# oz (blogs) — RSS Amplifier Recent posts from the 6 feeds in the RSS Amplifier directory that cover oz. Page: Feed: --- ## [The Joy of Sketching](https://johnblonerjr.substack.com/p/the-joy-of-sketching) _2026-08-16 · Krazines · A Moss Piglet Primer_ All You Need Is a Pen and Paint ## [Nightstalker: Carmen Maki After OZ](https://recordsbooksfilms.substack.com/p/nightstalker-carmen-maki-after-oz) _2026-08-15 · Books, Records, Films · Records, books, films_ Maki would remain with OZ until 1978, releasing another two studio and one live albums with them, before embarking again on a solo career with Nightstalker which was released in 1979. ## [I Sing the Body Electric and Acoustic, Too](https://johnblonerjr.substack.com/p/i-sing-the-body-electric-and-acoustic) _2026-08-01 · A Moss Piglet Primer_ In Order to Promote Moss Piglet, The Body Parts-Themed Issue ## [From the Turntable to the Bookshelf to the Screen – July](https://recordsbooksfilms.substack.com/p/from-the-turntable-to-the-bookshelf-1fe) _2026-07-31 · Books, Records, Films · Records, books, films_ After two of my busiest — ever — months, my life has returned to a decent level of normality, allowing me more time to listen to new and past releases. ## [Introduction to the Libertarian Party, by Wes Benedict - Stranger than SF](https://strangerthansf.com/reviews/benedict-introductiontothelibertarianparty.html) _2026-07-31 · Stranger than SF_ Nonfiction Book Review There's a little bit about libertarianism, but this is mostly about the Libertarian Party. I learned more about Wes Benedict and how one talented and motivated activist can turn around a defunct and ineffective party. I wish we'd elected Wes Benedict the LNC Chair in 2026. But I'm sure Evan McMahon will do a fine job. ## [The Changeling, by A. E. van Vogt - Stranger than SF](https://strangerthansf.com/reviews/vanvogt-changeling.html) _2026-07-30 · Stranger than SF_ Science Fiction Book Review ★★☆☆☆ Started strong, ended weak. ## [Tower at the Edge of Time, by Lin Carter - Stranger than SF](https://strangerthansf.com/reviews/carter-towerattheedgeoftime.html) _2026-07-29 · Stranger than SF_ Sword and Planet Book Review ★☆☆☆☆ This is the worst book I've read all year. It's an Edgar Rice Burroughs pastiche, except instead of placing the story in Africa or on the planet Mars, Lin Carter chooses the entire galaxy and the whole of Time as the settings. Thane of the Two Swords Our hero is Thane of the Two Swords, who we meet as he's approached by Prince Chan of Shimar and his dwarf servant… ## [The Sky is Falling, by Lester del Rey - Stranger than SF](https://strangerthansf.com/reviews/delrey-skyisfalling.html) _2026-07-28 · Stranger than SF_ Fantasy Book Review ★★★☆☆ I'm not usually fond of fantasy but this is a clever little story. In an alternate Earth, the universe is an egg and the sky is cracking. In a desperate attempt to save their world, the local magicians snatch someone from our Earth: the greatest builder in history, Dave Hanson. Unfortunately there has been a miscalculation. Instead of Dave Hanson, genious engineer and… ## [Badge of Infamy, by Lester del Rey - Stranger than SF](https://strangerthansf.com/reviews/delrey-badgeofinfamy.html) _2026-07-27 · Stranger than SF_ Science Fiction Book Review ★★☆☆☆ An interesting premise but the execution and the final resolution were disappointing. Daniel Feldman, disgraced doctor, flees from the Medical Lobby and ends up on Mars. Why is he disgraced? Because he dared to defy the Medical Lobby by treating a patient outside of an official hospital. He saved the patient's life, by the way, but violations of Medical Lobby… ## [The Star Watchman, by Ben Bova - Stranger than SF](https://strangerthansf.com/reviews/bova-starwatchman.html) _2026-07-26 · Stranger than SF_ Science Fiction Book Review ★☆☆☆☆ Only slightly improved from the previous book in the series. There is a third book, but I won't be reading it. ## [Ask the crowd: AI or not (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/2DAil3pc3WNc) _2026-07-26 · **Sponsored**_ Get a transparent verdict from verified humans via web, RSS, or