Unicorn Variations

Unicorn Variations is a collection of stories and essays by author Roger Zelazny, published in 1983. The title story, "Unicorn Variation", was written as a result of Zelazny having been asked to contribute to two different upcoming anthologies — one collecting stories set in bars, and one collecting stories about unicorns. When Zelazny mentioned these requests to his close friend George R. R. Martin, the other told Zelazny of a third upcoming anthology — one which would collect stories about chess — and jokingly suggested that Zelazny write a story about playing chess against a unicorn in a bar, so that he could sell the story three times. Zelazny did just that and then went on to win a Hugo Award for the story. Contents 7 • Introduction (Unicorn Variations) • (1983) • essay by Roger Zelazny 9 • Unicorn Variation • (1981) • novelette by Roger Zelazny 36 • The Last of the Wild Ones • [Sam Murdock] • (1981) • shor tstory by Roger Zelazny (variant of "Last of the Wild Ones") 54 • Recital • (1981) • short story by Roger Zelazny 59 • The Naked Matador • (1981) • short story by Roger Zelazny 67 • The Parts That Are Only Glimpsed: Three Reflexes • (1978) • essay by Roger Zelazny 71 • Dismal Light • [Francis Sandow] • (1968) • short story by Roger Zelazny 85 • Go Starless in the Night • (1979) • short story by Roger Zelazny 94 • But Not the Herald • (1965) • short story by Roger Zelazny 98 • A Hand Across the Galaxy • (1967) • short story by Roger Zelazny 101 • The Force That Through the Circuit Drives the Current • (1976) • short story by Roger Zelazny 107 • Home is the Hangman • [Nemo] • (1975) • novella by Roger Zelazny 169 • Fire and/or Ice, Exeunt Omnes, A Very Good Year ... • essay by Roger Zelazny 170 • Fire and/or Ice • (1980) • short story by Roger Zelazny 172 • Exeunt Omnes • (1980) • short story by Roger Zelazny 176 • A Very Good Year ... • (1979) • short story by Roger Zelazny 180 • My Lady of the Diodes • (1970) • short story by Roger Zelazny 198 • And I Only Am Escaped to Tell Thee • (1981) • short story by Roger Zelazny 202 • The Horses of Lir • (1981) • short story by Roger Zelazny 215 • The Night Has 999 Eyes • (1964) • shortstory by Roger Zelazny 218 • Angel, Dark Angel • (1967) • short story by Roger Zelazny 230 • Walpurgisnacht • (1981) • short story by Roger Zelazny 236 • The George Business • (1980) • short story by Roger Zelazny 245 • Some Science Fiction Parameters: A Biased View • (1975) • essay by Roger Zelazny