In this new fantasy novella, he returns to the mythic creature that made him famous back in 1968 with the publication of his book The Last Unicorn (five million copies sold). 1939) has written three dozen works of fiction, non-fiction, and autobiography. Beagle, In Calabria: A Novel (San Francisco: Tachyon, 2017), 174pp.

Giovanna comes across fierce, but we don’t know anything much about her but that.Peter S. Also, there’s not much character development for anybody but Bianchi. I didn’t come away with a good feel for the village, either, or the surrounding countryside. On the not so great side, there’s not much in the way of action here-it’s not that kind of book. As soon as we see that demure little unicorn on the front cover of the book, we know it’s going to be about sex, right? Bianchi is revitalized by his developing relationship with Giovanna, and the ending is very powerful. The best thing about this is the symbolism, though.

We get a good feel for the farm and the old house, plus revelations about what made Bianchi the near recluse that he is. Bianchi is a simple man who enjoys his wine, his cows, his cats and his poetry. It has a simple plot, and Beagle’s prose has a magical, Old World feel to it. This story is character driven and is a positive, enjoyable read. The crime syndicate ups the pressure, but there’s something no one has considered. Bianchi refuses to sell the farm, which puts everything he has at risk, including his newly discovered love for the postman’s sister Giovanna. The unicorns are elusive, and eventually the horde of people thins, but then Bianchi gets a visit from a representative of the local crime syndicate.

The secret gets out and suddenly news reporters, tourists, unicorn hunters and animal rights activists are trampling over Bianchi’s farm, looking for the mystery beasts. After a period of gestation, she drops a black colt. That means it’s a surprise when a unicorn begins to build her nest under his chestnut tree. His farm is remote, generally visited only by the postman, and he’s gotten used to having no company but his own. This review contains spoilers.Ĭlaudio Bianchi is an aging farmer and sometimes poet in Calabria, Southern Italy. It was published by Tachyon and runs 174 pages. This novella is a finalist for the 2018 World Fantasy Award.

In calabria by peter s beagle