Unicorn Mountain

"Unicorn Mountain" falls under the category of fantasy. I would call it rural fantasy (as opposed to urban fantasy) because it deals with the gritty reality of life in a rural setting with some magical elements woven through. The gritty realities are AIDS, circa 1988, when life expectancy was low and quality of life was even lower, the plight of Native Americans and their life on reservations, and a divorced Anglo woman running a ranch in rural Colorado on her own. All three of these threads come together in a pretty powerful story surrounding the appearance and plight of unicorns. It's no wonder the book won the Mythopoeic Award in 1989. I found the book engrossing and satisfying even though it deals with the homophobia, sexism, and racism of thirty years ago. I'd like to think we've made some headway on all three fronts, but it's hard knowing that a lot of it still exists and is finding a loud voice in the politics of 2016.

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