The last name-drawing was a lot of fun, so I will stick to the unicorn theme for the moment. This time, if you would like to have your name entered for an opportunity to win my newest book, tell me the name of your favorite fictional unicorn! This can be from any type of fiction: Novels, picture books, movies, even video games. Just tell me who your favorite is and why. Sound fun?
Here is a picture of my favorite:
This is the title character of Peter S. Beagle's The Last Unicorn. Isn't she lovely, hidden away in her lilac wood? For a little while she goes by the name Amalthea, but I won't give away why . . .
So go ahead and tell me who your favorites are! I will announce the winner of this name-drawing in one week.
40 comments:
Jewel is my favorite! From the The Last Battle by C.bS. Lewis
Hm! I have to echo Sarah H and say that Jewel the Unicorn of The Last Battle is the best unicorn I have ever met. It would be such a nice, comfortable thing to have him as a friend and companion.
"It would be the last unicorn in the world that came to Molly Grue."
This is a slight departure from literature, but my favorite unicorn is still fictitious! My favorite unicorn is the unicorn shown in the seven tapestries entitled "The Hunt of the Unicorn," most particularly "The Unicorn is Attacked" and "The Unicorn is Killed and Brought to the Castle." The reason why I like these tapestries particularly is because although unicorns may bring foreboding tidings, they may also be symbolic of many good things, namely Christ. These two specific pictures I pointed out are thought to represent the passion of Christ, which is quite apparent to me as I look upon the horrific, yet inspiring sight of the unicorn battling for its life. The most poignant part for me is in "The Unicorn is Killed and Brought to the Castle" where if one looks closely upon the horse carrying the unicorn, one can see that the eyes of the horse are luminous, as though filled with tears at the fall of its brother. This unicorn symbolizes dignity, majesty, and purity, three things embodied by Christ, and so these tapestries are my favorite representation of the unicorn.
Sorry to be so unimaginative, but I just haven't read a lot of stories with named unicorns. Was the one in Harry Potter named?
At any rate, I'm going with Jewel from The Last Battle too. I love the fact that Jewel was never deceived by Puzzle's imitation-Aslan performances.
Becky
Believe it or not, my favorite unicorn right now is Twilight Sparkle from "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic" a show I'm not ashamed to say I both watch and enjoy. The animation is beautiful, the characters are endearing, the stories are intelligent, and the friendship lessons are valuable. I wish more cartoons out there were like this one, especially for little girls.
Twilight Sparkle is the main character, a unicorn with a gift for magic. She's so much like me-- bookish, detail-obsessed, needs a reminder to interact with others now and again, and crazy for checklists!
Observe: http://youtu.be/v4zqtX6SH40
I laughed so hard the first time I watched that scene. SO ME!!
I watched the movie version of "The Last Unicorn" but that was a long time ago.
The only unicorn I've ever read about is Jewel from "The Last Battle". He's a close friend of King Tirian, the last King of Narnia. I guess the reason why I choose him (besides being the only unicorn I've read about in literature) is that he's a loyal friend, one who stays through thick and thin.
Jewel is a great pick! :)
Don't feel like you have to list a unicorn that has a name. As long as you can tell me where it's from, that's fine! There are a lot of fantastic but nameless unicorns in fiction.
al: That's a very cool unicorn to pick! I enjoyed reading your comment. It gave me chills!
Faith: Hahaha! I actually have watched quite a few My Little Pony episodes myself, and you're right, it's a really clever and charming show! Twilight Sparkle is great, though Fluttershy might be my favorite. (Oh, my gosh. Did I just say that in public?) Heheheh . . . Pegasisters unite! ;)
My favorite would definitely be the unicorn from, "The Little White Horse". This unicorn (she doesn't have a name) is rarely seen...but she does show herself in a time of need. You can always be sure that whenever you are walking in the deep, dark woods of Merrywether Valley, she will light up your path, and guard you as you walk. She is also good friends with Wrolf...the mysterious, and curiously large dog. Have you read that book, Anne Elisabeth? I think you would really like it:) The cat in it reminds me of Minerva Louise;)
I really like the name Amalthea! :)
And my vote is for Jewel, too, because that is such a good name for a unicorn. :)
For me, I love the unicorn in The Spiderwick Chronicles by Tony DiTerlizzi. I'm not sure if it has a name, but it's my favorite all the same. It was just lovely to me to see a traditional unicorn in modern literature. It was so much like the old tales, more of a goat than a horse but beautiful all the same.
My favorite unicorn is the one in Blizard of the Blue Moon in the Magic Tree House series. It's name is Dianthus.
I think I will have to say that I like the unicorn that Peter rode in the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe movie is the one I like the best. Even though it does not have a name.
~Lilly
Starlite, from Rainbow Brite!
I loved The Unicorn Chronicles by Bruce Coville, so I think Lightfoot would be my favourite, but all the others are great, too. I have read the beginning of Moonblood in the back of Veiled Rose and that one sound pretty interesting.
I love the unicorn in The Unicorn, which is part of the Fairy Realm series. I love how he is pure and when evil touches him, it will melt away. By the war, the cover for Starflower is gorgeous. I can't wait to see it in real life when it comes out!
Bella
I really like the unicorn in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe because it helps Aslan.
