Stardust

There are times, frequently, when I wonder if the world really needs another book, especially one written by my clumsy creative heart. After all, there are so very many BAD books out there, killing trees by the thousands.

I really wonder about this, though, when I read something so marvellous, so heart-changing that I am left with nothing but awe. The kind of book or story that makes you weep when it is over, that makes you wish for the world it describes, that transports you so readily that you feel jarred when the day is over and you have to pull yourself out of the book and toss yourself into the comparative greyness of your dreams.

Neil Gaiman routinely does this to me. I’ve just finished reading his lovely fantasy tale (or is it show more fantasy? I wonder…), Stardust. It is filled with witches and dread kings and lowly boys who dream big and fallen stars and even a unicorn. Characters can walk on clouds and even hail ships that sail on them.

And it is all utterly believable. I suspect Mr. Gaiman is a wizard himself. Somehow he has seen into the world I dreamed of as a young girl and he has recreated it, filled with beautiful language and quotes from famous literature and derring do and the type of boy I’ve always looked for in my romantic heart of hearts, the boy I’d thought I’d found only to realize he was not, quite.

There are no glamorous princesses here (well, maybe one); there are dirty, muddy, and wet journeys; there is kindness and cruelty. It’s a real world, but with the magic I sometimes see the edge of in our world.

It reminded me of that magic at a time I really needed it, as we watch the world we loved dissolve in anger and frustration, peril and threat. It reminded me of the fact that we are both fact and fantasy, that by tilting our head to one side we still can see the beauty that surrounds us.

Thank you, Neil Gaiman. May you ever dwell in the joy you provide. show less

The rural English town of Wall shares a border with the land of fairy. The wall that encloses a local field has a hole in it which occasionally the townspeople traverse to attend a fairy market.

Tristran is a young boy growing up in Wall who is largely unconcerned with the goings on in Fairy until the pretty girl he covets challenges him to find a fallen star in order to win her affections. The star fell far beyond the wall, and Tristran sets off immediately.

His simple quest will intersect with blood-thirsty nobles, witches, unicorns and many other strange denizens. Along the way he will discover his own peculiar heritage and power but nothing will prepare him for discovering the star who is actually a young girl.

I read this book for show more the first time when I was younger, and I think I enjoyed it. Obviously, the fact that the author is a monstrous sex criminal has colored my reading of it, but even without that context, one can only appreciate this story uncritically.

Tristran is a poor protagonist who's central character arch is learning that women are humans. The quest begins when Tristran refuses to accept the rejection of his crush, instead hounding her for some sort of job by which he can earn her love. He agrees to seek the star in order to force this unwilling girl to marry him.

When he finds the star, a young girl with a broken leg, he shackles her and forces her to walk back with him. Over the course of the story, he learns that this was actually wrong and that women are not his to overpower and own. And I guess the reader is supposed to be charmed and impressed by this moral awakening?

Of course the star is quite willing to fall in love with the man who enslaved her, because after all, he did eventually decide to let her go. And he said he was sorry. So obviously, no harm done.

I get that this is a fairy tale, and intended to be simplistic, but even the reformed Tristran is bland and dull and stupid. It's not clear why the star would love him, and it's hard for the reader to root for him. show less

The last several books I've read have taken me an inordinate amount of time to finish (or not finish, in one instance) and left me feeling all grumpy and dissatisfied upon completion. When that happens, a dose of Neil Gaiman will usually put me right.

I roared through "Stardust," a fantasy which lacks the philosophical weight of later Gaiman books like "American Gods" and "Anansi Boys" but still has the sly charm I've come to expect from Gaiman's work. Gaiman's one flaw is that he can be a little precious on occasion, and "Stardust" sometimes teeters on the edge of twee, but Gaiman's wit and often staggeringly beautiful descriptive passages snatch the story back from the precipice again and again. A delightful read.

When I’m in need of a comfort read, I always seem to return to Neil Gaiman’s books, since the stories are familiar and yet always seem to contain some surprises and details because of his wonderfully wrought writing style. Stardust is no aberration of this, and it’s been far too long since I’ve accompanied Tristran Thorn on his quest to find a fallen star to win Victoria Forester’s heart. I think the last time I engaged with this story it would have either been the graphic novel version or the film, because from the outset re-reading the book again felt like I was getting something completely new and wonderful. Gaiman’s story is at once a classic fairytale and a modern coming of age story, full of magic, unexpected twists show more and turns, and the occasional moment of frivolity (just for fun) which blend perfectly to create a modern masterpiece of the genre. We can’t help but laugh alongside Tristran’s many bumbles (unexpected hero of the best sort, is our Tristran Thorn), fall in love with the sarcastic fallen star Yvain (you would be cranky too if you were knocked out of the sky), and gasp as the full wrath of the intertwined stories are revealed in the final pages. I definitely need to make a point of re-reading this story more often, because it remains one of my top tales even after all these years and other stories. show less

I think the first of Neil Gaiman's novels I ever read was "Stardust" which I absolutely loved (whereas newer novels are more hit-and-miss for me, sadly). I was surprised to like it so much because it strongly felt like a fairy tale and I’m not exactly a fan of those.

At its core, "Stardust" is a classic adventure tale, full of magic and wonder. The story follows the protagonist, Tristran Thorn, as he embarks on a journey to find a fallen star in order to win the heart of his beloved. Along the way, he encounters a host of fantastical characters, from witches and pirates to talking animals and ghosts. Each encounter brings new challenges and surprises, and I found myself fully immersed in Tristran's world, eagerly anticipating what lay show more around each new corner.

