I was truly in a dilemma regarding the rating I should assign to this book. On one hand, a part of me was inclined to give it 3 stars. However, on the other hand, I also thought that the book merited better.

This book is rather old when contrasted with many contemporary popular books. It was published in 1968. Wow, that's more than half a century ago! There are indeed a few aspects of it that haven't aged gracefully.

Nevertheless, as I reflect deeply on this matter, I firmly believe that the book does deserve four stars. Although it might not have completely resonated with my personal tastes, it is still a very good book and well worth exploring. I am of the opinion that it deserves to be designated as a classic within the fantasy genre and should have its rightful place among works like Lord of the Rings or the Chronicles of Narnia.

It has its own unique charm and value that cannot be overlooked, despite its age and some minor flaws.

Executive Summary:

I discovered this book to be proficiently written, yet predominantly unengaging.

\\n  Full Review\\n

I have had this book sitting on my to-read pile for quite some time, but I never managed to get around to it. Subsequently, Sword & Laser selected it as their June book. I approached it immediately after reading an underwhelming book that I had struggled with for months.

I'm uncertain whether it was that mindset or simply that I wasn't in the mood for this book. I can't really say. There were certain parts that I did enjoy. Specifically, I liked the ending, but the middle portion of the book felt rather拖沓 for me.

Similar to my previous book, I would go for days without picking it up, and I could scarcely get through more than one or two chapters at a time.

I can fathom why this book is so highly regarded. If I had read it at a younger age or perhaps at a different juncture in my life, I probably would have liked it more. I'm just relieved to have finally read it and to be able to move on.

This is truly a remarkably short stand-alone book, and it richly merits its position as a classic within the genre. I delved into it mainly because it is the favorite book of someone I know on Discord, but it also happens to be Rothfuss's favorite book, and Hobb holds it in high regard as well.

The story revolves around a unicorn who, as she hears, is the last of her kind. It commences with some omniscient narration, and I am truly enamored with how it sets the scene. Here are two of my most cherished examples from the initial page and a half.

"She did not look anything like a horned horse, as unicorns are often depicted, being smaller and cloven-hoofed, and possessing that oldest, wildest grace that horses have never had, that deer only have in a shy, thin imitation and goats in dancing mockery."

And

"and the long horn above her eyes shone and shivered with its own seashell light even in the deepest midnight. She had killed dragons with it, and healed a king whose poisoned wound would not close, and knocked down ripe chestnuts for bear cubs."

In this narrative, the unicorn overhears that she is the last unicorn in the world and decides to leave her forest to seek out where the other unicorns have gone. Generally, for books of this nature, especially classics, I was rather anticipating it to be extremely introspective and a slow burner. To my astonishment, events unfold quite swiftly, and this book packs a significant amount of content for a 76,000-word novel.

The characters you encounter in this story are quite distinctive. The unicorn feels very much like a real person, with a personality that is actually quite down-to-earth, while all the humans seem like characters straight out of a classic tale. There is the old king who loves nothing and drains joy from everything he beholds, the rogue who is a menace on the land with his jolly band of men, the old, wise wizard, and the charming, heroic prince. However, none of them are quite what you would expect. The rogues do not actually challenge authority but are rather opportunistic, the wizard is a failure, and the heroic prince is just going through the motions. It manages to balance familiarity and nostalgia with complexity in a truly impressive manner. I must admit that despite this, it is not my favorite style of characters, but it works wonderfully for this novel.

In many respects, the sense of wonder is a crucial aspect of this novel. The author frequently makes the familiar magical and the magical familiar. A part of this is attributed to the writing, which is smooth and consistently beautiful. It is filled with metaphors that only function in very specific situations and seem as though they shouldn't work, and yet they do. The writing is so effortless to read while simultaneously being complex. Stylistically, it actually reminds me a great deal of Rothfuss's prose, but I actually prefer the writing in this. Also, if anyone gets angry with me for that opinion, Rothfuss probably concurs with me.

This also feels like a novel that has depth. It is the kind of novel that you could read to a class of children or study for months and write a thesis about.

So why isn't the score even higher?

There are two reasons.

One. I sometimes found the dialogue difficult to follow. The author doesn't tag dialogue very often, and to me, it sometimes impeded my enjoyment. I found myself having to go back and reread some conversations.

Two. While the way the characters are crafted is very unique, I prefer a style of more grounded characters.

That's all I have to say. This was a truly excellent, wondrous, and beautiful story.

8.9

The world shall not be free until the last unicorn is strangled with the guts of the last hobbit.

This rather strange and macabre statement seems to suggest a rather extreme and perhaps symbolic situation. One might wonder what exactly is meant by it.

Is it a dark and twisted vision of a world that can only achieve true freedom through such a violent and unlikely act?

