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Ghost Town by Jack C. Haldeman II was my favorite story
1 star for Peter S. Beagle's story, which I had read elsewhere. Another star for Jane Yolen's story which is absolute gem. The rest are so bleak and jaded it makes for one of the hardest anthologies I've ever read. There is no hope here-just murder, rape, depression, and other sad stories. These are grimdark tales, some with barely a unicorn or even magic included. Do not want. I think Beagle had very little to do with putting this anthology together.
I really wanted to love this anthology. I adore stories about unicorns and The Last Unicorn is one of my favourite books of all time. Maybe because of that my expectations were high. Unfortunately I didn't connect with so many of these stories.
It didn't get off to a great start when Peter S. Beagle made it pretty clear that he resents being known as the Unicorn Guy which I think is a real shame. The second half of the book was better than the first but that wasn't enough to save it for me.
Thank you to Tachyon Publications for giving me a free copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It didn't get off to a great start when Peter S. Beagle made it pretty clear that he resents being known as the Unicorn Guy which I think is a real shame. The second half of the book was better than the first but that wasn't enough to save it for me.
Thank you to Tachyon Publications for giving me a free copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
There were a handful of good stories in here, but fewer than usual by my standards. No absolute clunkers, per se, just... way too many that were just sort of meh.
Highlights were Beagle's own story, which made use of a particular favorite unicorn, the Persian karkadann (a far more unpleasant version than the familiar sort); Jane Yolen's story of two children's obsession with a white hart that makes an elegant final twist into magical realism; and the lesbian sorcery noir, "The Maltese Unicorn," which description I think speaks for itself just fine.
Highlights were Beagle's own story, which made use of a particular favorite unicorn, the Persian karkadann (a far more unpleasant version than the familiar sort); Jane Yolen's story of two children's obsession with a white hart that makes an elegant final twist into magical realism; and the lesbian sorcery noir, "The Maltese Unicorn," which description I think speaks for itself just fine.
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Abysmally disappointing! I love unicorns, I love fantasy, and some great authors are collected in this anthology yet it just didn't hit the spot. A few stories were great, a couple had potential, and the rest fell flat or were disturbing. I would recycle this book except that I like having books with unicorns on the covers on my bookshelves🤣 Also, the good stories and the ones with potential deserve to stay in the book and not get recycled into something else.
Ahoy there me mateys! I received this short story collection eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . .
So ye scalawags, many of ye likely know about me first love, horses, before the sea stole me heart. So of course I was also obsessed with unicorns, too. Peter S. Beagle's, the last unicorn is one of me favourite books along with the joyful animated movie of the same name. So when I saw that there be a new unicorn anthology out, I knew I had to read it. Many of these stories have appeared in other places and were not new to me. For me this anthology was uneven. But I do have several from this collection that are now new favourites:
“The Magical Properties of Unicorn Ivory” (Carlos Hernandez) - I absolutely loved this reporter's article of the first time she gets to see a unicorn in the wild. The ending was unexpected and poignant. Beautiful
“The Brew” (Karen Joy Fowler) - This is about what happens when ye brew something using unicorn horn and how the mixture changes the life of two young teens. The use of memory in this story was lovely. Apparently this story was in immortal unicorn volume 2 but I don't remember reading it back then. Glad to be reintroduced.
Falling Off the Unicorn” (David D. Levine and Sara A. Mueller) - This story is about an older teen riding the unicorn show circuit at the top level. It explores the main character, Missy's, conflicting relationship with the sport. Plus there is a lovely romance.
“A Hunter’s Ode to His Bait” (Carrie Vaughn) - I love other works by this author but this story just gave me the creeps and I did not like it. It is a sensual look at the use of a young virgin as bait, hunting unicorns, and the changing relationship between the hunter and his bait. Ugh.
“Ghost Town” (Jack C. Haldeman II) - This was so good. It is about a guy who ends up in the middle of nowhere and what he discovers about himself in this ghost town. Bascially a lovely story about turning points and life-defining choices.
“A Thousand Flowers” (Margo Lanagan) - I previously read this story in zombies vs. unicorns. This was still a miss for me. I actually enjoyed the writing style immensely and was drawn into the mystery. But the plot faltered, narrators changed, and the beastiality in this was not to me taste.
“The Maltese Unicorn” (Caitlín R. Kiernan) - This is set in New York City in May of 1935. The main character works for a mob boss who happens to be a demon. The unicorn in this is a dildo of power. I could have done without the sex scene but I did like the worldbuilding. Just weird.
“Stampede of Light” (Marina Fitch) - I loved this story! This is the tale of what happens to lost children and the teachers who make a difference. I thought the unicorns in this were awesome. This may have been me favourite of the collection.
