Two Hearts (story)

Infobox Book
name = Two Hearts
title_orig =
translator =

image_caption = An illustration for "Two Hearts" on the cover of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, October/November 2005.

author = Peter S. Beagle
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
series =
genre = Fantasy novel
publisher = Viking Press
release_date = 2004
english_release_date =
media_type = Print (Hardback)
pages = 218 pp
isbn = 9870451450523
preceded_by = The Last Unicorn (1968)
followed_by =

"Two Hearts" is a novelette written by Peter S. Beagle in 2004 as a coda to "The Last Unicorn", despite his decades-long reluctance to continue the original story. It was first published as the cover story of Fantasy and Science Fiction magazine in October/November 2005, but can also be found in Beagle's short story anthology, The Line Between. Additionally, the "Two Hearts" story is meant to bridge the "Last Unicorn" to an unnamed full-length sequel novel that is expected to follow in the near future.

A limited 64 page hardcover edition autographed and numbered by Conlan Press as a free bonus with audiobook purchases of The Last Unicorn for $55. Sales began December 2004, but the delivery of the edition has been delayed. The Conlan Press site states that "These products are finished but not yet manufactured." The book is expected to ship before the end of 2008.

Plot Summary

A young girl named Sooz lives in a village threatened by a griffin. The beast has preyed on livestock for years, but recently it has started killing children. Sooz embarks on a quest to implore the King of her land to save her village. In doing so, she meets several characters from The Last Unicorn who take on different roles as the girl's adventure progresses.

The story addresses many different themes such as dualism, mortality, heroism, memory, love, and "the order of things." In addition, the title of the story serves as a recurring metaphor for many facets of the story. Though it is meant to contrast the two separate hearts of the griffin, it also assists in comparing the "two hearts" of at least three pairs of characters.

Awards

* Hugo Award for Best Novelette, 2006
* Nebula Award (Novelette), 2006
* World Fantasy Award short fiction finalist nomination, 2006

External links

[http://www.conlanpress.com/html/news.html Conlan Press News]