NextGenBooks.com announced today that "The Sword of Oz," the first in the planned "Dark Witches of Oz" trilogy, is now out for PC, Wii, DS, PS3, and PSP. Written by best selling fantasy author Darren Reid, "The Sword of Oz" is an epic fantasy prequel to L. Frank Baum's classic masterpiece "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz."

"The Sword of Oz" is an interactive ebook that explores Oz's tragic past. Featuring a multi-branching story where readers get to choose the course of their adventure, "The Sword of Oz" merges book and videogame with literally dozens of possible combinations that create a vibrant and vividly imagined world for players to experience.

Those interested in more tales set in Oz would be glad to know that two further episodes are in the works and have been tentatively titled "The Empire of Oz" and "The Rise of the Dark Witch of Oz." Reid has also mentioned the possibility of novelized versions of these stories as well as the whole series in the future. A spin-off PC adventure game entitled The Sword of Oz: The Emerald Ring is also currently in development.

"The Sword of Oz" is out now and is available exclusively at www. NextGenBooks.com and is completely free for a limited time. Strike a blow for literacy and check it out.