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The Essential Peter S. Beagle #2
The Essential Peter S. Beagle, Volume II: Oakland Dragon Blues and Other Stories
The essential second volume of bestselling author Peter S. Beagle’s (The Last Unicorn) short stories, including one previously unpublished and four uncollected stories, shows again that Beagle is one of America’s most influential fantasists. With his celebrated versatility, humor, and grace, Beagle is at home in a dazzling variety of subgenres. Evoking comparison to such iconic authors as Twain, Tolkien, Carroll, L’Engle, and Vonnegut, this career retrospective celebrates Beagle’s mastery of the short-story form.
A dilapidated dragon, a frustrated cop, and an unapologetic author square off over a dangerously abandoned narrative. The seemingly perfect addition to a weekly card game hides a dark secret from everyone but her teammate. A deeply respected judge meets his match in Snow Ermine, a gorgeous pickpocket.
From heartbreaking to humorous, these carefully curated stories by Peter S. Beagle show the depth and power of his incomparable prose and storytelling. Featuring a newly published story, “The Mantichora,” an original introduction from Meg Elison (Find Layla), and gorgeous illustrations from Stephanie Pui-Mun Law (Shadowscapes), this elegant collection is a must-have for any fan of classic fantasy.
A dilapidated dragon, a frustrated cop, and an unapologetic author square off over a dangerously abandoned narrative. The seemingly perfect addition to a weekly card game hides a dark secret from everyone but her teammate. A deeply respected judge meets his match in Snow Ermine, a gorgeous pickpocket.
From heartbreaking to humorous, these carefully curated stories by Peter S. Beagle show the depth and power of his incomparable prose and storytelling. Featuring a newly published story, “The Mantichora,” an original introduction from Meg Elison (Find Layla), and gorgeous illustrations from Stephanie Pui-Mun Law (Shadowscapes), this elegant collection is a must-have for any fan of classic fantasy.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published May 2, 2023
17 people are currently reading
273 people want to read
About the author
Peter S. Beagle
222 books3,845 followersPeter 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
March 30, 2023
Delightful. If Volume One was truly the essential collection, the works he has been known for and that people might bring up when you say, 'oh, yes; Peter S. Beagle's short stories, I remember that one,' this volume is emblematic of the skill, emotional complexity, and sheer fun he is capable of bringing to his writing. There were only a couple that were familiar to me, despite owning most of his published collections (of course, we probably have to allow for my memory, but still). Perhaps the 'essential' refers to the essence of a person; most of these works have some autobiographical element, whether it is childhood relationships or the explorations of a dear friend.
The introduction by Meg Elison is brilliant and appropriate; so much better than the prior collection.
Sleight of Hand: classic Beagle about a woman in the initial stages of profound loss. The main character is a little too single-noted to obtain the emotional resonance in his other stories.
Oakland Dragon Blues was just this side of corny, but I love the choice of policeman as narrator. I forgive Beagle writing himself in, because it was fun and has really great bits:
"A creature out of fairy tales, whose red eyes, streaked with pale yellow, like the eyes of very old men, were watching him almost sleepily, totally uninterested in whatever he chose to do. But watching, all the same."
Just tell me you haven't walked past an old man like that on his porch.
The Rock in the Park: The fall entry in the childhood series from The Green Man Review. "There are whole countries that aren't as territorial as adolescent boys." I adore the idea of the map, and love the nod to the visual arts.
The Rabbi's Hobby: an unexpected standout that might stay in my favorites. It has the feel of time period fiction, centered a young man experiencing larger-than-life anxiety facing his bar mitzvah. Both he and his rabbi become distracted by series of magazine photographs: "When we were at last done for the day--approximately a hundred and twenty years later--Rabbi Tuvim went on as though I had just asked the question." A mixture of low-stakes comedy and high-stakes memories.
The Way It Works Out and All: Beagle's friend Avram sends him a series of unlikely postcards When he runs into him in NYC, he takes the narrator on a tour of the Overneath: "He had been born in Yonkers, but felt more at home almost anyplace else, and I couldn't recall ever being east of the Mississippi with him, if you don't count a lost weekend in Minneapolis."
The Best Worst Monster is a fun little children's type story of a monster who decides not to monster. A little less heavy-handed than most of the type.
La Lune T'Attend is a modern werewolf tale, more or less, a Creole counterpoint to Lila the werewolf and ultimately, far more satisfying. I loved the dynamic of the two old men.
The Story of Kao Yu is the story of a traveling Chinese judge, his retainers and the unicorn who occasionally visited his court: "China is one of the few countries where sadness has always been medically recognized." Now this is how to modernize a Judge Dee tale.
Trinity County, CA: You'll Want to Come Again and We'll Be Glad to See You! is a modern urban fantasy setting. What if the county needed animal control for all the illegal dragons? Nice interplay of older, experienced worker and 'new blood' coming into the job.
Marty and the Messenger is a strange little story loosely based on Beagle and his childhood friends, but with a silly twist. "But I was great on aptitude tests, where you didn't actually have to know anything." Definitely captures the feel of potential at that age.
The Mantichora was written especially for this collection. Avram is a researcher who goes to talk with the last mantichora, but pushes his luck: "It went on all night, and by pale morning, A.D. was an older man."
Mr. McCaslin: another one of the 'back when we were kids' stories, Mr. McCaslin was the Irish neighbor suffering from a lung ailment: "We were kids: we had all known people who had died, but never anyone actually in the process, sentence spoken, date of execution set." When he asks him for a favor, they agree.
The Fifth Season: The last story about Peter and his three friends--he's almost sure--about a farewell moment in the neighborhood park. Reminded me very much of Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes in every way but plot. "He made a soft sound that I can still summon up, even after so much time, and never will."
Tarzan Swings by Barsoom: of them all, this is my least favorite. Having not been party to Tarzan nor John Carter, it isn't particularly entertaining, turnabout or no.
The Bridge Partner: a surprising story from Beagle, who I often associate with a more fantastical, dreamy mysticism; this delves into the cat and mouse between a killer and her intended prey. Initially alarming, it was a very good read. One of the ones I recalled, which says something for staying power.
Vanishing: Beagle writes that this was a challenging, 'kidney stone' of a story that went through eleven drafts about a grandfather about-to-be who finds himself revisiting his memories guarding The Berlin Wall. It's a curious choice to include in this collection, full as it is of childhood and transitional moments.
The final section contains 'Abouts' for each of the contributors: Peter S. Beagle, Meg Elison and Stephanie Law. These were short and sweet. I enjoyed reading more of what Elison is up to since Book of the Unnamed Midwife, but as an admirer of the other two, didn't contain any new details.
