The Last Unicorn - A Fantasy Novel

 "We are not always what we seem, and hardly ever what we dream."

Author: Peter S. Beagle

Title: The Last Unicorn

Genre: Fantasy

Publication Date: March 1, 1968

Number of Pages: 304

Geographical Setting: Medieval Europe; enchanted forest, Haggard's Castle

Time Period: Medieval times, specific date unknown

Plot Summary: 

The heroine's story begins when two hunters pass through her forest searching for game. Unsuccessful, the hunters muse that it is because a unicorn resides in this forest, and as long as she lives there, all the animals who reside there are protected. Before they leave her forest, they offer her a warning - to stay in her forest where she is protected and it's always spring, because she is the last of her kind. 

The hunters' words stay with the unicorn, and she fears they may be right about her being the last, because she can no longer remember when she last saw another like her. As doubt creeps into her psyche, she travels from her beloved forest to discover if she truly is the last of her kind. Early in her travels, she encounters a talking butterfly who warns her to turn around and stay off the main roads, because she risks being herded by a creature known as the Red Bull, like others of her kind before her. 

She disregards the butterfly's warning and insists she must know what happened to the other unicorns. Soon after, she is taken captive by the witch Mommy Fortuna, who uses spells to make regular animals appear as mythical creatures in her travelling circus. The glamours do not work on The Unicorn, however, and she sees that she is the only legendary creature the circus has managed to capture, except for one - an ancient harpy by the name of Celaeno. No one can see The Unicorn for what she truly is except a magician named Schmendrick. The Unicorn frees herself and the other animals held captive. 

She joins forces with Schmendrick as they travel toward the castle of King Haggard, where they've been told the Red Bull resides. Before they can reach their destination, however, they encounter a group of bandits who take Schmendrick hostage. The Unicorn frees her companion, attracting the attention of the leader of the bandits, Molly Grue, who joins them on their quest. On their way to Haggard's castle, the trio are attacked by the Red Bull, which attempts to herd the Unicorn. In a desperate attempt to save her, Schmendrick transforms her into a mortal woman whom he introduces to King Haggard and his adopted son Lir as Lady Amalthea. While at the castle, the trio searches for answers in secret. Haggard admits that the unicorns are trapped in the sea because they are the only thing that makes them happy, and accuses Amalthea of attempting to save the unicorns. In one last desperate attempt, the trio, joined by Lir, travel to the Red Bull's lair. As the Red Bull attacks, Schmendrick transforms Amalthea into her original form. Fueled by anger, the Unicorn faces off against the Red Bull in order to save the other unicorns and her friends. 

Subject Headings:

- Unicorns - Fiction

- Fantasy - Fiction

- Wizards - Fiction

- Magic - Fiction

Fantasy Appeals: 

- Frame/Setting: the setting of this story takes place like many other fantasy/fairytale novels - in a distant land where magic, mythical creatures, and heroes all reside. The main settings for this book are the Unicorn's enchanted forest and King Haggard's castle, each with their own bit of magic. The forest in which the Unicorn resides, is protected by her special brand of magic. According to the hunters we see early on in the story, any forest where a unicorn resides is a protected forest. The trees are forever green and lush, and it's always springtime there. King Haggard's castle is the opposite of that. It is full of darkness and magic that reflects its master's inner darkness, seeking to snuff out any light it finds. 

- Storyline: The storyline follows the traditional epic/quest storyline commonly found in fantasy novels. There is a hero or heroine who sets out to accomplish a mission - to right a wrong, find a long lost kingdom, destroy a powerful ring. They have a clear set mission that is met with obstacles along the way. In the case of the Unicorn, she is first warned about the Red Bull by a talking butterfly. Ignoring his warnings, she is almost immediately captured by a witch who runs a travelling circus. Upon her escape from that, her travel companion is captured by a group of bandits. Finally, upon reaching their destination, the Unicorn becomes human, thereby forgetting who she is and why she is there. However, like all classic fantasies, the hero/heroine comes out triumphant. 

- Characterization: We have our traditional heroine who sets out on a quest with pure intentions, which is to free her fellow unicorns from whatever spell has made them all disappear. We have our secondary heroes - our Samwise Gamgees, if you will, which include Schmendrick and Molly, who are there to aid in the quest, but ultimately do not have much of a storyline outside of the quest at hand. Finally, we have the villain or villainous entity, in this story, this entity is represented by King Haggard and the Red Bull, which he uses for his nefarious deeds. The villain's sole purpose is to force our heroes into obstacles along the way. 

- Pacing: The pacing of this story is very traditional. The Unicorn has a mission, which is continuously delayed along the way by various obstacles and "side-quests" that arise along the way. All of this leads up to the final battle between good and evil. 

Three Terms that Best Describe this Book: Atmospheric, Whimsical, Lyrical

Fiction Read-Alikes: 

 

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

 Gryphon in Light by Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon

 

Over the Woodward Wall by A. Deborah Baker

Non-Fiction Read-Alikes:

The Reality, Mythology, and Fantasies of Unicorns by W. B. J. Williams

Magic in the Middle Ages by Richard Kieckhefer

The Natural History of Unicorns by Chris Lavers