FICTION

The Overneath

by Peter S. Beagle
Tachyon. Nov. 2017. 336p. ISBN 9781616962692. pap. $15.95. FANTASY
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In this latest collection from Beagle, readers will enjoy 13 stories, mostly reprints, including two pieces featuring Schmendrick, the magician from his most famous novel, The Last Unicorn. There are also stories about unicorns, such as the marvelous entry "The Story of Kao Yu," which tells of an honorable Chinese judge who is aided in his decisions by the magical beast until he meets a beautiful thief. While most of these tales are fantasies in the dark fairy-tale vein, a few tip into horror, such as "The Very Nasty Aquarium," about a cursed carving of a pirate that a woman buys to decorate her fish tank. The standout, "Trinity County, CA: You'll Want To Come Again and We'll Be Glad To See You!" tells of a county where drug growers and producers keep dragons as watchdogs.
VERDICT For fantasy fans, Beagle should be a staple, and while the anthology Mirror Kingdoms: The Best of Peter S. Beagle gathers many of the stories of his early career, this volume proves he is still creating plenty of great short fiction.
Reviewed by Megan M. McArdle, Lib. of Congress, National Lib. Svc. for the Blind & Physically Handicapped, Washington, DC , Nov 03, 2017
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