My only complaint, truly, is that my Paperwhite Kindle can't do justice to Stephanie Law's illustrations. I don't know that I've ever seen a more suitable author-artist pairing, and I would love to see these in color. I guess I'll content myself with her Instagram. Highly recommended for fans of the fantastic and short stories.
Four and a half stars, rounding up. Lovely writing, evocative moods; if each story wasn't amazing, the collection as a whole is.
Many, many thanks to NetGalley and to Kasey Lansdale at Tachyon Publications for an advance reader copy. As always, my opinions my own. As always, quotes subject to change, but I think they give a lovely flavor of the writing.
The introduction by Meg Elison is brilliant and appropriate; so much better than the prior collection.
Sleight of Hand: classic Beagle about a woman in the initial stages of profound loss. The main character is a little too single-noted to obtain the emotional resonance in his other stories.
Oakland Dragon Blues was just this side of corny, but I love the choice of policeman as narrator. I forgive Beagle writing himself in, because it was fun and has really great bits:
"A creature out of fairy tales, whose red eyes, streaked with pale yellow, like the eyes of very old men, were watching him almost sleepily, totally uninterested in whatever he chose to do. But watching, all the same."
Just tell me you haven't walked past an old man like that on his porch.
The Rock in the Park: The fall entry in the childhood series from The Green Man Review. "There are whole countries that aren't as territorial as adolescent boys." I adore the idea of the map, and love the nod to the visual arts.
The Rabbi's Hobby: an unexpected standout that might stay in my favorites. It has the feel of time period fiction, centered a young man experiencing larger-than-life anxiety facing his bar mitzvah. Both he and his rabbi become distracted by series of magazine photographs: "When we were at last done for the day--approximately a hundred and twenty years later--Rabbi Tuvim went on as though I had just asked the question." A mixture of low-stakes comedy and high-stakes memories.
The Way It Works Out and All: Beagle's friend Avram sends him a series of unlikely postcards When he runs into him in NYC, he takes the narrator on a tour of the Overneath: "He had been born in Yonkers, but felt more at home almost anyplace else, and I couldn't recall ever being east of the Mississippi with him, if you don't count a lost weekend in Minneapolis."
The Best Worst Monster is a fun little children's type story of a monster who decides not to monster. A little less heavy-handed than most of the type.
La Lune T'Attend is a modern werewolf tale, more or less, a Creole counterpoint to Lila the werewolf and ultimately, far more satisfying. I loved the dynamic of the two old men.
The Story of Kao Yu is the story of a traveling Chinese judge, his retainers and the unicorn who occasionally visited his court: "China is one of the few countries where sadness has always been medically recognized." Now this is how to modernize a Judge Dee tale.
Trinity County, CA: You'll Want to Come Again and We'll Be Glad to See You! is a modern urban fantasy setting. What if the county needed animal control for all the illegal dragons? Nice interplay of older, experienced worker and 'new blood' coming into the job.
Marty and the Messenger is a strange little story loosely based on Beagle and his childhood friends, but with a silly twist. "But I was great on aptitude tests, where you didn't actually have to know anything." Definitely captures the feel of potential at that age.
The Mantichora was written especially for this collection. Avram is a researcher who goes to talk with the last mantichora, but pushes his luck: "It went on all night, and by pale morning, A.D. was an older man."
Mr. McCaslin: another one of the 'back when we were kids' stories, Mr. McCaslin was the Irish neighbor suffering from a lung ailment: "We were kids: we had all known people who had died, but never anyone actually in the process, sentence spoken, date of execution set." When he asks him for a favor, they agree.
The Fifth Season: The last story about Peter and his three friends--he's almost sure--about a farewell moment in the neighborhood park. Reminded me very much of Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes in every way but plot. "He made a soft sound that I can still summon up, even after so much time, and never will."
Tarzan Swings by Barsoom: of them all, this is my least favorite. Having not been party to Tarzan nor John Carter, it isn't particularly entertaining, turnabout or no.
The Bridge Partner: a surprising story from Beagle, who I often associate with a more fantastical, dreamy mysticism; this delves into the cat and mouse between a killer and her intended prey. Initially alarming, it was a very good read. One of the ones I recalled, which says something for staying power.
Vanishing: Beagle writes that this was a challenging, 'kidney stone' of a story that went through eleven drafts about a grandfather about-to-be who finds himself revisiting his memories guarding The Berlin Wall. It's a curious choice to include in this collection, full as it is of childhood and transitional moments.
The final section contains 'Abouts' for each of the contributors: Peter S. Beagle, Meg Elison and Stephanie Law. These were short and sweet. I enjoyed reading more of what Elison is up to since Book of the Unnamed Midwife, but as an admirer of the other two, didn't contain any new details.
My only complaint, truly, is that my Paperwhite Kindle can't do justice to Stephanie Law's illustrations. I don't know that I've ever seen a more suitable author-artist pairing, and I would love to see these in color. I guess I'll content myself with her Instagram. Highly recommended for fans of the fantastic and short stories.
Four and a half stars, rounding up. Lovely writing, evocative moods; if each story wasn't amazing, the collection as a whole is.
Many, many thanks to NetGalley and to Kasey Lansdale at Tachyon Publications for an advance reader copy. As always, my opinions my own. As always, quotes subject to change, but I think they give a lovely flavor of the writing.
April 13, 2023
The second of the "Essential Peter S. Beagle" anthologies, Volume 2 focuses on more recent works. Included are some adaptations from podcast appearances, etc. If you only know Beagle from The Last Unicorn, these will give you a good idea of what else he has to offer.
Standouts in this volume include:
Oakland Dragon Blues - a depressed, modern day dragon written in opposition to Ursula K. LeGuins dragons (as Beagle points out, probably the best way to go)
The Way It Works Out and All - a collection of postcards ostensibly sent to Beagle from an all-knowing correspondent, this borders fiction and memoir in a really fun way!
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the anthology.
Standouts in this volume include:
Oakland Dragon Blues - a depressed, modern day dragon written in opposition to Ursula K. LeGuins dragons (as Beagle points out, probably the best way to go)
The Way It Works Out and All - a collection of postcards ostensibly sent to Beagle from an all-knowing correspondent, this borders fiction and memoir in a really fun way!
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the anthology.
February 8, 2023
I received an advance copy of this book via NetGalley.
I recently read the first volume in this set. I loved it. My expectations were high for this second book, and were absolutely fulfilled. Peter S. Beagle is a treasure. His stories abound with wry humor, heart, and gentle depths. I adore his fictional-autobiographical tales that use his own NYC childhood and friendships for inspiration, and the there are several such stories in this book. I also loved 'The Rabbi's Hobby" and "The Bridge Partner"--wow, breathtakingly good stuff. These stories remind me that I should read more of his books, too. What a writer.
