Hey everybody.
I am the Ozma.
I am the absolute and unchallenged ruler of Oz.
Let me clarify that. There have been multiple attempts to unseat me over the years. My circle and I have managed to fend them all off, and maintain a just and legitimate rule in Oz. No one else has been able to claim a clear line of succession to the beginning of the Confederation as I have.
So, people call me Ozma, but my given name is Trinium. My close friends are allowed to call me Trina.
There have been so many conflicting stories about me over the years that it’s really hard to keep them all straight. I’ve been described as a blond, a brunette, a human, and a fairy, a boy, and a girl. It’s so confusing, that if I were you, I think I’d have a ton of questions.
First, about the hair. It changes with my mood. It has been white twice, but usually when I’m very upset. Other than that, it changes from a sunset color to jet black depending on the situation.
Yes, I’m female, thank you. I’m human, and I’m about 112 years old, but I don’t look a day over 26.
The more of these Oz stories there are, the younger I seem to get. I mean, it seems kind of funny to me, because I was 15 in the original Oz books by Frank Baum. Suddenly I lost ten years when Thompson took over as historian, even though those stories happened chronologically later, what the hell people? That’s not even the worst of it.
I don’t want to complain, there have been dozens of writers since who have done a great job with my character. Hungry Tiger press seems to have the best material on yours truly, if you’re interested.
Ah, you might ask, but what about Tippetarius? Wasn’t he also you?
Good question. I’ve thought about that one a bit. I guess it all depends on how you define exactly what it means to be “me†in the abstract, and how you define the clear difference between “me†and I.
Let me explain.
If “me†is the subtle culmination of the things I’ve done, the people I’ve been influenced by, and my experiences as a human being in the world, then no… Tip was not me, but I was Tip because I retained the knowledge and understanding of those experiences. I don’t mean to hit you with the Zen double speak, I just can’t think of a more concise way to put it.
If on the other hand, you define “me†as being a physical being important only as flesh and blood, the actual holding place for my “soul,†and so on… then yes. I guess you could say that I am he, and he is me. I prefer to see it along the lines of the former.
(Additionally, in the same vain, one recent Oz historian who seemed to get everything else on this topic right made a minor mistake, referring to me as Ozma Tippetarius. I blame the editors.)
Another one I get a lot is, what/were exactly is Oz? Is it a place that exists in an alternate Universe? Is it literally on Earth? Is it a dream?
The answer to that can be complicated. The Oz as a dream theory was proposed by me to MGM studios in the 1930’s to protect the nature of Oz from people in the outside world.
By this time, there had been no less than seven attempts to seperate Oz from the outside world. I made the dicision just after the sixth book, but no solution really provided a turnkey solution that was always reliable. That is, until Doctor Eddy came along.
If the movie had been aired, and widely acknowledged as the true story it had been in the Oz books, then there would have been renewed public interest in finding Oz. If there had been such interest, countries of the world would involve themselves in our affairs, and we would be forced to interact with them, and take part in theirs.
It’s not unlikely that such nations would attempt to gain the secrets of the magic of Oz, and then utilize it in ways no one here would find acceptable. Then there’s the problem of socio economic influences from the outside that would most certainly be unfavorable.
I prefer to think of Oz as an eco-system. While beautiful, and complicated, the structures that hold it together are very delicate.
Given the times, it seemed like a good idea. I had proposed the idea to L. Frank Baum some years earlier, but he was bound by an oath to the Kingdom to be as truthful as possible, and would not break it. Frank was one of the most respectable men in Oz and elsewhere. Certainly one of the most loyal friends I’ve ever had.
Back to the question. Oz is not exactly an alternate universe, although it’s always had many of the same properties people often associate with “alternate universes.†And while Oz is itself not a dream, the human dream state has proven a viable means of getting here for those who are gifted.
I have come to understand that the universe as we understand it is a very complicated place, and that many “alternate universes†exist. However, that is not unique to Oz. All of Earth, or I imagine, all everywhere is subject to this principle.
Oz is a physical place located on a secret continent somewhere on Earth proper. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the current political situation on the rest of the planet, I cannot tell you more than that.
I live in a palace with the people I hold dear. I love my friends, and I find that they are my most effective advisors. So my inner circle is comprised of the people in this life that I love most.
My circle and I have taken great pains to make sure that Oz will never show up on any map, and made sure that it is not viewable from any satellite. If you want to find Oz, look inward.
Another question I get a lot is, am I married? There’s been some confusion over this, so I’ll put it delicately. No, I’m deeply in love with someone, but there are no plans. Let’s leave it at that. My private life is really not all that interesting.
My goodness, it’s getting late.
Thanks for stopping bye.
Kuddles,
-Ozma Trinium