stardust

Rating:
Summary: GROWN UP FAIRY TALE
Review: a wonderfully written book with breathtaking illustrations by Chrales Vess. I throughly enjoyed this tale which is a fantasy, romance, and folklore rolled into one. I hope Neil Gaiman writes another story in this line. I love a good fairy tale.

Rating:
Summary: Blood, love, unicorns & talking trees: That's a faerie tale
Review: Assuming that you're versed in the Sandman series, Stardust will be best appreciated by those who hold the "A Game of You" story arc and Sandman 17 (A Midsummer Night's Dream) in high regard. Like those, Stardust allows Gaiman to play in the world of faerie... that's faerie, not fairies -- Gaiman has no use for the happy little winged pests that haunt English gardens. This book is populated with the type of faerie who are more likely to play a horrible prank on you or outright kill you. Or maybe they'll treat you like a king. Who knows. Anyway, Stardust is fantasy of the highest order. It's not the longest book [it was written in longhand because Gaiman wanted to write a tale that wasn't bloated (his word, not mine, during an interview with him) by 60 wpm typing skills] but it is filled with Gaiman's usual unparalleled imagination (A flying boat that fishes for lighting bolts in storm clouds!) and is a charming love story. If possible buy the DC hardcover version with Charles Vess' beautiful watercolor paintings and ribbon bookmark. Truly a treasure.

Rating:
Summary: Skip the novel, get the "comic" collection
Review: The three stars is specifically for the novel edition. The story deserves four; while not perfect, it is an excellent story in traditional Victorian style. Gaiman's characters are familiar - we've met some of them, the rest we wish we could meet. The story is well-rooted in folklore, and has some fine vivid moments.

So I don't know why Neil decided (After having orginally conceived the project with Charles Vess and finished it beautifully as a painted book) to market this as a plain, unillustrated book. Charles Vess' illustrations (watercolours, painted full pages and partial pages beside the text, not the standard comic layout of multiple panels and word bubbles) were bright, sometimes breathtaking, sometimes merely very fine. Gaiman's text is identical - I believe I found two sentences different between the two. (A side note; the reason I know this is that a friend gave me the impression he had expanded the text at first, which would give him an excuse for marketing the novel. And so, when I saw a phrase I didn't remember, I looked it up. To my disappointment, it was there, and it was only my memory playing tricks.)

So why take a collaborative, beautiful project, full of fine art as well as gentle cheerful prose, and cut out half of the work?

Because adults don't read illustrated books (Never mind the number of different people who've illustrated Tolkien and Peter S. Beagle). Adults don't read comics (Another fallacy), which is how the illustrated edition is marketed.

Since when are adults less sophisticated than children? Since when are adults unable to appreciate art?

Go into a comic store. Find the Stardust collection with Vess' illustrations. Then appreciate a perfectly melded work, done by not one but two highly skilled artists - Gaiman with elegant words, Vess with colour and character.

Rating:
Summary: Good, but not Gaiman's Best
Review: This book, much like many others of the same genre, follows a young man on his (literal) quest for a falling star in a rather misguided attempt to win the graces of a girl he fancies. The star, in this case, though, is hardly a hunk of molten rock. Instead, she's a living, breathing, somewhat human being who has no desire to be dragged into the realm of humans and presented as a gift. What follows is a fairly interesting, if a tad predictable tale which involves mysterious people, seven brothers trying to murder each other over a throne and crown, and other assorted persons and hijinks without which fantasy would just not be the same. Overall, the book is engaging enough to keep you amused, and the characters are, for the most part, realistic and likable, but it doesn't hold a candle to Gaiman's other work, such as the (in)famous Sandman graphic novel series. I'd give this book four stars out of five, for a story worth reading, if not brilliant.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best books I've read in awhile.
Review: Being a Tori Amos fan, I discovered Neil Gaiman, and I decided to read this book. I stayed up all night reading it one night, I couldn't pull myself away. It was so lyrical, and imaginative. It had some really clever plot twists, and always kept me on my toes. And for any other Toriphiles, he wrote her in the book as a character!

