The Glass City by L. Frank Baum

Name: The Glass City
Author: L. Frank Baum

This novel is a utopian fantasy that takes place in a city made entirely of glass. The story follows the lives of its inhabitants and their struggles with conformity and individuality. The city's rigid social hierarchy and emphasis on order lead to a stifling of creativity and free thought, causing some citizens to rebel against the system.

By L. Frank Baum · First published 1905 · Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Children's Literature · 3,893 words

First lines

When Dorothy recovered her senses they were still falling, but not so fast. The top of the buggy caught the air like a parachute or an umbrella filled with wind, and held them back so that they floated downward with a gentle motion that was not so very disagreeable to bear. The worst thing was their terror of reaching the bottom of this great crack in the earth, and the natural fear that sudden death was about to overtake them at any moment. Crash after crash echoed far above their heads, as the earth came together where it had split, and stones and chunks of clay rattled around them on every side. These they could not see, but they could feel them pelting the buggy top, and Jim screamed almost like a human being when a stone overtook him and struck his boney body. They did not really hurt the poor horse, because everything was falling together; only the stones and rubbish fell faster than the horse and buggy, which were held back by the pressure of the air, so that the terrified animal was actually more frightened than he was injured.

What this Textopian page supports

The Glass City is listed on Textopian as a novel by L. Frank Baum, dated 1905 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novel
Author: L. Frank Baum
Date: 1905 CE
Language: English
Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Children's Literature, Science Fiction, Comedy
Length: 3,893 words
Structure: 1 section, 93 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for The Glass City by L. Frank Baum
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering The Glass City?
How does this novel by L. Frank Baum fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Fantasy — The narrative features magical elements, such as talking animals and a fantastical city made of glass, which are hallmarks of the fantasy genre.
Adventure — The characters embark on a journey filled with unexpected events and challenges, typical of adventure stories.
Children's Literature — The story is aimed at a younger audience, featuring child protagonists and whimsical elements that appeal to children.
Science Fiction — The setting includes an inner world with unique physical laws, such as walking on air, which aligns with science fiction themes.