Beagle, Peter S.: The Last Unicorn
The Last Unicorn (1968)
Written by: Peter S. Beagle
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 288 (Hardcover)
I have loved The Last Unicorn for-absolutely-ever. Okay, since kindergarten. But not the book. In fact, I'm not sure when I first heard about the book, but I do know that I obsessed over the movie. When we'd visit the video rental store, I'd beeline to the section of the store where this movie was located, and it broke my heart every time when it wasn't there (and trust me, it wasn't there a lot). I finally saw it with my best friend, and from that point on, I rented it whenever I could get my greedy hands on it. And when the movie was released in DVD format, I snatched it up. Both my husband and I agree it's a little weird to watch something we both loved so much as children, but as adults, because there were a lot of things we missed when we were little, that seem so blatantly obvious to us now.
But this review isn't about the movie. This review is about the book. My husband picked up the edition we have (the Roc 2007 Deluxe Edition, which includes the sequel, "Two Hearts," and an interview with the author). He read it right away, and I always meant to. It's one of the reason I came up with the "Classic Fantasy" challenge, so that I would be forced to read something I've always wanted to but hadn't. So thank you for that.
The premise: ganked from Barnes & Noble: THE LAST UNICORN is a tearful tale of the last existing unicorn's journey out of her familiar forest to save the species. On the way she encounters evil magic, dark castles, cursed towns, and a particularly interesting sea shore. The character's in this magical story invite you to learn with them, while Peter S. Beagle poetic prose are something to remember as he tells a story of bravery and courage. Do love, freedom, and happiness prevail? Or will we forever live in fear in a world without unicorns?
Review style: definite spoilers. I mean, this is such a classic anyway that it's hard to even CALL details of this book spoilers, because you know the story or you don't. If you don't, and you really want to go into this story without knowing what happens, skip to the "My Rating" section of the review. Otherwise, you're welcome to join the discussion. :)
It was pretty interesting to read this book for a number of reasons. First, I was obsessed with the movie as a child (and I know now that Beagle wrote, or at least co-wrote, the script for the movie). Second, I knew most everything that would happen, but not all, so when I did come upon a scene that wasn't in the movie, I was fascinated and thinking about why it was cut, save for the obvious reason of stream-lining the story and saving time. Third, we know I'm cynical about talking animals and the like, and I have a real beef with unicorns, perhaps because I loved them so much as a kid. Fourth, and finally, because after reading Steven R. Boyett's Ariel and Elegy Beach, I was curious to see the influences The Last Unicorn had on all unicorn stories thereafter (and if Boyett wasn't influenced by Beagle, all I have to say is, seriously?).
So, reading this book that was written back in 1968 wasn't bad from a style POV. There were a couple of times where I found my inner-critic saying stuff like, "Oh, that's an amateur thing to do," or "He couldn't get away with that now" (don't ask for specifics, I didn't mark them while reading and it's such nit-pickery anyway that it doesn't warrant examples). That said, there were some lovely passages in the prose that easily evoked the imagery (though that's a weak observation on my part, because some part of my brain has the movie memorized, so I've already got imagery struck in my head), and I was really impressed with the ease that Beagle moved from one POV to another within the same passage or chapter. That's a tough thing to do, and it's rare--especially these days when quite limited third-person or first person POV is the standard--to see it done well.
I did have a few moments that threw me out of the text. The one was a throw-away line that Beagle discusses in the interview (a rather random, funny story, actually): "Have a taco." The other is when the unicorn, Schmendrick and Molly come upon a prince and princess having a picnic. That in and of itself isn't jarring, it's just that the prince is reading a magazine. A MAGAZINE.
In the interview, I learned that the initial drafts of this book took place in the modern world, so I can't help but wonder if some of that carried over, even subconsciously into Beagle's writing, while he was drafting this version. I can't say one way or the other, but while this book mostly carries the feel of a medieval-esque world, there are moments that jar you and make you wonder.
The story itself still holds on so many levels. Things that still punch me in the gut are Molly's reaction to seeing the unicorn for the first time, and then the overall, beautiful angst behind the love that can never be between Lír and Amalthea. No doubt, she loves him, and that love forever changes who she is as a unicorn, but that bittersweet angst was wonderful and choked me up while reading. It's no wonder this book is a classic, because that alone is so beautiful.