I recently read the first volume in this set. I loved it. My expectations were high for this second book, and were absolutely fulfilled. Peter S. Beagle is a treasure. His stories abound with wry humor, heart, and gentle depths. I adore his fictional-autobiographical tales that use his own NYC childhood and friendships for inspiration, and the there are several such stories in this book. I also loved 'The Rabbi's Hobby" and "The Bridge Partner"--wow, breathtakingly good stuff. These stories remind me that I should read more of his books, too. What a writer.
August 26, 2023
This man won my heart over with his stories when I was a very small child, and it's no different now that I'm much older. These are full of whimsy, heart, and imagination and I just love them so. Particularly The Rabbi's Hobby and Trinity County, CA are two I keep coming back to
October 4, 2023
I only listened to the short story Mr. McCaslin from this collection through the LeVar Burton Reads podcast. Three city boys take an interest in an old Irish neighbor, and he asks the friends for help in keeping death at bay so he can finish writing a letter to his estranged adult daughter. He explains that death comes to his family in the form of a dog due to a family curse, and the boys do their best to help him in his final days. Although I am typically not a fan of magical realism, this bittersweet tale of friendship and kindness was poignant and well-written. The author of The Last Unicorn certainly knows how to pull at the reader's heartstrings!
July 19, 2023
Carol's detailed story-by-story review is the one to read:
https://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2023/...
Thanks, Carol!
As with all anthologies, I liked some stories more than others. Notably, I didn't care for either of the Avram Davidson stories. Beagle is a great writer, so my 3-star rating should be taken with salt. I'm in a reading slump, sadly. If you are a Beagle fan, you should definitely check this one out. With luck, your reaction will be closer to Carol's than mine.
https://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2023/...
Thanks, Carol!
As with all anthologies, I liked some stories more than others. Notably, I didn't care for either of the Avram Davidson stories. Beagle is a great writer, so my 3-star rating should be taken with salt. I'm in a reading slump, sadly. If you are a Beagle fan, you should definitely check this one out. With luck, your reaction will be closer to Carol's than mine.
January 29, 2023
You know how when you are at a restaurant and the food is to die for, there's a phrase that people say: This is so good, I want to kiss the cook! Well, I want to tongue Beagle. Completely frenching it up. I guess you could say "Compliments to the Chef" but too many people have already complimented Beagle. He doesn't need the praise anymore.
I won't dock points for it, but I'm calling out the publisher. At least in the version I read which may or may not make it to the final printing, there were over three pages of praise for Beagle. This was in both volumes of the collection. I understand if you have a blurb from Neil Gaiman or George R.R. Martin on the front and back of the books. It's all marketing. I think it's a waste of ink having pages of it on the inside, followed by an introduction where a third party then goes and praises Beagle and his writing at length. Does anyone sit there and read all these quotes?
My favorite story in this collection is the one with the Rabbi. What stands out above the rest is how easily this could have turned into an awful story. Minor spoilers but I won't give away the goat: If the woman had turned out to be the lady in the photos after all and fell in love with the Rabbi, that would have killed the story. If it turned out to be her mother, and then in turn she and the Rabbi fell in love, it would have flatlined. Beagle told the perfect story by not falling into any conventions. It has the right amount of everything.
Between the two collections, I'm inclined more toward this second volume. Beagle is fantastic. I may have to read The Last Unicorn after all.
I won't dock points for it, but I'm calling out the publisher. At least in the version I read which may or may not make it to the final printing, there were over three pages of praise for Beagle. This was in both volumes of the collection. I understand if you have a blurb from Neil Gaiman or George R.R. Martin on the front and back of the books. It's all marketing. I think it's a waste of ink having pages of it on the inside, followed by an introduction where a third party then goes and praises Beagle and his writing at length. Does anyone sit there and read all these quotes?
My favorite story in this collection is the one with the Rabbi. What stands out above the rest is how easily this could have turned into an awful story. Minor spoilers but I won't give away the goat: If the woman had turned out to be the lady in the photos after all and fell in love with the Rabbi, that would have killed the story. If it turned out to be her mother, and then in turn she and the Rabbi fell in love, it would have flatlined. Beagle told the perfect story by not falling into any conventions. It has the right amount of everything.
Between the two collections, I'm inclined more toward this second volume. Beagle is fantastic. I may have to read The Last Unicorn after all.
November 13, 2023
Another superb collection of fantasy stories that richly invoke the author’s childhood streets, friends and imagination.
Inside these pages are dragons and centaurs, ghosts and illusions, monsters (supernatural and human) and werewolves, unicorns (of course!), aliens, death dogs, time travel, a jaunt through the Overneath and an Edgar Rice Burroughs homage mash-up – so an eclectic mix of different sci-fi, fantasy and speculative styles across the stories.
My personal favourites were the stories based on the author’s childhood friends: ‘The Rock in the Park’, ‘Marty and the Messenger’, ‘Mr McCaslin’ and ‘The Fifth Season’. They really conjured up a nostalgic atmosphere of hot childhood summers lived in your wildest imaginations, roaming wild and responsibility-free… I felt like I was transported back in time with each one.
I was less keen on the Edgar Rice Burroughs inspired ‘Tarzan Swings by Barsoom’, which makes sense as I haven’t read any of that authors work and so felt pretty lost in space with the whole adventure. I’m sure fans familiar with the original stories will love it though!
As usual though, Peter S. Beagle knocks it right out of the park when it comes to fantasy of any description, short stories in particular, and the knack of bringing the world into vivid focus in ways you hadn’t thought to see it before.
Inside these pages are dragons and centaurs, ghosts and illusions, monsters (supernatural and human) and werewolves, unicorns (of course!), aliens, death dogs, time travel, a jaunt through the Overneath and an Edgar Rice Burroughs homage mash-up – so an eclectic mix of different sci-fi, fantasy and speculative styles across the stories.
My personal favourites were the stories based on the author’s childhood friends: ‘The Rock in the Park’, ‘Marty and the Messenger’, ‘Mr McCaslin’ and ‘The Fifth Season’. They really conjured up a nostalgic atmosphere of hot childhood summers lived in your wildest imaginations, roaming wild and responsibility-free… I felt like I was transported back in time with each one.
I was less keen on the Edgar Rice Burroughs inspired ‘Tarzan Swings by Barsoom’, which makes sense as I haven’t read any of that authors work and so felt pretty lost in space with the whole adventure. I’m sure fans familiar with the original stories will love it though!
