“A philosopher once asked, “Are we human because we gaze at the stars, or do we gaze at them because we are human?” Pointless, really…”Do the stars gaze back?” Now, that’s a question.”
― Neil Gaiman, Stardust
Stardust is a novel by British writer Neil Gaiman, published with illustrations by Charles Vess in 1999. It tells a story Tristran Thorn who promises to bring back a fallen star for his beloved and crosses the wall that divides his English country town from a dangerous world of lords and witches, all of them in search of the star. And Tristran soon discovers that stars are not how he imagined them to be.
“He stared up at the stars: and it seemed to him then that they were dancers, stately and graceful, performing a dance almost infinite in its complexity. He imagined he could see the very faces of the stars; pale, they were, and smiling gently, as if they had spent so much time above the world, watching the scrambling and the joy and the pain of the people below them, that they could not help being amused every time another little human believed itself the center of its world, as each of us does.”
― Neil Gaiman, Stardust
Stardust was I think the second book I read by Neil Gaiman, first one being Neverwhere. I adore his writing and have to agree with Stephen King when he said that “Gaiman is a treasure-house of story and we are lucky to have him”. Stardust is a beautiful fairytale targeted more to adult readers, and it’s a wonderful thing that someone writes fairytales for adults.
“It’s not hard to own something. Or everything. You just have to know that it’s yours, and then be willing to let it go.”
― Neil Gaiman, Stardust
“Are we human because we gaze at the stars, or do we gaze at the stars because we are human?”
― Neil Gaiman, Stardust
I’d rate this book 4/5 stars. I’d give more but the problem here lies in me loving Neverwhere and American Gods even more.
Tips
1.You´ll adore Stardust if you love fantasy and if you like books like The Princess Bride or works of Lord Dunsany.
2. It’s a quick read because it’s a short read, under 250 pages and because Gaiman writes so brilliantly.
3.If you love reading fairytales, here’s one you should read.
4.You can read an excerpt of Stardust here.
5.There is a good film adaptation of the book from 2007.
Have you read Neil Gaiman’s books? Have you read this?
“You have to believe. Otherwise, it will never happen.”
― Neil Gaiman, Stardust
I’ll have to get into Gaiman’s work soon.
Definitely! :)
I love how you worked us into the review! I´ve had this book on my TBR since I saw the movie and heard of Gaiman´s beautiful writing!
Thank you! :) Yeah!! Definitely worth a read, the movie adaptation was good. Kind of different but well made!
Love this book! Actually, I haven’t encountered a Gaiman I haven’t loved. BTW, Lord Dunsany? I’m not familiar. Recommended?
So true! :D Gaiman has a way with the words! :) Well it’s not the kind of book that would change your life and leave you with like super amazed feeling but The King of Elfland’s Daughter is definitely worth a read because it was first published in 1924 and it has that old sense of fantasy, what it was like in the very beginning :) And when you have read a lot of fantasy, I think you’ll recognize his influence, especially on many fairytales.
Old-school fantasy–sounds fabulous. Thanks for the tip! :D
Love this book! Actually, I haven’t encountered a Gaiman I haven’t loved. BTW, Lord Dunsany? I’m not familiar. Recommended?
So true! :D Gaiman has a way with the words! :) Well it’s not the kind of book that would change your life and leave you with like super amazed feeling but The King of Elfland’s Daughter is definitely worth a read because it was first published in 1924 and it has that old sense of fantasy, what it was like in the very beginning :) And when you have read a lot of fantasy, I think you’ll recognize his influence, especially on many fairytales.
Old-school fantasy–sounds fabulous. Thanks for the tip! :D
I love how you worked us into the review! I´ve had this book on my TBR since I saw the movie and heard of Gaiman´s beautiful writing!
Thank you! :) Yeah!! Definitely worth a read, the movie adaptation was good. Kind of different but well made!
I’ll have to get into Gaiman’s work soon.
Definitely! :)