Rating: 
Summary: Totally engrossing, fascinating and enjoyable
Review: There seems to be no English village place more secluded than the small town of Wall. The only entrance to and from the rest of the country is through an impenetrable wall that soldiers guard as well as Queen Victoria is protected. Wall does abut the land of the Faerie. Tristan Thorn deeply loves local resident Victoria Forester, but she is as compassionate as a turtle. Tristan is prepared to do anything to win the heart of his beloved, but any passion she might have is buried inside the most frozen of feelings. When the pair observes a falling star, Tristan sees an omen that his quest to obtain Victoria's love has just formed. He sets off to collect the star to give to Victoria as a token of his love. However, Tristan, who is unaware that part of his genetic make-up is Faerie, has competition from a witch and the Dark Lords, who know that the stars contain much power. Triston's chances of succeeding, let alone living, against his evil opponents seem so slight that even Lloyds would not accept a bet on him. Still, driven by love, who knows what dangers he might overcome. Neil Gaiman is perhaps, the best comic book writer of the nineties (sorry Mr. Ennis, this is not preaching). He has written a highly regarded novel, NEVERWHERE, that previously showcased his immense talent. His second book, STARDUST, demonstrates that Mr. Gaiman is clearly a top fantasy writer. The story line is a brilliant combination of a magical quest with a beautiful love story that has the Gaiman touch. The Sandman will have a difficult time trying to put readers to sleep while they peruse this exciting novel. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful blend of illustrations and clever story-telling
Review: Charles Vess and Neil Gaiman have put together a stunning book that really defines both of their styles. In the tradition of The Sandman and The Books Of Magic, Gaiman delivers a magical story that could very well be our world, or at least could have been our world if we hadn't grown up and adopted "rational thinking". Vess's illustrations are stunning and accent the story beautifully. This hardcover, collection version is wonderfully detailed.
Rating:
Summary: Enchanting!
Review: I read this book when it was a serial graphic novel and it was awesome! Gaiman's amazing writing style combined with Vess' remarkable brushes kept me enthralled and excited. The story is amazing and extremely creative. I have never heard of a star being a person before. These two are geniuses (or would that be genii?)!
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: Delicious Magic
Review: More innocent than some of Gaiman's other works, Stardust is mysterious, earthy, and magical: a true fairy tale, and a lovely one.
Rating:
Summary: Wondrously-told adult fairy tale
Review: Neil Gaiman's *Stardust* chronicles the origin and life of the young Englishman Tristran Thorn, in particular his quest to retrieve, for the woman he fancies, a star that has fallen in the land of Faerie, which begins just beyond his village of Wall. But Tristran isn't the only one who seeks the star, and the star itself is much more than he imagined ...
Gaiman weaves a quickly paced, beautifully structured adult fairy tale--'adult' because it doesn't neglect the human experiences of sex, death and time. His language is that of the gifted storyteller--clear, concise and lyrical, resonant with mythic lore and archetypes. I highly recommend this book (even as a new purchase) for fans of fantasy, fairy tales, mythology, and/or romance, as well as for those who simply enjoy a well-told tale.
It would be a disservice to an interested reader to make this review any longer. Do read this one. Five enchanting stars.
Rating:
Summary: WARNING: SOME EDITIONS MISSING ILLUSTRATIONS!!!
Review: First, let me say that this story is beautifully written and can probably be enjoyed fully with one's imagination to serve as illustrator.
HOWEVER, this book was originally published by DC Comics as a picture book and absolutely stunning illustration was provided by Charles Vess. Vess has a long and prolific history of illustrating many of Gaiman's comix. It is a REAL SHAME not to purchase a copy with those illustrations. BE CAREFUL -- this website doesn't do such a terrific job of making clear which edition is which. The original is on this site in the edition published by DC Comics with the full title "STARDUST: Being a Romance Within the Realms of Faerie." It's hard to tell for sure if any other editions here have the Vess illustrations. The trade paperback edition definitely has NO ILLUSTRATION AT ALL.
Rating:
Summary: lovely fairytale
Review: Neil Gaiman holds an undisputed position as one of today's best and most versatile fantasy authors, and in 'Stardust', he once again demonstrates his talent, this time with a charming, almost straight-up fairytale for people of every age.
The story opens, unusually, with the main character's father, Dunstan Thorn, in the town of Wall, and the introduction to the people and the world, and the story of Tristan's conception under somewhat mysterious circumstances. This is one of the few quote-unquote 'adult' parts of the book: a sex scene that isn't really a sex scene unless you know what's going on.
The book then continues with Tristan, Dunstan's son, and his adventures past the wall that gives the town of Wall its name and into the realm of Faery. Gaiman puts his usual spin on this-- some of the events are actually quite disturbing and macabre, although none of them measure up to the horror elements in, say, 'American Gods'-- and Tristan does of course meet a fabulously interesting cast of characters, including a fallen star, a unicorn, several witches, a small unidentified hairy man, and other fantastic creatures. Filled with children's rhyme allusions, ships that sail the clouds, heroic deeds and characters that are more complex than they appear at first, Gaiman's first attempt into the realm of the traditional fairytale is a respectable foray with a twist all its own. While not as wildly inventive or gripping as 'Neverwhere' or as funny as 'Good Omens', it is the quintessential 'curl up under the covers', 'have a hot cup of tea' book, just perfect for a snowy day.
Rating: 
Summary: Overrated
Review: Despite the glowing blurbs plastered all over the covers (looks like a few well-known authors owed him a favor), Stardust is an excellent example of Neil Gaiman's ineptitude. Read this typically Gaiman excerpt as evidence:
"Through the gap in the wall can be seen a large green meadow; beyond the meadow, a stream; and beyond the stream there are trees."
This is first draft material.
Rating:
Summary: Sweet little Fairy story
Review: Stardust tells the story of people mixing with the fairy world circa 1830's England. In the village of Wall there is a gate that is guarded and has been guarded continuously for centuries, because the gate is an entrance to the world of Fairy. Every nine years a fairy market is held on the other side of the gate. At the begining of Stardust, Dunstan Thorne from the village of Wall falls in love with and sexes a fairy girl. Nine months later a baby in a basket is pushed through the gate with a nametag labeled Tristan Thorne.
Tristan grows up unaware of his parentage. He and half the village are in love with the very beautiful Victoria Forester. One night as he walks her home he begs for a kiss. She refuses. They see a shooting star and on a whim Victoria promises Tristan any request including marriage if he brings her the fallen star.... which landed on the other side of the wall. It is clear (to us) that Victoria is only joking with Tristan, but 17 year old Tristan takes the quest very seriously. So Tristan sets off on his journey into fairy land.
Hence flows the rest of the story as Tristan finds the star, which or rather who turns out to be a young looking and ageless woman, and trys to bring her back to Victoria while protecting her from other interested parties with less picturesque plans.
Stardust is a cute little fairy story. Tristan's naievety and kind heart carry him through his brushes with the strange world he finds on the other side of the wall. Things end happily if not in the way anyone expected.
Stardust is a fairy tale for adults, and caters to Gaiman fans. Some of the characters overlap Sandman and other comic books. But Stardust takes place in a selfcontained world and the story flows well, so not having read a whole bunch of comics won't keep you from following the story and enjoying it.
I recommend Stardust. It is a sweet little fairy story.
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