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) • shortstory by Roger Zelazny (variant of Last of the Wild Ones)
54 • Recital • (1981) • shortstory by Roger Zelazny
59 • The Naked Matador • (1981) • shortstory by Roger Zelazny
67 • The Parts That Are Only Glimpsed: Three Reflexes • (1978) • essay by Roger Zelazny
71 • Dismal Light • [Francis Sandow] • (1968) • shortstory by Roger Zelazny
85 • Go Starless in the Night • (1979) • shortstory by Roger Zelazny
94 • But Not the Herald • (1965) • shortstory by Roger Zelazny
98 • A Hand Across the Galaxy • (1967) • shortstory by Roger Zelazny
101 • The Force That Through the Circuit Drives the Current • (1976) • shortstory 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) • shortstory by Roger Zelazny
172 • Exeunt Omnes • (1980) • shortstory by Roger Zelazny
176 • A Very Good Year ... • (1979) • shortstory by Roger Zelazny
180 • My Lady of the Diodes • (1970) • shortstory by Roger Zelazny
198 • And I Only Am Escaped to Tell Thee • (1981) • shortstory by Roger Zelazny
202 • The Horses of Lir • (1981) • shortstory by Roger Zelazny
215 • The Night Has 999 Eyes • (1964) • shortstory by Roger Zelazny
218 • Angel, Dark Angel • (1967) • shortstory by Roger Zelazny
230 • Walpurgisnacht • (1981) • shortstory by Roger Zelazny
236 • The George Business • (1980) • shortstory by Roger Zelazny
245 • Some Science Fiction Parameters: A Biased View • (1975) • essay by Roger Zelazny