Toto

Dorothy’s dog takes center stage in this sharp retelling of The Wizard of Oz from Hackwith (The God of Lost Words). Dorothy and Toto are transported via tornado from present-day Kansas (which narrator Toto describes as a place “flat of geography and philosophy” where people “embraced gray as a state of mind”). Following the advice of good witch Glinda, they trek toward the Emerald City, along the way rescuing a scarecrow who has been cursed by witches for practicing hedge magic and teaming up with the tin man, a victim of the “Tartpatch Gang,” whose leaders peddle conspiracy theories and promise the return of true masculinity. The cowardly lion also gets an updated backstory: when Toto, who’s frustrated that, in Oz, everybody but Dorothy can understand him and decides to try on a new “Bad Dog” persona, joins a coup against the tiger ruling the forest, Lion is labeled as cowardly for not accepting the brutal changeover. In the opulent Emerald City, the stark caste system favoring humans convinces Toto that Oz is rotten, but it’ll take more to persuade Dorothy, who just wants to get home. Toto’s witty voice and the intricate layers of scheming elevate this adventure beyond mere fan fiction. It’s a treat. (Nov.)