As usual though, Peter S. Beagle knocks it right out of the park when it comes to fantasy of any description, short stories in particular, and the knack of bringing the world into vivid focus in ways you hadn’t thought to see it before.
March 20, 2025
It took me around seven months to finish this one, and it felt like it was taking forever. After I read Volume I of the Essential Peter S. Beagle, I was very much looking forward to the second collection of his short stories. However, most of them were absolutely not for me, and overall this collection felt much weaker than the first. Most of the stories printed in Volume I either made me yearn for more, or kickstarted my imagination and made me speculate on how those stories might be continued. Almost none of the stories in this collection had that effect on me. About half of them even failed to evoke any interest at all. However, I kept coming back to this book because the writing skill of Beagle is undeniable, and even when I did not enjoy a story, I was time and again impressed by Beagle seemingly effortlessly evoking cinematic scenes or painting powerful pictures with only a few choice words.
November 22, 2023
I probably should have read Volume I first, but I'm getting it from the library today...
I'm giving this a high three stars because some stories are just better than others. All the ones about him and his childhood friends really didn't do it for me except The Rock in the Park.
Best stories:
Sleight of Hand
The Rabbi's Hobby (made me cry)
La Lune T'Attend (Creole/Cajun werewolf horror)
The Bridge Partner (my favorite - this could be such a good thriller movie)
Vanishing.
So five stories out of 16 (15 actually since I had already read The Story of Kau You) is not a bad batting average.
I'm giving this a high three stars because some stories are just better than others. All the ones about him and his childhood friends really didn't do it for me except The Rock in the Park.
Best stories:
Sleight of Hand
The Rabbi's Hobby (made me cry)
La Lune T'Attend (Creole/Cajun werewolf horror)
The Bridge Partner (my favorite - this could be such a good thriller movie)
Vanishing.
So five stories out of 16 (15 actually since I had already read The Story of Kau You) is not a bad batting average.
August 17, 2023
I adore the Oakland Dragon Blues and Marty and the Messenger! As I finished each tale I would sit and consider the message from each story. I am a Beagle fan, so I have read some of the stories previously, but each one still made me stop and muse. The only one I wasn’t crazy about was the Tarzan one.
May 18, 2025
The Rabbi's Hobby is a new favorite short story.
July 21, 2023
Another amazing collection from the greatest living author, (in my humble opinion)Peter S Beagle. His second volume of short stories continued to keep me enthralled after finishing the first collection. I would say the most memorable story for me was Sleight of Hand. Another 5 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend this collection, as well as volume 1. Thanks for Netgalley and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.
January 2, 2023
I previously reviewed Volume 1 of Tachyon’s spring publication of Peter S. Beagle’s short stories. This reissue encompasses a large span of Beagle’s career and features some of his best work as a fantasist.
I had mentioned in my review of Volume 1 that Beagle is a natural storyteller and it bears repeating here. Of particular interest to readers new and returning would be the short introductions to each story, written by Beagle himself. They provide great insight into the original inspiration and a new lens on the story.
One of my very favorite stories is “La Lune T’Attend,” Beagle’s second werewolf short story, and my favorite werewolf short story. It’s not just about shape shifting and howling at the moon, but about complicated family dynamics. The entire collection is worth purchasing. My other favorites are “Sleight of Hand,” “The Story of Kao Yu,” and “Oakland Dragon Blues.”
I know there are many more stories in Beagle’s backlist, and I hope the publication of these two collections signal future publications. Some of my favorite stories haven’t made their way into these collections, but I have hope.
Thank you to Tachyon and NetGalley for providing an electronic reading copy. I’ve also pre-ordered the hardcover for my personal library.
I had mentioned in my review of Volume 1 that Beagle is a natural storyteller and it bears repeating here. Of particular interest to readers new and returning would be the short introductions to each story, written by Beagle himself. They provide great insight into the original inspiration and a new lens on the story.
One of my very favorite stories is “La Lune T’Attend,” Beagle’s second werewolf short story, and my favorite werewolf short story. It’s not just about shape shifting and howling at the moon, but about complicated family dynamics. The entire collection is worth purchasing. My other favorites are “Sleight of Hand,” “The Story of Kao Yu,” and “Oakland Dragon Blues.”
I know there are many more stories in Beagle’s backlist, and I hope the publication of these two collections signal future publications. Some of my favorite stories haven’t made their way into these collections, but I have hope.
Thank you to Tachyon and NetGalley for providing an electronic reading copy. I’ve also pre-ordered the hardcover for my personal library.
February 26, 2023
The Good: Short story collection of quiet, comforting magical realism
The Bad: Wide breadth of subjects; it’s best to give a little time between each piece of fiction
The Literary: Personal chapter introductions from the author
Peter S. Beagle, best known for the The Last Unicorn, is one of my favorite authors. With an ability to seamlessly move from reality to fantasy, his stories possess an authenticity of truth. In this group of stories, Beagle seems to write about people in his life, both from childhood and adulthood, and I'm surprised how well he translates them to characters on the page.
In this second volume of his essential collection, I again note the breadth of genres—from children’s to adult stories, fairy tales to urban fantasy, with dragons, unicorns, werewolves, and ghosts. There are a few more stories that fall on the scifi side of this typically fantasy-focused author. Many stories are gritty, with high stakes and action-packed fight scenes. But, in the end, there is always an elegance and grace that round out this contemplative magical realism collection.
The stories in order:
Sleight of Hand – ★★★★★ – A woman sets off in her car with no destination after the loss of her husband and daughter. She becomes fascinated with a magician in a small town diner, and although she doesn't remember him, she may have met him before. Step outside of time in this story about second chances.
Oakland Dragon Blues – ★★★★★ – A dragon appears in a busy intersection in Oakland demanding to see his maker. A self-referential story on the magic of creation.
The Rock in the Park – ★★★★★ – The first of five tall tales about Beagle's childhood with his misfit friends in 1950s Bronx. One afternoon while Peter and his friend Phil lounge on their favorite giant rock in Central Park, a family of centaurs timidly asks for directions.
The Rabbi's Hobby – ★★★★★ – While preparing for his bar mitzvah, a young boy and his Rabbi become fascinated with a young woman on an old magazine cover, who it seems upon some investigation never existed. I love the interplay between the two narratives in this one, and how they come together at the end.
The Way It Works Out And All – ★★★★★ – Beagle's friend Avram sends postcards from around the world one day after the other, too fast to have covered the distance by standard travel. Over dinner, the friend reveals his method—a special inter-dimensional mode of travel through the Overneath. Suprisingly suspenseful and terrifying.
