Title/author/editor of book of short stories about unicorns?

Question

About ten years ago, I owned a paperback book that was a collection of short stories and excerpts from novels, all by different authors, all about unicorns. I'm trying to find it, but I don't know the title or editor.

One of the stories was set in a sort of zoo-world, where mythical creatures had been genetically created to (sexually and otherwise) entertain paying vistors. At one point there was a foursome involving two centaurs, a nymph, and a satyr. (So this wasn't a kid's book, obviously.)

Another of the stories was about a Hispanic woman (named Rosa, perhaps?) who was chosen by a unicorn that looked like a donkey to the other villagers.

Another of the stories had a little girl (and maybe a boy) meeting a unicorn in the woods. They called it a "hart," and that might be in the title of the short story.

The cover of the book had a unicorn looking into a pool or lying down, and the trees had droopy branches covered with flowers.

The book isn't "The Unicorn Treasury."

About ten years ago, I owned a paperback book that was a collection of short stories and excerpts from novels, all by different authors, all about unicorns. I'm trying to find it, but I don't know the title or editor.

One of the stories was set in a sort of zoo-world, where mythical creatures had been genetically created to (sexually and otherwise) entertain paying vistors. At one point there was a foursome involving two centaurs, a nymph, and a satyr. (Obviously not a kid's book.)

Another of the stories was about a Hispanic woman (named Rosa, perhaps?) who was chosen by a unicorn that looked like a donkey to the other villagers.

Another of the stories had a little girl (and maybe a boy) meeting a unicorn in the woods. They called it a "hart," and that might be in the title of the short story.

The cover of the book had a unicorn looking into a pool or lying down, and the trees had droopy branches covered with flowers.

Not "The Unicorn Treasury" or "Unicorns II".

Ack, sorry for the double-post.

I searched Amazon and couldn't find anything that sounded right except Unicorns II, which I bought, and sadly it's not the right one.

"The Transfigured Hart" is definitely one of the short stories in it. YAY! A clue!

Oh, and the zoo story isn't in "Unicorns II," that's a different adult story set on a porn movie set.

You're entirely right that I could be thinking of two different books. I think I'll have to buy "The Unicorn Treasury" anyway and see if it magically *is* the right one.

Answer 1

The "hart" story is probably Jane Yolen's "The Transfigured Hart." Summary: "A boy and a girl become convinced that the white deer they discover in the woods is a unicorn." It was first published in 1975, and is a children's book.

"The Transfigured Hart" is also included in the collection "The Unicorn Treasury" by Bruce Coville, but that is also for younger readers, so I don't know that the zoo story would be in there, and the cover is also different than the one you remember. Table of contents from that book:

Lore of the unicorn / Bruce Coville -- The unicorn in the maze / Megan Lindholm -- Unicorn / William Jay Smith -- A net to catch the wind / Margaret Greaves -- Riddle / Myra Cohn Livingston -- The valley of the unicorns (from A Swiftly Tilting Planet) / Madeleine L'Engle -- Ragged John / Beatrice Farrington -- Homeward bound / Bruce Coville -- The paint box / E.V. Rieu -- The transfigured hart / Jane Yolen -- The unicorn / Ella Young -- The snow white pony / Ardath Mayhar -- What news the eagle brought (from The Last Battle) / C.S. Lewis -- Unicorn / Nicholas Stuart Gray -- The princess, the cat, and the unicorn / Patricia C. Wrede -- Starhorn / Shirley Rousseau Murphy -- The court of the summer king / Jennifer Roberson -- The strangers / Audrey Alexandra Brown -- The boy who drew unicorns / Jane Yolen.

I'm still looking and will edit my post if I find anything else.

Ack! I just noticed you said it's NOT "The Unicorn Treasury." Sorry!

edit - Is it possible that you're remembering two books? It happens all the time, and would explain why the zoo story doesn't seem to appear in any other book besides "Unicorns II." Here's another idea: Jane Yolen invites people to email her (you can find her email address at the bottom of her website, http://www.janeyolen.com/ ) -- if one of the stories was indeed "The Transfigured Hart," perhaps she'll be able to supply you with the names of other collections that story has appeared in. Good luck!

Answer 2

I think I may have found it. The 'adult' short story is called
"Naked Wish-Fulfillment" by Janet Kagan.
The book it's in is called "Unicorns II"
Check out this website for the book:
http://www.iblist.com/book19752.htm

Answer 3

You can check on Amazon.com
Just type "unicorns" and it will give you a listing of books about unicorns.
Good Luck!!