A must-read for fans of Wicked, Once Upon a Time, and Descendants, TOTO by A. J. Hackwith is a delightfully snarky reimagining of The Wizard of Oz from Toto’s perspective. This is the perfect read for grown-up fans of The Wizard of Oz, readers seeking authentic LGBTQ representation–as both the author and some of the characters identify as queer–and anyone eagerly awaiting the new Wicked film adaptation.
About the AuthorToto
by A. J. Hackwith
November 12, 2024
The true hero of The Wizard of Oz takes center stage in this brilliant, delightfully snarky reimagining from the author of The Library of the Unwritten.
I was mostly a Good Dog until they sold me out to animal control, okay?
But if it’s a choice between Oz, with its creepy little singing dudes, and being behind bars in gray old Kansas, I’ll choose the place where animals talk and run the show for now, thanks.
It’s not my fault that the kid is stuck here too, or that she stumbled into a tug-of-war over a pair of slippers that don’t even taste good. Now one witch in good eyeliner calls her pretty and we’re off on a quest? Teenagers.
I try to tell her she’s falling in with the wrong crowd when she befriends a freaking hedge wizard made of straw, that blue jay with revolutionary aspirations, and the walking tin can. Still, I’m not one to judge when there’s the small matter of a coup in the Forest Kingdom....
Look, something really stinks in Oz, and this Wizard guy and the witches positively reek of it. As usual, it’s going to be up to a sensible little dog to do a big dog’s job and get to the bottom of it.
And trust me: Little dogs can get away with anything.Early Praise for TOTO
“Full of energy, wit, and no shortage of snark, Toto made me grin from start to finish. This is my head-canon for Oz now—the version of Oz we all need!”
—Jo Miles, author of Ravenous State
“As heartfelt and thoughtful as it is snarky. Hackwith deconstructs, reconstructs, and adds new and vibrant life to the Oz stories with her signature deft prose and heartbreakingly real characters. Toto is a Good Dog, and Toto is a Great Book.”
—Tyler Hayes, author of The Imaginary Corpse
“A satirical romp updating beloved characters for the modern era.”
—Elizabeth Bear, award-winning author of The Origin of Storms
Website
A. J. Hackwith (she/they) is a queer writer of fantasy and science fiction living in the woods of the Pacific Northwest with her partner and various pet cryptids. A.J. is the author of a number of fantasy novels, including the acclaimed Novels from Hell’s Library trilogy. She is a graduate of the Viable Paradise writers’ workshop and her work appears in Uncanny magazine and assorted anthologies. Summon A.J. at your own peril with an arcane circle of fountain pens, weird collections of rusted keys, and home-brew D&D accessories.
A. J. Hackwith (she/they) is a queer writer of fantasy and science fiction living in the woods of the Pacific Northwest with her partner and various pet cryptids. A.J. is the author of a number of fantasy novels, including the acclaimed Novels from Hell’s Library trilogy. She is a graduate of the Viable Paradise writers’ workshop and her work appears in Uncanny magazine and assorted anthologies. Summon A.J. at your own peril with an arcane circle of fountain pens, weird collections of rusted keys, and home-brew D&D accessories.
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