The Last Unicorn

by Peter S. Beagle

Some of you may remember the 1980s cartoon of THE LAST UNICORN. The movie is actually fairly close to the book, but the book just gives more details to the characters. The novel and the screenplay were both written by Peter S. Beagle, which explains why the movie is as good as it is. Interestingly enough, Beagle wrote the screenplay for the animated 1978 LORD OF THE RINGS film based on someone else's draft. The book was originally published in 1968.

The story follows the Unicorn. At the beginning of the book she comes to the realization that she hasn't seen any other unicorns in years. She thinks that it is just because unicorns are solitary creatures. After talking to a butterfly, she realizes that there is actually something wrong. Fearing for the lives of the other unicorns the Unicorn (she doesn't have a name) heads out looking for the land with the Red Bull. While she is traveling she comes across a traveling carnival and meets the magician Schmendrick. While he speaks as if he has seen many years, he looks like a young man and has little control over his power. He helps the Unicorn escape and tags along to try and find out where the other unicorns are. They run into a band of bandits and this time the Unicorn saves Schmendrick and in the process Molly Grue joins their party. Their journey continues and Schmendrick's faulty magic leads them into even more trouble.

I actually saw the movie of THE LAST UNICORN first and it captured my attention. When we listened to the audio book on a car trip, which is actually narrated by Peter S. Beagle, I was struck by the imagery. I always tell people I am a sucker for happy endings. But there is a passage in this story that has always stayed with me since that first time.

“The true secret in being a hero lies in knowing the order of things. The swineherd cannot already be wed to the princess when he embarks on his adventures, nor can the boy knock on the witch's door when she is already away on vacation. The wicked uncle cannot be found out and foiled before he does something wicked. Things must happen when it is time for them to happen. Quests may not simply be abandoned; prophecies may not be left to rot like unpicked fruit; unicorns may go unrescued for a very long time, but not forever. The happy ending cannot come in the middle of the story.” -- THE LAST UNICORN, Peter S. Beagle

This is the image for the graphic novel. I just learned about this version and I really want it now.