Figures of the magic land
This article describes important characters of the magical land from the Emerald City book series by the Russian writer Alexander Volkov . These are children's books, consisting of fairy tales, the plot of which takes place in a fictional magical land. The first volume is a adaptation of the American children's book The Wizard of Oz , the other volumes are independent works by Volkov. The series has been continued by other authors after the volumes written by Volkov. Only characters from the six books that Volkov wrote himself are mentioned here.
The Emerald City book series
The magic land is separated from the rest of the world by a ring of mountains, the world-spanning mountains. In the southwest of the magic land is the Blue Land, in which the chewers live. In the southeast lies the Pink Land. This is where the talkers live and are ruled by Stella. The valley of the Marranen is located on the border with the Rosa Land. In the east of the magic land you can find the land of the winkers, the violet land. In the north lies the Yellow Land, which is ruled by the sorceress Willina. In the middle of the magic land you can find the emerald city and the emerald land. There are accesses to the subterranean realm in the Blue Land and in the Emerald Land.
At the beginning of the book The Wizard of the Emerald City describes how the evil witch Gingema unleashes a magic storm to destroy the people. Her sister, the good sorceress Willina, robs the storm of its strength and only allows it to seize a house and thereby kill Gingema. In her magic book it was stated that the house is empty when there is a storm. This time, however, Ellis dog ran into the house and Elli ran after to get Toto out of the house. The house then flew with the two into the magic land and killed Gingema. Willina asked Elli to grant three creatures their dearest wish and then to be sent back home by Goodwin. Elli met the Scheuch, the iron woodcutter and a lion and moved with them to the emerald city. Goodwin didn't want to grant the wishes until the wicked witch Bastinda is destroyed. After completing this task, it turns out that Goodwin is not a wizard. He can still fulfill the three wishes and wants to fly back to Kansas with Elli. This fails and Elli and her friends move in with Stella, who explains to Elli how she can get home.
In The sly Urfin and his wooden soldiers , the figure of Urfin and his hunger for power is described. After discovering the magic powder, Urfin creates an army of wooden soldiers and conquers the blue land, the emerald city and the violet land. The Scheuch and the Iron Lumberjack send a message to Elli asking for help. Elli and her uncle, the one-legged sailor Charlie Black, set off for the magical land and manage to defeat Urfin and his army.
The book The Seven Underground Kings describes the coup attempt by Bofaro and the settlement of the underground land by Bofaro and his followers. Furthermore, the development of the living conditions in the underground land is described. After a leap in time you come to the time when, after the end of Urfin’s rule, his first minister Ruf Bilan runs into the underground cave in order to escape punishment. Ruf Bilan destroys the magic water source, which is restored in the further course of the plot through the cooperation of Elli, her cousin Fred, the Scheuch, the iron woodcutter and the winkers.
The fire god of the Marranos continues the story of Urfin when he tries to conquer the magical land for the second time. This time he tries to use the help of the Marranos. Ann, Elli's sister, and her friend Tim manage to thwart this plan again.
The book The Yellow Fog is about the evil witch Arachna and her attempt to conquer the magical land by means of the yellow fog. She is supported by Ruf Bilan. On the other hand, she bites on granite at Urfin, who has changed his life and no longer wants to do anything bad. At the call for help from the magic land, Ann, Tim, Charlie Black and Arto set out to fight Arachna. Tilli Willi, an iron knight, is built to fight against Arachna. After defeating Arachna, Ann, Tim Charlie and Arto fly back to Kansas on the back of the dragon Oicho.
The secret of the abandoned castle is about the attempt of the Menvites to conquer the magical land for their planet Rameria. This time it's Ann, Tim and Fred who help protect the magical land.
Heroes
Ann
Ann Smith is Elli's younger sister. Your best friend is Tim O'Kelli. She travels three times to the magic land and helps the residents in the fight against the Marranen, Arachna and the Menvites.
Ann can be seen as a trick that was necessary for two reasons: The third book announces that Elli would not return to Wonderland, and the hero of every adventure should be a young girl - but Elli was now a young woman.
Appearances in: The fire god of the Marranas , The yellow fog , The secret of the abandoned castle
Boril & Robil
Boril & Robil are doctors from the land of the underground ore graves. They invent protective goggles and protective masks against the yellow fog.
Appearances in: The Seven Underground Kings , The Yellow Fog
Charlie Black
One-legged Charlie Black is a seaman and the uncle of Elli and Ann. He helps in the fight against Urfin and Arachna and is characterized by high ingenuity. Despite his disability (with a wooden leg), he risks his health to help his friends.