The Best Worst Monster – ★★★★☆ – A hideous monster, created by his master to sow fear and destruction, develops a conscience. A sweet little morality tale about living with Beppo the Beggar as inspiration.
La Tune T'Attend– ★★★★★ – Two aging Cajun werewolves, who never revealed their true nature to their wives and children, must protect themselves and their families when an old enemy returns. A real supernatural territorial battle of vengence.
The Story of Kao Yu – ★★★★☆ – A traveling judge, fair and patient and stern, respected by all, often deferred the most heinous of crimes to the judgement of chi-lin, the Chinese unicorn. But when Kao Yu falls in love with a small-time thief, he sacrifies his purity, his truth, and his relationship with chi-lin.
Trinity County, CA: You'll Want to Come Again and We'll Be Glad to See You! – ★★★★☆ – A police officer and his perky new young partner investigate small-time illegal dragon breeding operations in rural Trinity County, California. Surprisingly gruff and procedural, with the magic of extremely dangerous dragons.
Marty and The Messenger – ★★★★☆ – The second tale in this collection about young Peter and his childhood friends. Marty is the small one with the limp, a polio survior, but he'ss also the smartest kid in the group, so it's no suprise to Peter when an alien species contacts Marty through his lunch jello to ask for assistance preventing the decline of their species. Most of the childhood stories have a magical realism, but this one falls a little too far outside of the realm of possibility for me. Still, it's cute.
The Mantichora – ★★★★☆ – The second story in this collection about Beagle's friend Avram, who is the last person on Earth to speak Mountain Mantichora, mostly because he's the only known survior after speaking with a Mantichora. A Yeti also makes an appearance.
Mr. McCaslin – ★★★★★ – Another tale about Peter's childhood, with all his friends in tow, as they help a dying man finish a long letter to his estranged daughter. If only they can keep death, in the form of a dark terrier, from getting into his apartment. This may be my favorite of the whole collection.
The Fifth Season – ★★★★☆ – The last supernatural childhood tale in which one of Peter's friends' deceased father shows them a horde of waterguns, with which they spend all daying playing in the park. This one isn't as much about ghosts as it is about the make-believe of childhood battles and truces, and wishing the magic of childhood would last forever.
Tarzan Swings by Barsoom – ★★★★☆ – What if Tarzan of the Apes and John Carter of Mars got in fight?
The Bridge Partner – ★★★★★ – Mattie's new bridge partner seems normal, but at the end of every game and encounter, whispers discreetly so no one else can hear, I will kill you. I see myself in timid Mattie, and this story kept me awake at night, reading feverishly under the covers.
Vanishing – ★★★★★ – The last thing Jansen remembers is waiting for his pregnant daughter in the lobby of the doctor's office. He awakens in a place from his previous life, serving as a guard at the Berlin Wall. But upon further exploration, beyond the Wall is only emptiness. There is only Jansen, the Wall, and ghosts of his past.
And don’t forget to take a few moments to appreciate the gorgeous illustrations from Stephanie Pui-Mun Law. Highly recommended for fans of Neil Gaiman, Ursula K. LeGuin, and Susanna Clarke!
The Bad: Wide breadth of subjects; it’s best to give a little time between each piece of fiction
The Literary: Personal chapter introductions from the author
Peter S. Beagle, best known for the The Last Unicorn, is one of my favorite authors. With an ability to seamlessly move from reality to fantasy, his stories possess an authenticity of truth. In this group of stories, Beagle seems to write about people in his life, both from childhood and adulthood, and I'm surprised how well he translates them to characters on the page.
In this second volume of his essential collection, I again note the breadth of genres—from children’s to adult stories, fairy tales to urban fantasy, with dragons, unicorns, werewolves, and ghosts. There are a few more stories that fall on the scifi side of this typically fantasy-focused author. Many stories are gritty, with high stakes and action-packed fight scenes. But, in the end, there is always an elegance and grace that round out this contemplative magical realism collection.
The stories in order:
Sleight of Hand – ★★★★★ – A woman sets off in her car with no destination after the loss of her husband and daughter. She becomes fascinated with a magician in a small town diner, and although she doesn't remember him, she may have met him before. Step outside of time in this story about second chances.
Oakland Dragon Blues – ★★★★★ – A dragon appears in a busy intersection in Oakland demanding to see his maker. A self-referential story on the magic of creation.
The Rock in the Park – ★★★★★ – The first of five tall tales about Beagle's childhood with his misfit friends in 1950s Bronx. One afternoon while Peter and his friend Phil lounge on their favorite giant rock in Central Park, a family of centaurs timidly asks for directions.
The Rabbi's Hobby – ★★★★★ – While preparing for his bar mitzvah, a young boy and his Rabbi become fascinated with a young woman on an old magazine cover, who it seems upon some investigation never existed. I love the interplay between the two narratives in this one, and how they come together at the end.
The Way It Works Out And All – ★★★★★ – Beagle's friend Avram sends postcards from around the world one day after the other, too fast to have covered the distance by standard travel. Over dinner, the friend reveals his method—a special inter-dimensional mode of travel through the Overneath. Suprisingly suspenseful and terrifying.
The Best Worst Monster – ★★★★☆ – A hideous monster, created by his master to sow fear and destruction, develops a conscience. A sweet little morality tale about living with Beppo the Beggar as inspiration.
La Tune T'Attend– ★★★★★ – Two aging Cajun werewolves, who never revealed their true nature to their wives and children, must protect themselves and their families when an old enemy returns. A real supernatural territorial battle of vengence.
The Story of Kao Yu – ★★★★☆ – A traveling judge, fair and patient and stern, respected by all, often deferred the most heinous of crimes to the judgement of chi-lin, the Chinese unicorn. But when Kao Yu falls in love with a small-time thief, he sacrifies his purity, his truth, and his relationship with chi-lin.
Trinity County, CA: You'll Want to Come Again and We'll Be Glad to See You! – ★★★★☆ – A police officer and his perky new young partner investigate small-time illegal dragon breeding operations in rural Trinity County, California. Surprisingly gruff and procedural, with the magic of extremely dangerous dragons.
Marty and The Messenger – ★★★★☆ – The second tale in this collection about young Peter and his childhood friends. Marty is the small one with the limp, a polio survior, but he'ss also the smartest kid in the group, so it's no suprise to Peter when an alien species contacts Marty through his lunch jello to ask for assistance preventing the decline of their species. Most of the childhood stories have a magical realism, but this one falls a little too far outside of the realm of possibility for me. Still, it's cute.
The Mantichora – ★★★★☆ – The second story in this collection about Beagle's friend Avram, who is the last person on Earth to speak Mountain Mantichora, mostly because he's the only known survior after speaking with a Mantichora. A Yeti also makes an appearance.
