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The Rhinoceros Who Quoted Nietzsche and Other Odd Acquaintances

peter s. beagle

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This overview of Peter Beagle's extraordinary career as a fantasist contains seven short stories and three essays as well as a new preface by the author. It also features the original whimsical Chesley Award-winning cover illustration by talented Bay Area artist Michael Dashow. "The Last Unicorn, Beagle's most beloved novel, was an underground bestseller in the late 1960s and 1970s. This collection includes two of Beagle's popular unicorn stories, "Professor Gottesman and the Indian Rhinoceros" and "Julie's Unicorn," as well as "Lila the Werewolf," which is anthologized in the "Oxford Book of Fantasy, and a tribute to J. R. R. Tolkien, "The Naga."

Contents

Introduction: “Under the Zucchini” by Patricia A. McKillip

Fiction
“Come Lady Death”
“Julie’s Unicorn”
“Lila the Werewolf”
“My Daughter’s Name Is Sarah”
“Pittsburgh Stories (a Recollection)”
“Professor Gottesman and the Indian Rhinoceros”
“Telephone Call”
“The Naga”

Essays
“D. H. Lawrence in Taos”
“Learning a Trade”
“My Last Hero”
“The Poor People’s Campaign”

186 pages, Paperback

First published December 1,1997

This edition

Format
186 pages, Paperback
Published
September 1, 2003 by Tachyon Publications
ISBN
9781892391094
ASIN
1892391090
Language
English

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peter s. beagle

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Community Reviews

Rating(4 / 5.0, 41 votes)
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41 reviews All reviews
Profile Image for Kimberly .
Oldlike
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Some truly outstanding writing exists, which showcases remarkable skill and creativity.

However, it is often intermixed with pieces that may not be of the same high caliber.

This combination can make the overall collection a bit of a mixed bag.

The great writing has the power to captivate readers, transport them to different worlds, and evoke a wide range of emotions.

It may feature beautiful prose, engaging storylines, or profound insights.

On the other hand, the not so good writing might lack these qualities.

It could be poorly structured, have weak characters, or use平淡无奇 language.

Nevertheless, even in this mixture, there is value to be found.

The contrast between the great and the not so great can help us appreciate the elements that make good writing truly shine.

It can also serve as a learning opportunity, allowing us to identify areas where we can improve our own writing skills.

So, while we may encounter some writing that doesn't meet our expectations, we should not overlook the gems that are hidden within the mix.
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ghiblix2
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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An interesting compilation of stories, ranging from his early works to some that are a bit more contemporary. It encompasses not only fantasy pieces but also fictional tales.

I firmly believe that my favorite story is the one that lent its name to the book. I had the privilege of hearing it read by the author himself, and even now, whenever I read it, I can still vividly recall the professor's German accent.

I have been procrastinating on reading the last few short stories. I suppose it is high time that I should read them so that I can neatly shelve this book in the "read" section. This way, I can move on to explore other literary treasures and expand my reading horizons.

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Faceorface
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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This is an extremely nice collection of short pieces that splendidly showcases the extensive range of Beagle's career.

It encompasses a couple of very early non-genre short stories from the late 1950s when he was a college student. There are also three non-fiction pieces and five more recent fantasy short stories.

The essays date back to the 1960s. One is a study of the legacy of D.H. Lawrence, with whom I was not overly familiar. Another is a reflective piece on personal heroes, which interestingly includes musicians and baseball players. The third is a profoundly moving and somewhat depressing piece about activism and social awareness. It examines the role of Johnson's war on poverty and King and his movement, and concludes, many years later, that not much progress was made.

Among the newer stories, I didn't have a great liking for The Naga, which was supposed to be Tolkienesque, but I thoroughly enjoyed the others. Julie's Unicorn is a fun, funny, and neatly crafted romantic comedy romp. Come Lady Death, which appeared in The Atlantic in 1963, is a classic in every sense of the word, a very literary fantasy story. Lila the Werewolf is a bit dated now by social convention, but it's still a good one.

My favorite piece in the book was Professor Gottesman and the Indian Rhinoceros, which served as the inspiration for the book's title and the whimsical Michael Dashow cover illustration. It's a wonderful piece of literature, one of the best stories ever, surely Beagle's very best. And yes, I do know that he wrote The Last Unicorn. It teaches us that not all magic is supernatural.
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oliveirafre_rulz
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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I was initially skeptical about this one. I must admit that I wasn't anticipating much. You see, I'm not a die-hard fantasy fan. In fact, more than two decades ago, I attempted to read Beagle's The Last Unicorn, but I failed to get through it. Clearly, that was my issue and not any flaw on Beagle's part.