Appearances in: The clever Urfin and his wooden soldiers , The yellow fog
Alfred Cunning
Alfred (Fred) Cunning is the cousin of Elli and Ann. He and Elli come to the land of the underground ore graves on an underground river. Later he made the mules Caesar and Hannibal, which Ann and Tim carried to the magical land. As an engineer, Fred helps fight the Menvites.
Appearances in: The seven underground kings , The fire god of the Marranos , The secret of the abandoned castle
Din Gior
Din Gior is a soldier in the magic land. In peacetime, his main occupation is caring for his long beard. He is the First Minister of the Emerald City. He fights against Urfin, Arachna and the Menvites.
Appearances in: The Magician of the Emerald City , The Cunning Urfin and His Wooden Soldiers , The Seven Underground Kings , The Fire God of the Marranos , The Yellow Fog , The Secret of the Abandoned Castle
Iron lumberjack
The Iron Lumberjack was once a young man of flesh and blood. He fell in love with a girl whose aunt did not approve of the relationship. So she asked the witch Gingema to do something. This bewitched the ax, which cut off all limbs one after the other. But a blacksmith was able to replace them with iron parts. But it lacks a heart that the blacksmith couldn't make. Its greatest danger is the water. Elli and the Scheuch find him rusty in the forest because he was surprised by the rain and forgot his oil can. The Iron Lumberjack moves to the Emerald City to get a heart from Goodwin. He becomes one of the most loyal companions for Elli and her friends. After Bastinda's death, the Iron Lumberjack becomes ruler of the Violet Land. He gets his heart from Goodwin.
Appearances in: The Magician of the Emerald City , The Cunning Urfin and His Wooden Soldiers , The Seven Underground Kings , The Fire God of the Marranos , The Yellow Fog , The Secret of the Abandoned Castle
Elli
Elli is the daughter of the farmer John and his wife Anna Smith. You live in a van in Kansas. Triggered by the magical storm of Gingemas and weakened by Willina's magical power, the van with Elli and Toto is carried into the magical land and kills Gingema. Willina tells Elli that she would come home again if she went to Goodwin's in the Emerald City and granted the dearest wishes of three living beings. The Scheuch wants a brain, the Iron Lumberjack wants a heart and the Cowardly Lion wants courage. In the end, Elli comes back home with the help of the silver Gingema shoes. The second time Elli comes to the magic land to help in the fight against Urfin. The last time she comes to the land of the underground ore graves with her cousin Fred.
Elli is revered as a powerful fairy in the magic land - initially against her will. This reputation is not damaged in the course of the adventure, although of course she cannot do magic in reality. She is kind, brave, and always does the obvious. Your arrival in wonderland changed it forever.
Appearances in: The Magician of the Emerald City , The cunning Urfin and his wooden soldiers , The seven underground kings
Faramant
Faramant is the gatekeeper of the Emerald City. He hands out the green glasses, without which nobody is allowed to enter the city. Faramant leads Elli, Toto, the Scheuch, the Iron Lumberjack and the Lion to Goodwin. He is the messenger who asks for the help of the great men in the fight against Arachna and the Menvites. Sometimes he seems a bit naive and too focused on tradition. Yet he is smart, brave and loyal.
Appearances in: The magician of the emerald city , The clever Urfin and his wooden soldiers , The seven underground kings , The fire god of the Marranas , The yellow fog , The secret of the abandoned castle
Goodwin
Goodwin is the ruler of the Emerald City. He came from Kansas in a hot air balloon. Goodwin sent Elli to fight Bastinda (hoping to get rid of her). On his return, although he is not a wizard, he granted the dearest wishes of Ellis friends. Because he recognized that the Scheuch was already wise, the woodcutter was loving and the lion courageous, but none of these companions Ellis had the best self-confidence. Before he left, Goodwin appointed the Scheuch as his successor as ruler of the Emerald City. Since the ropes of the balloon broke before Elli got on, he returned to Kansas alone. When Urfin conquered Wonderland and Elli was asked for help, Goodwin was asked if he would like to return, but he refused.
Appearances in: The Wizard of the Emerald City
Hurricane
Hurricane is the creator of the magical land. Tired of people's requests, he conjured up a land with clear water, dense forests, green meadows and wonderful fruit trees, the mountains spanning the world and the great sandy desert. Hurricane gave the animals the human language and he created eternal summer for the magical land. When the magician discovered that there were people living in the country, he looked for a secluded place and built his palace there. Hurricane prohibited people from approaching the palace. So it came about that the magician passed away unnoticed.