Mr. McCaslin – ★★★★★ – Another tale about Peter's childhood, with all his friends in tow, as they help a dying man finish a long letter to his estranged daughter. If only they can keep death, in the form of a dark terrier, from getting into his apartment. This may be my favorite of the whole collection.
The Fifth Season – ★★★★☆ – The last supernatural childhood tale in which one of Peter's friends' deceased father shows them a horde of waterguns, with which they spend all daying playing in the park. This one isn't as much about ghosts as it is about the make-believe of childhood battles and truces, and wishing the magic of childhood would last forever.
Tarzan Swings by Barsoom – ★★★★☆ – What if Tarzan of the Apes and John Carter of Mars got in fight?
The Bridge Partner – ★★★★★ – Mattie's new bridge partner seems normal, but at the end of every game and encounter, whispers discreetly so no one else can hear, I will kill you. I see myself in timid Mattie, and this story kept me awake at night, reading feverishly under the covers.
Vanishing – ★★★★★ – The last thing Jansen remembers is waiting for his pregnant daughter in the lobby of the doctor's office. He awakens in a place from his previous life, serving as a guard at the Berlin Wall. But upon further exploration, beyond the Wall is only emptiness. There is only Jansen, the Wall, and ghosts of his past.
And don’t forget to take a few moments to appreciate the gorgeous illustrations from Stephanie Pui-Mun Law. Highly recommended for fans of Neil Gaiman, Ursula K. LeGuin, and Susanna Clarke!
October 13, 2023
I just adore Beagle's writing. Thats all there is to it. His stories are absolutely beautiful. I read his earlier work in high school and now as an adult I still equally love his writing. I cannot recommend his work enough. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me this arc to read.
December 9, 2022
3.5 stars, Metaphorosis Reviews.
Summary
A collection of fantasy stories by Peter S. Beagle
Review
As the pages of this site attest, I’m a latecomer to Peter S. Beagle, running across even The Last Unicorn long after most. I’ve had mixed reactions to his other work, most recently feeling quite positive about the first volume of this series, just days ago. Unfortunately, with this volume, my reactions are back to mixed.
There’s no question that Beagle is a talented writer, but in this ‘essential’ volume, talented prose is not paired with engaging stories. There are quite a few – too many – stories of his childhood friends (all intertwined with fantastic elements), and I found fairly soon that the charm had worn off. Most of these stories, childhood or not, simply run too long. The one previously unpublished story, while better than I had grown to fear (it’s the last story in the collection) is at least twice as long as it needed to be, and perhaps more.
None of these stories really stood out, to be frank. And I’m a fan of a slow-moving, contemplative story. Still, my favorites among them were:
“The Rock in the Park” – Centaurs get off course on their regular migration, and can’t find their way out of New York.
“The Best Worst Monster”- A monster created by a mad scientist thinks maybe there’s something beyond destruction.
I’m not expert enough in Beagle’s work to decide whether these stories are essential. Based on what I have seen, however, I’d have to lean toward ‘inessential’ and ‘they’re all well written and some of them are nice. If you’re not a Beagle aficionado, I’d stick with Volume 1.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Summary
A collection of fantasy stories by Peter S. Beagle
Review
As the pages of this site attest, I’m a latecomer to Peter S. Beagle, running across even The Last Unicorn long after most. I’ve had mixed reactions to his other work, most recently feeling quite positive about the first volume of this series, just days ago. Unfortunately, with this volume, my reactions are back to mixed.
There’s no question that Beagle is a talented writer, but in this ‘essential’ volume, talented prose is not paired with engaging stories. There are quite a few – too many – stories of his childhood friends (all intertwined with fantastic elements), and I found fairly soon that the charm had worn off. Most of these stories, childhood or not, simply run too long. The one previously unpublished story, while better than I had grown to fear (it’s the last story in the collection) is at least twice as long as it needed to be, and perhaps more.
None of these stories really stood out, to be frank. And I’m a fan of a slow-moving, contemplative story. Still, my favorites among them were:
“The Rock in the Park” – Centaurs get off course on their regular migration, and can’t find their way out of New York.
“The Best Worst Monster”- A monster created by a mad scientist thinks maybe there’s something beyond destruction.
I’m not expert enough in Beagle’s work to decide whether these stories are essential. Based on what I have seen, however, I’d have to lean toward ‘inessential’ and ‘they’re all well written and some of them are nice. If you’re not a Beagle aficionado, I’d stick with Volume 1.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 19, 2023
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
The Essential Peter S. Beagle, Volume II is the second collection of short(er) fiction by perennial author Peter S. Beagle. Released together with its sister volume 16th May 2023 by Tachyon, it's 352 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is a wonderfully curated collection of 16 pieces, including one previously unpublished, four previously uncollected, and several which were unfamiliar to me. There wasn't a dud in the entire lot. Mr. Beagle is a superlative writer with a sublime and consummate command of English as well as being a master of written fiction.
Each of the stories contains a short introduction by the author himself. The collection is also enhanced by the intricate chapter headings and line drawings of artist Stephanie Pui-Mun Law, whose art is ethereal and reminiscent of Sulamith Wülfing and calls to mind P. Craig Russel as well, without being the slightest bit derivative of either.
Five stars. This would be an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, for home use, and for gift giving purposes.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
The Essential Peter S. Beagle, Volume II is the second collection of short(er) fiction by perennial author Peter S. Beagle. Released together with its sister volume 16th May 2023 by Tachyon, it's 352 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is a wonderfully curated collection of 16 pieces, including one previously unpublished, four previously uncollected, and several which were unfamiliar to me. There wasn't a dud in the entire lot. Mr. Beagle is a superlative writer with a sublime and consummate command of English as well as being a master of written fiction.
Each of the stories contains a short introduction by the author himself. The collection is also enhanced by the intricate chapter headings and line drawings of artist Stephanie Pui-Mun Law, whose art is ethereal and reminiscent of Sulamith Wülfing and calls to mind P. Craig Russel as well, without being the slightest bit derivative of either.
