Book 0002: Stardust by Neil Gaiman
Title:
- Stardust
First Publication:
- 1 February 1999 by Avon Books
Trivia:
- In 2007, a film based on the book was released to generally positive reviews.
- Gaiman has also occasionally made references to writing a sequel, or at least another book concerning the village of Wall.
- Stardust has a different tone and style from most of Gaiman's prose fiction, being consciously written in the tradition of pre-Tolkien English fantasy, following in the footsteps of authors such as Lord Dunsany.
Awards:
- Top vote-getter for the Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Awards for Favorite Limited Series for 1998 and 1999
- 1999 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature
- Alex Award from the American Library Association
- 1999 Locus Second Best Fantasy Novel
- Shortlisted for 1999 Locus Best Art Book
- Winner of 1999 Mythopoeic for dult Literature
- Winner of 2000 Geffen for Fantasy Book
- Shortlisted for 2001 Phantastik for Foreign Novel
- 1999 Goliath
Have you ever wondered how the strife between the lion and the unicorn have started? Or did you ever wish to catch a fallen star for your own? Wonder no more for the Stardust by Neil Gaiman will give you answers - fictionalized they may be.
Niel Gaiman has ever since been known for his great books and comic novels. He has established his renowned through his bizarre and dark stories which have appealed to readers world wide. And since then I wanted to read all of his books if possible. And when i read Stardust in particular, it was but a magical experience.
Stardust is written in a tone different from his other works of art. It was mainly because it's written in the tradition of pre-Tolkien English fantasy. Fluent as it may seem it is not a tale for children, because there are ideas that only matured thinking could grasp.
In the real world, we always look up the sky to search for fallen star to make a wish. But in the world beyond Wall -- a village in remote Europe -- fallen stars are more than what you really expected. Stars are of humane nature and they are literally in human form.
And that is what Tristan Thorn promised to give Victoria Forester to prove his love -- thinking that it was only a fallen star, in short cosmic rock. Stardust is a journey not only of distant lands but a journey to manhood. Here Tristan will do everything and even cross the wall to prove his love to his lady.
But will he really succeed in doing it so. At first he was tested in crossing through the gap in the wall but when he finally did he was aided by creatures and humans alike to fulfill his ordeal. There he discovered that the fallen star was not actually a morsel of rock but a lovely creature of the fae.
But his discovery is not yet at an end for the life of the star is endangered by other entities just to satisfy their own whims. One (or three) is the Lilim that would do everything to obtain youth and beauty. There is also the Stormhold gents, who contest for the throne of the Stormhold Castle.
At first it was only a journey of love until it became a series of conflicts - greed, malice, hatred and lastly death. Here the seemingly Happy Ending was brought to a scary point as to what will happen to the star. Revelations where poured in a heap and a truer and fiercer love has been realized.
As always, Neil Gaiman has proven how versatile his wit and skills are. Weaving a nice story that everyone could relate and could easily hook up with is his thing. He is indeed a master storyteller that is why his books do not always fail to inspire and awe readers. Going away from his somehow bizarre writings, he engaged himself with this fae tale with great twist.
The characters are never one-dimensional and not a moment is written to drag the story around. When you read Stardust you should never skip some parts, because it is vital that you understand the story in its entirety. If you are still doubtful, I suggest you read the first few paragraphs, because I am warning you that when you do, you will not be able to stop.
Get to discover new places that are way beyond the ordinary, or way beyond the Wall. Because for me the Wall is a representation of our ordinary limitations. If we go beyond those limitations we can certainly have experiences that could change our ordinary lives to be become extraordinary. This books is certainly the epitome of finding our selves way beyond what we can normally do, because if we won't try to do greats acts we will not be able to achieve great things in the end.
Additionally, the ending was quite unexpected. There are twists and turns that would lead you to go away with your presumptions. When the journey was near at an end you, yourself, will debate who is best for Tristan. But eventually true love will rule and even a magical knife can't defeat it.
Grade: A-
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