Customer Reviews

A Glory Of Unicorns

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4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
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_A Glory of Unicorns_, edited by Bruce Coville, is a good anthology of unicorn stories. I've never been particularly interested in unicorns, but after reading Coville's lovely introduction, I was all set to read the stories. Some memorable and moving stories were: "The Guardian of Memory," a story set in Coville's world of Luster; "The Ugly Unicorn," about a young blind princess whose best friend is the ugly Liu-Mu unicorn; "A Song for Croaker Nordge," about a girl whose wounded spirit will not let her believe in magic; and "The New Girl," about a unicorn caretaker.

Do you believe in fantasy and magical creatures? Then you'll love A Glory of Unicorns. As you read A Glory of Unicorns by Bruce Coville, you'll learn that you have to follow what you want to do and not what someone else wants you to do. This book is about kids believing and losing something or someone dear to their heart. One story takes place in Luster, the unicorn world. A mare, Cloudmane, decides she wants too become the Guardian of Memory and asks for help from Grimwold, the keeper of the story that started the choosing of the Guardian. A Glory of Unicorns also has a poem called "Dream Child". A story for learning a lesson is "Tearing Down the Unicorns"; it takes place mostly in the woods where Stacey meets a unicorn that teaches her a lesson. There are many other stories like the ones I have mentioned.
Bruce Coville has written other books such as The Unicorn Chronicles series, Jeremy Thatcher Dragon Hatcher, The Skull of Truth, The Monster's Ring, Sarah's Unicorn, The Dragonslayers, and many more. He seems to have people believe in fantasy than in real life the more you read his books. Although A Glory of Unicorns does have some reality in it, the reality just makes the stories more believable. In this book Bruce Coville can make you visualize without using too many descriptive words.
Some might get confused when the book doesn't give enough descriptions or doesn't say who's talking. But most of the time you don't really need too many descriptions to visualize. The book can definitely confuse younger kids because of the problems the main characters encounter. The book is very good for older children who love to dream. It's hard not to believe and fantasize about unicorns and magic after you read A Glory of Unicorns.

Bruce Coville (the complier and editor of this anthology) promised in his introduction no sappy unicorns, tells us that unicorn love is hard and demanding, and unicorns themselves neither safe nor sweet. However, four stories into this book I found that was exactly what the book was delievering - sweet, dreamy, dear little unicorns. Contradicting his own words Coville brings us the story of 'The Guardian of Memory' in which unicorns have names such as 'Arabella Skydancer' and 'Manda Seafoam' and are entirely domesticated, speaking unicorns. Likewise, nearly every other author in this book seems to have no knowledge of true unicorn lore - that these incredibly shy creatures, who dwelt in the Garden of Eden, could only possibly be approached by a pure virgin maiden and even then *never* ridden. Many of the stories have unicorns as tame, human-loving creatures, and one only need read the poem 'The Dream-Child' to get the general attitude towards unicorns in this collection: lines like "starlight spinning down your spiraled horn/the dream-child, the cloud-maned". *Sigh*.

However, I am being rather harsh in this assessment, as this book is obviously meant for young girls, and my expectations were no doubt far too high. Young unicorn lovers, who are quite happy to view unicorns as magical horses will be quite content with such a collection and some of the stories aren't so sickly-sweet that parents won't find enjoyment in reading them aloud.
A few that rise above the par are 'Tearing Down the Unicorns', the only story that addresses the issue of today's views on unicorns being adorable little ponies; 'Child of Faerie', a nicely written and conceived story of Afton, a faerie child who chose to live for a while in the human world, but is now being called back to her true home when her human family needs her most; and 'The Ugly Unicorn', the creation of an Oriental myth of a young blind girl mistakingly believing that the ugly Liu-mu is the beautiful Poh unicorn.

Girls already initiated into Coville's 'Luster' series will no doubt love his 'Guardian of Memory' story, set in the same world, and parents as well as children should like 'The Healing Truth', the story of a complusive liar that finds a unicorn in a supply closet; 'A Song for Croaker Nordge' of an old man who places his hopes of finding a unicorn on his grand-daughter and 'Story Hour', the tale of an old woman teaching her grand-daughter the secrets of finding a unicorn but keeping it secret by telling her the story of the Goblin King.

Other stories destined to be less popular because of their ambiguity are 'Beyond the Fringe,' in which an old woman weaves a carpet for her family as bandits raid their village, 'The Unicorns of Kabustan' in which a boy hiding from war releases a series of unicorns that try to put an end to the fighting, 'Stealing Dreams', of a boy who finds a unicorn in his wallpaper and 'The New Girl', a short tale of a unicorn caretaker desparate to leave the confines of her small village. And of course, the sugary-sickness of the poem 'The Dream-Child.'
Another saving grace is Alix Berenzy's lovely black-and-white illustrations.

