A breathtaking and magical novel from a master storyteller
Neil Gaiman was born in England but now lives in Minneapolis, in a big house of uncertain location where he grows exotic pumpkins and accumulates computers and cats. His previous books include, NEVERWHERE, SMOKE AND MIRRORS, GOOD OMENS (written with Terry Pratchett) and the New York Times bestseller AMERICAN GODS, which won the Hugo, Nebula, Bram Stoker, SFX and Locus awards.
Much-lauded fantasists Gaiman (Anansi Boys) and Vess (The Book of Ballads), who together won a World Fantasy Award for the "Midsummer Night's Dream" issue of Sandman, first published this thoroughly enchanting fairy story in 1997-98. Tristran Thorn grows up in the English village of Wall unaware that his mother was from the Fairy land beyond the town's titular barrier. But when the girl he loves laughingly promises him anything he desires if he can bring her a star that has just fallen from the sky, Tristran gallantly and rashly ventures into the Fairy land upon this quest. He finds wonders and dangers, witches and magical creatures, and eventually learns what it is he genuinely desires. The story is told not in comics form but in Gaiman's sparkling prose, with nearly every page featuring an exquisite painted illustration, rich in detail and color, by Vess. This oversized hardcover, released concurrently with the Stardust film, features 30 pages of supplementary material, including new illustrations and the original Stardust proposal. There's also a paperback edition with fewer extras and a text-only version published by Harper. Spiced with blood, sex, and genial humor, this wonderful tale is highly recommended for fantasy-loving older teens and adults.-S.R. Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.
'In prose that dances and dazzles, Gaiman describes the indescribable: the eerie colours, ravishing scents and dangerous laughter of Faerie' -- Susanna Clarke
Tristan, a Faerie/Human half-breed, sets out to bring back a fallen star for the girl he loves in this "magical adventure, charming love story and fable about attaining one's heart's desire," that "employs exquisitely rich language, natural wisdom, good humor and a dash of darkness to conjure up a fairy tale in the grand tradition," wrote PW in a starred review. Ages 12-up. (July) Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.
YA‘An old-fashioned fairy tale full of mythic images, magic, and lyrical passages. The town of Wall has one opening, which is guarded day and night. On one side of the stone bulwark is England; on the other, Faerie. Once every nine years, the guard is relaxed so that the villagers can attend a fair held in a nearby meadow. There, as a young man, Dunstan Thorn is seduced by a strange woman, and not quite a year later a child is left at the wall. His name is Tristran Thorn. When he grows up, he falls in love with Victoria Forester, and to win her affection, he vows to bring to her the fallen star that they see one night. The star has fallen in Faerie, and though Tristran soon finds her (for in Faerie a star is not a ball of flaming gas, but a living, breathing woman), he has a hard time holding on to her. The sons of the Lord of Stormhold also seek the star, for it is said that he who finds her can take his father's throne. In addition, the oldest of three evil witches seeks the star, for her heart can grant youth and beauty. While the bones of the story‘the hero, the quest, the maiden‘are traditional, Gaiman offers a tale that is fresh and original. Though the plot begins with disparate threads, by the end they are all tied together and the picture is complete. The resolution is satisfying and complex, proving that there is more to fairy tales than "happily ever after."‘Susan Salpini, Kings Park Library, Burke, VA
|
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