Perhaps it is a commentary on the lengths to which people might go or the sacrifices that might be required in the pursuit of freedom.

Or maybe it is simply a fictional and fantastical concept that is meant to shock and make one think about the nature of freedom and the strange and unexpected things that could potentially be associated with it.

Whatever the true meaning behind this statement, it certainly leaves a lasting impression and invites further exploration and interpretation.

The Last Unicorn is a truly remarkable piece of literature. It's a modern fairytale that masterfully weaves together traditional tropes while also playfully subverting them. It's designed for those who have grown tired of the world, those who have lost their belief in magic and have accepted the mundanity of life. It's their final dream, the last remaining spark in a sea of troubles. After forty years of rereading this fantasy classic, I found myself pondering a mystery: why don't I love it more? Everything about it seems perfect - the theme, the unheroic heroes, the reimagined tropes, and the clever self-awareness. It checks all the boxes, yet it just falls short of being a home run. I believe I've figured out the reason. The Last Unicorn is perhaps a touch too clever. Its ironic self-awareness creates a distance between the reader and the story, making it seem a bit remote. I can witness the magic unfold, but I never quite feel it in my bones. However, don't let this deter you from reading it. It's an absolute must-read, and it's well worth reading more than once. It's a top-notch modern classic that every fan of the genre should experience. But if you find yourself questioning why you don't love it as much as you think you should, rest assured that you're not alone.

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

Wow!

This is truly not the ending I thought it would be!

It is so beautiful and unexpected.

I had certain expectations, but the actual outcome surpassed them all.

The beauty lies in its originality and the way it took my breath away.

It made me realize that sometimes, the best things in life come when we least expect them.

This ending has left a lasting impression on me, and I will surely remember it for a long time.

It is a reminder that we should always be open to new possibilities and not limit ourselves to our preconceived notions.

Overall, I am extremely impressed and satisfied with this beautiful ending.

This Unicorn, in conjunction with Ende's Neverending Story and Zindell's Requiem for Homo Sapiens, has had a profound impact on me.

It has been a constant presence, shining and trembling with its seashell light even in the darkest of nights. It serves as a reminder that great heroes must endure great sorrows and burdens; otherwise, their true greatness may go unrecognized.

It teaches that real magic cannot be achieved by sacrificing someone else's liver; one must be willing to tear out their own. (And not expect to get it back, of course.) It has been a song, a companion, a parent, and a child all rolled into one.

I've attempted to convey more of my thoughts here: http://choveshkata.net/blog/?p=105.

But in the end, words alone are insufficient. For true magic, one would need a Unicorn.

(Peter... how did you make her?)

~ ~ ~

Отзив на български

This book is truly a masterpiece.

It all began when, as a little girl, I was given the VHS of the movie adaptation. Since then, I have upgraded to the DVD and later, the BluRay.

I wasn't solely in love with the story because of the unicorn herself, but rather because of the enchanting world it presents. A world filled with riddles, peddlers, witches, magicians, cursed towns, minstrels, talking cats, lying skeletons, rhyming butterflies, and a plethora of magical creatures.

We commence in the titular unicorn's lilac forest that exists outside of time, in a sense. By chance, she discovers that she might be the last of her kind, a thought that gnaws at her until she resolves to seek out the others. Along her journey, she encounters Schmendrick, the magician, and Molly. Together, they embark on a quest to thwart the baddies and face the evil that has caused the disappearance of all the other unicorns. However, as the unicorn soon realizes, magic always comes with a price.

This is a story about growth, about the acceptance of life and death as a natural cycle, about finding one's place in the world, about the transient nature of all things, and about loyalty, friendship, and love. There are countless layers to this narrative that I could discuss at length.

As I've previously stated, this book is perfection and timeless. I hold it dear in my heart. It is tragic, yet in a beautiful and unexpected way. It is poetic, flowing naturally. It is both an adventure and a source of great comfort, teaching me that unicorns might still exist, hidden away.

What a unique and special fairytale it is, and in my opinion, one of the essential works of fantasy that will endure forever.

I don't usually read these types of books, but I decided to give The Last Unicorn a try. It was okay, I guess. I can't help but expect more, though.

It's a classic fairy tale, complete with unicorns, dragons, princes, and magicians. The unicorn leaves her forest to search for the rest of her kind. Along the way, she meets Schmendrick, an incompetent magician, and Molly Grue, a wise, indomitable woman. Following nonsensical riddles, she reaches the land of King Haggard, where the people are under a curse. She discovers that the unicorns are being held captive by the Red Bull, a monster in the service of Haggard. Schmendrick turns her into a human after she is almost killed by the Bull. Soon after, Prince Lir falls in love with her new form as Lady Amalthea, and she forgets her past. But when she is turned back into a unicorn and confronts the Red Bull once and for all, she is not motivated by the prospect of saving her kind - she is motivated by love.