Five stars. This would be an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, for home use, and for gift giving purposes.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
Read
March 7, 2023Continuing the bumper collection of short work by one of the greats, with stories taking in everything from the eponymous dragon to centaurs on the other coast of the US, an unusual deal with a surprisingly kind devil, and Avram Davidson's discovery of the secret plumbing of the world. Not that the first volume wasn't already pretty New York Jewish, but I think this one may be more so, especially in The Rabbi's Hobby, set around the lead up to a bar mitzvah. The eponymous hobby being collecting, everything from old magazines to keys that don't have locks: "Whenever I find a lock that's lost its key I try a few of mine on it, on the chance that one of them might be the right one. God is like that for me – a lock none of my keys fit, and probably never will. But I keep at it, I keep picking up different keys and trying them out, because you never know. Could happen." In real life, probably not, but in a Peter Beagle story, well. And yes, obviously there are unicorns too, though maybe not quite like you're expecting. I didn't altogether go for Tarzan Swings By Barsoom - too much the working out of a childhood grudge, and besides, I've barely read Burroughs – and Beagle isn't kidding when he introduces the closing Vanishing as being work well outside his comfort zone; for me it was at once a little pat and a bit too grim to make best use of his gifts, though it could make a cracking Twilight Zone episode. On the whole, though, reading this is the delight of watching a master at work.
(Netgalley ARC)
(Netgalley ARC)
April 21, 2023
The first collection of Peter S. Beagle short stories in this two book series was one of my biggest surprises of the first quarter of 2023. I hadn’t read Mr. Beagle’s work in probably 20 years so I was not ready for how much I loved it. The second volume was very similar in tone and style, with just a few stories that I enjoyed but wasn’t completely sure about.
The strongest stories by far for me were the stories that followed his young friend squad as boys and their ‘magical’ encounters. These are fantastic, the type of ‘Magical stories about kids for adults’ that would make Stephen King and his (slightly obnoxious) child characters weep. They have an adults depth with a child’s wonder and it shines beautifully in the stories.
Besides that the only weak stories for me were those that seemed to borrow from elsewhere. Perhaps they felt dated or old fashioned, or it’s just my preference for those self insert stories, but I struggled a bit with stories such as the werewolf one. Set in Louisiana it focuses on two old werewolves of Creole descent and family as they fight a returned evil. I think I connect and see more of his love for his home town and the topics and peoples he knows in those other stories.
Regardless this collection is still fantastic. I’ve already requested copies for my birthday and I will 100% reread them. I cannot wait to return to the story about the backwoods dragon breeders - I live in moonshine country so that really amused and delighted me.
4.5 out of 5 Illegal Dragon Eggs
The strongest stories by far for me were the stories that followed his young friend squad as boys and their ‘magical’ encounters. These are fantastic, the type of ‘Magical stories about kids for adults’ that would make Stephen King and his (slightly obnoxious) child characters weep. They have an adults depth with a child’s wonder and it shines beautifully in the stories.
Besides that the only weak stories for me were those that seemed to borrow from elsewhere. Perhaps they felt dated or old fashioned, or it’s just my preference for those self insert stories, but I struggled a bit with stories such as the werewolf one. Set in Louisiana it focuses on two old werewolves of Creole descent and family as they fight a returned evil. I think I connect and see more of his love for his home town and the topics and peoples he knows in those other stories.
Regardless this collection is still fantastic. I’ve already requested copies for my birthday and I will 100% reread them. I cannot wait to return to the story about the backwoods dragon breeders - I live in moonshine country so that really amused and delighted me.
4.5 out of 5 Illegal Dragon Eggs
May 10, 2023
Volume two is introduced by Neg Elison, who compares his works to being fed pieces if his heart. Any author dredges up parts of their soul for their stories, and this second book is full of heavy emotions as much as the fantastic edge of magic within the ordinary day. The first story, "Sleight of Hand," is a melancholic elegy, grief and love entwined in her journey after the loss of her husband and daughter. As with volume one, the story sets the tone for the volume, and I especially feel that in the story "The Rabbi," where the grief comes in when you least expect it. It's beautiful and cleverly woven in, adding the sense of wonder and mystery to the ordinary world. Peter Beagle wrote about dragons as well as his famed unicorn, in the world of Avicenna that's pretty much northern California. And in that story he appears himself, as the author creating a dragon for a novel and scrapping it, leaving it homeless in Oakland. That's a fantastically meta concept for a story, and it was a really fun read. It's not the only story that Beagle shows up in, though he's not named outright in that one.
Peter Beagle says it perfectly himself in one of his stories: "...the artist isn't the magic. The artist is the sight, the artist is someone who knows magic when he sees it." To our everlasting benefit, we get to see the magic that he did.
Peter Beagle says it perfectly himself in one of his stories: "...the artist isn't the magic. The artist is the sight, the artist is someone who knows magic when he sees it." To our everlasting benefit, we get to see the magic that he did.
June 4, 2023
'The Essential Peter S. Beagle Volume 2' is more uneven in quality than Volume 1, but there are some fantastic stories in here.
The two best are the lead story, 'Sleight of Hand', and 'The Rabbi's Hobby'. Both are about love and an aching loss. The first involves a heartbreaking sacrifice, and the second has a poignant conclusion and features one of my favorite characters, Rabbi Sidney Tuvim. I've read these stories before, but they both gutted me again on the reread.
Born in 1939, Beagle grew up in the Bronx. There are a cluster of stories about his pals in the early 50s when they were 12 to 15, and the neighborhood and neighbors around them. While they each have a fantasy element, the stories seem a bit of a nostalgic indulgence. Well written as all his work is, but still.
'Tarzan Swings by Barsoom' is a pastiche featuring two characters from Edgar Rice Burroughs. Lightweight and somewhat predictable.
'The Bridge Partner' isn't a fantasy at all. Beagle admits to being influenced by Patricia Highsmith, and this is a suspense story about an unlikely seeming sociopath.
The book closes with 'The Vanishing' a story Beagle says he struggled with for decades, but turns out well as a Cold War story about the Berlin Wall, the senseless deaths that occurred there, and the feelings of guilt by its guardians.
The two best are the lead story, 'Sleight of Hand', and 'The Rabbi's Hobby'. Both are about love and an aching loss. The first involves a heartbreaking sacrifice, and the second has a poignant conclusion and features one of my favorite characters, Rabbi Sidney Tuvim. I've read these stories before, but they both gutted me again on the reread.
Born in 1939, Beagle grew up in the Bronx. There are a cluster of stories about his pals in the early 50s when they were 12 to 15, and the neighborhood and neighbors around them. While they each have a fantasy element, the stories seem a bit of a nostalgic indulgence. Well written as all his work is, but still.
'Tarzan Swings by Barsoom' is a pastiche featuring two characters from Edgar Rice Burroughs. Lightweight and somewhat predictable.
'The Bridge Partner' isn't a fantasy at all. Beagle admits to being influenced by Patricia Highsmith, and this is a suspense story about an unlikely seeming sociopath.
The book closes with 'The Vanishing' a story Beagle says he struggled with for decades, but turns out well as a Cold War story about the Berlin Wall, the senseless deaths that occurred there, and the feelings of guilt by its guardians.
