The Last Unicorn

Magical prose that flows in lyrical quality and somber notes in deft creation of a profound myth that is familiar and yet completely unique. Hope and regret and joy and sadness–a complete and wondrous tale! The Last Unicorn is a quest story. With all the dire implications that its title bears the protagonist is indeed the last unicorn left in the world. She lives in joyful ignorance of this fact until cruel riddles from the sibyl whisperings of a magical creature hint at her true plight. She is alone. So begins a journey out of the safety of the immortal world of the Unicorn and into the wider world of men and all the wicked and good that comes with that. The story has an air of a sort of coming of age tale mixed in with a winking nod at the classic hero’s journey. An unusual balance is achieved in the prose that intermixes whimsy and humor with a subtle sort of sadness. There is a strong voice throughout that manages this equilibrium with all the craft mastery of a mad genius. Humor is a hard thing to write. To do it well is very rare. I would not label this book as a work of comedy similar to the efforts of other humorists in the fantasy or science fiction genre. Yet, whimsy is there and it works well to counter balance the more serious contexts that are being worked through with the over-arching plot. There are high stakes playing out. Folks risks themselves for worthy causes. The darkness threatens to dispel hope (as it so often does), and, of course, the characters must carry on and dutifully fulfill their fates. The author’s writing is airy and light which makes for a fast read, but it maintains a certain weight to it throughout the book. There is also a lyrical quality to the voice and some actual bits of verse. I’m not usually a huge fan of song lyrics intermixed with prose, but they are done here well enough. This musical aspect sometimes compliments the dialog in an almost metered voice. The characters occasionally repeat themselves as if their words were pairing couplets at the end of a sonnet. That being said, there is none of it that is overwrought or reaching. Everything flows through to the end and is well paced in both rhythm, rhyme, meaning, and context. The main characters in this story are all extremely memorable, however brief their appearance they are cast out onto the plot with grandiose colors and vivacious display leaping to life as they fret about with each of their own individual conflicts and concerns. The author cleverly weaves them into the protagonist’s mission. Whether they seek to thwart or aid, they are all a delight. I was not surprised that this book has been turned into an animated feature, it reads very much like one. The whole while I read I could imagine the scenes being enacted and the songs being song. To an extent, most books do that, however this one had the feel of animation. I can’t remember if I saw the film years ago, but if I did I can’t quite recall it. The words themselves have a particular quality of levity that is different than the usual fare. Still, I was drawn into this story all the same and did not feel that these qualities undercut any of my empathy for the characters or their desires and needs and struggles. The ending of the novel is also unique and very satisfying. It completes with the same air of familiarity as the characters and subject matter, but also something different. Things wrap up as they ought, yet with the right hints of joyful sadness that should come when there is a price paid to fight for what is right. A lesson of sacrifices and real consequences akin to old world faery tales. This harkening back to myths and legends is what makes the story feel familiar and the author’s playful use of language fits like a glove (or rather a chainmail gauntlet). In contrast, he also moves the narrative into untapped crevices and neglected niches of these classic genres managing to gain a unique and authentic hold of the monomyth. It’s all done with a fresh and playful air and profound sincerity which has insured this story its place as an utter classic of the genre. The author has bespoke the dreams and aspirations of generations before and those yet to come creating a modern fairy tale enjoyable for all ages. Podcast: If you enjoy my review (or this topic) this book and the movie based on it were further discussed/debated in a lively discussion on my podcast: "No Deodorant In Outer Space".

A Unicorn leaves her self-enchanted forest to discover if she is the last of her kind. A failed wizard saves her from capture and joins her on her quest, where they encounter an evil king, a cursed kingdom, a true hero, and teetering magic -- without a single fairy. Peter Beagle weaves an enchanted and silky web of prose that ensnares the imagination as the eyes touch the first words. His word craft and world-building are a delightful antipoison that intoxicates and devours the imagination, rendering the reader unwilling to escape. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The characters are beautifully flawed and Peter carries you along as you wonder who is saving whom. I laughed much in pure delight of his prose. Please don't pass this treasure by.