API. ## [The Star Conquerors, by Ben Bova - Stranger than SF](https://strangerthansf.com/reviews/bova-starconquerors.html) _2026-07-25 · Stranger than SF_ Science Fiction Book Review ★☆☆☆☆ This is Bova's first book and it shows. Wow this is bad. ## [The Sword of Rhiannon, by Leigh Brackett - Stranger than SF](https://strangerthansf.com/reviews/brackett-swordofrhiannon.html) _2026-07-24 · Stranger than SF_ Science Fiction Book Review ★★★★☆ I am giving The Sword of Rhiannon the inaugural Stranger than SF Book of the Month award. This is a best book I've read all month. ## [B ROVER OF OZ](https://sandyshaller.substack.com/p/b-rover-of-oz-fd4) _2026-07-24 · Sandy Stuart Shaller · From the Roots of the Tanglewood_ (Our friends visit the country of the Hyups and meet Bini Aru) ## [Stopping By](https://johnblonerjr.substack.com/p/stopping-by) _2026-07-23 · Krazines · A Moss Piglet Primer_ July at the Three-Quarter Mark ## [Death is a Dream, by E. C. Tubb - Stranger than SF](https://strangerthansf.com/reviews/tubb-deathisadream.html) _2026-07-23 · Stranger than SF_ Science Fiction Book Review ★☆☆☆☆ I enjoyed it. It's not a great book, but I enjoyed it. Brad Stevens takes the Long Sleep, expecting to wake up in a few years when his cancer can be healed. Instead, it's hundreds of years later and he awakens to find a world completely changed after a nuclear catastrophe. The new world he finds himself thrust into is brutally transactional. Those who cannot pay… ## [Computer War, by Mack Reynolds - Stranger than SF](https://strangerthansf.com/reviews/reynolds-computerwar.html) _2026-07-22 · Stranger than SF_ Science Fiction Book Review ★★☆☆☆ Nope. The nation of Alphaland is run entirely based on models and predictions given by their advanced computers. When their computers tell them that they can start a war with neighboring Betastan and win it within two months, the result is predictable: Betastan doesn't play by the computer's rules. Their sabotage, guerilla warfare, and their clever ways of… ## [President Trump...time to Step Up](https://sandyshaller.substack.com/p/president-trumptime-to-step-up) _2026-07-22 · Sandy Stuart Shaller · From the Roots of the Tanglewood_ (Let's see who's a real American) ## [Ten Thousand Light-Years from Home, by James Tiptree, Jr. - Stranger than SF](https://strangerthansf.com/reviews/tiptree-tenthousandlightyearsfromhome.html) _2026-07-21 · Stranger than SF_ Science Fiction Book Review As it turns out, I don't like Tiptree's writing. She's talented, but she turns her talents in the wrong direction. The only decent story in this collection is Birth of a Salesman , and that only marginally so. And I Awoke and Found Me Here on the Cold Hill's Side Humans are genetically programmed to want to have sex with aliens, and that’s going to lead to the downfall… ## [When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor...and Yourself, by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert - Stranger than SF](https://strangerthansf.com/reviews/corbett-whenhelpinghurts.html) _2026-07-20 · Stranger than SF_ Nonfiction Book Review It's refreshing to hear an approach to poverty that centers the gospel of Jesus Christ. Also, it seems that giving people stuff, except in the case of basic relief in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, never works out well. Poverty is a mindset or a worldview, and it's not something that can be solved merely by giving money and materials things to people who lack money… ## [The Planet Savers, by Marion Zimmer Bradley - Stranger than SF](https://strangerthansf.com/reviews/bradley-planetsavers.html) _2026-07-19 · Stranger than SF_ Science Fiction Book Review ★★☆☆☆ Dr. Jay Allison's other personality, Jason, undertakes a trek into the mountains of Darkover to ask the Trailmen (the Sky People) to leave their arboreal homes and come to the Terran outpost to help stop a plague. ## [Home of the Agentic Pull Request (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/eVd7LICEjIW7) _2026-07-19 · **Sponsored**_ CLI-first, TUI-ready toolkits and a moshscript installer — join the waitlist ## [The Waterfall, by