By: Neil Gaiman Publisher: Harper Perennial Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Harper Perennial Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 288 Publication Date: September 01, 2006 Release Date: August 29, 2006
Amazon.com: Stardust is an utterly charming fairy tale in the tradition of The Princess Bride and The Neverending Story. Neil Gaiman, creator of the darkly elegant Sandman comics and author of The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish, tells the story of young Tristran Thorn and his adventures in the land of Faerie. One fateful night, Tristran promises his beloved that he will retrieve a fallen star for her from beyond the Wall that stands between their rural English town (called, appropriately, Wall) and the Faerie realm. No one ever ventures beyond the Wall except to attend an enchanted flea market that is held every nine years (and during which, unbeknownst to him, Tristran was conceived). But Tristran bravely sets out to fetch the fallen star and thus win the hand of his love. His adventures in the magical land will keep you turning pages as fast as you can--he and the star escape evil old witches, deadly clutching trees, goblin press-gangs, and the scheming sons of the dead Lord of Stormhold. The story is by turns thrillingly scary and very funny. You'll love goofy, earnest Tristran and the talking animals, gnomes, magic trees, and other irresistible denizens of Faerie that he encounters in his travels. Stardust is a perfect read-aloud book, a brand-new fairy tale you'll want to share with a kid, or maybe hoard for yourself. (If you read it to kids, watch out for a couple of spicy sex bits and one epithet.) --Therese Littleton
Product Description:
Young Tristran Thorn will do anything to win the cold heart of beautiful Victoria—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 old stone wall, Tristran learns, lies Faerie—where nothing, not even a fallen star, is what he imagined.
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman comes a remarkable quest into the dark and miraculous—in pursuit of love and the utterly impossible.
Download Description: "Special e-book feature: ""Writing and the Imagination,"" a speech by Neil Gaiman. In the sleepy English countryside at the dawn of the Victorian Era, life moves at a leisurely pace in the tiny town of Wall--a secluded hamlet so named for an imposing stone barrier that surrounds a fertile grassland. Armed sentries guard the sole gap in the bulwark to keep the inquisitive from wandering through, relaxing their vigil only once every nine years, when a market fair unlike any other in the world of men comes to the meadow. Here in Wall, young Tristran Thorn has lost his heart to beautiful Victoria Forester. But Victoria is cold and distant--as distant, in fact, as the star she and Tristran see fall from the sky on a crisp October evening. For the coveted prize of Victoria's hand, Tristran vows to retrieve the fallen star and deliver it to his beloved. It is an oath that sends the lovelorn swain over the ancient wall, and propels him into a world that is strange beyond imagining. But Tristran is not the only one seeking the heavenly jewel. There are those for whom it promises youth and beauty, the key to a kingdom, and the rejuvenation of dark, dormant magics. And a lad compelled by love will have to keep his wits about him to succeed and survive in this secret place where fallen stars come in many guises--and where quests have a way of branching off in unexpected directions, even turning back upon themselves in space and in time. Neil Gaiman works his unique literary magic in new and dazzling ways in Stardust, a novel that will shine in the heart and memory far beyond the turning of its final page. "
Showing that not every story has completely been told. The movie was wonderful, so naturally... the next logical thing to do was read the book. While I felt the movie had some parts that were better... the book told more of the story, and felt like a more grand adventure, than just a crazy weekend.
You'll Get Lost In This Fantastic Tale! This was a fabulous fairytale that immediately brought to mind The Princess Bride by William Goldman because it's a very quirky tale with something for everyone. It's got fantasy, adventure, mystery, romance, swordplay, fighting, witches, and more. The main character Tristran Thorn is an extremely likable nice guy who has got a bit of luck on his side.
I listened to the audio book which was read by the author himself and thought he did a marvelous job. He's got this soft lilting British accent which is perfect for the story.
Younger readers may be warned of a few dirty bits but otherwise it is a tale that young and old would enjoy.
What's to like about Fairy Tales? This. The best example of the medium I can think of. I'm not exactly sure if the version of the story is the same as what's sold on this page... the cover seems to be different, and I'm not sure if Vess' illustrations are included. That is what makes the book for me. Vess has a, some would say `pre-raphaelite' style that is quite distinct, and very evocative of the difference in both time and realm. The premise is basically a love story, but it runs the gamut through various magical areas and stories that, while sometimes briefly skimmed, are always evocative. Unfortunately, I can't say the movie is a very faithful interpretation of the tale. The ending, particularly is a happy one on the screen, and the witch is gone, etc. Not so in this story, and as such, it is somewhat darker. Another thing you may notice is the lack of one-liners and jokes. That's typical of fairy tales, and I'm glad Gaiman didn't stoop to such devices.
Stardust I purchased this book after enjoying the film. The story is quite different from the film script as so many are. I enjoyed the book immensely and read it in one sitting. The illustrations are excellent and the narrative is flowing with wonderful imagery. I will undoubtedly read it again and am very happy with the purchase.
on audio Stardust is a charming novel and beautifully written. The language is simple, concise, and to-the-point (I appreciate not having to re-read convoluted sentences). If you're looking for a deep, dark epic that's heavy on description, characterization, political intrigue, and plot twists, this isn't it. This is a light break from the heavy stuff. It's fun and entertaining. The plot is quick and has a bit of the Princess Bride feel in that it's purposely a bit silly in places.
I listened to Stardust in audiobook format, which I highly recommend because Neil Gaiman himself is the reader, and he does an excellent job. His voice is smooth and pleasant and there are none of those little problems where the reader stresses the wrong word or uses the wrong tone because (s)he didn't realize exactly what the author was trying to get across. I really enjoyed hearing the author read his own book, and there was an interesting interview with Mr Gaiman after the story.
A fun and easy read, especially for Princess Bride fans. Try the audiobook!! --FanLit.net
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Not Available Comics
Tony's Online Tips
Trevor