This story, however, is truly charming and clear. As I was reading, I found myself becoming increasingly engaged. Towards the end, I even experienced a bit of dismay. And that's the key - emotion. A short story needs to evoke some sort of emotion in the reader to be considered successful. This one definitely worked for me. I'm still left wondering how and why it had such an impact on me. Maybe it's the simplicity of the narrative or the way the characters were developed. Or perhaps it's something more intangible, something that speaks to a deeper part of my soul. Whatever the reason, I'm glad I gave this story a chance.
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tsubasa00kurenai
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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I purchased this book at Fantasy-Con this summer from Peter's booth. (We're best friends forever, so I'm on a first-name basis with him.) He recommended this particular one as it had just been reprinted with new additions and revisions, encompassing some of his earliest published work and his ventures into journalism.

The fantastical stories remained my favorite aspect. Especially "Professor Gottesman and the Indian Rhinoceros" and "Come, Lady Death." The former is a touchingly sad narrative about aging, philosophy, and companionship, starring my all-time favorite pachyderm. The latter is one of Neil Gaiman's inspirations, and I'm shocked it took me this long to read. As the title implies, the collection's theme is "odd acquaintances," including a rhinoceros that insists it is (and perhaps is) a unicorn, a werewolf, Death herself, and an actual unicorn. For fans of "Folk of the Air," it also reunites Julie and Farrell, which was great fun.

The early stories are interesting reads, and I could easily envision them being read aloud on the New Yorker podcast, but they're not precisely to my liking. The journalist essays, however, offer a peek into a very different world and are fascinating additions. The last of these chronicles Peter's participation in the Poor People's campaign of 1968. Peter gives us a ground-level view of the participants, their struggles, and the opposition they faced as he camped out in Resurrection City. This essay brought a paragraph from my history book to life. While it's unfortunate that this will remain relevant for a long time, I'm especially glad to have discovered it now, after recent tensions arising from racism and poverty have once again begun to strain my country's foundations. Although Peter states in this book that journalism wasn't the career for him (and I'm glad he returned to the world of fantasy), it was clearly a worthwhile exploration of the field.

There's a little something for everyone in this collection, and I highly recommend it to Beagle fans and anyone who loves a good story, whether it's true or true at heart.
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Daniel_Gonc
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Peter S. Beagle is a renowned author, and his collection is truly a gem.

In this collection, there are some remarkable and wonderful things. The stories within it are filled with vivid characters, captivating plots, and beautiful prose.

Each piece seems to transport the reader to a different world, filled with magic, mystery, and emotion.

Whether it's a tale of adventure, a romance, or a thought-provoking exploration of the human condition, there is something for everyone in this collection.

The writing is so engaging that it's easy to get lost in the pages and forget about the outside world.

Peter S. Beagle's talent shines through in every story, making this collection a must-read for any lover of literature.

It's a treasure trove of good things that will leave you entertained, inspired, and longing for more.
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Constantine821
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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It's been years since I read this, but I still vividly remember that there are some extremely hilarious quotes.

Each time I think back to those moments when I came across those quotes, a smile不自觉地creeps onto my face.

They had such a profound impact on me that they have remained etched in my memory all these years.

I can almost picture the expressions on the characters' faces as they uttered those funny lines.

It's truly amazing how a few well-crafted words can bring so much joy and laughter.

I often wonder if I were to read the same thing again today, would I still find those quotes as hilarious as I did back then?

Nevertheless, the memories of those funny quotes will always be a part of my reading experience and will continue to bring a smile to my face whenever I think of them.
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093-GGULYAS
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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A collection of short stories by the author of The Last Unicorn.


I happened to come across this when I noticed the author was signing copies at his table during Balticon. At that time, I simply picked it up out of curiosity, but it wasn't until now that I finally got around to reading it.


Among all the stories, "Julie's Unicorn" stands out as my favorite. However, I have to admit that all of them are actually quite good. Each story has its own unique charm and吸引力. They take the readers on different adventures and introduce them to various characters and settings. It's truly a wonderful collection that showcases the author's creativity and storytelling skills.

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