Stalking the Unicorn by Mike Resnick is sort of like The Dresden Files meets Alice in Wonderland. It's a reprint of an urban fantasy from the 1980s before urban fantasy was a popular genre all by itself. Not only that, it's a pulp detective story with a classic opening scene of the PI in his office, broke, suddenly wife-less, down on his luck and a last bottle of good booze (Hmm. I guess it has a bit of country-western music in it too!)

Resnick doesn't disappoint; this book gives any Dresden File book a run for its money—the plot, which is more like a quest than a mystery, makes sense and any serendipitous turns are inserted with skill. This isn't really a page-turner, more of a steady-as-she-goes kind of story. It's interesting enough that you just keep reading without it being a book that really makes your heart pound. It's funny and witty without being laugh-out-loud.

Mallory, the PI, is hired to find a unicorn in an alternate Manhattan that he doesn't know about--at least not until an elf shows up and begs for his help. Mallory goes along with it, mostly assuming the liquor he consumed has much to do with what he is seeing. There's no boring parts where Mallory accepts the realization that what he's seeing is real—Mallory just starts adjusting to it in practical New Yorker style: He's cold so he buys a coat and so what if it has a button to adjust to the temperature or rain?

The chase after the unicorn leads him through several almost familiar places with lots of odd characters, bizarre settings and danger that is enough to keep you interested. Mallory faces some philosophical questions about good vs evil, but there's really no doubt what choice he will make—more a case of wondering how he will mete out his own version of justice.

At 288 pages, this is a quick read. It's good old-fashioned fun without trying too hard.

Other Reviews of works by Mike Resnick

Stalking the Vampire - Jul 29, 2008