I just finished reading "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West"



It was pretty interesting -- and not at all what I expected. It is political, religious, and philosophical with enough of a cynical edge to keep it from being a Tolkeinesque fantasy. The issues and politics could be taken from our own world, giving the reader a bit of flotsam to cling to while pondering the emancipation of talking Animals or the behind-the-scenes intrigue of the ruling government.
Without giving too much away, the story follows the life of a misunderstood and unfortunate girl named Elphaba. The book starts in Oz on the day of her birth. This poor girl, who among other afflictions, is born an unsightly green, and so immediately ostracized by everyone but her parents. Later, we are introduced to her university roommate, Glinda. (Yes, THAT Glinda.) After university, we see Elphaba step out on a unexpected and thought provoking life as a intelligent and politically-driven young woman with passions, loves, fears and a great dislike for water. We see the slow spark of mysticism and sorcery ignite in her life. (and find out where those flying monkeys came from!) But her "witchcraft" is much more a spiritual journey than the spells and curses we saw in the movie. Finally, we watch as her life moves relentlessly towards her doomed encounter with the innocent, misguided Dorothy.
Like the story of the Titanic, the trip is worth it even though we know how it ends.

I haven't read any of L. Frank Baum's original Oz books, so I have no idea if Gregory Maguire is building upon the established Oz, or if he is making up a completely new one. It really doesn't matter though as the story, characters and settings he creates are touchably real.