I only saw this as a movie when I was a kid (almost 40 years ago!) and was absolutely obsessed w/ it. Then I saw in a comment on YT that this wasn't just a movie - the book was the origin. I came here to buy it right away! The writing is unique and flows well. The descriptions are almost exactly like the movie and the book is better than the movie. I read the entire thing in a day. Physically, the book is robust and has two options for color. I picked the blue and purple. It is matte mixed with gloss finish. Great modern design and pleasant to look at.

I am unsure about this book now. It seems to have a bit of a cult following and is wildly adored, but I am still processing the hype. I might need to read it again or engage in some discussions about it to understand the magnitude of the work fully. To each their own about the tales that touch them when and where they have read such narratives, but for me, I read it at a point in my life where I might need to visit again for a better, fuller appreciation. Do not get me wrong, the story is excellent and original, and there are a significant number of qualities about it – and it certainly is out of the norm for what one might consider a fairy tale. However, at this moment in time, it does not inspire the wander and iconic hype that others have imbued it with. Perhaps I shall revisit this book again without the preconceived expectations of others and see what wisdom this so-called gem of a book can impart then.

You can read this review at [...] I picked up this book because I had been seeing it on fantasy book lists in some very high company. People were grouping it with The Lord of the Rings and Narnia as a great fantasy classic (since Unicorn was published in the 60s). I had previously avoided this book because of the cover (and title), truthfully. "The Last Unicorn" just sounded like fluffy, PBS, G-rated garbage. But the old adage is right: don't evaluate a book by its art and/or title. The story is about--surprise!--the last unicorn in the world who goes on a search for the rest of her kind. Along with Schmendrick the Magician, she makes her way through the strange, fairy tale world, all the way to the mysterious lands of the King Haggard, who has risen to command behind the power of the evil Red Bull. While it sounds composed of generic clichés, there is not a single cliché element in the story. If there is a familiar concept in this book, the author has either turned it on its head (often hilariously (Beagle has a great sense of humor)), or he's poking at it in subtle satire. He doesn't reinvent, but he subverts or improves. He writes about unicorns, wizards, heroic princes, and castles, yet in a way that is fresh, fun, and interesting--a remarkable feat. The Last Unicorn gave me my first experience of reading a simile and saying, "Holy s***." And it happened over and over again. Beagle's prose is unlike anything I've come across before. His language alone is truly magical, lyrical, beautiful. Each sentence was a true pleasure to read, and that's more than I can say for the vast majority of young adult literature. It's the prose more than anything that drives the book. It's the phrasing as much as the description that makes Beagle's world come to life as wonderfully as it does. The beauty and wonder emanating from every page seem to me to be the real point of the book. At the end of the day, it is a classical fairy tale, and like fairy tales it is interested in the beauty and wonder of the world around us. It doesn't spend much time--like most contemporary YA--fleshing out character, or puzzling complex, suspenseful plots. That said, there is still exciting action, and humor fit for young and old readers. The story is still engrossing, and the characters are lovable (if somewhat flat). Most importantly, it evokes emotion. The ending has that strange, bittersweet sadness that, in my opinion, separates good and great fantasy. This book lives up to every bit of its hype. Not only is it great, but it's great in ways that don't exist in books being written today, and this makes it a real treat. It's a perfect read for all ages, containing enough true fairy tale for children and enough satire for even a cynical adult. It's funny, exciting, and moving, and what more can you want from a book? It may not have everything, but it does everything it sets out to do.

This is high magic, sprinkled with humour, joy, and deep humanity. This book is filled with songs and poetry and grace. I loved it at 16 and it warms my heart still in my sunset years. I hope that you have a chance to experience the kindness and wit of Peter Beagle.

This book i bought because I own the movie on DVD and wanted to see how different it was from the cartoon / movie. My kids have enjoyed the movie so much so now as adults I hope the book is going to be better I am sure of it.

The introduction was a bit too long.