Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (1995) and Son of a Witch (2005) by Gregory Maguire, published together in a 2008 Barnes & Noble exclusive edition, form a provocative two-volume saga that deconstructs L. Frank Baum’s Oz through the lens of political allegory and psychological depth. This special omnibus presents Maguire’s darkly revisionist fantasy with supplemental materials—likely including author commentary, illustrations, or scholarly essays—curated for devoted fans.
In Wicked, Maguire reimagines Elphaba, the maligned Wicked Witch of the West, as a green-skinned, animal-rights revolutionary fighting the Wizard’s fascist regime, her story unfolding against Oz’s religious strife and racial hierarchies. The sequel, Son of a Witch, follows her possible son, Liir, as he grapples with her legacy in an Oz ravaged by civil war, confronting queer identity, trauma, and the weight of inherited rebellion.
Maguire’s literary prose—dense with philosophical musings and satirical wit—stands in stark contrast to the Broadway musical’s glamour, offering adults a subversive take on fairy-tale morality. The B&N edition’s elegant binding and curated extras make it a prized showcase for one of fantasy’s most intellectually ambitious series.
