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.

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.

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.

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.

I didn't know folks still wrote in prose, it's a wonderful story of dark and good and love. Book is a bit more adult oriented. Loved it, movie was great too.

Welll... To be completely honest I do NOT understand all the hype this book has gotten. Is it because of the movie?? I don't know. I'm just very confused. I read the whole thing through, waiting patiently for it to pull me in, but I kept waiting... and waiting... and then I finished the book. :-\ I really was hoping to find another fantastic fantasy to put on my "keeper" shelf, but this book just fell short for me.

Now, that's not to say this is a poorly written book. The prose was actually quite good. I enjoyed the writer's tone and his easy and fast-paced storytelling. He really has a knack for keeping a story going and great flow.

What I found lacking was the depth of the characters. I never really cared for any of the main characters at all. If either of the main characters had died, I probably wouldn't have blinked an eye. That, I think, is the main problem with the book. I never felt any connection with the characters, and for me, that is essential for my reading enjoyment.

It's hard to review a book after seeing the movie, especially if the book came first. Part of you keeps on wanting to read the same thing as the movie, only more of it.

This book is a fairly different animal. There are elements that Gaiman does much better, like not including that strange subplot of a gay cross-dressing sky pirate in the movie. There are other aspects that don't round out as well as the movie, particularly the epilogue.

Mostly, this is a fun romp, filled with magic and fairy tale life, that just doesn't have anything extra to offer it. Gaiman hasn't created new creatures as in the City of Dreaming Books, or created a new intricate land, as Tolkein did. His characters aren't ones that pull you into them, and there are elements of the plot that skip over days or months where you would want details.

If you're looking for something relaxing, this book is just fine. But it reads as if Geiman had a good idea, and then ran out of time before his next book, and couldn't be bothered with truly enfleshing this one out.

It's hard to review a book after seeing the movie, especially if the book came first. Part of you keeps on wanting to read the same thing as the movie, only more of it.

This book is a fairly different animal. There are elements that Gaiman does much better, like that strange subplot of a gay cross-dressing sky pirate in the movie. There are other elements that don't round out as well, particularly the epilogue.

Mostly, this is a fun romp, filled with magic and fairy tale life, that just doesn't have anything extra to offer it. Gaiman hasn't created new creatures as in the City of Dreaming Books, or created a new intricate land, as Tolkein did. His characters aren't ones that pull you into them, and there are elements of the plot that skip over days or months where you would want details.

If you're looking for something relaxing, this book is just fine. But it reads as if Geiman had a good idea, and then ran out of time before his next book, and couldn't be bothered with truly enfleshing this one out.

I must echo another reviewer in saying that I was first drawn to this story from the movie, but sadly I fear (and I have never said this about a book before) the movie was better. The character development I felt was minimal and the story seemed to have a lack of spark between it's main characters. Personally I enjoyed the movie more.

Stardust is somewhat unusual for Gaiman: the steampunk/techno-travesty universe stays away. He still uses his standard plot, where someone from our world -- surprise! -- blunders into another, intersecting dimension of reality. However, this time the other world is a fairy kingdom, and a fairy kingdom in the traditional sense.

This isn't Disney's fairy utopia. This is more along the lines of the traditional Brothers Grimm. There's a fallen star who is, of course, stunning and magical, but everyone is out to brutally murder her. Fortunately, they're also out to murder each other in the hopes of getting to the star first, or this would be a very short book.

I was charmed and entertained. The main characters, like the typical fairy-syory protagonists, are often (usually? almost always?) dense to the point of pain, but it is a mark of Gaiman's talent that he makes that irritating quirk add to their personality. The plot developments are usually visible from about 6 miles away, but that added to the fairy-tale mood. (Come on. Who's surprised by the ending of fairy tales?)
As with most of Gaiman's books, the very best parts are the ideas. Those, "whoa! That's the coolest interpretation of _______ I've ever heard!" moments make the book.

It's a great beach book, and a very fast read (got through it waiting for a train). Don't expect a perspecvtive-altering, life-changing phenomenon, but it's a good read.

Again, I must apologize for my Gaiman-antipathy. I know in part it's personal, and I encourage you to look beyond that. The simple fact of the matter is that Neil Gaiman and I are *never* on the same page, no matter what book I have open.

