Musical Theatre Books
Gregory Maguire's Wicked books run from Wicked (1995) to Out of Oz (2011) across four main novels. The three-book Another Day series continues Rain's story, and two childhood prequels, Elphie (2025) and Galinda (September 2026), cover the early lives of Elphaba and Galinda. Our advice: start with Wicked. Both prequels cover the childhoods of characters introduced there.
These ten books are listed by the year each was published, using the dates on Wikipedia's series page.
This is our arrangement, not a published order. It puts the childhood prequels first because they cover earlier years of the same story.
Tales Told in Oz can be read any time after Wicked.
Our advice: start with Wicked. It is the first novel, and both prequels cover the childhoods of characters introduced there. If you want more reading for the trip home, we suggest histories and biographies of the people who shaped musical theatre.
Spoiler note: the rest of this section describes plot changes between the novel and the musical.
The musical is "loosely based on the 1995 novel of the same name by Gregory Maguire." Stephen Schwartz wrote the music and lyrics, and Winnie Holzman wrote the book. It opened October 30, 2003, at the Gershwin Theatre. Holzman has said that "the way in which their friendship develops—and really the whole plot—is different onstage."
Wikipedia lists the other major plot changes: Fiyero's appearance as the Scarecrow, Elphaba's survival at the end, Nessarose using a wheelchair instead of being born without arms, and Boq becoming the Tin Woodman instead of Nick Chopper.
The musical was filmed in two parts: Wicked, released November 22, 2024, and Wicked: For Good, released November 21, 2025. TODAY reported in November 2024 that the book includes sexual assault, bestiality, murder, racism and politics, and quoted fans who say it is "definitely not for kids."
For the long run of the stage show, see The Longest-Running Broadway Shows of All Time. For the Broadway Direct lottery for Wicked, see How to Win the Broadway Lottery (and Get Rush Tickets).
For Wicked's running time on Broadway, on tour and on film, see How Long Is Wicked?.
The Wicked Years is the main series: four novels, from Wicked (1995) to Out of Oz (2011). Wikipedia says that in 2021, Maguire "continued the story of The Wicked Years with a sequel series called Another Day." Those three books follow Rain.
The two childhood prequels, Elphie and Galinda, are grouped separately here. Tales Told in Oz is a companion collection that belongs to neither group.
As of October 2026, ten books, if you count the four main novels, the three Another Day books, the two childhood prequels, and Tales Told in Oz.
Not entirely. The musical is "loosely based on" the novel, and the section above lists the main changes.
Common Sense Media rates Elphie 14+. Wikipedia calls the novel an "adult-oriented revision," and the parents' note above covers the content TODAY reported.
As of October 2026, the newest is Galinda: A Charmed Childhood, published September 29, 2026, according to its Linden Tree listing.
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