Read this book at your own enjoyment, but be aware that you are not reading about 'real' unicorns - only the idealised, modernised unicorns by authors who have forgotten what a unicorn really is.

Combine Bruce Coville, master of myth and fantasy, exquisite art, eleven magnificent stories, and a glorious poem, and what do you get? --An exceptional book, a treasure for those who love unicorns and fantasy. These unicorns are not the goody-goody, pink-bowed unicorns of some publications. These unicorns show depth of spirit, some are ugly, some fiery, some brave and gutsy. One of my favorites is the story by Kathryn Lay. This unicorn brings healing to a girl in a wheelchair, but not in the way you'd expect. I won't give away the ending. You'll have to the read the story for yourself. I highly recommend this amazing, wonderful book to all. You'll be uplifted and inspired.

This book was wonderful! When I read the introduction, I had tears in my eyes and it made me want to race outside and find a unicorn waiting for me. The unicorns starring in these stories are not all pretty and pink, but some are ugly, and some are horselike. If you read The Unicorn Chronicles, there is a story in this book called The Guardian of memory and it is part of the unicorn chronicles and is absolutely wonderful! The story Tearing Down the Unicorns was also very good. A girl started tearing down the pictures of her peaceful colorful unicorns off her wall for some reason that you will have to find out! I highly reccomend this book to anyone who loves unicorns and that when you finish reading it, if you believe with all your heart, then you will find "a glory of unicorns waiting to sweep you away!"

Before I read this book, I liked unicorns. Now, I LOVE them. This book is so awesome! I decided I'm going to memorize that poem and present it somewhere. I can't decide what story is my favorite. I loved all of them (except for Story Hour, that was weird.) I would highly reccomend this. Some of the stories are sad, especially "Beyond the Fringe". But very very good!

I love stories about unicorns and this one was filled with great ones. I buy anything with Bruce Coville's name on it, but I found a lot of other authors I like now. The pictures are really cool too, especially the cover.

A Glory of Unicorns, compiled and edited by Bruce Coville, has been a staple on my fantasy shelf for years. Given me as a gift, it has continued to tickle my imagination whenever it needed a jumpstart.

A Glory of Unicorns is an anthology, containing twelve stories by as many authors. They are all entirely centered on unicorns, unicorn lore, unicorn believers, and unicorn by-products. They shimmer from page to page, wonderful and usually white. However, these aren't the usual boring white stallion with foam core horn, usually found lurking in fantasy books. Instead, each author has ingested the pop culture and old lore of the unicorn, and has written a story about their unicorn. One is ugly; one is made of fire; one is thin and old. Some of them talk, and some of them just exist for our benefit.

Unicorns have, throughout time, been carriers of peace, good tidings, and other fluttery sentiments, and these stories are no exception. The overall style is what saves it- these unicorns have taken on a little modern grit, and the message of peace is often borne, as is fit, into a place ravaged and war torn, or at least severely tried. The unicorns aren't always the central focus, either, but serve as catalyst or aid to a compelling human counterpart or cast of characters, so that flowing white manes like rippling moon gossamer don't end up eating the plot. While much of the material smacks of feel-good adolescent girl fiction, all of the stories actually have a leg on which to stand, and often a strong one at that.

Those plots stick with you, too. I have caught myself musing over a story that I can't quite place, only to remember that it is a part of this collection. Allegory or otherwise, the messages that are meant to last, last; the editor has been wise in his selection, because each story has a distinct hook that latches into your mind and stays there, drawing you back time after time.

Overall, this is the perfect gift for a younger relation, a dreamer of any age, or for yourself. It is ideal for reading in a grassy field on a sunny summer's day, as the smashed grass blades and earwigs in my copy can attest.


Genre: Fantasy
Plot: High
Giggles: High
Violence: Minimal and distant
Sex: Nonexistent
Language: Eloquent but inoffensive

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I'm sure this book is meant for young readers but I am not young (in years), and I enjoyed it. The short stories are varied and will appeal to anyone who is fascinated by unicorns and has a good imagination. I especially liked the illustrations by Alix Berenzy which accompany each story. Thanks to Bruce Colville for this delightful complilation as well as his interesting introduction.

I really enjoyed this collection of short stories. Sometimes the story centers around the Unicorn, sometimes it doesn't. I found myself engrossed with each story and finishing each in a single setting. But I had to pace myself because some of the stories were intended for younger readers and are a little more difficult to get through because of it. But I liked it and I'm glad I bought it and still revisit the stories when I have a free moment.