Unicorn Mountain - Michael Bishop - cover artist John Jinks
Unicorn Mountain - Michael Bishop (novel - Fantasy - 04-18-2021 review 0908)
comments by CR;
"Unicorn Mountain"(1988) by Michael Bishop is a most intriguing novel that somehow combines AIDS, unicorns, Native American religion and late 20th century cattle ranching. This unlikely mishmash of themes is converted into a fine story by Mr. Bishop's dead-on characterizations of the principal dramatis personae.
Bo Gavin is a young gay man wasting away with AIDS. He has been disowned by his parents but deeply desires to rekindle a relationship with them. Libby Quarrels is the owner of a struggling Colorado cattle ranch, the Tipsy Q. Her philandering ex-husband prevails upon her to take in his cousin Bo. Sam Coldpony, a Ute Indian, works for Libby Quarrels as a ranch hand. Years ago he left the reservation and abandoned his divorced wife and young daughter. Sam's daughter Paisley, now 18, has aspirations to become the tribes shaman and to reconnect with her absent father. Oh yes the unicorns. Seems they travel by a kind of warp to the Tipsy Q and are wasting away with a strange infection.
In addition we are introduced to a crabby, foul mouthed vet who has a way with unicorns; Bo's brother who make use of the unicorns as an advertising theme for a new line of condoms and an old TV set, a Bendix referred to as Ben, that magically receives very strange programs after midnight with no antenna - like Marlin Perkins narrating a WILD KINGDOM episode about Unicorns.
This is one of the few books that I had difficulty putting down - it's a genuine page turner. Michael Bishop is a fine writer and I highly recommend this title.
As the late Bud Webster stated "I read for enlightenment, for knowledge and for entertainment". This book scores in all three categories.
Unicorn Mountain - Michael Bishop - cover artist John Jinks
Unicorn Mountain - Michael Bishop (novel - Fantasy - 04-18-2021 review 0908)
comments by CR;
"Unicorn Mountain"(1988) by Michael Bishop is a most intriguing novel that somehow combines AIDS, unicorns, Native American religion and late 20th century cattle ranching. This unlikely mishmash of themes is converted into a fine story by Mr. Bishop's dead-on characterizations of the principal dramatis personae.
Bo Gavin is a young gay man wasting away with AIDS. He has been disowned by his parents but deeply desires to rekindle a relationship with them. Libby Quarrels is the owner of a struggling Colorado cattle ranch, the Tipsy Q. Her philandering ex-husband prevails upon her to take in his cousin Bo. Sam Coldpony, a Ute Indian, works for Libby Quarrels as a ranch hand. Years ago he left the reservation and abandoned his divorced wife and young daughter. Sam's daughter Paisley, now 18, has aspirations to become the tribes shaman and to reconnect with her absent father. Oh yes the unicorns. Seems they travel by a kind of warp to the Tipsy Q and are wasting away with a strange infection.
In addition we are introduced to a crabby, foul mouthed vet who has a way with unicorns; Bo's brother who make use of the unicorns as an advertising theme for a new line of condoms and an old TV set, a Bendix referred to as Ben, that magically receives very strange programs after midnight with no antenna - like Marlin Perkins narrating a WILD KINGDOM episode about Unicorns.
This is one of the few books that I had difficulty putting down - it's a genuine page turner. Michael Bishop is a fine writer and I highly recommend this title.
As the late Bud Webster stated "I read for enlightenment, for knowledge and for entertainment". This book scores in all three categories.