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Literature / Unicorn Western

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Unicorn Western is a "reinvention of both the western genre and unicorn lore" created as a collaboration between Sean Platt and Johnny B. Truant, as a dare by Sean's usual writing partner, David Wright. Who says you can't do a western without doing a lot of research, especially if it has unicorns?

Marshal Clint Gulliver and his unicorn companion Edward had found peace in the small town Solace. On Clint's wedding day, before he could get "hitched" with his bride-to-be Mai, a threat is predicted to be heading toward town for revenge: the outlaw Hassle Stone. Dark magic follows.

As of this edit, Unicorn Western consists of four separate instalments. The first was published Dec 20, 2012.


Unicorn Western contain examples of:

  • Aerith and Bob: Being a parody of the Western genre, there are normal names, like Clint, Teddy, and Edward, along with some weird ones, like Hassle Stone and Dharma Kold.
  • Anachronism Stew: Despite the western setting, the pianist in the opening scene is playing Billy Joel,and talkies are mentioned.
  • Anti-Hero: Clint is a recovering cynic, who's willing to kill a few Mooks yet upholds an honor code.
  • Evil Former Friend: Dharma Kold to Clint.
  • Extremely Short Timespan: The entire first installment occurs within a day, with Unicorn Western 2 being more loose with time passing.
  • The Gunslinger: Clint loves his seven-shooter, and demonstrates his measure in combat.
  • Heterosexual Life-Partners: Clint and Edward.
  • Ill-Timed Sneeze: Variation in the spirit of the situation. Pinto's fart almost clue in the antagonists to the protagonists' presence.
  • Insistent Terminology: Edward, thinking himself above horses, prefer to call his otherwise mundane accommodations more human terms. His barn is a "house", his stall a "room", and so on.
  • Invulnerable Horses: Justified with Edward, since he's an unicorn with healing powers.
  • Just Between You and Me: Briefly conversed:
    Dharma Kold: "This is the place where I'm supposed to tell you my plans and backstory, yar?"
  • Kid Sidekick: Parodied with Teddy, who Clint and Edward definitely don't want with them.
  • Rule of Cool: Why Clint rides a unicorn.
  • Sapient Steed: Edward, a talking unicorn.
  • Sarcastic Clapping: Lampshaded by the clapper himself:
    Dharma Kold: "I'm slow-clapping in sarcastic appreciation of your victory over the bandit."
  • Unicorn: It's in the title. Also, Edward is of the non-pure kind.
  • Vitriolic Best Buds: When Edward first appears "on-screen", he lobs a bag of oats at Clint. This kind of behavior continues throughout the book.
  • Wedding Smashers: Clint and Mai's hitching in the beginning is cut off by the fortelling of Hassle Stone's arrival, causing much conflict between them.
  • Weird West: Unicorns tend to have that effect on non-fantasy settings.
  • What Measure Is a Mook?: Clint lethally shoots down all of the antagonists' gang. On the other hand, he gives Hassle Stone a non-deadly wound and handcuffs him.
  • White Stallion: All unicorns are white. Unless they're corrupted with Black Magic.

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