_Stardust_ is okay. It's a quick yarn, got some cute references to fairy tales, and the occasional decent pun. But there's nothing remarkable upon it. No actually interesting characters or situations or turns of phrase. It's forgettable.

Not what I would consider an amazing book. I would suggest you borrow it, but now buy it. Not something I'll read through a second time.

I first watched the movie and liked it so much I decided to read the book. I liked the book much better, although the movie is very good. There is much that the movie left out. This book is truly a great fantasy.

I watched the movie prior to reading the book. The movie had better one-liners and the story was more interesting.

I bought this book after seeing the movie which I absolutely loved. This was the first book I have read by Gaiman and I am so unimpressed I don't think I'll be reading any of his other work.

This book felt like he wrote one draft, passed it on to his editor, and had it published. The characters were half formed, the plot meandering, and the conflicts were weak. Characters were given easy outs for every conflict presented to them. In the final conflict with the antagonist(gaiman spends most of the story working up to this) he uses a deus ex machina ending(an improbable turn of events used to resolve the conflict.) The world building was half done as well.

The ideas, although original, lacked any real substance. It is very rare that I would ever say this, but if you love a good fairy tale or love story, watch the movie. Gaiman's ideas were expanded on to create a truly magical story.

With Gaiman's remarkable fantasy world and Vess's ethereal artwork, this book brings the best of both kinds of storytelling together. The faerie world beyond "The Wall" hosts a range creatures at least a little unlike any I've seen before, not least being the little hairy man. Gaiman deftly laces a number of threads together: the princes, the various witches, and above all Tristran's quest. Each gets enough attention to develop real story lines but leaves a little unspoken, leaving a slight sense of mystery to the whole story. And, as in fairytales everywhere, the people who deserve happy endings all get them. The 175 paintings and drawings support the text beautifully, but might not be enough for someone expecting a typical "graphic novel."

Perhaps you've already seen the movie - if so, you're in for some surprises (ditto if you read the book first). Many features of the book, including the wonderful little hairy man, didn't make it to the big screen. Other features, including the Lilim and the lightning harvesters, took on movie roles much more substantial than the book allowed. And in other cases, most especially the ending, the movie created whole new passages or rewrote ones from the book completely. I'm not complaining - I like the book and movie both, in part because of the two different stories they tell.

It's not a story I'd read to small kids. Some of the themes tend towards the dark, and a few adult moments appear. Outside of that, I recommend this to anyone with a taste for fantasy in words and pictures.

-- wiredweird

I can't recall of the top of my head a time when I actually thought the movie was better than the book... but that would definitely be the case with this book. I felt that the parts that were added to the movie that weren't in the book added to the overall story and made it more fun. I also cared about the characters in the movie and didn't in the book.

The reason that I gave "Stardust" four stars was because I just wasn't feeling the love story between Tristran and Yvaine. I think the book needed to be longer to delve in to their budding love instead of going from dislike to relying on each other to sudden love that spans a lifetime. It felt rushed and unrealistic.

Overall, the story needed to be longer to make the characters resonate. Not just Tristran and Yvaine, but all of the characters.

Otherwise, a relatively short, fun story that had me smiling and chuckling often.

I enjoyed this book, it was a neat little story. I think it cost to much on the kindle, but I enjoyed reading it.

I'm sure the book would be a very good read. Unfortunately, I'm not fluent in Spanish. I ordered one copy of the book (with other books), and received the Spanish version. I thought, "OK, my bad, I must have ordered the wrong version". I went back, and reordered. Made sure there was no mention of the Spanish version. You guessed it, I received the same book, in Spanish again. I am returning both. I might try Barnes & Noble, and see if they can get me an English copy.

This was my first by this author and it was a great read. The story was original and creative and was unlik others I have read. I definitely recommend this one.

In old English times, young Tristan has fallen in love with the most beautiful girl in the village of Wall. She does promised him a kiss if he retrieved a fallen star, so he goes off searching for it.

A quick read, written like the old fairy tales with flowery language. It reads as if it was written in the time that it takes place. It has the fantasy twist where beyond the Wall is a whole different world that most people in the village are not allowed to travel, but Tristan is able. He goes off having adventures, searching and finding the star, trying to get her back to Wall when she doesn't want to go with him and is angry that she fell in the first place.

