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Title: Stalking the Unicorn
Series:
John Justin Mallory #1
Author: Mike
Resnick
Rating: 3 of 5 Stars
Genre:
Fantasy
Pages: 208
Words: 78K
About 6 years ago, I read the
compilation of short stories about John Justin Mallory entitled
“Stalking
the Zombie”. It did not impress me and in the comments I even
stated I wouldn’t be searching out the previous books. Well,
there’s egg on my face now.
This is about a private investigator
that goes into a “supernatural” side of New York City and is
stuck there and has to solve cases. In this, somebody stole a unicorn
and he’s been hired to find it. Only a demon is after it, his
client is lying to him and the unicorn has actually been dead for
quite some time.
It reminded me a good bit of the
“Garrett, PI”
books by Glen Cook. Not as good but still decent. JJ, as I shall
refer to John Justin Mallory from here on out, likes to drink hard
liquor and has about a million other Private Investigator cliches to
fill him out as a character. He’s not much else besides cliches.
Which works for a standalone story but since this is NOT a standalone
story, we’ll see. JJ is no Widowmaker though, so I’ll have to
wait and see if he gets any actual character development beyond being
a boozer. Not expecting it though.
Managing expectations is the key to all
of Resnick’s stories. Every time I have “expected” more, I’ve
enjoyed less. So turn that brain off and prepare for the literary
equivalent of an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. And you’ll be
happy.
★★★☆☆
From Wikipedia
Mallory,
a private investigator from New York, spends New Year's Eve in his
office, with a bottle of whisky, and in a terrible mood. His business
partner left for California with Mallory's wife, having also
blackmailed some of their clients. Since the infuriated victims head
for the detective's office, it seems that the night will end up
tragically; yet, the plot suddenly takes an unexpected turn as in the
room appears a strange creature, an elf called Mürgenstürm.
Mürgenstürm,
who comes from an alternative world, is in equally serious trouble.
He was obliged to guard a valuable animal, the unicorn called
Larkspur. He neglected his duty and the unicorn was stolen. Now, the
elf's life is in danger, so he wants to take advantage of Mallory's
service.
As
he has no other way out of trouble the detective decides to follow
Mürgenstürm, and to search for the stolen animal. They enter the
alternative New York through the gate in the basement of the very
building where Mallory has his office.
When
the detective examines the scene of the crime, he encounters the
eye-witness, a cat-girl Felina, who, despite her catlike personality,
will become Mallory's loyal partner. She reveals that the culprit is
a leprechaun, Gillespie, who is working for a perilous and powerful
demon, Grundy, that is responsible for spreading evil in both New
Yorks. At the same time, the Grundy finds out about Mallory's
investigation and tries to dissuade him from taking further steps.
Nevertheless,
Mallory does not abandon the investigation and in search of
information about the unicorn visits various places in the
alternative New York, such as the Museum of Natural History, full of
dead yet regularly reviving animals, and Central Park, occupied by
wholesalers offering completely useless goods.
On
his way Mallory meets Eohippus, a six-inch tall horse that helps him
find the expert on unicorns, a former huntress still craving for
adventure, Colonel Winifred Carruthers. Unlike Mürgenstürm, who
gradually turns out to be more an accomplice in the crime than the
victim, Carruthers and Eohippus are valuable allies. Due to Colonel,
Mallory comes into contact with a magician, The Great Mephisto, and
finds out the motives for the crime. In the unicorn's head there is a
ruby that would enable the Grundy to move freely between the two
worlds and gain more power than he has ever had.
After
a long search Mallory reaches Gillespie's flat on the 13th floor of a
cheap hotel only to find out that the leprechaun ran away, the
unicorn is already dead, and the gate between the two cities begins
to close. In the meantime, Mallory's partners, Colonel and Eohippus,
are caught by Gillespie.
Soon
after that the detective receives an invitation to the auction at
which the precious ruby is to be sold. The Grundy appears there too,
and he seems to have all the cards. Yet, it turns out that Mallory,
with the help of Felina, has already found and hidden the jewel,
which gives him an advantage over the enemy. Grundy sets Mallory's
friends free and agrees to wait until the detective delivers the
ruby.
Mallory,
who has no intention of letting the Grundy wreak havoc in both
worlds, has the jewel transported to "his" New York just
before the passage between the two worlds closes. Then he meets the
Grundy only to inform him about it. Since the demon cannot be sure
whether Mallory tells the truth he does not dare to kill the
detective, but promises to have his revenge in the future.
Mallory
is content to stay in the alternative New York, where his work makes
more sense. He is determined to continue his struggle against evil
having the noble Colonel and of the mysterious Felina at his side.
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