The Master Key

L. Frank Baum (1856 - 1919)

The Master Key was one of Baum's earliest full length fantasy books for children, published in 1901 just one year after The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The protagonist, Rob, while experimenting in his workshop, accidentally summons up an electrical fairy who presents him with electrical devices so advanced as to seem magical. His gifts include a flying contraption, a stun gun, and something resembling an omniscient portable TV set. Rob travels the world, rendering assistance to European heads of state and narrowly escaping disaster at the hands of “primitive” cannibals, Turks and Tatars, pirates, and evil scientists who try to steal his inventions. It's great fun, despite the occasional use of racial stereotypes that reflect the values of its time.

Genre(s): Action & Adventure

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 01 - Rob's Workshop Judy Bieber
00:08:21
Play 02 02 - The Demon of Electricity Judy Bieber
00:08:20
Play 03 03 - The Three Gifts Judy Bieber
00:10:43
Play 04 04 - Testing the Instruments Judy Bieber
00:11:53
Play 05 05 - The Cannibal Island Judy Bieber
00:16:01
Play 06 06 - The Buccaneers Judy Bieber
00:15:59
Play 07 07 - The Demon Becomes Angry Judy Bieber
00:06:46
Play 08 08 - Rob Acquires New Powers Judy Bieber
00:10:32
Play 09 09 - The Second Journey Judy Bieber
00:06:00
Play 10 10 - How Rob Served a Mighty King Judy Bieber
00:19:35
Play 11 11 - The Man of Science Judy Bieber
00:09:16
Play 12 12 - How Rob Saved A Republic Judy Bieber
00:08:42
Play 13 13 - Rob Loses His Treasures Judy Bieber
00:12:52
Play 14 14 - Turk and Tatar Judy Bieber
00:20:00
Play 15 15 - A Battle with Monsters Judy Bieber
00:09:32
Play 16 16 - Shipwrecked Mariners Judy Bieber
00:11:49
Play 17 17 - The Coast of Oregon Judy Bieber
00:06:27
Play 18 18 - A Narrow Escape Judy Bieber
00:09:48
Play 19 19 - Rob Makes a Resolution Judy Bieber
00:03:40
Play 20 20 - The Unhappy Fate of the Demon Judy Bieber
00:14:31