I enjoyed the star's spunk and unwillingness to cooperate with the young man trying to kidnap her, even though he didn't see it that way. He viewed her as an object and finally sees her as more than that, even though she isn't human, she still has feelings. Tristan was still likeable, even when he was so bull-headed and clueless that the girl he loved back home could care less about him. He grows up on his adventures, even though the entire book zips along really quickly.

I would have liked if some parts were expanded upon more. I felt like parts of it were getting interesting and then it moved onto the next part. It wasn't a sudden jerk to a new topic, but the event would be wrapped up quickly or summarizes instead of told. Beyond that, it was a nice, sweet book.

I watched the film Stardust that is different of the book Stardust. The book story is very well conducted but final part where the rhythm is very accelerating what disaccord the previous chapters. For example, the meet between Tristan and his real mother is faded and emotionless. On the other hand, the book was written masterfully by Neil Gaiman. The each book word was chosen precisely and magnificently.

THIS MOVIE, THOUGH IT'D SEEM A "REGULAR" FAIRY TALE, MANAGES TO PRODUCE A FRESH PLOT WITH ENOUGH TWISTS TO KEEP YOU WONDERING UNTIL THE VERY END. ACTING BY DENIRO AND PFIFFER IS COMMITTED, PROFESSIONAL AND YET FUNNY ENOUGH TO BRING UP SPONTANEOUS APPLAUSE - WHOLE HEARTED RECOMMENDATION TO KIDS OF ALL AGES!!!!

This starts off really well. The first half is light and intriguing, opening lots of possibilities of great story lines in the second half. However, the second half reads as though Gaiman gets bored with his characters and has something else he'd rather be doing. He flies through the journey, alluding to adventures his characters have had along the way without taking us there.
For example, he write the following: "In the town of Simcock-Under-Hill, Tristan and Yvaine had an encounter with a goblin press-gang that might have ended unhapily, with Tristan spending the rest of his life fighting the goblins' endless wars beneath the earth, had it not been for Yvaine's quick thinking and her sharp tongue...." This is the first he has mentioned of Simcock-Under-Hill, goblin's, goblin press-gangs, goblins' endless wars beneath the earth, and Yvaine's sharp tongue. This could be a great idea, but if it is not going to be a part of the story, why bother putting it in at all?
For this book to be as good as it could have been, Gaiman needed to spend much more time on it and it should have been at least a trilogy.

This was a very well written book. It was a little odd at times, but very entertaining. I have to admit that the movie was better though. Go see the movie after reading this book. You will love it!

I have never been big on reading love stories, but how can you pass up an opportunity from reading a love story deemed as one in a life time?

Well, now that I read it, I sort of feel like I could have waited a life time to read it.

Don't get me wrong, Stardust offers some wonderful descriptions and imagery of the very enticing journey through Faerie; but, the reason I picked up the book was not to journey through Faerie, but journey through the growing love of Tristran and Yvaine.

There were a lot of characters and fascinating ones too, but too many were presented to really see who they were beyond face value.

I feel as if the book spent the whole time discussing everyone else in Faerie, but Tristran and Yvaine. They spend so much time away from each other that when they finally confess their love, it seems awkward and hardly believable even in a world with fairies, witches, and hairy little men!

I saw the movie too, and I'm not one to say movies are ever better than their "makers," but I believe that the movie STARDUST exceeds the book. A word of advice for those who wish to read the book after seeing movie, "be careful what you wish for."

I have never been big on reading love stories, but how can you pass up an opportunity to read a love story deemed as one in a life time?

Well, now that I read Stardust, I sort of feel like I could have waited a life time to read it.

Don't get me wrong, Stardust offers some wonderful descriptions and imagery of the very enticing journey through Faerie; but, the reason I picked up the book was not to journey through Faerie, but to journey through the growing love of Tristran and Yvaine.

They spend so much time away from each other that when they finally confess their love, it seems awkward and hardly believable even in a world with fairies, witches, and hairy little men! No offense, but who starts talking about having children even before you have your first kiss? Creepy....Even when they are together Yvaine is either sleeping, or Tristran is finding food. The only dialogue we get between them is when they were stuck in a cloud. It was rather unforuntate.

I feel as if the book spent the whole time discussing everyone else in Faerie, but Tristran and Yvaine.
There were a lot of characters and fascinating ones too, but they were never fully written to develop their on page character. Gaiman should have completely left out the lilim and focused his attention on Primus and Septimus. Knowing Spetimus' character he would have cut out Yvaine's heart if he knew she was a star, so either way, she was definitely in danger.

