I like unicorns. Deal with it.

I recently had a conversation with a co-worker where in which I mentioned that I just purchased a copy of The Last Unicorn.  She actually stopped mid stride, “Unicorns? I didn’t peg you for the unicorn type.” Then shook her head and walked away. 
“Wait a minute,” I yelled. “You don’t understand, it’s not a book just about unicorns.  There’s a bull made of fire and magicians.”
She gave me a suspicious grin “…and it just happens to have unicorn in the title?”
“Well yes, it is about a king who is gathering all the unicorns in the world because it is the only thing that makes him happy.”
“So….he collects unicorns to make him happy”
“That’s correct, but…” I start.
“Are they pink fluffy unicorns?” she asks while stifling a giggle.
“White with a periwinkle mane.” (I was referencing the movie at this point). By now she is doubled over in laughter and I feel that the conversation has taken a dangerous turn towards humiliation. 
“No dammit, listen.  The movie is awesome. It has a bull of fire, an evil king, a skeleton gate keeper, an enchanted poet butterfly …. Ok forget that last one….but is has a dragon slaying night and a magician. How is that not manly?”
Needless to say, I didn’t convince her of the awesomeness of one of my favorite childhood movies.  I don’t really know what I enjoy about fantasy.  It may be the escapist nature of the story or the messages that are embedded within but I tend to enjoy stories that have magic and a few fanciful creatures. I think it may be the strong characters that I enjoy the most. 
Schmendrick the Magician is awesome, even if he is a little inept and can’t seem to control his powers and by the end of the book I really feel like I know him like an old friend. You can tell that he doesn’t think much of himself just by his introduction:

 

“I am called Schmendrick thMagician,” he answered.  “You won’t have heard of me.”

Many authors have based their stories on the foundations that Peter Beagle and Tolkien set down.  Then there is the greatest character introduction that I have ever read.  I will plagiarize it here for you: stolen from here 

My name is Kvothe, pronounced nearly the same as "quothe." Names are important as they tell you a great deal about a person. I've had more names than anyone has a right to. The Adem call me Maedre. Which, depending on how it's spoken, can mean The Flame, The Thunder, or The Broken Tree.
…
My first mentor called me E'lir because I was clever and I knew it. My first real lover called me Dulator because she liked the sound of it. I have been called Shadicar, Lightfinger, and Six-String. I have been called Kvothe the Bloodless, Kvothe the Arcane, and Kvothe Kingkiller. I have earned those names. Bought and paid for them.

But I was brought up as Kvothe. My father once told me it meant "to know."

I have, of course, been called many other things. Most of them uncouth, although very few were unearned.

I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep.

You may have heard of me.

First of all, this book is awesome (The Name of the Wind). Second, how can you not like a character who sounds as badass as that?  Third, this one introductory passage gives you an idea of what to expect in the rest of the story. Fourth, this book is awesome. 

.....don’t really have a way to end this post….soooo….kIloveyoubyebye…

~Bibliotender