February 5, 2023
Most of us know Peter S. Beagle from his masterpiece The Last Unicorn, and I fear that most of us have never explored the man's work further.
To my utter shame this is certainly true of myself.
I requested a copy of The Essential Peter S. Beagle Volume 2 to rectify this mistake, thinking that I would be rewarded with a few nice stories that would fill an afternoon.
Peter S. Beagle is not a writer, at least he is not the writer that so many others are. Peter S. Beagle is a magician, an alchemist of ideas, and a absolute treasure to all those who are exposed to his wonderful stories. I am thankful that I have quality copies of The Last Unicorn (and The Lost Journey), but now I realise that I need to find much more space on my shelves for the rest of the authors work.
That's okay, there are certainly many lesser authors who can be discarded in favour of Peter S. Beagle, and by that I mean almost all of them.
To my utter shame this is certainly true of myself.
I requested a copy of The Essential Peter S. Beagle Volume 2 to rectify this mistake, thinking that I would be rewarded with a few nice stories that would fill an afternoon.
Peter S. Beagle is not a writer, at least he is not the writer that so many others are. Peter S. Beagle is a magician, an alchemist of ideas, and a absolute treasure to all those who are exposed to his wonderful stories. I am thankful that I have quality copies of The Last Unicorn (and The Lost Journey), but now I realise that I need to find much more space on my shelves for the rest of the authors work.
That's okay, there are certainly many lesser authors who can be discarded in favour of Peter S. Beagle, and by that I mean almost all of them.
March 5, 2024
32. A book with a number in the title
I had read a fair number of the stories in the first volume of this collection. I wasn't nearly as familiar with the stories in this one.
There's a lot of nostalgia in this book. Many of the stories take place when the author was a young boy and are pseudo-autobiographical. He's not claiming that any of these fantastical things ever happened to him and his friends, he's just looking back in time at what it was to be young. The last of these stories brought a tear to my eye, no mean feat. These particular stories are about a very specific experience: what it was like to be a young Jewish boy in 1950's New York City.
I found myself being tired of reading these occasionally and had to take breaks. Most of the stories are pleasant but don't quite have the bite of some of his earlier stories. Not many will really stick with me, so I liked the book but won't rate it higher than that.
I had read a fair number of the stories in the first volume of this collection. I wasn't nearly as familiar with the stories in this one.
There's a lot of nostalgia in this book. Many of the stories take place when the author was a young boy and are pseudo-autobiographical. He's not claiming that any of these fantastical things ever happened to him and his friends, he's just looking back in time at what it was to be young. The last of these stories brought a tear to my eye, no mean feat. These particular stories are about a very specific experience: what it was like to be a young Jewish boy in 1950's New York City.
I found myself being tired of reading these occasionally and had to take breaks. Most of the stories are pleasant but don't quite have the bite of some of his earlier stories. Not many will really stick with me, so I liked the book but won't rate it higher than that.
May 17, 2023
This a common review for both Volume 1 and 2 of The Essential Peter S. Beagle
I recently discovered Peter Beagle when I read a new release of The Last Unicorn and I was happy I discovered a new to me classic author.
I've reading fantasy stories since the 80s so I was left wondering why I never read his stories before and happy because there was a lot of new worlds to discover.
This two volumes features all I loved in the Last Unicorn: tenderness, humour, fascinating world building and excellent storytelling.
I think it's time more people read this author as his stories are top level.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
I recently discovered Peter Beagle when I read a new release of The Last Unicorn and I was happy I discovered a new to me classic author.
I've reading fantasy stories since the 80s so I was left wondering why I never read his stories before and happy because there was a lot of new worlds to discover.
This two volumes features all I loved in the Last Unicorn: tenderness, humour, fascinating world building and excellent storytelling.
I think it's time more people read this author as his stories are top level.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
February 4, 2024
The second volume is much like the first. Different stories will have different appeal to the reader, but all are well written. I think my favorite story out of both collections was Oakland Dragon Blues. I definitely prefer Mr. Beagle's stories about unicorns and dragons over the one with spirits or werewolves. But that says more about me than his writing (which is excellent).
Stephanie Law's illustrations are beautiful and ethereal as always. She does not illustrate the stories, but weaves her own story throughout the book. I really loved the unicorn and dragon illustrations in this volume.
Stephanie Law's illustrations are beautiful and ethereal as always. She does not illustrate the stories, but weaves her own story throughout the book. I really loved the unicorn and dragon illustrations in this volume.
November 9, 2022
I love that Beagle's work is being re-assembled and published again, and that he has written his own introductions to these works. I'm especially delighted to find stories here that I hadn't read before, and to re-read old favorites with his intro in mind. Here, Meg Elison does a somewhat better job of writing the Foreword than Jane Yolen, whose Foreword should be trashed completely, but I wonder why have these Forewards in the first place? Just read the stories with Beagle's recollections, and enjoy his worlds and words.
May 17, 2023
As in Volume 1, Mr Beagle is so adept at weaving these fantasies into and through the characters' lives that I read the whole volume in an afternoon/ evening. The stories are not rooted in any one "type". The mood and tone of each is set by the characters and their community of events and actions. They feel three dimensional. The friend that recommended Peter S Beagle to me is going to get a BIG present as these are some of the best fantasies I've read in awhile.
July 14, 2025
This collection is a bit smaller than the first volume, and a bit disappointed in the content...
Oakland Dragon Blues was Good, as was La Lune T’Attend the Best Worst Monster, & The Story of Kao Yu.
Trinity County, CA: You’ll Want to Come Again and We’ll Be Glad to See You! Was really great!
But then the rest of the content just seemed to lag...technically competent, no real plot problems, a little dating, but on purpose, and just nothing grabbing... At least not so much.
Oakland Dragon Blues was Good, as was La Lune T’Attend the Best Worst Monster, & The Story of Kao Yu.
Trinity County, CA: You’ll Want to Come Again and We’ll Be Glad to See You! Was really great!
But then the rest of the content just seemed to lag...technically competent, no real plot problems, a little dating, but on purpose, and just nothing grabbing... At least not so much.
November 16, 2025
4.5/5
Wie beim ersten Band im ganzen Buch Illustrationen mit Einhörnern verteilt. Ohne die Qualität der Illustrationen in Frage zu stellen: Darauf hätte man auch verzichten können. Das wirkt sehr generisch.
Wie beim ersten Band im ganzen Buch Illustrationen mit Einhörnern verteilt. Ohne die Qualität der Illustrationen in Frage zu stellen: Darauf hätte man auch verzichten können. Das wirkt sehr generisch.
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