However, the ones Gaiman did focus on had some strange character shifts too (of course, in my opinion). For example, Lady Una was intoxicating at the beginning of the book. She portrayed the fairytale temptress, but pure at the same time, if that makes any sense. By the end of the book, she was just plain annoying. It didn't seem like the same "Una."

Even Mr. Tristan Thorn was disappointing. Throughout the book, I can't recount how many times he mentioned how he looked forward to returning to Wall to become a farm boy, but when he finally learns who he is, which he even claims is "liberating" and "exhilarating" he doesn't want to honor his "responsibilities." Strange.

I saw the movie too, and I'm not one to say movies are ever better than their "makers," but I believe that the movie STARDUST exceeds the book. A word of advice for those who wish to read the book after seeing the movie, "be careful what you wish for."

This actually is a well written imaginative story. That being said.... here is my beef..... This book looks like a kids bood, the way it's written is somewhat simplistic (it looks like a book that was written for 8-13 year olds or so). It has plenty of pictures... the printing is large and easy to read BUT THIS IS NOT A KIDS/YOUNG ADULT BOOK.

Numerous F bombs, graphic sex scenes etc. make this very much an adult book. After reading Coraline by Mr. Gaimen I thought this was another entry into writing for younger audiences. I was wrong.

MR. GAIMAN SHOULD BE ASHMED OF HIMSELF FOR MAKING HIS "ADULT" BOOK LOOK AND FEEL LIKE A BOOK FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN. THAT IS DECEITFUL AND WRONG!!!!!!!!

I was very excited to read this book because I absolutely loved the movie, however I found the novel to only be okay. The characters were never fully developed and there was no real climax. I am not sure whether Gaiman did this on purpose because the story reads like a fairy tale of old, but as a modern novel, it was a bit disappointing. They never go into why certain characters fall in love and characters are picked up and dropped at whim. Overall, Stardust was mediocre. It is a fine light read for a boring day, but do not expect any depth.

Gaiman is a bit less dark in this novel than in "American Gods" and "Neverwhere". Consequently, I did not enjoy it as much. Perhaps dealing with a fictional land rather than a landscape somewhat familiar to me reduced my enjoyment. He tells a fine story, however, and the book is better than the movie.

I saw the movie before I read the book, not my usual order of operations. Loved the movie and the book was perfect. Some story lines were updated for a theatrical delight in order to tell a smoother story in the timeframe, but the book on its own is a stand alone winner. Cuddle up and read it under the blankets with a flashlight and you are sure to enjoy the adventures of Tristran over the Wall!

I really did. I've heard so many good things about this book, so I went out and bought it. I loved the idea of it. I thought it romantic that a young man would go in search of a fallen star for the woman he loves. But the woman he loves is so obviously disinterested in him, I had to wonder why he even bothered. There were a couple times in the book I wanted to just forget it, but I forged ahead hoping it would get better. I'm sorry to say, for me at least, it didn't get better. Tristan and the star were the most interesting aspects of the book, but it wasn't enough for me. And the ending was so...blah. I don't want to ruin it for anyone who hasn't read it, but I expected more of a reaction out of Tristan at the end regarding Veronica...Victoria? I've already forgotten her name. It just didn't do it for me.

I read this book after I watched the movie, and it's so good, I mean, both of them. The book has some features the movie cutted off, which I think help plot the story. Plus the wonderful pictures inside gave me a great pleasure to read it through.

I purchased this book after reading the summary listed on Amazon and thought it would be quite interesting. However, the author did not seem to want to go into much detail. He had crafted some amazing ideas, but overlooked some of the opportunities to develop them. There was alot of potential that he missed out on. Other than that, I found the book to be rather enjoyable. I would recommend the book to readers who don't have to much time to get drawn into other more developed books.

Tristran Thorn would do absolutely anything to win pretty Victoria Forrester's heart. Even venture across The Wall into mysterious Faerie in search of a fallen star.

But once he enters Faerie, strange things begin to happen.

Tristran knows the location of every place in the land. He meets a strange, small man who gives him a candle that allows him to travel great distances. And when he finally finds the fallen star, Tristran discovers that it is not a lump of rock like he thought, but a young woman, who has quite the mind of her own.

Tristran, though, isn't the only one looking for the star. The witch queen and a group of three brothers all want something of it. For these brothers, it's the power she possesses. For the witch, it's her heart.

