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Stardust (1998)

by Neil Gaiman

Other authors: See the other authors section.

Series: Stardust

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
19,125513167 (4.02)766
The story of young Tristran Thorn and his adventures in the land of Faerie. He has fallen in love with beautiful Victoria Forester and in order to win her hand, he must retrieve a fallen star and deliver it to her. Young adult.
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▾Member recommendations
  1. 380
    The Princess Bride by William Goldman (norabelle414, Morteana)
    norabelle414: Both are hilarious, imaginative fairy tales.
  2. 142
    The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle (aslikeanarnian, MyriadBooks)
    MyriadBooks: For, "There is no immortality but a tree's love."
  3. 121
    The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente (aarti, Jannes)
    Jannes: Gaiman might be inspired by Dunsany and Mirrlees while Valente leans slightly more toward Carroll and Baum, but both of them are modern authors tackling the classic fairytale, both are great stylists, and both books are highly enjoyable.
  4. 101
    The King of Elfland's Daughter by Lord Dunsany (ghilbrae, Haltiamieli, wisemetis)
    Haltiamieli: "Perhaps this book should come with a warning: it is not a reassuring, by-the-numbers fantasy novel, like most of the books with elves, princes, trolls, and unicorns 'between their covers.' This is the real thing." – Neil Gaiman
  5. 81
    Lud-In-The-Mist by Hope Mirrlees (twilightnocturne, moonstormer, isabelx)
    isabelx: Villages on the borders of Faerie.
  6. 81
    The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly (flissp)
  7. 71
    The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander (Medicinos)
  8. 127
    Alice's Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll (keristars)
    keristars: Though Alice is less of a traditional fairy tale type than Stardust, it shares a style and many narrative and plot elements.
  9. 104
    Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke (GreenVelvet, GreenVelvet, GreenVelvet)
    GreenVelvet: Both Stardust and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell are detailed, well-written and riveting explorations of the world of fairie.
  10. 31
    Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones (infiniteletters)
  11. 10
    Starthorn Tree by Kate Forsyth (bloop)
    bloop: Village boys on an adventure into magical unknowns.
  12. 10
    Witches Abroad by Terry Pratchett (LiteraryReadaholic)
  13. 10
    Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones (Anonymous user)
  14. 10
    American Gods by Neil Gaiman (LiteraryReadaholic)
  15. 00
    Sparrowdance by Anne Lewis (TeaWren)
    TeaWren: Quite different really, but along similar general lines. There's a quest, and fairy tales aren't quite what they seem, and it's funny and sad and rather clever.
  16. 00
    The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (LiteraryReadaholic)
  17. 00
    Song in the Silence by Elizabeth Kerner (infiniteletters)
  18. 00
    Enchantment by Orson Scott Card (VictoriaPL)
  19. 22
    Peter & Max by Bill Willingham (WildMaggie)
    WildMaggie: Stardust is not as dark, but these book share a similar feel and tone.
  20. 33
    Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett (norabelle414)

(see all 23 recommendations)

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» See also 766 mentions

▾Member reviews
English (496)  Spanish (5)  French (4)  Swedish (3)  Danish (2)  Finnish (2)  Dutch (1)  Macedonian (1)  All languages (514)
date ▼ | votes
Showing 1-5 of 496 (next | show all)
A fun, entertaining, ridiculous portal fantasy story of a young man entering a magical world to catch a falling star. The story is great with many exciting characters. There is action, romance, magic, and character growth all in this short novel. It is a fantastic book that I highly recommend, especially for fans of Neil Gaiman. ( )
  renbedell | Jun 13, 2021 |
A few years ago, the Stardust movie floored me. It was one of the most surprisingly great stories I'd heard in a long time. In wanting to learn a little more about the world, I decided to check out the book. To my surprise, the movie really did the book justice. There are marginal changes, but nothing serious. Like the movie, it had me enthralled throughout. ( )
  adamfortuna | May 28, 2021 |
  Miratrix | May 27, 2021 |
Loved it! Best birthday present I ever got myself! ( )
  Meg_Taylor | Apr 21, 2021 |
Maybe I shouldn't have read this directly after the somewhat dense Titus Groan, but the best way I can describe Stardust would be fast food fantasy. Quick but ultimately unsatisfying. I did enjoy reading it, but there were times I zoned out a bit and went back the couple paragraphs to find that I actually hadn't missed any details. (Which I consider a bit odd for an author who so often praises Gene Wolfe, to whom the book is dedicated.) Gaiman uses a simple, easy vocabulary. At one point in an intense showdown with the main antagonist, a character is described as "scared and afraid."

Having said that, Gaiman is still a skillful storyteller, and almost to my annoyance I could not put the book down. Stardust is a very quick read, the story always moving swftly towards its satisfying, if predictable, conclusion. If you need something light to read during down time at work or the like, Stardust will do nicely. I'll keep it around for my son to enjoy once he's about seven.