I'll be honest: I didn't care for the song inserts. I know, I know, I know: it's a nod to Tolkien and who am I to criticize? But you know what? I didn't care for the songs in The Lord of the Rings either, so there! :)
What else is there to say? I'm so familiar with the story itself that it was like going back to an old friend, except that old friend had a new face. The scenes that weren't in the movie made sense in terms of cutting, and I did like the striking difference that in the book, Haggard confronts Amalthea about what she is, instead of in the movie, it's the talking skull that reveals her. I love the cat. Period.
The fact is that I really wish I'd discovered this book and this author when I was younger. Not because I'm too old and cynical to enjoy it now (because I did enjoy it), but because I would've fallen hard and fast and totally in love with Beagle's work when I was younger, if only I'd known. Oh well. I've got a book of his short stories on my shelf (The Line Between), and I intend to explore more of his fiction at a later date once I get caught up a bit with what I already own. After all, I love cats, and he's got a kitty ghost story I need to get my hands on. :)
My Rating
Must Have: The Last Unicorn is a beautiful story, and considering the fact the book was written back in 1968, I'd say Beagle's style olds up well. I'm glad I finally got this fantasy classic under my belt, and even better was finally being able to read the sequel, "Two Hearts," right after the book itself. I'd already read the story when it came out in the Oct/Nov 2005 issue of the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, but there were a lot of little things I missed that time because I hadn't read The Last Unicorn, so to read them back-to-back? Priceless. Beagle knows how to weave the emotional heart into a story, and I love him for that. Anyone who dares call him or herself a fantasy fan cannot continue to do so without reading The Last Unicorn and it's sequel. I personally can't wait to read more from this author, as his style has definitely evolved between these two pieces, and it's gotten better when it was already good to begin with.
In terms of "Two Hearts," my edition of The Last Unicorn has it in it (as well as a very interesting interview with the author: did you know he HATED this book for a very long time?), and if you're interested in tracking this hardcover edition down, the ISBN is 9780760783740. I don't know if later editions also have the novella and interview, but if you can get your hands on them, they're worth reading. But you can also find "Two Hearts" in Beagle's The Line Between, which is a collection of his short stories, so don't worry if you can't find an edition of The Last Unicorn that has the short in it. But do yourself a favor and read the two back-to-back. Trust me, it's a lovely experience.
Cover Commentary: at a glance, if you'd given me the choice between the cover featured in the review and the cover of the edition I have (featured behind the cut), I'd go with the one featured in the review. Cause it's just pretty! That said, the cover I actually have is really interesting: it features all of the major characters simply by ghosting them in other items: Amalthea is obviously hidden in the unicorn, Schmendrick and Molly are in the trees, Haggard is in the bull, but Lír stands out on horseback, not ghosted in anything. Nicely done, even if the overall style of art isn't my favorite. I do laugh at how all of the covers I've seen of this book show a beautiful white horse with a horn, when the unicorn in the book clearly states she looks nothing like the sort. Appropriate, though, given that she's almost always mistaken for a white mare. :)
Further Reading: if you're interested in more stories about unicorns, you'll want to get your hands on Steven R. Boyett's Ariel and perhaps Terry Brooks's The Black Unicorn, but other than that, I don't know of any other unicorn stories. Anyone care to help me out?
But in terms of classic fantasy, there's absolutely no end:
J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings
Ursula K. Le Guin's A Wizard of Earthsea and the series that follows
Lord Dunsany's The King of Elfland's Daughter
Michael Ende's The Neverending Story
Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time
Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland
C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia
And I could go on FOREVER, but you may want to check out the excellent list provided by talkstowolves. Just click here (and scroll down to the comment).
Classic fantasy has a wonderfully rich, extensive collection, and I look forward to reading more in the future. :)
Book Club Poll: this is the only way I can really track participation, so if you follow this journal, answer, okay? :)
Poll December Participation
If you started but couldn't finish it, please comment and talk about the reasons why. What turned you off from the book? How far did you go before throwing in the towel?
And as you already know, the January Book Club selection is Mary E. Pearson's The Adoration of Jenna Fox. Some of you may have started it already, but if you want details on where to find it, just click here.