*Stardust*

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

HarperCollins, 2001                                         

ISBN: 9780060934712

Stardust is about a seemingly ordinary young boy named Tristran who lives in a city of which borders a magical, faery world.  Young Tristran falls for a girl who is out of his league and promises her that he will bring back a fallen star. To retrieve the star he must crossover onto the other side of a wall and leave world he knows behind on an adventure into the mystical world beyond. Tristran soon learns that the star is no ordinary hunk of rock.  It is a woman that he must protect from an unusual band of foes.  Throughout his adventures Tristran learns the true meaning of love and belonging.     

This story is a fairy tale for adults and regardless of the sexual encounter in the beginning and a curse word or two, this could easily be an excellent choice for young adults, as well.  Gaiman’s writing is both quirky and beautiful.  There are many details and characters that will catch readers by surprise.  For example, a re-animated unicorn corpse makes an appearance in the book in what is both a grotesque and humorous scene.  Neil Gaiman’s writing is imaginative and engaging and Stardust is an excellent introduction to his work. After reading this I now know why Neil Gaiman is such a well loved and talked about writer.