17 - Glass Elevator Pt. 1

Why take the stairs when you can take a terrifying, glass elevator that defies science and pisses off aliens? We finally dive into the last Dahl canon for Willy Wonka with the sequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the bizarre Charlie and the Glass Elevator. If you haven’t read the book, don’t worry. We fell on that sword for you.

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Cover Art by Reilly Branson: https://www.instagram.com/rad_reilly/

Links Referenced (because even Wonka Scholars cite their sources)

Review of Glass Elevator by Julia Whedon, published in 1972 in the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/1972/09/17/archives/charlie-and-the-great-glass-elevator-by-roald-dahl-illustrated-by.html

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome to the weirdest sequel in existence.

2:22 Wonka Watch: A book review from 1972 of Glass Elevator.

5:17 We begin the first part of the book! Chapter 1: Wonka Goes Too Far.

6:30 The grandparents get sassy and we head off to space. Yep, you read that right. Space.

11:30 Time to check into Space USA Hotel.

16:00 Ah, some classic Dahl racism ft. the fictional President of the United States.

20:10 A stand-off in space between America and Willy Wonka.

23:55 AHHH THE VERMICIOUS KNIDS!!!

40:00 The descent to Earth and the horror of boiled Mars Bars.

49:52 Prequel Predictions. Elaine: There will not be a Glass Elevator in the prequel. Felicia: There will be no mention of this book in the prequel.

53:00 If you read this book (as a kid or now), please email us and let us know what you thought of it!