BJF
I like the Unicorn Song by The Irish Rovers. It's cute, but it's sad :(
GVF
Well, gee, I can't think of any unicorns that people haven't already named. They don't seem to feature much in modern fantasy lit (but I'm not exactly the widest read). I hope your unicorns have both names and something memorable about them!
The strangest unicorns I ever read about were in Marco Polo's travel account. Giant hairy beasts that killed people by kneeling on them and ripping them up with their lacerated tongues. Quite apart from the thing being probably a wooly rhino, the lacerated tongue thing always stuck with me as uber weird. :-)
ok I'v got to say Jewel he's so magnificent!
Lila from Barbie of Swan Lake. She fearless something I wish I could be a little more of. Plus, to me she's funny.
I would have to say Jewel from the Last Battle. He's a proper, warrior unicorn,not just a plush softie.
I couldn't remember any unicorns until I started reading the comments. But I did read the Chronicles of Narnia and Jewel is a great choice. Though I must confess my favorite character from that series is Reepicheep.
I've never read a lot of stories that had a unicorn in it.
@ al: I think its so cool how people used unicorns that way. For some reason, I'd always thought that unicorns were a pagan symbol-don't know why. I know I'll definetely research it more!
Kessie, I dare say your encounter is the most unique among us, and kudos for reading about Marco Polo! That is an adventure I want to study as well, but I haven't got my hands on a book about him yet. That is a very unique description - giant hairy beasts with razor-sharp tongues (I have met people like that) - but perhaps not the most flattering. I am sure the dainty, royal, European breed look down their long Roman noses at their hairy Oriental cousins.
I almost mentioned the Unicorn from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, but perhaps I am too influenced by C.S. Lewis for even from a young age I disliked the flippant, almost disrespectful manner in which Carroll handled the warring equine. No doubt if I went back and read it now I would find a deeper, more logical meaning to his Unicorn, but until such time I must stand by the unquestioning loyalty, affection, and dignity of Lewis' character Jewel.
Unicorns. Absolutely beautiful beasts aren't they?
I would have to say Jewel from the Last Battle by C.S. Lewis. It's one of my favorites of all the Narnia books and Jewel is such a wonderful character. I love Jewel and Tirian's frienship.
I think my favorite unicorn is the one from Stardust.
@Jenny: I was wondering if anyone would mention the Wonderland unicorn! No, not so noble . . . but awfully funny!
@Lauren F: The fate of the unicorn in the book STARDUST made me cry . . . but it was fun to see it alive and well in the movie version (which, for once in my life, I actually preferred to the book. Gasp!).
Loving all these comments! This will be quite the epic name-drawing by the time all of you are through. :)
I love the egotist unicorn in Patricia C. Wrede's short story "The Princess, the Cat, and the Unicorn" who is obsessed with findng a princess that will sing to it, plait its hair, and polish its horn.
What an amusing, tempermental creature that was. :)
I would choose the unicorn from the scottish folktale the fair maid and the snow white unicorn. Through the whole story he issimply referred to as the Unicorn, but is given the traits of something more than just an animal. In the end he becoms prince because of his wisdom and love.
A favorite unicorn of mine would be one from the Thundercats
(1985). The unicorn's first appearance is in The Terror of Hammerhand. Lion-O saves the unicorn from a monster and temporarily receives a magic ring so he can save the Sword of Omens which was taken from him. The unicorn doesn't have a name, but is referred to as "she".
(The Little White Horse was taken).
-Caitlyn
Cont... "The ring has never been worn by any man"; so Lion-O is the first. The unicorns are shown as magical creatures, and I like the way the unicorns are portrayed on Third Earth.
-Caitlyn
My favorite unicorn is from The Door Within by Wayne Thomas Batson. Aidan first meets "her" when he firsts arrives in Alleble. Why do I like it? It is described as a beautiful intelligent creature. It hints that Aidan is not supposed to go toward the mountains, but he does not listen. It's smarter than he is.
-Elisabeth G.
I just remembered another unicorn I love. It is from Hilari Bell's 'The Prophecy.' The unicorn-I cannot recall if it has a name-is asked to help a young man defeat a dragon. It is unwilling at first because, according to Bell's unicorn story, the more good a unicorn does, more white on its hide disappears, until it is invisable. Although having dark splotches was a honour, the unicorn was hesitant to give up its beautiful white hair. Finally, it overcame its selfishness and help save the land.
Caitlyn:
You could have used The Little White Horse too! Was it a boy or a girl? I can't remember...
Yes I know. The Little White Horse is actually a he.
A favorite unicorn of mine from literature would be Bracken. He gave his most precious possession which allowed him to remain in unicorn form for the greater good. He can be read about in the Fablehaven Series.
-Caitlyn
Thanks. I guess I need to re-read The Little White Horse. :)
@Anne Elizabeth Stengle:
I know! It was heart wrenching and rather gruesome:( But didn't the unicorn still die in the movie?
@Lauren F.
You know, it's been a while since I saw the movie, but I THINK the unicorn survived. Wasn't it trapped in the creepy inn and escaped when it burned down? Or am I making that up?
I'm surprised no one mentioned the unicorns from that old Tom Cruise movie, LEGEND! It was a silly movie, but the unicorns were pretty . . . :)
@Anne Elisabeth Stengl
I honestly don't remember, its been too long since I saw the movie:)
Too late for the draw but I don't mind :)
Anne McCaffrey's Acorna, because she is introduced as dainty and lost, and I have a soft spot for small helpless things.
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