Appearances in: The Seven Underground Kings , The Yellow Fog
Ilsor
Ilsor is an (alien) Arsake. He was the only one able to resist the gaze of the (also extraterrestrial) Menvites. In order to find a way to save his people, Ilsor becomes a servant of Baan-Nu. As chief technician, Ilsor is to lead the work of the Arsaks on earth. He works with the inhabitants of the magic land against the Menvites.
Appearances in: The Secret of the Abandoned Castle
Chew
Kau-Ruck is the pilot of the spaceship with which the Menvites come to earth to conquer it. Equipped with an independent mind, he renounces the use of the hypnotic gaze. When attacking the emerald city, Kau-Ruck gives up the fight. He flies the euthanized Menvites and the Arsaks back to Rameria.
Appearances in: The Secret of the Abandoned Castle
Scheuch
Originally a simple straw doll in the land of the chewers, the Scheuch becomes one of Elli's most loyal friends when Elli takes him down from the stake. His greatest desire is a brain. Equipped with this by Goodwin, he succeeds him as ruler of the Emerald City. He fights against Urfin, Arachna and the Menvites. His idea of putting all kings and court servants to sleep meant the end of the rule of the seven underground kings. It bears the title "The three times wise Scheuch".
Appearances in: The magician of the emerald city , The clever Urfin and his wooden soldiers , The seven underground kings , The fire god of the Marranas , The yellow fog , The secret of the abandoned castle
Stella
Stella is a kind fairy and ruler of the Pink Land. She knows the secret of eternal youth. She is the only one who knows how Elli can get back to Kansas. Stella returns the golden hat to the flying monkeys.
Appearances in: The Wizard of the Emerald City
Tilli-Willi
Tilli-Willi is an iron knight who was created based on an idea by the seaman Charlie Black for the fight against the witch Arachna. He comes to life on his first step. After defeating Arachna, Tilli-Willi helps in the fight against the Menvites.
Appearances in: The Yellow Fog , The Secret of the Abandoned Castle
Tim O'Kelli
Tim is one of the Smiths' neighbors and Ann's best friend. His favorite sport is volleyball. He travels to the magic land three times and supports the residents in the fight against Urfin, Arachna and the Menvites.
Appearances in: The fire god of the Marranas , The yellow fog , The secret of the abandoned castle
Willina
Willina is a fairy godmother and the ruler in the Yellow Land. She has the ability to change her whereabouts in a matter of seconds and can (with a certain fuzziness) read the future. Willina takes its destructive power from Gingema's storm and kills her with the little house in which Elli and Toto are. She sends Elli to the Emerald City to have Goodwin send her back home. Before doing this, she must help three living beings to fulfill their greatest desires. Later Willina sends Ann and Tim to fight Urfin and the Marran army.
Appearances in: The Magician of the Emerald City , The cunning Urfin and his wooden soldiers , The fire god of the Marranos
Bad guys
Arachna
Arachna is an evil witch who has come to the magic land from the big world. As punishment for her misdeeds, the hurricane puts her into a magical sleep lasting 5,000 years. After waking up, she tries to conquer the magical land, but fails. She dies fighting the giant eagle Karfax and the mechanical giant Tilli-Willi.
Appearances in: The Yellow Fog
Baan-Nu
Baan-Nu is a Menvite. He was sent to earth to conquer it. He is greedy for wealth, especially emeralds. The attempt to subdue the magic land fails, and Baan-Nu and the other Menvites (except for the pilot Kau-Ruck) are put to sleep with the magic water and brought back to Rameria in the spaceship.
Appearances in: The Secret of the Abandoned Castle
Bastinda
Bastinda is an evil witch and regent of the Violet Land. She is temporarily the owner of the golden hat, which allows the owner three wishes to the flying monkeys. Bastinda must not come into contact with water. She dies when Elli spills a bucket of water on her by dissolving in the water.
Appearances in: The Wizard of the Emerald City
Gingema
Gingema is an evil witch and ruler of the blue land. The attempt to destroy humanity with a magical storm fails. Gingema is killed by the house where Elli and Toto are.
Appearances in: The Wizard of the Emerald City
Call Bilan
Ruf Bilan is a wealthy merchant from the Emerald City. Out of anger at the Scheuch, he betrays him to Urfin. For this betrayal he becomes Urfin’s first minister. After his fall, he flees to the land of the underground ore graves, where he accidentally causes the magic spring to dry up. As punishment for his crimes, he was put to sleep for ten years after the reign of the seven underground kings ended. After his awakening he serves the witch Arachna until her fall. After a new magical sleep he will be reeducated after awakening.
Appearances in: The clever Urfin and his wooden soldiers , The seven underground kings , The yellow fog
Urfin Juice
Urfin is a contradicting figure. He's a carpenter whose grumpy and grouchy demeanor pervades the things he makes. He is a loner and an unsociable person. Urfin is the only one who wears green (instead of blue) clothes in the land of the cheeky men.
