A Favorite Read of Yesteryear
Welcome to one of my favorite almost forgotten reads. ARIEL by Steven R. Boyett was first published in 1983, and I came across a worn copy at a garage sale I went to in college. The premise looked interesting: suddenly, and for no discernable reason, the world wakes up one morning in a post-apocalyptic scenario. Electricity? Gone. Batteries? Nope. Cars and other mechanical items? Still nope. But guess what? Magical creatures now roam the streets and skies, and most of them want you dead or for dinner.
Pete (our main character) is a teenager when all this hits, and loses his entire family not long after to the new world order, which (like most apocalyptic stories) shows us that human beings are the worst threat you’ll face, despite the manticores and harpies you may encounter. One day not long after the big change, Pete stumbles upon a young unicorn named Ariel who – surprisingly – can speak, though it’s only toddler-ish baby words. Together, they set off to travel the world, knowing that staying in one place too long only invites trouble. Along the way, the grow up together (Ariel’s language matures to adult level), and become such close friends that the term “soulmates” comes to mind.
The story shows them facing numerous bad guys and rescuing each other from perilous scenarios, leaving them shaken or wounded, but always pulling each other through. Then the inseparable duo finally meets its ultimate opponent: a girl close to Pete’s age. A cute, scrappy girl. Ariel expresses a good deal of animosity toward their new traveling companion and the girl’s burgeoning relationship with Pete, and for good reason. It turns out that (as described in several myths and legends), you can’t touch or even get close to a unicorn unless you are a virgin. I’m sure you can see where this is inevitably headed. When it gets there, it’s heartbreaking on every level, but completely understandable. In gaining the close human relationship he so desperately needs and craves, Pete has to give up part of his soul.
This book was a favorite re-read of mine for many years, and when someone brought up unicorns in books the other day, it jogged my memory. I was thrilled to find the book had been re-released in 2009, and a sequel set thirty years after the first book is also out. I’ll be devouring both very soon. Here’s the link, if you want to give it a read:
