SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

Hailed as one of the true classics of the fantasy genre, The Last Unicorn has received a lot of attention. I've noticed a number of articles about this book in Tor recently but decided to save them for after I've read the book. I'll be sure to share them when I do.

I do have to share this very cute and fun picture that I stumbled onto yesterday :)

Tell us about your first thoughts. Do you like the style of writing? The world building? Does this take you back to your childhood or do you find it suitable adult in its flavour? Is it a can't-put-it-down book? Let us know!

Excellent prose and a captivating set up. I've read it before, but it's aged very well - as good now as it was. Even better - for the time challenged - is that it isn't a gargantuan behemoth of a book.

this charming fantasy is one of my favorites. simple, yet elegant. routed in traditions of the fantastic but it feels very fresh. certainly due a reread

off and away into a land of enchantment. . . .


“Why did they go away, do you think? If there ever were such things."
"Who knows? Times change. Would you call this age a good one for unicorns?"
"No, but I wonder if any man before us ever thought his time a good time for unicorns.”

Beagle is well-versed in folk songs, and this book is lyrical. Keep an eye on what he doesn't say, and what he doesn't tell us. None of this tedious worldbuilding stuff; you never hear about the King and the Prince's lengthy ancestry or their connections to the Maiar or whatever. It's beautiful.

Own the book, but haven't read it in many years.
Will get on it when I finish "The Name of the Wind."

For something I keep hearing as one of the great fantasy novels I had never even heard of this book until fairly recently.

Ben wrote: "this charming fantasy is one of my favorites. simple, yet elegant. routed in traditions of the fantastic but it feels very fresh. certainly due a reread"
I agree with Ben. This book is like a fable - it doesn't seem to age. It has so many layers, a layer for anyone.

Kim wrote: "For something I keep hearing as one of the great fantasy novels I had never even heard of this book until fairly recently."

You have to go digging sometimes for the history.

What really scares me is hearing recommendations for people who like Jordan, telling them they ought to try Tolkien.

This book is the opposite of Tolkien, and Jordan as well. It's not epic fantasy, even though there are castles and quests and bold knights. The only similar work I know is Bradley Denton's wonderful book LUNATICS.

Unfortunately, discussing its proper genre doesn't really fit in a no-spoilers topic. . . .

Brenda wrote: "Beagle is well-versed in folk songs, and this book is lyrical. Keep an eye on what he doesn't say, and what he doesn't tell us. None of this tedious worldbuilding stuff; you never hear about the Ki..."

Yes, I found that refreshing as well, Brenda! Beagle's writing is beautiful and elegant, but also brief and to-the-point. It's a nice change from things like ASOIAF.

It definitely reads like a folk story or mythology, and while I didn't love love love it like so many do, the writing is just lovely.

"Tedious" worldbuilding, Brenda? You surely mean the author because as a reader I love worldbuilding. Give me complicate intrigues, history appendixes, and I'll happily crossword them :)
Peter Beagle works without it and replaces it with a lyric story and atmosphere (and the movie with the addition of that grand music).

But a proper worldbuilding would earn it the sixth star.

I've just started reading it. I've seen the movie lots of times, mostly together with my children. I could imagine reading it to them if they weren't too old now. The movie seems to be perfect rendering of the novel without leaving out anything. I don't know how the book carrys on after 60 pages, but maybe it is a better media for this kind of work, adding dimensions (music!) instead of reducing a book.

Andreas wrote: "Peter Beagle works without it and replaces it with a lyric story and atmosphere (and the movie with the addition of that grand music).

But a proper worldbuilding would earn it the sixth star."

The question is whether those two virtues are compatible.

They are different things, that achieve a different artistic effect. You don't sit down to a performance of SWAN LAKE and complain that there are no explosions or aliens.

Brenda wrote: "They are different things, that achieve a different artistic effect. You don't sit down to a performance of SWAN LAKE and complain that there are no explosions or aliens."

Exploding swans and lacquered aliens would probably be the only reason for me to go to that performance.