At first he is in the service of the witch Gingema. After her death, he retires to his garden near the village of Kogida. By chance, Urfin discovers a substance with which he can bring objects to life: the powder of life. He then carves and animates an army of wooden soldiers to conquer the magical land. After he has occupied the emerald city, the Scheuch and the woodcutter call for help, Elli, who can finally fall with the sailor Charlie Black Urfin.
Some time later, Urfin, the fire god of the Marranos, hoped for a second time to be able to subdue the magic land, but this attempt was not crowned with lasting success either.
Urfin Juice is one of the most famous characters in Russian children's literature and was also very well known in the GDR. What distinguishes him from the other characters is the intensive description of his wishes, hopes and plans. The purification that makes him a hero from the fifth volume on is also removed from the figure. So he refuses to serve the witch Arachna and invents a remedy for the yellow mist. Later he stole the emeralds from the Menvites and gave them to the Arsaks as an aid in their fight against their oppressors.
Appearances in: The clever Urfin and his wooden soldiers , The fire god of the Marranen , The yellow fog , The secret of the abandoned castle
people
Arsaks
The Arsaks live on the planet Rameria. There they were subjugated by the Menvites and kept as slaves. When conquering the magical land, they are to serve the Menvites as slaves. With the emeralds and the assistance of Kau-Ruck, they can regain their freedom. The most famous Arsake is their leader Ilsor.
Appearances in: The Secret of the Abandoned Castle
Ore graves
The ore graves are the inhabitants of the underground land. They are extremely shy and do not tolerate interference in their affairs by others. Their land is rich in emeralds and precious metals, which they exchange with the inhabitants of the magical land above ground. After the reign of the seven kings came to an end, the ore-diggers move to the land of the chewers and each ore-digger works in the mine for two months a year to mine ore or precious stones.
Appearances in: The Seven Underground Kings , The Yellow Fog
Käuer
The chewers are the inhabitants of the Blue Land. They are little people who wear blue velvet robes, tight trousers and blue boots with shaft cuffs. On their heads they have pointed hats adorned with a crystal ball and covered with bells. Their name is derived from the constant movements of the jaw, which are reminiscent of chewing. The chewers were ruled by Gingema and after their death by Prem Kokus.
Appearances in: The Magician of the Emerald City , The cunning Urfin and his wooden soldiers , The seven underground kings , The fire god of the Marranos , The yellow fog
Marranas
The Marranen live in a valley on the border with the Rosa Land. They also have the name "Springer", but call themselves Marranas. Originally located in an underground country, they moved to the surface of the earth. The Marran people were decimated by the unfamiliar living conditions. On their wanderings, they lost some of their civilizing skills. In the meantime they were ruled by Urfin, and his reign led to great inequality in Marran society. After his overthrow, they chose new leaders.
Appearances in: The Magician of the Emerald City , The Seven Underground Kings , The Fire God of the Marranas , The Yellow Fog
Menvites
The Menvites live on Rameria. By the hypnotic power of their eyes they subjugated the arsaks and made them slaves. Under the leadership of Baan-Nu, the Menvites want to subdue the earth. But they don't know that they are in a magical land. The ingenious actions of the Wunderland residents keep the technically superior Menviten on their toes until they are put to sleep by the magic water and can be reeducated when they wake up.
Appearances in: The Secret of the Abandoned Castle
Inhabitants of the Emerald Land
The inhabitants of the emerald country live in and around the emerald city. Your favorite color is green. The clothes are reminiscent of those of the chewers. They are ruled by Goodwin and, after his departure, by Scheuch. Urfin rules twice after conquering the Emerald City. In the tape Goodwin the Terrible by Sergei Suchinow they call themselves Arsalen.
Appearances in: The Magician of the Emerald City , The Cunning Urfin and his Wooden Soldiers , The Fire God of the Marranos , The Yellow Fog , The Secret of the Abandoned Castle
Residents of the yellow land
They are ruled by the fairy Willina.
Appearances in: The Wizard of the Emerald City
Babbler
The babblers are the inhabitants of the Pink Land. They are ruled by the fairy Stella. They got their name from their habit of talking all the time. When talkers are alone, they talk to themselves. Even Stella's attempt to break the habit of chattering (by means of magical silence) did not bring anything: the chatterboxes used sign language in this phase.
Appearances in: The Wizard of the Emerald City
Wink
The winkers are the inhabitants of the Violet Land. Her name comes from the habit of constantly winking. They are skilled craftsmen. They are ruled by Bastinda and, after her death, by the Iron Lumberjack, if one disregards the phases of occupation by Urfin's armies.
