whale who appears in Neill's Lucky Bucky in Oz.Davy Jones originally served as a ship for some pirates until he abandoned them on an island they attacked. He met Bucky Jones who stated that he is not a pirate and they traveled the ocean. They came across various obstacles when making their way to the Land of Oz. The Wizard of Oz later offered Davy Jones a job where he now resides in Lake Quad which is two miles south of the Emerald City.
Davy is popular among fans as one of Neill's more innovative and memorable creations, with his origin being a popular matter for speculative guesswork. Due to copyright protection, Davy will not become available for other authors to use without special permission, until his novel enters the public domain on 1 January 2038.
Doubtful Dromedary
The Doubtful Dromedary is a dromedary who came to the Land of Oz in Thompson's The Royal Book of Oz and doubts everything that anyone says. He and his companion the Comfortable Camel got lost in a sandstorm and ended up in Oz near the Deadly Desert where they met Dorothy Gale. The two of them assisted Dorothy Gale, Cowardly Lion, and Sir Hokes of Pokes in searching for Scarecrow.Handy Mandy
Handy Mandy is a goatherder who appears in Thompson's Handy Mandy in Oz.She comes from Mt. Mern somewhere in the eastern part of Nonestica where its inhabitants have seven arms. She described each of her hands to King Kerr and his nobles:
A geyser transports Handy Mandy to Keretaria in Munchkin Country. After being reprieved from the dungeon by Nox the Royal Ox, Handy Mandy joins him in finding King Kerry, who is the rightful heir to Keretaria. They stumble upon a plot by the Wizard of Wutz to take over the Land of Oz even when Ruggedo is accidentally freed from his jar. When she strikes her silver hammer, she summons an elf named Himself who turns the Wizard of Wutz and Ruggedo into potted cacti. After order is restored by Ozma, Mandy is finally given gloves. After a month back on Mt. Mern, she uses a wishing pill given to her to bring herself and her goat herd to Keretaria to start a new life.
Herby
Herby is introduced in Thompson's 1928 novel, The Giant Horse of Oz, as a medical doctor who had been transformed into a bottle of cough syrup by Mombi. He is freed from his transformation by Prince Philidor of Ozure Isles early in the novel, but retained a three-shelf medicine chest in his chest and cough drop eyes, and by the end of the novel, was proclaimed the Court Physician in the Emerald City palace, although, because Ozites are almost never sick and cannot die of natural causes, he does not have much work to do, only treating occasional injuries.Herby's name probably derives from the medicinal herbs that would have been contained in his chest. He appeared subsequently in Thompson's Jack Pumpkinhead of Oz, Ojo in Oz, The Wishing Horse of Oz, Handy Mandy in Oz, and Ozoplaning with the Wizard of Oz, although never in a prominent role.
Mark E. Haas wrote a novel featuring Herby, The Medicine Man of Oz. Due to copyright problems, the novel only enjoyed a limited circulation.
The entry of Herby and all other Giant Horse characters into the public domain in 2024, allows the chance for a reprint of Haas' novel, and use of Herby by other authors as well.