Human Animals & Fantastic Critters
Discover a curated reading list of human animals and fantastic critters, featuring Peter S. Beagle's *The Last Unicorn* and Olaf Stapledon's *Odd John & Sirius*. Explore transformative fiction where mythic beasts and evolved beings blur the line between humanity and the animal world, perfect for fans of classic fantasy and philosophical sci-fi.
Book
The Last Unicorn
by Peter S. Beagle
INCLUDES A NEW INTRODUCTION BY PATRICK ROTHFUSS Experience one of the most enduring classics of the twentieth century and the book that The Atlantic has called “one of the best fantasy novels ever.” The unicorn lived in a lilac wood, and she lived all alone... ...so she ventured out from the safety of the enchanted forest on a quest for others of her kind. Joined along the way by the bumbling magician Schmendrick and the indomitable Molly Grue, the unicorn learns all about the joys and sorrows of life and love before meeting her destiny in the castle of a despondent monarch—and confronting the creature that would drive her kind to extinction.... In The Last Unicorn, renowned and beloved novelist Peter S. Beagle spins a poignant tale of love, loss, and wonder that has resonated with millions of readers around the world. “Peter S. Beagle illuminates with his own particular magic.”—Ursula K. Le Guin
Book
Odd John & Sirius
by Olaf Stapledon
Two of the finest future histories ever written, each concerning a central question: If and when a superior being is introduced into a culture, how will either survive? Odd John is the definitive fictionalization of the mutated superman who has to decide what to do with his gifts, while Sirius concerns a dog with superhuman mentality.