Marion Zimmer Bradley - Stranger than SF](https://strangerthansf.com/reviews/bradley-waterfall.html) _2026-07-19 · Stranger than SF_ Fantasy Story Review A young woman finds her psi talent, and it's evil. Also, it's worth mentioning that the young girl, Sybil, is "fifteen years old and as frail as a branch of willow," which is disturbing considering that author Marion Zimmer Bradley describes her using sex to entice and ultimately murder someone, and also considering the claims of child sexual abuse made against Marion Zimmer… ## [To the Stars, by L. Ron Hubbard - Stranger than SF](https://strangerthansf.com/reviews/hubbard-tothestars.html) _2026-07-18 · Stranger than SF_ Science Fiction Book Review ★★☆☆☆ Starts well, finishes weakly. Hubbard writes good fiction. He should have stuck to that. Alan Corday is shanghaied and forced to join the crew of the Hound of Heaven . Alan has a fiancee waiting for him back on Earth, but because Hound of Heaven is an interstellar starship, it's on the Long Passage. The time dilation effect mean that when Alan gets back home a few… ## [Yankee in Oz, by Ruth Plumly Thompson - Stranger than SF](https://strangerthansf.com/reviews/thompson-yankeeinoz.html) _2026-07-17 · Stranger than SF_ Fantasy Book Review A typical Thompson book, not bad. Yankee is the dog. ## [Going Driftless](https://johnblonerjr.substack.com/p/going-driftless) _2026-07-16 · Krazines · A Moss Piglet Primer_ Travels in Southwestern Wisconsin ## [Merry Go Round in Oz, by Eloise Jarvis McGraw and Lauren McGraw - Stranger than SF](https://strangerthansf.com/reviews/mcgraw-merrygoroundinoz.html) _2026-07-16 · Stranger than SF_ Fantasy Book Review I did it. I finished the Famous Forty. Also, it turns out that Merry Go Round is the name of a wooden horse from a merry-go-round. ## [Stark and the Star Kings, by Edmond Hamilton and Leigh Brackett - Stranger than SF](https://strangerthansf.com/reviews/hamilton-starkandthestarkings.html) _2026-07-15 · Stranger than SF_ Science Fiction Book Review It's a collaboration between husband-and-wife team of Edmond Hamilton and Leigh Brackett. Hamilton's name is first on the cover, but I dare say there is more Brackett in the story than Hamilton. John Eric Stark (who I'm told has his own series of stories) is sent into the future to the universe of the Star Kings to battle a great destructive entity that threatens to… ## [The Hidden Valley of Oz, by Rachel R. Cosgrove - Stranger than SF](https://strangerthansf.com/reviews/cosgrove-hiddenvalleyofoz.html) _2026-07-14 · Stranger than SF_ Fantasy Book Review Delightful. Thumbs up. This is one of the few non-Baum Oz books that's worth reading. A boy named Jam from Ohio finds his way to Oz via a large kite. He lands in Gillikin Country. The supporting characters are memorable: his guinea pigs named Pinny and Gig, and his pet rat Pervical, aka Percy the Personality Kid. Percy is a lot of fun. They end up in in a valley where the… ## [The Shaggy Man of Oz, by Jack Snow - Stranger than SF](https://strangerthansf.com/reviews/snow-shaggymanofoz.html) _2026-07-13 · Stranger than SF_ Fantasy Book Review Snow is improving. Twins from Buffalo, New York named Twink and Tom are pulled through their television set into the fairyland. They've been summoned by the sorcerer Conjo to his island in the Nonestic Ocean. Conjo, as it turns out, is the sorcerer who created the Shaggy Man's Love Magnet, that totem that causes everyone to love whoever holds it. Unfortunately the Love Magnet… ## [The Magical Mimics in Oz, by Jack Snow - Stranger than SF](https://strangerthansf.com/reviews/snow-magicalmimicsinoz.html) _2026-07-12 · Stranger than SF_ Fantasy Book Review Tightly plotted, but every challenge is resolved by a fairy showing up and metaphorically waving her wand or literally waving her wand. ## [Ozoplaning with the Wizard of Oz, by Ruth Plumly Thompson - Stranger than SF](https://strangerthansf.com/reviews/thompson-ozoplaningwiththewizardofoz.html) _2026-07-11 · Stranger than SF_ Fantasy Book Review I've been waiting for ages to read this Oz book. Ozoplanes? Sign me up! My main question