Appearances in: The Magician of the Emerald City , The Cunning Urfin and his Wooden Soldiers , The Fire God of the Marranos , The Yellow Fog
Animals
Arto
The dog Arto is Ann's loyal companion on her adventures in the magical land. He is a grandson of Toto. However, he is blessed with a different temperament than his grandfather. But like this he is brave and loyal and would defend his mistress to the utmost.
Appearances in: The fire god of the Marranas , The yellow fog
Caesar & Hannibal
Caesar and Hannibal are two mechanical mules. They are a gift from Alfred Cunnings to Ann and Tim. They charge themselves via built-in solar batteries.
Appearances in: The fire god of the Marranas
Flying monkeys
The flying monkeys are large black winged animals. Once the tribe of flying monkeys offended a fairy. She then invented the golden hat, which forced the monkeys to grant three wishes to its owner. The hat reaches Stella via Bastinda and Elli, who gives it back to the monkey.
Appearances in: The Magician of the Emerald City , The Fire God of the Marranos
Guamoko
Guamoko (also: Guam, full name Guamokolatokint) is an owl. At first she lives in Gingema's cave, later with Urfin.
Appearances in: The clever Urfin and his wooden soldiers , The fire god of the Marranen , The yellow fog , The secret of the abandoned castle
Kaggi-Kar
Kaggi-Kar is a black crow. It gives Scheuch the idea of wanting to have a brain. She flies to Kansas more often for help when the Wizarding Land is in danger. Kaggi-Kar is the inventor of the bird relay. In peacetime she is director general of the postal and telecommunications system in the magical land.
Appearances in: The Magician of the Emerald City , The Cunning Urfin and His Wooden Soldiers , The Seven Underground Kings , The Fire God of the Marranos , The Yellow Fog , The Secret of the Abandoned Castle
Karfax
Karfax is a giant eagle who was punished by his tribal elder for attempted revolt. He is looked after by Urfin and helps him to act as the fire god of the Marranos. When Karfax sees through Urfin's plans, he leaves him. After the death of his adversary, Karfax becomes a tribal elder. He helps in the fight against Arachna and against the Menvites.
Appearances in: The fire god of the Marranas , The yellow fog , The secret of the abandoned castle
lion
The Brave Lion belongs to the close circle of friends of Elli, Toto, the Scheuch and the Iron Lumberjack. When they first meet he is still a coward, but he comes along to the Emerald City to get courage from Goodwin. He is elected ruler of the animal kingdom in the magical land.
Appearances in: The Magician of the Emerald City , The Cunning Urfin and His Wooden Soldiers , The Seven Underground Kings , The Fire God of the Marranos , The Yellow Fog , The Secret of the Abandoned Castle
Oicho
Oicho is the smartest and most obedient dragon from the land of the underground ore graves. After getting used to the daylight, he brings Fred and Elli back home. Oicho is later used more often as a means of transport for messengers when the magical land is in danger.
Appearances in: The seven underground kings , The fire god of the Marranas , The yellow fog , The secret of the abandoned castle
Ramina
Ramina is the queen of the field mice. She gives Elli a silver pipe as thanks for the help from the iron woodcutter. Ramina always helps when the magic land is in danger. She can see the future and when she says goodbye after Ellis' third adventure in Wonderland, she predicts that she will not return.
Appearances in: The Magician of the Emerald City , The Cunning Urfin and His Wooden Soldiers , The Seven Underground Kings , The Fire God of the Marranos , The Yellow Fog , The Secret of the Abandoned Castle
Six-footed
Hexipedes live in the realm of the underground ore graves. After the hexipedes have been tamed, they are used by the underground ore graves at work. They are the dragons' main enemies.
Appearances in: The cunning Urfin and his wooden soldiers , The seven underground kings , The fire god of the Marranos
Toto
Toto, or Totoschka, is Elli's black dog. When Gingema's magic storm sweeps across Kansas, the pooch crawls under the bed. When Ellis tries to get him, both are carried to the magical land. (Willina, who can read the future in her book, could not foresee this detail). The cheeky Toto, who, like all animals, can speak in Wunderland, is always a loyal and courageous companion to Elli. One of his grandchildren is Arto, Ann's companion.
Appearances in: The Magician of the Emerald City , The cunning Urfin and his wooden soldiers , The seven underground kings
literature
- Magic land is everywhere. The series of fairy tales from A to Z. LeiV Buchhandels- und Verlagsanstalt GmbH, Leipzig 1998, ISBN 3-89603-007-8
