Was (or Was... in the UK edition) is a WFA nominated 1992 novel by Canadian author Geoff Ryman, focusing on themes of L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and the 1939 musical film version, ranging across time and space from 1860s Kansas to late 1980s California. Was is an adult parallel to the magical Land of Oz that never existed as a real place. The novel explores the tragic but very moving life of "Dorothy Gael" in 1800s Kansas, whose traumatic experiences with Aunt Emily and Uncle Henry after her mother's death leads her to create an imaginary and idealized world in her mind based on some of her real-life experiences as a way of coping with her bleak reality. Due to a tragic and unfortunate upbringing in Kansas, Dorothy's terrible life turns her into a Vile, "wicked" girl, who is unable to be saved. Unlike Baum's fairy tale book, she never gets to experience the magic of Oz, thus turning her into an insane and bitter old woman. The book goes into depth about the importance of a healthy, stable childhood, and the heartbreaking consequences of the lack of one. The book also explores the life of Judy Garland as she plays Dorothy Gale in the 1939 movie, a homosexual obsessed with the Wizard of Oz and dying of HIV/AIDS, and tells the stories of these characters and how they are all connected to one another without even realizing it. Plot summary The novel is separated into three parts, "Winter Kitchen", "Summer Kitchen", and "Oz Circle". The primary focus is on Jonathan, a gay actor with AIDS who goes on a obsessed pilgrimage of sorts to Manhattan, Kansas, and on the "real" (in the novel) Dorothy. Other characters include L. Frank Baum, who makes an appearance as a substitute teacher in Kansas and who meets Dorothy, and is so inspired and touched by their encounter, he then later decides to make her the main character of his classic fantasy novel. We also meet Millie, a makeup artist on the set of the original 1939 musical film version and narrates an encounter with Judy Garland who plays the fictional version of Dorothy. Themes Was discusses a number of complex themes, including the importance of a stable childhood. Much of the novel is devoted to the dreary life that Dorothy Gael (surname different from Baum's character) leads