Immortal Unicorn

Immortal Unicorn #Complete

by Peter S. Beagle, Janet Berliner, Lucy Taylor (Contributor)

In 1968, Peter S. Beagle's The Last Unicorn captured the hearts and the imaginations of people of all ages around the world. Now, by popular demand, Beagle has at last reunited with the fabulous mythical creature. An integral symbol in each piece, the fabled unicorn assumes many shapes - from the Chinese ki-lin, to the classic European cloven-hoofed legend, and more. Explore the near limitless imaginings of the more than two dozen contributing authors in this unique anthology.

Genres: Fantasy, Unicorns, Short Stories, Anthologies, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Fairy Tales

525 pages, Hardcover

First published October 24, 1995

About the author

Peter Soyer Beagle (born April 20, 1939) is an American fantasist and author of novels, nonfiction, and screenplays. He is also a talented guitarist and folk singer. He wrote his first novel, A Fine and Private Place , when he was only 19 years old. Today he is best known as the author of The Last Unicorn, which routinely polls as one of the top ten fantasy novels of all time, and at least two of his other books (A Fine and Private Place and I See By My Outfit) are considered modern classics.

Reviews

[Snail in Danger (Sid) Nicolaides · Rating 3 out of 5]

This seemed a little long, and many of the stories were too serious and/or trying too hard to be lyrical.

To be fair, though, I didn't pick this up because I wanted to read an anthology about unicorns. I picked it up for Ellen Kushner's short story after reading its prequel in Magical Beginnings.

You can tell that the Kushner story is early-ish work; it's not as polished as her Riverside novels. But it and its prequel are still interesting to read for fans of medievaloid fantasy. I hope she does novelize those stories sometime.

Peter Beagle's short story is also worth a read. Naturally; I mean, it's Peter Beagle. >.> I liked the Tad Williams story, and Dave Wolverton surprised me a little. I don't know that I liked the story so much, but it surprises me a little that someone who's most famous for Star Wars novels can write so evocatively. (Yes, I know, my snobbery is showing.)

It was also neat to read the Charles de Lint story. It's a Newford story, but not one involving the usual suspects. (Jilly, Geordie, Christie, etc.)

[Peter Tillman]

Emma Bull likes a Will Shetterly story in this one, which our libraries sadly don't own:
"It’s not only the people of the Western that are magic. The horse no one can tame is a recurring character in the traditional Western. It’s a short step from that wild horse to the unicorn, beautiful, magical, and dangerous. But that step makes a big difference in Will Shetterly’s “Taken He Cannot Be,” from the anthology Peter Beagle’s Immortal Unicorn (1999, Harper Prism). In it, Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday ride out to find John Ringo in the rustler-infested folds of the Chiricahua Mountains. But outlaws aren’t the only secret residents of those forested slopes, and the confrontation Holliday and Earp ride toward isn’t going to play out the way they expect."

Hrm. I doubt I'll buy a copy for one story . . . I'm lukewarm on Shetterly's stuff, at best.

[Angelala Biggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of short stories which each feature a unicorn in some shape or form (rhinoceros, necklace, traditional American white-horse-with-horn, etc.). Many of the stories are excellent, although some of them are determinedly contemporary, which I feel detracts from their appeal. Peter Beagle's story was the most charming, imaginative tale of the collection, and my favorite in the book.

Because of the inherently redemptive nature of the unicorn in all traditions, nearly every single story in this collection is in some way uplifting. Combined with the short-story format, that makes this book excellent for bedtime reading. I will definitely be coming back to this again.

[John Peel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like most anthologies, this one is a mix. There are a handful of good stories, a handful of bad stories and the vast majority are rather mediocre. The definition of unicorn is pretty stretched - a narwhal in one story, a tattoo in another - but there are some traditional unicorns among them. Overall, it ended up being rather dull.

[Kristen (belles_bookshelves) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Legends can't die."