I see your point that they are different things but I don't know why they couldn't be combined.

Just wanted to point you to the award winning and freely available novelette Two Hearts. I found it in my edition of the Last Unicorn.

Did anyone read that one? What do you think about it?

Andreas wrote: "Just wanted to point you to the award winning and freely available novelette Two Hearts. I found it in my edition of the Last Unicorn.

Did anyone read that one? What do you think a..."

It is a good read, but it has a different feel to it than The Last Unicorn. That isn't necessarily a bad thing - just different. But I would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the last Unicorn. I was fairly young when I read The Last Unicorn, Two Hearts is a story that the older me can appreciate better than the younger me ever could.

Well I'm enjoying it so far. It seems to be pretty spot on with what I remember from the movie but it's probably been thirty years since I've watched it.
The relationship between the magician and the unicorn is pretty interesting stuff and something I really didn't read much into when I was a kid watching the movie. (No, not that kind of relationship)

Has anyone tried the audio? It is read by the author. I've heard mixed reviews. Haven't tried it yet. As long as it's not too bad....I may try it. I can't find an ebook version of this.

Kim wrote: "For something I keep hearing as one of the great fantasy novels I had never even heard of this book until fairly recently."

I have never heard of this book either. I just started reading this and so far I'm enjoying it.

I am about half way through and am impressed with how lyrical and creative this book is, pure fancy in the Lewis Carroll tradition. I am having some difficulty as at times the dialogue and events strike me as completely baffling and nonsensical. Or maybe I am just too simple.

The other great thing about this book is that it ends perfectly.

I´ve read two chapters and I´m hooked. This book makes me wish I had kids so I could read it to them.

Being me, of course I'd like to see more world-building. But it would be harder for this book than for most to incorporate that and still stay true to its atmosphere, precisely because of where it's different from a myth. This is more ironic about itself. I think the whole first chapter at least would be out of place in a living mythological tradition.

Brenda wrote: "The other great thing about this book is that it ends perfectly."

I just finished and couldn't agree more.

Yes. That's one thing that puts it up in the classics along with The Lord of the Rings.

Kim wrote: "For something I keep hearing as one of the great fantasy novels I had never even heard of this book until fairly recently."

Pondering this led me to start this topic, about what are the classic works of fantasy:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I thought it was a delightful read. The prose was lovely and surprisingly insightful. I've loved the movie adaptation (also written by Beagle) ever since I was a child, but it was a real treat to get more of the characters' back stories and see the world a bit more fleshed out. Two Hearts has been on my TBR list for some time. I had no idea it was available for free on Beagle's website.

I hadn't heard of this book either until it turned up in a Humble Bundle. It didn't really work for me after a promising start -- the story seems to lose momentum and I got tired of the fairy tale style towards the end. "Two Hearts", on the other hand, I really enjoyed.

Interestingly, when I think about the ending the first comparison that comes to mind is the ending of LOTR. To end a work properly is very hard -- like sticking the landing in gymnastics.

I've read approximately 30% and my first impressions are mixed. There's tons of atmosphere and the writing is very easy and comfortable to read, smooth and warm, kind of like hot chocolate. But I'm not sold yet. One is that I usually like my reads to be slightly more plot-centric and this one hasn't yet picked up but meanders around. The other is that up till now Beagle's tone swings back and forth, from dramatic to humorous, or from lyrical to very raw and down-to-earth. But I have a hunch that I will not be disappointed so I will continue reading; after all it's not that long.

I am absolutely overjoyed that the story didn't drag out - the book was exactly as long as it needed to be. Most fantasy novels nowadays are upward of 500 pages (at least, that's how it feels). It's a relief - and a joy - to read something that can be finished in a single sitting and without fifteen cups of coffee to keep me going through the night.

Antonis,

Keep reading. It takes a while to get used to, especially if you're coming from more contemporary fantasy. However, it is well worth it.