Rating:
Summary: Living folklore
Review: This is an excellent modern "folktale". Gaiman includes all the techniques of folklore without ever being self-conscious or drawing our attention to the device. The opening, in which we are engaged with the man we think will be the hero, turns out to be a false start, the true hero having been born of the union described in the opening. Helpers and hinderers abound as he goes about his quest. The story has the internal logic necessary for fairy tales and is carried off superbly. I personally would have ended it right before the epilogue, by I do not dispute the author's right to end it as he has.

Rating:
Summary: An exquisite little package
Review: Like a miniature Faberge egg, this glittering little gem contains all the right pieces in a beautifully-assembled package. Tropes, characters, and situations from the gamut of legend and fairytale populate its pages, and the familiarity of these elements gives the reader a little thrill of discovery each time they appear. And like any good fairytale, it offers a "happily every after" ending... but with a bittersweet epilogue.

This book was marvelous fun to read, drawing on a rich canon of fantastical literature. And as always, Gaiman's deceptively simple, inimitably gorgeous prose leaves the reader breathless.

Rating:
Summary: Grown-ups need fairy tales, too.
Review: Neil Gaiman is a master at what may be his own genre -- fairy tales for grown-ups. His novel NeverWhere explored mythical concepts versus grown-up cynicism at length, here he releases the conflict and lets the tale fall how it may.

The result is lyrical, rhythmic prose that details the fantastic story of half-fairy, half-human Tristran Thorn and his quest to find a falling star and fulfill a rash promise to a pretty girl. The problem is that when he finds the star, *she* doesn't want to go back with him. And various third parties have taken a dangerous interest in the star as well . . .

Part fairy tale, part romance, part fantasy, Stardust is enchanting for any age reader (although you'll want to edit traces of profanity and sex if you read it to young children). It's smart and funny, the characters are believable and likeable.

Stardust is an engrossing trip to another world. But be sure you get the illustrated edition with Charles Vess' fantastic watercolors, or you're missing half the story.

Rating:
Summary: Charming
Review: Of all the authors that have come to be noticed in the last 10 years or so, Neil Gaiman might just be the most acclaimed. He wins awards all over the place, and justifiably so - his collaboration with Terry Preachett, Good Omens, is one of the best Speculative Fiction books of the 90s, and his Magnum Epic, The Sandman, is praised as one of the best ever Graphic novels series, and unlike most of the praises of this sort, it isn't even slightly exagerrated.

Gaiman is also a very diverse author: He writes in many lengths - his latest book is a collection of short fiction, and he wrote long novels (Neverwhere, Good Omens) and short ones(like this one) he writes very adult material(Sandman) along with with stuff that can be appreciated by people of all ages(Stardust again). He writes Graphic Novels, Scripts, Novels, Short stories and poetry. He writes Horror, Fantasy, both Urban and Fairy tale style and even Science Fiction and mainstream fiction. But most importantly, He writes well.

Stardust is a testament for Gaiman's ability to write in a style that is both enchanting and inviting. His books are easy to read - they're not page turners in the sense of 'Oh I wonder what's going to happend next' but in the sense of 'Wow, it's already finished?' It is effortless reading, but high value ones.

In this little charming story, Gaiman's sense of humor and writing abilities keep you reading as he tells you of witches, falling stars, and, as allways, twists on the tale. Gaiman has a maiden in distress story, but this time, the lady is held captive by the Hero(!), who wants to bring her as a present for his true love(!!).

Gaiman is one of the most exciting authors around, and he rarely disappoints. Stardust is charming tale which one can't help but enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: A great fairytale for big kids
Review: This wonderful story is what I would describe as the best fairytale for those of us who aren't quite kids anymore, but still enjoy a tale of adventure and fun.

Stardust is a great tale of a clumsy child who finds his way through the Fairy realm and discovers not only a few things about himself, but also some things about his past.

A great and moving story, this book belongs on everyone's shelf if anything to remind you that yes, you were a kid once, and yes, you can regain that feeling again.