WORLD FANTASY AWARD FINALIST LOCUS AWARD FINALIST The essential first volume of bestselling author Peter S. Beagle’s (The Last Unicorn) short stories demonstrates why he is one of America’s most influential fantasists. With his celebrated versatility, humor, and grace, Beagle is at home in a dazzling variety of subgenres. Evoking comparison to such iconic authors as Twain, Tolkien, Carroll, L’Engle, and Vonnegut, this career retrospective celebrates Beagle’s mastery of the short-story form. [STARRED REVIEW] “Brimming with magic, lyrical prose, and deeply felt emotion, this is, indeed, essential reading.” ―Kirkus An unlikely friendship based on philosophy develops between an aging academic and a mythological beast. A mysterious, beautiful attendee who attends a ball thrown in her honor chooses whether or not to become mortal. A dysfunctional relationship is not improved by the consequences of lycanthropy. One very brave young mouse questions his identity and redefines feline wiles. From heartbreaking to humorous, these carefully curated stories by Peter S. Beagle show the depth and power of his incomparable prose and storytelling. Featuring an original introduction from Jane Yolen ( Owl Moon ) and gorgeous illustrations from Stephanie Pui-Mun Law ( Shadowscapes ), this elegant collection is a must-have for any fan of classic fantasy. Washington Post Brilliant Forays into the Otherworldly Locus Recommended Reading List [STARRED REVIEW] “Volume 1, introduced by Jane Yolen, contains some of Beagle’s most classic stories, including ‘Come Lady Death,’ in which a jaded British woman meets her match when she invites Death to her ball, and ‘Professor Gottesman and the Indian Rhinoceros,’ about a socially awkward academic’s relationship with a somewhat unusually presented and philosophically minded unicorn. ‘Lila the Werewolf’ features the first appearance of Joe Farrell, the protagonist of Beagle’s novel The Folk of the Air (1986); fans of that book will be delighted to encounter Farrell in an additional story that takes place after the novel and features some interesting character growth on his part. The collection also contains the absolutely chilling ‘We Never Talk About My Brother,’ the story of a news anchor with a secret and impossibly powerful control over the stories he reports, and the sweetly melancholy ‘Uncle Chaim and Aunt Rifke and the Angel,’ concerning a painter’s divinely compelling model. There are also whimsical works like ‘Gordon, the Self-Made Cat,’ starring a mouse who refuses to accept that biology is destiny. Whether set in a fantastical landscape, the New York City of Beagle’s youth, or the invented northern California town of Avicenna, these are fables that explore how a brush with the uncanny can either change a life or simply spotlight what is already present. Magic is the lens through which the author shows us how fraught a mother-daughter relationship can be, how difficult it can be to let go of a dead friend or lover, and how a greater threat can unite two squabbling siblings. Delicate line drawings by artist Stephanie Law add a charming coda to each tale. Brimming with magic, lyrical prose, and deeply felt emotion, this is, indeed, essential reading.” ― Kirkus [STARRED REVIEW] “Beagle ( The Overneath ) showcases his versatility and ability to entertain even as he challenges expectations in 13 fantasy shorts from throughout his career. While several offerings, including ‘Lila the Werewolf’ (1969) and ‘Come Lady Death’ (1963), stem from Beagle’s early years, the majority represent his post-2000 output, demonstrating that his skills have only been refined over the decades. With a tendency toward gentle thoughtfulness and philosophical rumination, tales such as ‘Professor Gottesman and the Indian Rhinoceros’ and ‘Uncle Chaim and Aunt Rifke and the Angel’ prove timeless in their quiet yet profound exploration of Jewish faith, friendship, family, and fellowship. Others, like ‘The Stickball Witch’ and ‘Four Fables,’ drift into absurdity or everyday uneasiness, while ‘We Never Talk About My Brother’ looks at the balance between good and evil in a new light. Jane Yolen’s introduction helps place Beagle and his work into further context. The result is both an ideal entry point for newcomers, and a lovely way for existing fans to revisit or rediscover old favorites. ― Publishers Weekly “Gleaming gold, these two volumes of glorious stories remind us of what is true.” ―E. Lily Yu, author of On Fragile Waves “What becomes a legend most? For the author of the beloved fantasy classic The Last Unicorn , it would be The Essential Peter S. Beagle .” ― Washington Post “The briefer enchantments collected in these two volumes also brim with the deepest and truest of his magical powers: with laughter, with wisdom, and with the ineffable pleasure of the imaginary memories he shares.” ―Nisi Shawl, author of Everfair “Two perfect volumes that should come with a warning: Wh