Sea Dreams: Not really any unicorns besides the mention of narwhals being the "unicorn of the sea" but it does take place in Florida (Cocoa Beach and Florida State)
Old One-Antler: a caribou whose antlers have grown into one single twisted antler
Professor Gottesman and the Indian Rhinoceros: classification is Rhinoceros unicornis so idk is anyone would be surprised if this is where unicorns really came from
The Same But Different: finding a tri-colored oryx horn in Africa
Big Dogs, Strange Days: the Native Americans guard the crossbreed unicorn/horses that roam the Americas
Gilgamesh Recidivus: a unicorn in Russian, a legend who wants to die
Seven for a Secret: unicorns can turn into people?
What the Eye Sees, What the Heart Feels: unicorns who witness birth and who are reapers
Stampede of Light: A woman lures children away and turns them into unicorns? Honestly, after "cumulative files" was shortened more than once as "cum files" I completely blacked out
The Brew: whiskey with a unicorn label
Mirror of Lop Nor: this sounds like it's based on some sort of Mongolian fable?
The Hunt of the Unicorn: is Lazarus a unicorn in this? I'm confused
The Devil on Myrtle Ave: the devil uses a unicorn as a vessel?
Winter Requiem: is this the David of "David played a secret chord?"
Daughter of the Tao: unicorn as one of the four mythical creatures of China
A Rare Breed: there's unicorns outside a city
Taken He Cannot Be: "The cruelest is the unicorn, a monster that belloweth horribky, bodied like a horse, footed like an elephant, tailed like a swine, and headed like a stag. His horn sticketh out of the midst of his forehead, of a wonderful brightness about four foot long, so sharp that whatsoever he pusheth at, he striketh it though easily. He is never caught alive; killed he may be, but taken he cannot be."
A Plague of Unicorns: reads like a Greek myth
The Tenth Worthy: dystopian future NYC; the Wasting; 9 heroes - 3 pagan (Alexander, Caesar, Hector), 3 Hebrew (David, Joshua, Judah Maccabee), 3 Christian (Godfrey, Charlemange, Arthur of Britain)
Survivor: unicorn tattoo
A Thief in the Night: the Antichrist tries to seduce the new Messiah
Dame a la Licorne: horse breeding/training farm where all the mares give birth to unicorns
Convergence: unicorn lucky charm necklace?
Half-Grandma: old lady sees a unicorn then has a stroke
The Trouble With Unicorns: man adopts a small unicorn in the city
Three Duets for Virgin and Nosehorn" "rhinoceros is Latin for "nosehorn"
We Blazed: weird A.I. plot, very Black Mirror-ish

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an anthology of short stories so not all of them are going to appeal to every reader. Not all of the unicorns will be exactly what you expect and some of the stories are dark, "contemporary", or just strange. I may be giving it five stars out of nostalgia because I really only remember the stories that I loved. I still have my big, old hardcover copy I received when the book first came out and will occasionally reread a few of the stories. Mostly, I love this book for having the first ever Charles de Lint story I read...

[beedz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this at a thrift store, was jazzed to find another Beagle book, then realized it was an anthology. Still semi-enjoyed! The ones that I liked, I really liked, and even the ones I didn’t like I found engaging. Some of them were really stupid imo. Makes me remember why I am very selected reading male authors, let’s put it that way!!

Reinvigorated my love for Peter’s prose and put me on to some new authors too. I do wish they were more classically unicorn oriented…

[Ryan Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not your standard rainbows and unicorn collection of unicorn stories. Some of them are very gripping and have little to do with the happy and fluffy image of mystical horned horses that we are used to. The stories range from happy to sad to scary and even melancholy. It is a must read if you like the topic but have an open mind for artistic license.

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not a fan of short stories and this collection contains many that reinforce my prejudice but there were a few that struck a chord whether bizarre [A Thief in the Night:] or profound [What the Eye Sees, What the Heart Feels:].

[Melanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is not what I thought it was supposed to be, so I was already disappointed. I dislike short stories, so I was further disappointed. Add to that that these short stories were depressing, boring, offensive.... I couldn't even finish the book.

[Bridgett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the stories seemed "gritty" just to go against the assumption that unicorns are "light and fluffy." But overall, I liked the collection.

[Shawna · Rating 3 out of 5]

About half the stories are worth reading. Some are excellent. I've starred the ones I would read again and/or have authors I'd like to look into.

[Miranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good anthology, but like a lot of collections it has some really weak stories in between the stronger. Several, including DeLint's "Seven for a Secret," are well worth your time.

[Sraedi]

The first time I read this I was.. not yet a teen?

I read it before The Last Unicorn and A Fine And Private Place. Maybe I'll wait another 20 years to read it a third time.


2017:

First story - 1 star
Second story - 2 stars