Dark and surprising, Gleeson’s modern twist on the world-famous classic tale is rich in characters and world building…
Expertly combining hard-core science fiction and high fantasy, Gleeson tells the story of twenty-first century’s greatest sorcerer who sets out to save humanity from a powerful alien force. After the Witch Queen of Oz, a powerful alien from Orion, secretly invades Earth and sets on to destroy humanity, Piper Robbin, the greatest sorcerer of twenty-first century, builds a network of seven Oz-like city worlds as a protection against the Witch Queen. But Robbin’s magical creations stands a little chance in front of the Witch Queen’s enduring prowess. To defeat the evil alien Queen, Robbin must unite forces with her father Edison Godfellow, Earth’s greatest world maker, and Czarina Catherine of Prussia, her greatest adversary. Gleeson captures the classic story’s epic sweep in his numerous dramatic settings and high-octane action sequences. A constant array of high-profile encounters between allies and enemy forces keep the action going with maximum adventure. The characterization is Gleeson’s strong point with his careful introduction to the villains and portrayal of heroes as splendid beasts. The horrible blood-curdling violence and humanity’s dramatic encounters with vicious alien forces render the story a dark perspective, but fans of hard-core science fiction will be delighted. The premise is appealing, and despite the excessive numbers of ancillary characters and multiple landscapes, Gleeson gracefully pulls together a spellbinding finale while moving the story forward at a lightning speed. Highly recommended to hard-core sci-fi fans.
I’ve read a ton of fantasy and I’ve never experienced anything like this. It even includes a salute to H.G. Wells in the form of roving tripods slaughtering the citizens of Los Angeles. The sex scene is bizarre and the various denizens of the new Oz cities are unpredictable.