The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
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Book Reviews of The Last Unicorn
Book Review: MAGICAL
Summary: 5 Stars
Unicorns, like Fairy Tales, are a rare and dying breed.
For me, the book broke down into three parts. I have not seen the movie and after having read the book, don't really care to.
Peter S. Beagle (PSB) starts the book off with a wonderful description of the last unicorn living alone in a forest. I'm sure the average reader can visualize a unicorn without any trouble, but I felt PSB described the last unicorn as if he had actually seen one.
The second part, where the last unicorn is with the traveling carnival, is where I started to have my doubts about this novel. From the very first pages it is clear that PSB loves to play the wizard of words. He uses alliteration and poetry like a sorcerer uses spells and incantations. The problem for me was that sometimes he can be a little nonsensical. For example, "They were like the noise bees might make buzzing on the moon. (pg. 47)".
Fortunately, the second part doesn't last too long and in short order the reader is taken to Hagsgate and King Haggard's castle, where I felt the story really started to get rolling.
What really impressed me were the dialogues between the characters in regard to the following questions:
1) How should a fairy tale end?
2) What is the role of magic/a magician in a story?
3) What is the role of the hero in a story?
4) Is it better to change, or stay the same?
All these are questions that reminded me of Joseph Campbell's THE HERO WITH A THOUSAND FACES, a huge influence on the STAR WARS series and a guide to understanding the mythology of old.
Although the narrative gets a bit flowery at times, in general I found it really well done, especially the rhyming poetry. The characters took some getting used to in the carnival setting, but by the time they had all reached the castle all my doubts were cast aside.
Many may see this novel as a book for Young Adults. In spite of that I think that older readers will enjoy this tale of an older time, a tale where the fairy tale and the unicorn are not forgotten, but brought back to life.
Book Review: The Last Unicorn
Summary: 5 Stars
She is the last of the Unicorns. For centuries, she has lived within her forest, at one with nature and her surroundings. Immortal, she has been unconcerned with the fate of the other Unicorns, for surely, if they were all gone, she would know of it? But it is not the case. Feeling curiosity and doubt for the first time in many years, she sets off to find out what has happened to the other Unicorns, why humans don't even seem to see her, and just what the mysterious Red Bull is.Beagle writes beautifully. Metaphors and similes are used with ease, and almost without exception they evoke images of verdant forest, shimmering lakes or crashing seas. Nature is a well-used tool for poetic license, and fits the theme and setting of the book perfectly.
Along the way, she meets the bumbling magician Schmendrick after being captured by a dark, evil witch, then Molly Grue next befriends her. Together the trio explore the land, venturing deep into the mean King Haggard's domain in search of the Red Bull.
Characters are either very black or very white. The Unicorn, we are told, is the most perfect, beautiful creature of all, and this lofty description is met and matched and every opportunity. We believe that she is perfect because her actions are perfect and the words to describe her are perfect. There is a sense of great sadness when she walks through a human town and is considered to be only a white mare, she cannot understand how the villagers seem unable to even see her horn.
There are mis-steps along the way, but not many. Some of the dialogue between humans is too anachronistic for my liking, and the opening to the second part of the novel in Haggard's castle dragged a little bit. A few too-clever modern day references were made as well, but really, all of these are minor. The writing is beautiful, capable of evoking sadness and joy, and the characters are a lot of fun to be around. The ending, while tidy, was expected almost from the start and is thus satisfying.
On a last note, the butterfly near the start was probably my favourite part of the whole novel, what a great character!
Book Review: A classic piece of fantasy literature and excellent story.
Summary: 5 Stars
In the genre of fantasy, there are few books that can be considered "classics," as it's very difficult to create a classic and universally-loved story set within a fantasy world. Members of this elite club include "The Lord of the Rings" by J.R.R. Tolkein, "Alice in Wonderland" by Lewis Caroll, and "The Chronicles of Narnia" by C.S. Lewis. Peter S. Beagle also joins this membership with his classic "The Last Unicorn", a beautfully crafted and utterly wonderful story.The story deals with a unicorn who discovers she is the last of her kind. She sets out to find her missing race, but ends up with more than she bargains for. With the help of a bumbling magician and a maid, she must face an evil king who uses a mysterious creature for a purpose not even she could imagine.