“The Highest Justice” (Garth Nix) - This was another story from zombies vs. unicorns. I loved rereading it. It deals with a dead queen, her daughter, and a unicorn who helps out.
“The Lion and the Unicorn” (A. C. Wise) - This was an odd story that I didn't like. The unicorn and lion are trapped as slaves. The lion is trying to escape. The unicorn is basically used for sex via rape. It was an uncomfortable story.
“Survivor” (Dave Smeds) - I read this story in immortal unicorn volume 2. The unicorn is a tattoo with unexpected consequences. I enjoyed rereading this one.
"Homeward Bound" (Bruce Coville) - This was another miss for me. I usually like Coville's writing but I didn't connect with this story at all.
“Unicorn Triangle” (Patricia A. McKillip) - I am not a McKillip fan so this one was bound to not be for me. But I found that I did love the beginning up to the half-way point before it bombed. I consider that a win.
“My Son Heydari and the Karkadann” (Peter S. Beagle) - I enjoyed this story about unicorns in Persia. The unicorns hate elephants. Humans hate the unicorns. This be the story of what happens when a young boy tries to help one of the beasts.
"The Transfigured Hart" (Jane Yolen) - Tachyon Publications previously released this story as a novella which I adored. See that review here!
“Unicorn Series” (Nancy Springer) - This is a poem in eight parts. I don't really get poetry but thought this was pleasant enough.
Out of the 16 stories I liked 6 of the new ones and still loved 3 of the tales known previously. I didn't like 6 of the new ones and 1 previously read before. So about half of this collection floated me boat. In addition to the stories, there is also a lovely introduction by Peter S. Beagle on what it be like to be known as the "unicorn guy". If ye haven't read any of these stories previously then I do think this could be a good place to start. Arrrr!
So lastly . . .Thank you Tachyon Publications!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
So ye scalawags, many of ye likely know about me first love, horses, before the sea stole me heart. So of course I was also obsessed with unicorns, too. Peter S. Beagle's, the last unicorn is one of me favourite books along with the joyful animated movie of the same name. So when I saw that there be a new unicorn anthology out, I knew I had to read it. Many of these stories have appeared in other places and were not new to me. For me this anthology was uneven. But I do have several from this collection that are now new favourites:
“The Magical Properties of Unicorn Ivory” (Carlos Hernandez) - I absolutely loved this reporter's article of the first time she gets to see a unicorn in the wild. The ending was unexpected and poignant. Beautiful
“The Brew” (Karen Joy Fowler) - This is about what happens when ye brew something using unicorn horn and how the mixture changes the life of two young teens. The use of memory in this story was lovely. Apparently this story was in immortal unicorn volume 2 but I don't remember reading it back then. Glad to be reintroduced.
Falling Off the Unicorn” (David D. Levine and Sara A. Mueller) - This story is about an older teen riding the unicorn show circuit at the top level. It explores the main character, Missy's, conflicting relationship with the sport. Plus there is a lovely romance.
“A Hunter’s Ode to His Bait” (Carrie Vaughn) - I love other works by this author but this story just gave me the creeps and I did not like it. It is a sensual look at the use of a young virgin as bait, hunting unicorns, and the changing relationship between the hunter and his bait. Ugh.
“Ghost Town” (Jack C. Haldeman II) - This was so good. It is about a guy who ends up in the middle of nowhere and what he discovers about himself in this ghost town. Bascially a lovely story about turning points and life-defining choices.
“A Thousand Flowers” (Margo Lanagan) - I previously read this story in zombies vs. unicorns. This was still a miss for me. I actually enjoyed the writing style immensely and was drawn into the mystery. But the plot faltered, narrators changed, and the beastiality in this was not to me taste.
“The Maltese Unicorn” (Caitlín R. Kiernan) - This is set in New York City in May of 1935. The main character works for a mob boss who happens to be a demon. The unicorn in this is a dildo of power. I could have done without the sex scene but I did like the worldbuilding. Just weird.
“Stampede of Light” (Marina Fitch) - I loved this story! This is the tale of what happens to lost children and the teachers who make a difference. I thought the unicorns in this were awesome. This may have been me favourite of the collection.
“The Highest Justice” (Garth Nix) - This was another story from zombies vs. unicorns. I loved rereading it. It deals with a dead queen, her daughter, and a unicorn who helps out.
“The Lion and the Unicorn” (A. C. Wise) - This was an odd story that I didn't like. The unicorn and lion are trapped as slaves. The lion is trying to escape. The unicorn is basically used for sex via rape. It was an uncomfortable story.
