The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Last Unicorn
Book Review: A beautiful story
Summary: 5 Stars
An unusual and quite lovable fairy tale, "The Last Unicorn" captures a certain eerie and mystical quality that sends shivers down your spine, and adds alot of enjoyment to the book. I sometimes found myself quite frustrated with the unicorn, wondering how she could be so callous and unfeeling, but her emotional as well as physical journey is a main theme in this book. Her companions are quite far from perfect, an unusual concept in fantasy, and one which I enjoyed very much. You can't help but grow quite fond of the fumbling Schmendrick, or the tough, practical Molly Grue, both of whom add a bit of diversity to the story. I was also fascinated with the wierd, witchlike Mommy Fortuna, who knows the limits of her own power but lets her covetous nature of all things immortal be her downfall. Written with a dreamlike quality, "The Last Unicorn" isn't as much fantasy as it is a story about beauty, and the search for it, and how magic is a very tangible part of our lives.Book Review: A beautiful story...a heart wrenching story
Summary: 5 Stars
Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved The Last Unicorn. A couple of years ago I finally got the book, and I was amazed at how much better the book is than the movie. The story is very romantic, sad, and dark. Anyone who's a huge fan of fantasy novels, and especially unicorns, will love this story. You will remember it for years to come, and will probably read it many many times.Book Review: A childhood legend
Summary: 5 Stars
The Last Unicorn has to be the best childhood legend to grow up with. It appeals to all ages & you never tire of it. If only there were more books like this in the world....Book Review: A classic fairy tale
Summary: 4 Stars
The Last Unicorn is generally a good book. It's a very typical fairy tale, though, and anyone who does not enjoy old-fashioned books will either be dissapointed or bored. It's a good book for pre-teens, as younger children usually cannot understand the story and older ones tend to scorn the usual fairy tale. All in all though, I enjoyed the book and, if you explain the book to your children, may be a good book for bedtime reading.Book Review: A classic piece of fantasy literature and excellent story.
Summary: 5 Stars
In the genre of fantasy, there are few books that can be considered "classics," as it's very difficult to create a classic and universally-loved story set within a fantasy world. Members of this elite club include "The Lord of the Rings" by J.R.R. Tolkein, "Alice in Wonderland" by Lewis Caroll, and "The Chronicles of Narnia" by C.S. Lewis. Peter S. Beagle also joins this membership with his classic "The Last Unicorn", a beautfully crafted and utterly wonderful story.The story deals with a unicorn who discovers she is the last of her kind. She sets out to find her missing race, but ends up with more than she bargains for. With the help of a bumbling magician and a maid, she must face an evil king who uses a mysterious creature for a purpose not even she could imagine.
The story is perhaps one of the most beautifully crafted stories in all of fantasy. It is far from being an epic - it's more of a short story that happens to be long - but it still makes for a captivating read. And the story doesn't always take itself seriously; there's a kind of wry humor that might be found in a Disney-like cartoon. However, "The Last Unicorn" is far from a Disney-esque book. There is a subtle yet undeniable dark tone in the story, and the characters have real personalities and character development, with flaws and irregularities. In the span of a relatively short novel, Beagle's world is realized with such amazing beauty and skill it's difficult not to be engrossed in his simple yet elegant prose.
Although it's most likely out of print by now, I seriously reccommend finding this book. If "The Lord of the Rings" is the Bible of fantasy, then "The Last Unicorn" is the equivalent of a book written by Max Lucado. It's suitable for all ages, and it beats the movie by a long shot. You will laugh, you will cry, you will feel satisfied. "The Last Unicorn" is one of fantasy's unquestionable classics.