STARDUST was completely entrancing, charming, and a surprisingly quick read. The star's spunk and Tristran's humanity are both to be admired in this adventurous tale that will make you laugh out loud and break into tears. This is one book not to be missed.

Reviwed by: The Compulsive Reader

This is an attempt by Gaiman to write a sort of turn-of-the-century fantasy somewhat in the style of Lord Dunsany or Hope Mirlees. Gaiman has talent, and the attempt is not without some success. He does not rise to the level of those he seeks to emulate, but at least he is, for once, aiming more-or-less in the right direction -- at a traditional fairy story featuring a more-or-less decent hero. This is a step up from his usual schtick, which is too often an an attempt to prove he is modern, edgy and sophisticated by wallowing in depravity.

Two flaws stand out in my mind. First is an introductory paragraph which, amazingly, manages to say nothing whatsoever -- a vacuous pretence at commentary on the nature of traditional fairy tales and - meant perhaps to justify himself to his usual fans for having written one that was relatively wholesome.

Second is a explicit sex scene. The encounter itself is relevant and not in itself gratuitous, since a child results from the union. But, since we do later learn that a child resulted, we hardly need an explicit description to tell us that actual penetration occurred and that the male reached climax. The odd thing is that, with just a little editing, the novella would be perfectly acceptable for children (without losing anything in the way of depth or substance). Perhaps that is exactly what Gaiman was afraid of. If so, he needs to grow up.

Gaiman seems surprisingly sympathetic towards the villainess, and makes the ending rather less satisfying than it might be. But at least she is rather clearly a villain, unlike some other stories where Gaiman has explored his rather creepy pre-occupation with canibalism as a means of escaping mortality (such as "The Sunbird", or "Harlequin Valentine").

A final detail sticks in my mind as a symbol of Gaiman's relative superficiality. He evokes Mirlees by borrowing the phrase "the Debatable Hills" as a place name. But in Mirlees' novel, one could discern why the hills were "debatable" -- they were situated on the border of the human and faery realms, and it was debatable to which realm they belonged. No such explanation is evident here. As far as we can tell, Gaiman simply thought the name sounded cool.

Another great tale by Gaiman. Young Tristran in order to win the heart of his love must leave the safety of his village and find an impossible item - a fallen star. Read this book before you see the movie, as the book is as the adage goes, better than the movie. Tristran must contend with witches, a bizarre competition among royalty for the throne, and his own sense of morals in accomplishing his arduous task. This is not just another fantasy book. Anyone who has ever done anything for love should read this and remember that there is a reason that stars shine so bright.

Relic113

Stardust, by Neil Gaiman, is a tremendously fun and well written fairy tale. This is a fun book with a story featuring witches, poison, betrayals, magic, romance, and a lot of fun. This is a very enjoyable read by a gifted author.

Warning!!! The Paperback version has no illustration. If you plan to buy this book because of the illustration, do NOT buy the paperback. The Amazon preview of this book is not creditable. I am very disappointed withthe paperback version.

I wish my mom would have read this to me as a child and summarized it for bedtime stories. This is beautifully told and a love story in the end.

What I enjoy most about Neil Gaiman's writing is how effortless he makes it look. I just finished reading `His Majesty's Dragon' by Naomi Novik and the dialog seemed so forced and labored. Stardust, on the other hand, reads like a classic fairytale. You can almost imagine Neil weaving the story in front of a campfire and the brevity of the tale keeps it from wearing out its welcome as many books tend to do. For most of the story I was ready to give it five stars but for some reason it fell just a tad shy.

It's been hard for me to put me finger on just what it was about the book that didn't completely mesh with me. Maybe it was because some of the storylines had disappointing conclusions. Maybe I just didn't truly feel an affinity towards the main character. Probably, the reason was because the story just didn't go where I was expecting or hoping it would go. I don't have a complaint about the finale per se but some of the supporting threads may have promised more than they delivered.

I haven't seen the movie yet but I looking forward to watching it when it's released on DVD. All in all it's a very enjoyable book that offers everything one might ask for in a fairy tale including witches and talking trees, spells and castles, romance and death. It's also a story that will appeal to a wide range of age groups. I give it high but not perfect marks.