The story is perhaps one of the most beautifully crafted stories in all of fantasy. It is far from being an epic - it's more of a short story that happens to be long - but it still makes for a captivating read. And the story doesn't always take itself seriously; there's a kind of wry humor that might be found in a Disney-like cartoon. However, "The Last Unicorn" is far from a Disney-esque book. There is a subtle yet undeniable dark tone in the story, and the characters have real personalities and character development, with flaws and irregularities. In the span of a relatively short novel, Beagle's world is realized with such amazing beauty and skill it's difficult not to be engrossed in his simple yet elegant prose.
Although it's most likely out of print by now, I seriously reccommend finding this book. If "The Lord of the Rings" is the Bible of fantasy, then "The Last Unicorn" is the equivalent of a book written by Max Lucado. It's suitable for all ages, and it beats the movie by a long shot. You will laugh, you will cry, you will feel satisfied. "The Last Unicorn" is one of fantasy's unquestionable classics.
Book Review: The Everlasting Love of the Last Unicorn
Summary: 5 Stars
I loved the movie of this novel when I was a child, and in fact I didn't know that the film was based on a book until I was an adult. When I stumbled on Peter S. Beagle's classic in my local library between college and becoming a mother, I read it with a mix of anticipation and trepadation. I was not disappointed. This *is* a classic fantasy novel, and a classic story, woven by a masterful bard of the genre and the English language.
This tale focuses on one of the most magical and mysterious of all the myraid of mythological creatures, the unicorn. This particular one believes she is "the last," because there are no others of her kind around at the start of the book. Shortly she is spurred into a perilous quest for the rest of the unicorns, and thus ensues the amazing adventures she has.
The humans she encounters are good or evil, or some of both, and have their own flaws and hopes and choices, and help the unicorn to see their world from their views. She is a perfect being, immortal and sees things only from one point of view, and the emotional journey she embarks on later in the novel (not saying in what form, saving spoilers) is truly incredible, heartwrenching and heartwarming.
Unwittingly, since as a child I didn't know the film was adapted from a book, I've been tremendously influenced by Mr. Beagle's enduring novel. In my own writing (which, more often than not, has been in the fantasy genre), I've explored so many of the themes he touches on in "The Last Unicorn" -- loss, love, regret, destiny, good versus evil, and what the consequences may be for humans getting mixed up in magic. One thing I don't ever expect to be able to emulate -- Beagle's easy ability to write prose as flowing poetry.
This is a fabulous tale for children and adults alike. It makes one believe in magic and miracles, and, of course, unicorns.
Book Review: who will like this book?
Summary: 5 Stars
In reading other reviews, I noticed that the 5 star reviews got their analyses right on the mark, while many 1 star reviews were lacking any appropriate criticism.
One poor review said that the book could not decide if it was fantasy or parody. A parody, by definition, imitates another piece of work, and there is no other piece of work quite like this one. Peter S. Beagle simply knows what any good writer should know-- that a piece of writing will be boring if it focuses on one emotion or mood to the exclusion of all others. J. R. R. Tolkien and William Shakespeare knew the value of humor in a work which was not expressly written to be humorous, but it is Beagle who finds the perfect balance of humor and beauty in this novel which will take the reader through nearly every emotion there is. This is a book that does NOT make the mistake that all too many fantasy novels make-- taking themselves too seriously. The label "fantasy" does not have a set of laws stating that humor must be avoided at all costs.
That said, you will like this book if:
*you appreciate the amazing things that can be done with the English language.
*you appreciate the amazing things that Peter S. Beagle can do with the English language.
*you won't throw a hissy fit if the ending isn't perfectly happy.
*you like unicorns.
*you enjoy fantasy, but don't insist all fantasy be like Dungeons and Dragons.
*you are a kid at heart.
*you enjoyed the movie.
*you can appreciate a humor which is sometimes subtle, sometimes obvious.
*you like poetry.
*you're looking for story that was written to be perfect, not to sell, and then sell a sequel.
There is no sequel to The Last Unicorn, but at the end you will be wishing there were, not because of loose ends, but because the story is too beautiful to leave.