Connor: Right. The full-blown sequel novel you said that you’d never write.

Peter: It starts on the day Sooz turns 17, and finally whistles the special melody that Molly Grue taught her in “Two Hearts.” I’m looking forward to finding out what happens when she does.

Connor: You and a world full of readers.

Peter: In the end it’s always character with me, really, more than plot or action. It’s always voice. There has always been someone, somewhere in my head, telling me stories. For as long as I can type or hold a pen in my hand I’m going to do my best to share them.

—Berkeley, California

May 2007

UPDATES (June 2013)

The American-style graphic novel project mentioned in this interview was scrapped over creative differences with the publisher, but in 2009 the project was picked up by a different comics house, IDW. Six individual Last Unicorn comics were put out in 2010, and the 2011 graphic novel spent nine weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. This adaptation was edited by Mariah Huehner, with a script by Peter B. Gillis and Peter S. Beagle, and art by Renae de Liz and Ray Dillon.

As part of his 52/50 Project, in which he celebrated his 70th birthday by coming up with a new song lyric or poem every week for a year, Peter wrote two songs related to The Last Unicorn: “Aggravating Woman,” in which Captain Cully looks back on his time with Molly Grue, and “Deep Woods (The Unicorn Sings to Memory).”

In 2011 Peter published “The Woman Who Married the Man in the Moon”‌—‌a new Schmendrick story set before The Last Unicorn”‌—‌in his collection Sleight of Hand. He has since written three other new stories about this character, and plans to put them all together in a book called Green-Eyed Boy.

The independent essential oils company Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab has released a line of 28 different scents inspired by the characters and themes of The Last Unicorn.

The long-running conflict over nonpayment of Last Unicorn film royalties ended in 2010, with a settlement that opened up many new business opportunities for Peter and the property. Most exciting, perhaps, is the screening tour of the animated film that started in April 2013 and will continue through the end of 2015. This tour, featuring an amazing digital print of the film, will give hundreds of thousands of fans around the world a way to meet Peter and see The Last Unicorn on the big screen for the first time. Details can be found at www.lastunicorntour.com.

Works by Peter S. Beagle

(as of June 2013)

NOVELS

A Fine and Private Place, 1960

The Last Unicorn, 1968

The Folk of the Air, 1986 (Mythopoeic Fantasy Award)

The Innkeeper’s Song, 1993 (Locus Award)

The Unicorn Sonata, 1996

Tamsin, 1999 (Mythopoeic Fantasy Award)

COLLECTIONS

The Fantasy Worlds of Peter S. Beagle, 1978

The Magician of Karakosk and Other Stories, 1997 (originally published in the United States as Giant Bones)

The Rhinoceros Who Quoted Nietzsche and Other Odd Acquaintances, 1997