I've read The Last Unicorn maybe three times over the years; it's one of those books that I appreciate more with each re-read. Its lyrical qualities remind me a lot of The Forgotten Beasts of Eld, another long-time favorite. Sometimes it's nice to read a fantasy that's shorter and poetic rather than epic.

I've read several other books by Peter Beagle over the years and have never found another book of his that I liked as well as Unicorn; not that his other books aren't worthy reads, but they all struck me as quite different in tone and style. Am I missing something?

There are writers who can write essentially the same book over and over -- or books that are so very similar they are clearly cut from the same bolt of cloth. Beagle is not one of them. Every one of his books, although they are clearly his, are different.
I think after UNICORN his best work is A FINE AND PRIVATE PLACE. Again a book that ends perfectly.

L.G. wrote: "I am absolutely overjoyed that the story didn't drag out - the book was exactly as long as it needed to be. Most fantasy novels nowadays are upward of 500 pages (at least, that's how it feels)."

I find that most of those mega-books could easily have 30% of their content cut without losing anything. I completely agree that it's nice reading a story that isn't bloated.

Yeah, well that's at least as much the publishers' fault as the writers. They think a book should have a page per penny so they expand them as the price goes up. (Which is reasonable from their POV as the size of the book has minimal impact on the cost of publishing it.)

Also, now that the books are put on a shelves rather than the old ones where you had books face front in pockets, they want a wide spine that catches the eye, instead of a narrow one that lets you put more in a pocket.

Half way through and I just don't understand the appeal. The use of descriptive metaphors is exhausting. Not for me so far I hope it at least ends well.

I enjoyed the book. Reminded me of Neil Gaimen's fairy tales a la Stardust. I also liked that the story wasn't drawn out as someone else mentioned.

Mark wrote: "I enjoyed the book. Reminded me of Neil Gaimen's fairy tales a la Stardust."

Oh yeah. A light and delicate touch with it. . . .

DavidO wrote: "L.G. wrote: "I am absolutely overjoyed that the story didn't drag out - the book was exactly as long as it needed to be. Most fantasy novels nowadays are upward of 500 pages (at least, that's how i..."

You're spot on when it comes to book length. Fantasy typically tends to be more lenient when it comes to book length, but just because you can make something long doesn't mean you should.

I'm sure I'll have something to say about the ending on the spoiler threads.

I thought it was cute, but don't see how it is one of the great fantasy novels.

When it came out, it was the great not-Tolkien. Narnia is children's fiction; there are plenty of Tolkien clones but at the time there was not much else.

It's also the work that chiefly defined the fantasy unicorn.

Just started it today and really enjoying it so far. I love the language, almost written like a fairy tale. I keep hearing the character's voices from the movie version in my head, though, which may not be a bad thing. It's a nice change from all the dark and depressing books I've been reading lately.

Cindy wrote: "Just started it today and really enjoying it so far. I love the language, almost written like a fairy tale. I keep hearing the character's voices from the movie version in my head, though, which ma..."

The movie is great - I watched it before I read the book too.

I'm about 1/4 through the book. When I started, I thought it would be a quick read. WRONG! It's a "read and think" book. I find myself stopping and wondering what exactly does this passage mean? The Midnight Carnival is typical of the book. It has lots to sort out, from its human characters to its horrible creatures.

The Unicorn fascinates me. She's lovable but she's not! e.g. the magician who wants to be a great wizard, (view spoiler)[she can't help him.

He says "Don't worry about it."

"I'm not worrying about it," the Unicorn says. (hide spoiler)]

That blew me away! Good fodder for the brain to think about.

I'm glad to finally read this book that I've heard of for so long. I liked it a lot, and found it at times reminiscent of Thurber's The White Deer amd The Thirteen Clocks. Also, as others have pointed out, like Gaiman's Stardust--or rather, Stardust is like The Last Unicorn which came before it.
As much as I liked it, I felt it lacked the depth and solidity of Beagle's Tamsin, a mostly unsung masterpiece.

Oh, yes, it reminds me of The 13 Clocks, too. (Which is a great book.)