( )
  JakeGerdes | Apr 20, 2021 |
date ▼ | votes
Showing 1-5 of 496 (next | show all)
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▾Published reviews
While the bones of the story (the hero, the quest, the maiden) are traditional, Gaiman offers a tale that is fresh and original. Though the plot begins with disparate threads, by the end they are all tied together and the picture is complete. The resolution is satisfying and complex, proving that there is more to fairy tales than "happily ever after."
added by Shortride | editSchool Library Journal, Susan Salpini
 
This is a refreshingly creative story with appealing characters that manages to put a new twist on traditional fairy-tale themes.
added by Shortride | editLibrary Journal, Laurel Bliss
 
Gaiman gently borrows from many fine fantasists--for starters, from Andersen, Tolkien, Macdonald, and, for the framing device, Christina Rossetti in her "Goblin Market" --but produces something sparkling, fresh, and charming, if not exactly new under the sun. Superb.
added by Shortride | editBooklist, Ray Olson
 
a comic romance, reminiscent of James Thurber's fables, in which even throwaway minutiae radiate good-natured inventiveness. There are dozens of fantasy writers around reshaping traditional stories, but none with anything like Gaiman's distinctive wit, warmth, and narrative energy. Wonderful stuff, for kids of all ages.
added by Shortride | editKirkus Reviews
 
▾Other authors

» Add other authors (23 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Gaiman, Neil—primary authorall editionsconfirmed
Bartocci, MaurizioTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Boucher, Frédérique LeTraductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Dick, BryanNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Hunt, RobertCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Kivimäki, MikaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Klein, ToddCover designersecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Knudsen, SverreOvers.secondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Krošetskin, MeelisKujundajasecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
McGinnis, RobertCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Pék, ZoltánTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Spångberg, YlvaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Vess, CharlesIllustratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
▾Series and work relationships
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▾Common Knowledge
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Canonical title
Stardust
Original title
Stardust
Alternative titles
Original publication date
1998
People/Characters
Tristran Thorn
Yvaine
Victoria Forester
Dunstan Thorn
Madame Semele (Ditchwater Sal)
Important places
Wall, England, UK
Faerie
London, England, UK
Stormhold, Faerie
Mount Huon, Faerie
Important events
May Day
Related movies
Stardust (2007 ∙ IMDb)
Awards and honors
Mythopoeic Fantasy Award (Adult Literature, 1999)
Alex Award (2000)
Geffen Award (Best Translated Fantasy Book, 2000)
Locus Nominee (Best fantasy novel, 1999)
Locus Poll Nominee (Best Fantasy Novel, 2nd, 1999)
Epigraph
Go and catch a falling star,
Get with child a mandrake root,
Tell me where all past years are,
Or who cleft the devil's foot,
Teach me to hear mermaids singing,
Or to keep off envy's stinging,
And find
What wind
Serves to advance an honest mind.
If thou be'st born to strange sights,
Things invisible to see,
Ride ten thousand days and nights,
Till age snow white hairs on thee,
Thou, when thou return'st, wilt tell me,
All strange wonders that befell thee,
And swear,
No where
Lives a woman true and fair.
If thou find'st one, let me know,
Such a pilgrimage were sweet;
Yet do not, I would not go,
Though at next door we might meet,
Though she were true, when you met her,
And last, till you write your letter,
Yet she
Will be
False, ere I come, to two, or three.
- John Donne, 1572-1631
Dedication
For Gene and Rosemary Wolfe
First words
There was once a young man who wished to gain his Heart’s Desire.
There was once a young man who wished to win his Heart's Desire.
Quotations
Have been unavoidably detained by the world. Expect us when you see us.
Last words
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
Disambiguation notice
The illustrated and unillustrated versions of Stardust are, in fact, substantially the same text. The most notable differences are that some single paragraphs in the illustrated version are separated into two or three in the unillustrated version.

The only reason to consider the two versions to be separate works (though it is not a bad one) is that Charles Vess's many illustrations are a substantial part of the original version.
Publisher's editors
Blurbers
Clarke, Susanna
Clark, Susan
Straub, Peter
King, Stephen
Original language
English
Canonical DDC/MDS
▾References

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English (1)

▾Book descriptions
The story of young Tristran Thorn and his adventures in the land of Faerie. He has fallen in love with beautiful Victoria Forester and in order to win her hand, he must retrieve a fallen star and deliver it to her. Young adult.
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▾LibraryThing members' description
Book description
An enchanting fairy tale by master storyteller Neil Gaiman, full of unexpected adventures, true love, whimsy, wonder, and plenty of magic.

Tristran Thorn will do anything to win the cold heart of beautiful Victoria Forester—even fetch her the star they watch fall from the night sky. But to do so, he must enter the unexplored lands on the other side of the ancient wall that gives their tiny village its name. Beyond that stone barrier, Tristran learns, lies Faerie...and the most exhilarating adventure of the young man's life.
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