My main issue with this book is that the villain lacked a motive. What reason did Haggard have to trap all unicorns? It's never implied or even said explicitly. Also, since this is a relatively old book, I know magic does not have to have boundaries, but there were no real rules to the uses of it. And the world-building was near-nonexistent, which annoyed me, because I'm a fan of detailed universes.

Finally, the characters were a bit two-dimensional. Reading The Last Unicorn felt like watching the entire thing from the vantage point of a tree. You can see what's going on and hear what they're saying, but you can't make out their facial expressions or their feelings. This was common in books of the time, but my modern-fantasy-oriented mind requests angst, drama, and emotion. The unicorn herself is always a far-off presence, like some otherworldly spirit devoid of all things human. Of course, that's what she was, but I would have liked a little humanization.

Overall, I've realized that I'm just not invested in older books, no matter what genre. There's something very formal and uptight about them that repels any interest I might feel in the plot or characters. The Last Unicorn was a good, quick read, though lacking in many things I feel are necessary to make a story like this live. It didn't quite capture my heart and imagination as I had hoped. Maybe it's just not the right fit for my reading tastes in this modern era.

5.0 stars.

WOW! I am truly amazed. Why on earth did it take me such a long time to finally get around to reading this extraordinary novel?

I must admit that I actually only decided to read this now because one of my favorite authors, Patrick Rothfuss, mentioned that it was one of his all-time favorite novels.

Well, after reading it, I can most definitely see why. This is fantasy at its absolute best. The writing is simply beautiful, with every sentence crafted to perfection. It is not only smart, but also full of heart.

The story takes you on an unforgettable journey, filled with rich characters, thrilling adventures, and unexpected twists.

I cannot recommend this novel highly enough. If you are a fan of fantasy or just looking for a great read, this is the book for you.

Trust me, you will not be disappointed.

This book is truly remarkable. Next year, it will celebrate its 50th anniversary, and I'm extremely glad that I finally managed to get around to reading it.

It is a charming classic that has withstood the test of time remarkably well. Even though a vast amount of excellent fantasy literature has been published since its initial appearance, its message that we should learn to lead our lives well remains just as relevant today.

The characters in this book are delightfully quirky and funny. I adored the bumbling magician Schmendrick, who is still in search of his true magic. The hero, Prince Lir, is always off engaging in heroic deeds to try and impress the Unicorn, who remains uninterested. And then there's Molly Grue, the stoic, middle-aged woman who accompanies the Unicorn and the magician on the final stage of their journey.

There are several great scenes that truly stand out. The Midnight Carnival, filled with all the enchanted creatures and the very real and creepy Harpy, is one such scene. Another is the final confrontation with the fearsome Red Bull and the evil King Haggard. And of course, the Unicorn is simply wonderful and beautiful, especially when she is in her true form.

This book is a must-read for any lover of fantasy literature. It is a timeless classic that will continue to be enjoyed for many years to come.

2.5 - 3 stars

This is another read for the Tolkien Professor’s Faerie & Fantasy podcast seminar.

The book has received a lot of love on Goodreads, and I can somewhat understand where people are coming from. However, I have to admit that my experience with this book was not as rapturous as that of most. Make no mistake, Beagle definitely has a way with words. His descriptive prose is highly evocative, and there are moments of real lyricism. But overall, I think he did himself a disservice in a major aspect of his approach to this story.

My main issue with Beagle is his use of anachronisms. The story seems to take place in a pseudo-medieval Fairy Tale version of our world, yet he constantly inserts anachronistic elements that didn't seem true to me. These were usually attempts at humor. For example, Schmendrick's name (couldn't a better one have been chosen to denote his incompetence?) and his calling himself "the last of the red hot swamis," or Captain Cully's constant references to "Mr. Child" when meeting Schmendrick. The "humor" often threw me out of the story rather than drawing me in further. It's for similar reasons that I've avoided White's _The Once & Future King_.

Surprisingly, given Beagle's type of humor, the Unicorn manages to remain sufficiently numinous without becoming cutesy. The Red Bull is a frightening antagonist who, despite its ties to King Haggard's persona, avoids falling completely into allegory. The final fates of Lir and the other characters are satisfying enough given the conventions of Fairy Tale. But that's about it for me - it was just sufficient. I didn't love the book. It wasn't great. It was "good enough."

My biggest complaint is with the climax of the story, which left me feeling deflated. It didn't seem like a natural resolution occurred due to the actions of the Unicorn or any other character. It just seemed to happen. Maybe Beagle was making a point about Fairy Tales, but it felt a bit clumsy. Even Schmendrick's explanation to Molly didn't make it more satisfying.

All in all, it's still a book worth reading. There's some great prose and moments of lyrical beauty, but for me, it just didn't quite come together as a whole. I hope Beagle's other works are a bit more consistent.