What truly sets "Stardust" apart from other adventure stories, though, is Gaiman's masterful storytelling. His writing is both enchanting and evocative, painting vivid pictures of the world he has created. His characters are richly drawn, each with their own unique quirks and motivations. I particularly loved the character of Yvaine, the fallen star that Tristran seeks. Her transformation throughout the course of the story is both poignant and inspiring, and her interactions with Tristran are both touching and humorous.

Another thing I loved about "Stardust" was its clever use of fairy tale tropes. Gaiman takes familiar elements of traditional fairy tales, such as the quest for a magical object or the presence of a wicked witch, and puts his own spin on them, subverting expectations and keeping the story fresh and surprising. This makes for a truly delightful reading experience, as each new twist and turn feels both unexpected and satisfying.

Overall, I would highly recommend "Stardust" to anyone who loves a funny, emotional and slightly subversive adventure story.

Five stars out of five!

P. S.: The film is amusing but (as usual) by far inferior to the novel!

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Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam show less

Stardust by Neil Gaiman is a very rare genre of adult fairytale. I feel that here recently more has been coming out in YA and Adult like fairytale re-imaginings but nothing quite like an original adult fairytale. I have always heard great things about this book and the author in general so it has been on my to-read list for a quite a while now before I finally got around to it. I may have, in fact, picked it up sooner had I not read The Graveyard Book as my first Neil Gaiman book, and one I didn’t like all that much. But I am so happy I finally got around to listening to Stardust. And yes, in particular, listening to it, because the audio book is read by none other than Neil Gaiman himself. And as Gaiman points out in the interview at show more the end of the book, there is something magical about hearing the person who wrote a work read it aloud like it sounds to them. Plus, Gaiman is just excellent at oral storytelling— even he can admit he has a natural talent for it!

In fact since I am referencing it so much let me also just come out and say I adored the interview with the author at the end of this audiobook and wish they would do this more often with authors on audiobook. It was so insightful! It talked about the different iterations Stardust went through before it got to this point of audiobook, about Gaiman’s experience in writing Stardust, and about all the other types of storytelling Gaiman is involved in. It was very interesting to hear that Gaiman regards radio plays as his favorite medium and that doing TV is the most frustrating. This is another great thing about this author, he does not seem to be bound by a particular medium but instead he just seems to love story itself and takes pleasure in all forms.

This story begins with a different generation, then continues on to the son of the current generation as we meet the curious Tristran Thorn. Tristran believed himself to be in love with Victoria Forester, and one night as he proclaimed all the lengths he would go to if only he could impress Ms. Forester and have her grant his desires. Finally she tells him that fine, if he could find the star that just fell and bring it back, she would grant whatever he desired. So Tristran leaves his little town and passes through the wall that divides the human world and fairy. Once in fairy Tristran goes on a great journey, meeting all kinds of people and creatures that seek either to help him or to beat him to Star. There are several others who have reason for wanting the star themselves, and the star itself is something quite different from what Tristran ever could have imagined.

In Stardust we see a beginning that sets things into play way ahead of time, waiting for them to play out, and waiting for the fruits of those seeds that were planted. I really enjoyed the story beginning this way and thought it very fitting for the genre. In fact, the way the story jumps from perspective to perspective and place to place would be something I normally would find very tedious, however in this case it works. The way the timing is set up from the beginning makes everything else fall into place and it is quite beautiful to behold. I loved the bits here and there where old oral traditions of rhymes and tales would actually become part of relevant situations in the book.

I enjoyed this book a lot, so I will be sure to read more adult fiction by Gaiman now! I am also interested in the graphic novel version of Stardust seeing as that is apparently where this story began even before the novel. Though I will say it was a bit difficult to connect with the characters, it nonetheless was a beautifully enchanting tale. 4 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ show less

I first read this in 2007 while working as a reporter covering a county fair. Despite being surrounded by the stench of pigs and goats and fried foods, I was completely carried away to the world of Faerie.

This is one of my favorite Gaiman novels and I think it’s a great introduction to his work if you’re wondering where to start. It’s a fairy tale for adults, similar in some ways to The Princess Bride. It is an adventure story, but it has a great sense of humor too.

Tristran Thorne is a local boy living in the small English town of Wall. He falls in love with a pretty girl and makes a vow to find a fallen star to win her heart. He sets off on his quest, leaving the safe confines of Wall and venturing into the forbidden land of show more Faerie.

What he doesn’t know is that he isn’t the only one searching for that fallen star. There are three sons of the Lord of Stormhold who are fighting to the death to earn the privilege of ruling their father’s land. To gain the Power of Stormhold they must find the star and the stone of power.

There is also a witch who has spent decades wasting away with her sisters. When they see the star fall they realize that if they can reach it in time and get its heart they will be able to regain their youth. Despite these obstacles Tristran embarks on his journey to find Yvaine, the fallen star.

BOTTOM LINE: It’s a lovely story filled with humor and adventure. I’d recommend it to fans of The Princess Bride or anyone looking to try a Gaiman novel. The story comes full circle in a wonderfully satisfying way. The characters are feisty, the lessons are good ones and it’s a quick read.

"There is something about riding a unicorn, for those people who still can, which is unlike any other experience: exhilarating and intoxicating and fine."

** I just got a copy of the new hardcover gift edition. The blue cover and faded title are just perfect. The book includes an illustration and title heads drawn by Charles Vess and they are just gorgeous! If you already love the book then the gift edition is a must! show less