is whether the "Oz" in Ozoplane should be pronounced as in "ozone" or like "Oz." Probably Oz. Basic plot: the Wizard designs and builds two ozoplanes--the Ozpril and the Oztober--with which to explore the skies. As he's giving a tour, the Tin Woodman, Jellia Jamb, and the Soldier with the… ## [Non-custodial Crypto Payments & Escrow (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/OtemAc02PtxN) _2026-07-11 · **Sponsored**_ Accept multi-chain crypto with trustless escrow, instant confirmations, and no KYC ## [Rebels, Dilemmas and Galloping Riffs: Two Rock Kapak Essentials](https://recordsbooksfilms.substack.com/p/rebels-dilemmas-and-galloping-riffs) _2026-07-11 · Books, Records, Films · Records, books, films_ I realised that it has been more than a year since the last time I dedicated a Substack post to Rock Kapak — for the uninitiated to the term and the scene behind it, a recommended starting point can be found here — so I thought that maybe this is a good time to post my final (?) writing in the series. ## [The Silver Princess in Oz, by Ruth Plumly Thompson - Stranger than SF](https://strangerthansf.com/reviews/thompson-silverprincessinoz.html) _2026-07-10 · Stranger than SF_ Fantasy Book Review Return of Kabumpo. This story was...OK. Thompson seems to really like the character of Jinnicky the Red Jinn, as she brings him back in this book once again. I'm not as convinced that Jinnicky is interesting enough to justify his continued appearances. ## [Handy Mandy in Oz, by Ruth Plumly Thompson - Stranger than SF](https://strangerthansf.com/reviews/thompson-handymandyinoz.html) _2026-07-09 · Stranger than SF_ Fantasy Book Review Better. An geyser accidentally blasts a seven-armed goat-herder named Mandy into Munchkinland in Oz. All right then. She immediately falls in with Nox the Royal Ox, who has a magic horn. It turns out that the rightful king of Keretaria (the little kingdom within Munchkinland where Handy Mandy has landed) is missing, so Mandy and Nox go on a quest to find him. I found the uses… ## [Captain Salt in Oz, by Ruth Plumly Thompson - Stranger than SF](https://strangerthansf.com/reviews/thompson-captainsaltinoz.html) _2026-07-08 · Stranger than SF_ Fantasy Book Review Thumbs down. Captain Salt, first seen in book 25, Pirates in Oz , is back. He's been commissioned to explore the seas and claim new lands for Oz. He takes King Ato along (as his cook) as well as Roger the Read Bird. The story format is perfect for introducing little islands with strange and marvelous little societies. Unfortunately I found it tedious. Volcano island: They visit… ## [Lucky Starr and the Rings of Saturn, by Isaac Asimov - Stranger than SF](https://strangerthansf.com/reviews/asimov-luckystarrandtheringsofsaturn.html) _2026-07-07 · Stranger than SF_ Science Fiction Book Review ★★★☆☆ The Sirians have colonized Titan, saying that the Saturn system was empty so it's theirs now. Earth won't stand for having an enemy base in their solar system, but to force the Sirians out will mean starting a war. Lucky Starr calls an interstellar council and persuades the rest of the solar systems to back Earth. Sirius is forced to withdraw. I do so love when a… ## [Lucky Starr and the Moons of Jupiter, by Isaac Asimov - Stranger than SF](https://strangerthansf.com/reviews/asimov-luckystarrandthemoonsofjupiter.html) _2026-07-06 · Stranger than SF_ Science Fiction Book Review ★★★☆☆ Lucky Starr roots out a Sirian spy. ## [Lucky Starr and the Big Sun of Mercury, by Isaac Asimov - Stranger than SF](https://strangerthansf.com/reviews/asimov-luckystarrandthebigsunofmercury.html) _2026-07-05 · Stranger than SF_ Science Fiction Book Review ★★☆☆☆ There's a saboteur on Mercury who is stalling progress on an important scientific research project. Lucky Starr solves the case. I found this installment in the Lucky Starr series to be below par, mainly because I didn't believe the motivations of the guilty party. Also, the title is misspelled on the cover. ## [Lucky Starr and the Oceans of Venus, by Isaac Asimov - Stranger than SF](https://strangerthansf.com/reviews/asimov-luckystarrandtheoceansofvenus.html) _2026-07-04 · Stranger than SF_ Science Fiction Book Review ★★★☆☆ Lucky Starr solves a mysterious spate of accidents in an underwater dome city on Venus. ## [Lucky Starr and the Pirates of the Asteroids, by Isaac Asimov - Stranger than SF](https://strangerthansf.com/reviews/asimov-luckystarrandthepiratesoftheasteroids.html) _2026-07-03 · Stranger than SF_ Science Fiction Book Review ★★★☆☆ Lucky Starr fights space pirates and foils a Sirian plot to invade the solar system. ## [David Starr, Space Ranger, by Isaac Asimov - Stranger than SF](https://strangerthansf.com/reviews/asimov-davidstarrspaceranger.html) _2026-07-02 · Stranger than SF_ Science Fiction Book Review ★★★☆☆ Poisoners and interplanetary politics This is clearly a juvenile, but Asimov sure can write. David Starr, a newly minted agent of the Council of Science, cracks an interplanetary food poisoning plot that threatens the stability of the entire solar system. Someone has been poisoning food imports from Mars. This is a geopolitical crisis because Earth is unable to… ## [Embarrassments and Cruelties](https://johnblonerjr.substack.com/p/embarrassments-and-cruelties) _2026-07-01 · Krazines · A Moss Piglet Primer_ The Humiliation of 1970s High School Gym Class ## [Position and orientation correction for pipe profiling robots, by Andrew John Dettmer - Stranger than SF](https://strangerthansf.com/reviews/dettmer-positionandorientationcorrectionforpipeprofilingrobots.html) _2026-07-01 · Stranger than SF_ Dissertation Review I always say, if you discover that someone you know has written a thesis or a dissertation, you should read it. Well, I read it. The math was beyond me. I have a Bachelor's degree in math (technically, Computer Science and Mathematics) but either I never learned this math, or I forgot it all because I haven't used it since graduation. 800,000 miles of pipes I learned that there… ## [Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In, by Roger Fisher and William Ury - Stranger than SF](https://strangerthansf.com/reviews/fisher-gettingtoyes.html) _2026-06-28 · Stranger than SF_ Nonfiction Book Review A lot of it is common sense, but it's surprisingly helpful to have the common sense explained in concrete terms. My two favorite parts were the suggestion to appeal to an independent objective standard, and the advice to always understand your BATNA—Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement. Knowing your BATNA and (if possible) the other party's BATNA can be a real help.… ## [From the Turntable to the Bookshelf to the Screen – June](https://recordsbooksfilms.substack.com/p/from-the-turntable-to-the-bookshelf-d49) _2026-06-28 · Books, Records, Films · Records, books, films_ Fewer recommendations again for this month as I have been extremely busy with my day job. ## [One-Buttock Playing](https://johnblonerjr.substack.com/p/one-buttock-playing) _2026-06-16 · Krazines · A Moss Piglet Primer_ Giving Your All to Your Endeavors ## [MAGA (edited and revised)](https://sandyshaller.substack.com/p/maga) _2026-06-15 · Sandy Stuart Shaller · From the Roots of the Tanglewood_ (Why are his core followers loyal as the President just enriches himself?) ## [The Pterodactyl That Wasn’t Pop](https://recordsbooksfilms.substack.com/p/the-pterodactyl-that-wasnt-pop) _2026-06-13 · Books, Records, Films · Records, books, films_ When I purchased this CD, I was not aware that Pop Workshop were an actual group. ## [B ROVER OF OZ](https://sandyshaller.substack.com/p/b-rover-of-oz-ce5) _2026-06-11 · Sandy Stuart Shaller · From the Roots of the Tanglewood_ B ROVER OF OZ ## [Welcome to the Carnival](https://johnblonerjr.substack.com/p/welcome-to-the-carnival) _2026-06-01 · Krazines · A Moss Piglet Primer_ and don't stand too long near the Port-a-Johns ## [From the Turntable to the Bookshelf to the Screen – May](https://recordsbooksfilms.substack.com/p/from-the-turntable-to-the-bookshelf-8df) _2026-05-30 · Books, Records, Films · Records, books, films_ The month of May has been one of the busiest months of this year for me and this has naturally impacted my newsletter schedule.