Long before the names Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo graced the lyrics of “Defying Gravity,” there existed the magnificent Broadway musical “Wicked.” And prior to that, there was “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” by Gregory Maguire, which drew inspiration from L. Frank Baum’s characters in “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.”

Unraveling the Mystique of "Wicked"

The “Wicked” phenomenon, whether in the form of the movie, the Broadway musical, or the book, has crafted Dorothy’s arch-nemesis as a fully developed (and green) character with a poignant backstory. This book serves as a prequel to L. Frank Baum’s “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” The name Elphaba, given to the Wicked Witch of the West, is derived from the initials of the original creator. Let’s explore – L, F, B.In “Wicked,” we witness a friendship blossoming between Glinda the Good Witch and Elphaba as they study sorcery together at school, long before their paths cross with Dorothy and her companions.Check out: USA TODAY’s weekly Best-selling Booklist

The Appropriate Audience for the "Wicked" Book

In a nutshell, the “Wicked” book by Gregory Maguire holds significant differences from the stage adaptation. One of the opening scenes features puppets engaged in a rather unconventional act. When we are first introduced to Elphaba in the book, she is a wild infant who bites off people’s appendages and is subsequently muzzled. The book is rife with elements such as drinking, drugs, sexual assault, prostitution, crime, and even wild sex parties involving humans and animals.In an interview with MassLive, Maguire explained that while the main themes translate, his book is a “tragedy” whereas the stage production is a “bittersweet drama.” He said, “I purposely included some raunchy material in the first few pages of ‘Wicked’ the novel to showcase what people were getting into and to make them realize they would have to leave behind their notions of an all-singing, all-dancing chorus line of flying monkeys.”

The Release Timeline of the "Wicked" Books

Maguire’s “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” made its debut in 1995. Known for his unique reimaginings of fairytales, Maguire went on to create an entire series centered around Elphaba and the other characters from “Oz.”There are three sequels to “Wicked” in the “The Wicked Years” series:“Wicked”“Son of a Witch”“A Lion Among Men”“Out of Oz”His “Another Day” series features three stories about Elphaba’s green-skinned granddaughter:“The Brides of Maracoor”“The Oracle of Maracoor”“The Witch of Maracoor”He also penned a prequel to “Wicked” titled “Elphie,” which delves into Elphaba’s childhood.

The Origins of "The Wizard of Oz"

The original source material for “Wicked” is the beloved children’s book “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” which was published in 1900. L. Frank Baum went on to publish 14 books in the “Oz” series over the next 20 years.In 1939, this classic was famously adapted into a movie starring Judy Garland, marking a significant revolution in the use of color in cinema.A Parent’s Guide to “Wicked”: Is the PG Movie Suitable for Young Audiences?“Oz” Books in Order: The Original L. Frank Baum SeriesThere are 40 canonical works in the “Oz” series, affectionately known by fans as the “Famous Forty.” Most of these were not written by Baum; after his death in 1919, his publishers commissioned dozens more “Oz” books from other authors.Here are the 14 books in Baum’s original series:“The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”“The Marvelous Land of Oz”“Ozma of Oz”“Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz”“The Road to Oz”“The Emerald City of Oz”“The Patchwork Girl Of Oz”“Tik-Tok of Oz”“The Scarecrow Of Oz”“Rinkitink In Oz”“The Lost Princess Of Oz”“The Tin Woodman Of Oz”“The Magic of Oz”“Glinda Of Oz”He also released a book of short stories featuring the Oz characters – “Little Wizard Stories of Oz” – in 1913.From Broadway to the Silver Screen: “Wicked” Movie’s Biggest ChangesLooking for your next great read? USA TODAY has you covered.Taste is highly subjective, and USA TODAY Books offers a wide range of genres to recommend. Craving a buzzy new literary fiction title? Read our review of “Intermezzo” by Sally Rooney. Are mysteries your forte? Try titles similar to “Verity” by Colleen Hoover or test your bravery with one of our favorite horror novels. Or if you prefer something with lower stakes and loveable characters, explore “cozy mystery” or “cozy fantasy” books. If you want the most popular titles, don’t forget to check out USA TODAY’s Best-selling Booklist.Contributing: Patrick Ryan