First published 1995
Peter S. Beagle opens the door to unicorn mythology once again, nearly three decades after The Last Unicorn enchanted readers worldwide in 1968. This anthology brings together more than two dozen authors who explore the legendary creature through fresh eyes and varied cultural lenses. The unicorn transforms across these stories, appearing as the Chinese ki-lin with its scaled body and single horn, then shifting into the familiar European form with cloven hooves and spiraled horn that has dominated Western imagination for centuries. Each tale uses the unicorn as its central symbol, but the creature adapts to fit different worlds and storytelling traditions. Authors reimagine the beast through their own creative visions, drawing from folklore spanning continents and cultures. The collection responds to reader demand for Beagle to return to the mythical territory that made his reputation. These stories venture beyond the traditional unicorn narrative, exploring what the creature means to different peoples and how its symbolism changes across cultures and contexts.
Genres: mythology, fantasy, folklore
Vibes: lyrical, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: found-family
525 pages · Hardcover · Harper Prism