This book was just adorable. I read it with fascination. It tells the story of a young man who grows into a Dad who has a son who goes off to find his destiny in the Faerie Lands. So fun and fresh and innocent. A greast book for ALL ages, young and old will love the enchanting qualities.

I read the book after watching the movie, and I have to admit I was a little disappointed. The movie is appropriate for young audiences, more of a family entertainment sort of thing, but I LIKED that. It was more pretty colors and sparkles. The book reminded me more of the old, orginal Grimm tales: dark and deadly. As far as basics go, most of the characters are pretty much the same, and it's mostly the same story. But the tone is very different, and the book's ending was less satisfying for a Disney-lover like myself.

Maybe I ruined the reading experience for myself by seeing the movie before I picked up the book but I found the overall experience of the movie to be better than reading the book... something which I can't usually say. Having watched the movie on hotel pay-per-view with my dad on a recent visit I decided to pick up the book to get a richer experience of the story - just like how the Harry Potter movies just begin to scratch the surface of J.K. Rowling's world which can be found in her books. Sadly though the book is a bit lacking in this regard with somewhat flat characters, unbelievable emotional responses (greets his long lost mother with the emotional equivalent of a shrug), and some dissatisfyingly arbitrary plot turns (the villain is never actually defeated, she just gives up.)

It might just be that I am simple and like things neatly tied up for me in a cinematic showdown between good and evil but the book just didn't deliver on what I was looking for.

What can I say about Stardust? Best book I've EVER read. My best friend recommended this book to my sister as the best book he had ever read, who in turn recommended it to me as the best book she had ever read, and now I pass this review to anyone else as the best book I've ever read.

After finishing Stardust, I went out and bought Neverwhere, Good Omens, and American Gods. I usually don't like fantasy, or reading even, but Neil Gaiman has me hooked!

Overall this was a good book/ But it felt like the ending was rushed and several of the character's stories that were started were left incomplete.

Many people think of fairy tales as just for kids. Not this one. A star falls to earth and is found by a young man who has made a rash promise, witches and princes meanwhile try to kill the star. Sounds linke the plot line to a motion picture, which now it is. If you like adventure, magic and just a little romance, then this is the fairy tale for you.

When you grow up, you tend to find that the fairy tales that you enjoyed as a child are, well, strictly kids' fare. For the adult reader, the shallow characters, simple narrative and implausible plot twists are a little much, yet even for the grown up, there is an affection for the fairy tale genre. A few writers have been able to tap into this fondness with good adult fairy tales, with probably the most well-known case being William Goldman's Princess Bride. As good as that book is, however, Neil Gaiman's Stardust is even better.

Stardust starts off in the town of Wall during the time of Victorian England. The town has, on one side, an ancient wall which in one place has a hole that people can cross through, though this is rarely allowed except for one day every nine years when the mortals of Wall can meet with the Faerie on the other side at a special bazaar. Dunstan Thorn of Wall has a brief but meaningful encounter with a beautiful slave girl from the other side and a year later, the infant Tristan appears at Dunstan's doorstep.

Seventeen years later, Tristan is a young man in love with the beautiful but shallow Victoria. To put to rest his efforts to woo her, she tells him that she will only marry him if he brings to her a star that has fallen in Faerie. Rashly, he decides to do just that, but in that magical land, the star has taken the form of a beautiful girl who fell out of the sky after being struck by a topaz gem.

Tristan is not the only one interested in the star girl. There is also a trio of witches who want to consume her heart to restore their youth and power. There are also the sons of the Lord of the Stormhold who seek the topaz as it represents the power of their domain. Both of these groups will threaten the progress of Tristan and the girl as they make their way back to Wall, but there are also powerful magic elements that are willing to assist them, and Tristan's half-faerie nature will also help.

In my opinion, Stardust does nothing but cement Neil Gaiman's reputation as the best adult fantasy writer around today. He writes well, he avoids the cliches of the genre, and he is that exceptional fantasy author who writes single volume stories. If Stardust has any flaw, it is that it is a mere 248 pages (in my edition); when a book is as much fun as this one, it ends much too quickly.

I was so surprised by this book. It was not what I thought it would be. It was a fun read. I do not recommend it for children under 12, but older kids will GET IT! His visuals are very real, and you can see the colors. I enjoyed this trip. I will read other books by this author.

I have always liked Neil Gaiman's work, but this is a favorite. I love that this edition has the wonderful illustration's by Charles Vess.