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mymidnightheart's review
A very raw, first rough draft of what eventually became The Last Unicorn. I would not have bothered to review it all except for the afterword by the author, which I enjoyed so much that it basically validated the time spent to read the novel.
macklin's review
Ok I enjoyed the author’s note about his summer writing this more than the book itself. I did like meeting Azazel and Webster. It definitely feels incomplete. It’s more the first draft that never was finished.
library_bookwyrm's review against another edition
4.0
The Last Unicorn is one of my favorite novels of all time, and I can't say that lightly. It's one I reread frequently - once a year or so. When I heard there was a "lost version", I had to read it - and I'm very glad I did. It's unfinished, and I can see why; I don't know where the story could have gone to actually end well. Beagle's second attempt is very much the superior book. But there is much I love in this first version - Azazel and Webster are very cool, and I'm always fond of dragons. I do recommend it for those who know and love The Last Unicorn and are interested in seeing the progression of the story from its original to its final form.
taroteacup's review
5.0
This was fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. I was completely in love with this idea- and enchanted by all the characters that existed in this short narrative that I wanted it to keep going. How amazing this book is ! The author could definitely create a whole new adventure with this story - and it doesn’t feel like a incomplete book - this feels like a breath before the plunge, before the rest of the story could unfold. I loved it. Oh what the last unicorn could have been....
yuzureads's review
adventurous
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
fantasy_with_me's review
2.0
For what it was - a glimpse into the "behind the scenes of writing a book" first draft style - it was great. I enjoyed seeing this, and reading the afterward about the process.
But as a story, it really wasn't that great (forewarned - its not a complete story either) I hate it when someone takes something like a demon, and makes them rather pitiful, pathetic, with awkward banter. This isn't the only book I've read with that style! It lacked the magic the finished product overflows with, which was a huge basis of my childhood and into my adulthood!
But as a story, it really wasn't that great (forewarned - its not a complete story either) I hate it when someone takes something like a demon, and makes them rather pitiful, pathetic, with awkward banter. This isn't the only book I've read with that style! It lacked the magic the finished product overflows with, which was a huge basis of my childhood and into my adulthood!
aformeracceleratedreader's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
3.0
I was hoping to love this but I was a little let down. I didn't know it was a first draft and not the actual complete story. It wasn't bad by any means just maybe not exactly what I expected. I do want to watch the movie and I will look into more from this author especially looking for the actual finished story. Also really liked the illustrations.
kalira's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
While I knew this was the first draft of The Last Unicorn, I didn't expect it to be so very different - unlike the final version, for example, this is set in a now-modern world.
I also didn't expect it to be utterly unfinished - not in the sense of polish but in that the story just stops abruptly in the middle. (The note from the author at the end talking about the history of this story explains that he wrote himself into a corner/got stuck there.)
I also didn't expect it to be utterly unfinished - not in the sense of polish but in that the story just stops abruptly in the middle. (The note from the author at the end talking about the history of this story explains that he wrote himself into a corner/got stuck there.)
mllelaurel's review
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
fae's review against another edition
4.0
I'd probably only recommend reading this if you already have a deep appreciation for [b:The Last Unicorn|29127|The Last Unicorn (The Last Unicorn, #1)|Peter S. Beagle|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1358147318s/29127.jpg|902304]. I found it fascinating to read about the writing process that Beagle went through and it's almost a little bizarre to read how different this original version is from how the final story ended up. I have the ebook version of the Subterranean Press publication.
It's necessary to note that because this was only a first draft, that this isn't a complete story. There's no beginning-middle-end structure; because it was an initial draft, it just leaves off. If this is something that would bother you, I'd avoid it. It's meandering (which the author himself admits) and still has some typos. However, the writing itself is still often very beautiful and the first few paragraphs of this version ended up in the final version nearly verbatim.
Some spoilers:
I think this is a great supplement for fans of the original work, though it's not required reading in order to enjoy the original. I honestly have no idea how much someone would enjoy this if they're not already familiar with the original story, but who knows! I personally found a lot of value in it because of how much I love the original and how fascinating I find it to hear about other people's writing process.
It's necessary to note that because this was only a first draft, that this isn't a complete story. There's no beginning-middle-end structure; because it was an initial draft, it just leaves off. If this is something that would bother you, I'd avoid it. It's meandering (which the author himself admits) and still has some typos. However, the writing itself is still often very beautiful and the first few paragraphs of this version ended up in the final version nearly verbatim.
Some spoilers:
Spoiler
Webster/Azazel were very amusing and had something almost Pratchett-esque about them to me. I can see why he eliminated them from the final version though. Their journey would've only distracted from the unicorn's and they didn't feel like they fit in the story he was trying to tell. The despairing dragon also had something of a tragic humor about it. I was utterly shocked to read that the original version was set in the 20th century. I hadn't expected that at all. I find myself curious about what a book about Webster/Azazel's journey would be like.I think this is a great supplement for fans of the original work, though it's not required reading in order to enjoy the original. I honestly have no idea how much someone would enjoy this if they're not already familiar with the original story, but who knows! I personally found a lot of value in it because of how much I love the original and how fascinating I find it to hear about other people's writing process.