58 Years Later, The Greatest Opening Line In Fantasy Still Has No Equal

The fantasy genre has no shortage of iconic works that have become mainstays in contemporary culture, transporting generations of readers into worlds packed with magic, monsters, and unforgettable heroes. J.R.R. Tolkien helped establish the blueprint for modern fantasy with The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, both of which immediately draw readers into Middle-earth through opening lines that feel simultaneously welcoming and mysterious.

Other classics have proven equally memorable and influential, from C.S. Lewis introducing the Pevensie children in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to Ursula K. Le Guin establishing the mythic atmosphere of her legendary universe in A Wizard of Earthsea. More modern staples like Stephen King’s The Gunslinger or George R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones have taken the opposite approach, opening with stark, enigmatic sentences that prime readers for what's ahead.

The greatest fantasy openings accomplish far more than simply kicking off the events of the story; in only a handful of words, the best lines establish the tone, characters, and capture the essence of the journey and world beyond that first page. And arguably no fantasy novel in history has done this better than Peter S. Beagle's beloved The Last Unicorn.

The Last Unicorn's Opening Line Is Perfectly Somber

Beagle's The Last Unicorn is one of the greatest works of pure fantasy ever written, taking readers on a personal and intimate journey alongside a unicorn who believes she may be the last of her kind. Rather than embracing the bright or whimsical tone one might expect from a story centered around a unicorn, The Last Unicorn's melancholic, almost elegiac mood is established immediately from the very first sentence:

The line may appear simple at first, but it does so much work to establish the setting and give readers a sense of what's to come, hinting at a larger world where magic is already slipping into memory. The entire opening sequence serves this same purpose, and effortlessly immerses readers with Beagle's imaginative and unmatched style.

Descriptions of the unicorn throughout the first paragraphs such as "...she was no longer the careless color of sea foam..." and "the long horn above her eyes shone and shivered with its own seashell light even in the deepest midnight" do more than simply detail the unicorn's appearance, but imbue the story with a sense of mysticism and fading magic that perfectly set the mood of the entire book.

The Last Unicorn is a truly timeless piece of fantasy that has captured the imaginations of readers for decades since its release back in 1968. Peter S. Beagle's novel arrived during a period when fantasy was rapidly expanding beyond Tolkien's enormous shadow, yet Beagle's lyrical prose, melancholic atmosphere, and self-aware treatment of fairy-tale conventions helped it carve out a distinct identity of its own.

Beagle's The Last Unicorn Is A Fantasy Masterpiece

The book has since sold millions of copies and is still relevant to new generations of fantasy readers, and is unquestionably one of the foundational works of modern American fantasy. Its legacy was expanded even further by the beloved 1982 animated adaptation from Rankin/Bass, with Beagle himself writing the screenplay. The film's legendary cast included Mia Farrow, Alan Arkin, Jeff Bridges, Angela Lansbury, and Christopher Lee, and became a cult sensation that still stands out for its unique style to this day.

If you've never read The Last Unicorn, Patrick Rothfuss, author of the incredible Kingkiller series, summarizes Beagle's seminal work perfectly: "This story is perfect as a pearl. It is sweet as the kiss you remember most fondly in the quiet corner of your heart... it is a book I recommend to anyone and everyone, no matter who they are, no matter their age, their genre preferences, or whether or not they're interested in unicorns."

The Last Unicorn

Release Date November 19, 1982

Director Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr.

Writers Peter S. Beagle