The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle ★★★★☆ I grew up watching the animated version of The Last Unicorn, and though I had always enjoyed the story, the art of the time wasn’t something I was ever in to, and I always found something lacking. My impressions of the movie’s story was that it was a pleasant fairytale, but had little depth.
Of course the book is different. The pieces of the tale that were taken out (I imagine to save screen time for the basic plot line that would keep children’s attention) made for a more enjoyable story. The prince wasn’t just a prince, the wizard wasn’t just a clumsy wizard, the scullery maid had more character and background, and the unicorn was a much more sympathetic and majestic character whose pain became real. The basic story is that a unicorn discovers she is the last of her people, and so goes in search for the rest of them. She learns on the way that they have been driven away by the Red Bull, and is then met by two who would become her companions: a wizard who hasn’t much control over his magic, and a scullery maid who’s been living in the forest with would be Robin Hood’s merry men. They journey together during which time they happen upon many adventures, but the most bleak of them is coming to the town of Hasgate (which, mind you, was not a mentioned plot twist in the movie version). They learn that this town is cursed, and its fate twisted in with that of their ruler, King Haggard. The Red Bull finds them, and after chasing the unicorn about until she has no choice but to be herded by him, the wizard transforms her into a human to save her, the worst of fates for one of her kind. The Red Bull, confused by her transformation, leaves, and the companions journey on to the castle. There they meet the well-named king, and his adopted son, who––unbeknownst to his father––is his and Hasgate’s doom. But most pathetically of all, Prince Lir falls in love with the unicorn, and the longer she remains there trapped in a human body, the more she forgets who she is, and her quest to save her people. With so much more at risk than the disappearance of unicorns, and character development that is deeper and presents a more interesting fate, the book version of The Last Unicorn is a worth while read. Through it Peter S. Beagle uses poetic imagery that is pleasant and creative. I would recommend any author to read this book for that sake alone. Instead of the clichés we are used to as readers, Beagle uses fresh and imaginative imagery that is beautiful to read. I give The Last Unicorn 4 stars out of 5 only because, though it was a fun read and a great tool for myself as an author, it lacked that magic something that made me want to read every chance I got. That need and desire to learn the story as quickly as possible so I was driven to stay up late and find out what happens next. I don’t believe my already knowing the story has anything to do with this because I have read books that--no matter how many times I read it or how well I know it--I will read it again and again as fast as I can because I simply can’t put it down. As a whole however, I really did love this story. The book was a much more interesting and romantic telling than I thought it would be because of the more basic nature of the film. It's one I will keep in my collection forever. Now the only thing I wish was that I had read the story before seeing the movie so that I could have imagined it with my own mind, rather than keep defaulting to the animated film version’s of their looks, voices, and mannerisms. So if you haven’t seen the movie, read the book first, and then go view it for yourself. The film’s adaptation is a good one, but leaves such a distinct impression that you will have a hard time shaking free of its influence while reading its predecessor, the book.
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