“Survivor” (Dave Smeds) - I read this story in immortal unicorn volume 2. The unicorn is a tattoo with unexpected consequences. I enjoyed rereading this one.
"Homeward Bound" (Bruce Coville) - This was another miss for me. I usually like Coville's writing but I didn't connect with this story at all.
“Unicorn Triangle” (Patricia A. McKillip) - I am not a McKillip fan so this one was bound to not be for me. But I found that I did love the beginning up to the half-way point before it bombed. I consider that a win.
“My Son Heydari and the Karkadann” (Peter S. Beagle) - I enjoyed this story about unicorns in Persia. The unicorns hate elephants. Humans hate the unicorns. This be the story of what happens when a young boy tries to help one of the beasts.
"The Transfigured Hart" (Jane Yolen) - Tachyon Publications previously released this story as a novella which I adored. See that review here!
“Unicorn Series” (Nancy Springer) - This is a poem in eight parts. I don't really get poetry but thought this was pleasant enough.
Out of the 16 stories I liked 6 of the new ones and still loved 3 of the tales known previously. I didn't like 6 of the new ones and 1 previously read before. So about half of this collection floated me boat. In addition to the stories, there is also a lovely introduction by Peter S. Beagle on what it be like to be known as the "unicorn guy". If ye haven't read any of these stories previously then I do think this could be a good place to start. Arrrr!
So lastly . . .Thank you Tachyon Publications!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Tachyon’s upcoming Unicorn Anthology seeks to revitalize the genre of horse-girl literature while also proving that unicorns aren’t just for little girls anymore. Needless to say, I was delighted in being given an opportunity to read and review it, and for that I have to thank NetGalley.
The stories within tend to vary a fair amount, from the traditional high fantasy to things a bit darker and a whole lot stranger. While I wish the works as a whole could have pushed the boundaries of what is and isn’t a unicorn a bit more, perhaps included some more diversity in cultural views of the unicorn, overall there’s a pretty good spread, if all fairly confined to the fantasy genre.
Unfortunately, many of them aren’t new stories, though they may be new to you. They come from other anthologies, and for the unicorn-savvy reader, that means reading a lot of words you think you’ve seen before. That’s not to say they aren’t strong stories, but rather, that they may not be as fresh as you would imagine, which can be disappointing when backed by Beagle’s strong name.
Particular stand-outs for me were: “The Magical Properties of Unicorn Ivory,” a story about conservation and the thirst for more, some new magical panacea, centering conservation and unicorns in a way that I wish I had written.
“Falling Off the Unicorn” was about unicorn dressage and young love between two teenage girls- what is virginity anyway?
“The Maltese Unicorn” is perhaps the raunchiest story, centering around a black dildo with rather unusual properties that may or may not be made of unicorn horn.
I still think it was a fun collection, and the unicorn fan in your life will enjoy it as long as they haven’t read too many other anthologies. It was rather hit-or-miss though, not quite sure where it was going to fall thematically.
The stories within tend to vary a fair amount, from the traditional high fantasy to things a bit darker and a whole lot stranger. While I wish the works as a whole could have pushed the boundaries of what is and isn’t a unicorn a bit more, perhaps included some more diversity in cultural views of the unicorn, overall there’s a pretty good spread, if all fairly confined to the fantasy genre.
Unfortunately, many of them aren’t new stories, though they may be new to you. They come from other anthologies, and for the unicorn-savvy reader, that means reading a lot of words you think you’ve seen before. That’s not to say they aren’t strong stories, but rather, that they may not be as fresh as you would imagine, which can be disappointing when backed by Beagle’s strong name.
Particular stand-outs for me were: “The Magical Properties of Unicorn Ivory,” a story about conservation and the thirst for more, some new magical panacea, centering conservation and unicorns in a way that I wish I had written.
“Falling Off the Unicorn” was about unicorn dressage and young love between two teenage girls- what is virginity anyway?
“The Maltese Unicorn” is perhaps the raunchiest story, centering around a black dildo with rather unusual properties that may or may not be made of unicorn horn.
I still think it was a fun collection, and the unicorn fan in your life will enjoy it as long as they haven’t read too many other anthologies. It was rather hit-or-miss though, not quite sure where it was going to fall thematically.
A well chosen collection with some really terrific stories among them, something for all different tastes. Really interesting to see how consistent unicorn lore is, yet how many different interpretations there are here. In a college classroom it could be used effectively to show different treatments of the same subject, different writing styles, experiments with deconstructing literary tropes and so on.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Some of these stories are sick and twisted. I was expecting to read wholesome unicorn tales, but I was WRONGGGG. Despite this change in my expectations, I still enjoyed these stories.