Life > October 18, 2007

By Caroline Edgeton | Contributing writer

During your childhood (or even your teen years), were you always one to reach for a fairy tale or fantasy novel during library visits?

Like The Neverending Story or The Princess Bride, Neil Gaiman’s Stardust might possibly be your next source for a fantasy-filled adventure that is mature yet simple and undeniably entertaining.

The story begins in your usual fairy tale manner. Gaimon describes the history of the story’s location and all important events that occurred up to where the story begins to progress.

It introduces the town of Wall; appropriately named due to the fact that a large wall is located on the eastern side of the village.

This enormous gray bricked wall divides the town of Wall from the realm of Faerie, a place where no one from Wall goes.

The only time there is any interaction between Wall and Faerie is during a market that is held in Faerie every nine years.

During one of these enchanted markets, the first character we are introduced to is Dunstan Thorn.

Dustan, a young man at the time, happens to have an unexpected encounter with a gypsy slave girl and is forever taken by her presence.

Unfortunately, the two lovers cannot be together not only due to geography, but also social status.

The two are separated and do not see each other again; however, a few months later a wicker basket with a baby inside is pushed past the guards that sit on either side of the wall.

A piece of parchment is attached with the name Tristan Thorn inscribed across the front.

Tristan is raised by his father, Dustan, in the town of Wall. Working for his father, Tristan grows to be a mature and responsible young man.

However, all humans have their weaknesses. Tristan’s is the beautiful but egocentric Victoria Forester who enjoys toying with Tristan’s emotions (not very nice, right?).

To take things a step further, one evening Tristan puts together a lovely little picnic for Victoria to confess his love for her. Of course, she enjoys the attention immensely.

All of sudden, a shooting star falls from the sky and seems to land in the Faerie realm beyond the wall.

What is more romantic than a boy saying he will fetch a fallen star for you?

Of course, Tristan claims that he can prove his love by traveling beyond the wall to retrieve the star and give it, and his heart, to her (sigh …).

While Tristan and Victoria are aware of the fallen star, interesting characters with very different motives in the Faerie realm are also aware of the object sent from the sky.

The reader is introduced to characters that are all included in the history of Faerie and Stormhold, a kingdom located within Faerie where the Lord of Stormhold lives with his five sons.

Each character introduced has a relevant reason for finding the fallen star, giving the story a weaving affect among characters.

While word of this star that has a benefit for each afore mentioned character is spread throughout the Faerie land, Tristan travels beyond the wall to go and find this shooting star to show his burning love for the cold-hearted but lovely Victoria.

When Tristan finds where the star has landed, he has quite possibly found a new object of desire. The “star” is actually a beautiful young woman named Yvaine who is confused and uncertain, as to why she fell from the sky.

After Tristan and Yvaine bicker for a while, they begin traveling together into the Faerie realm and come across many entertaining and page-turning events.

As the story unfolds and the characters all become intertwined, twists and turns are established making the read very enjoyable.

What also makes it extremely entertaining is the humor used throughout the text. The situations and characters are all quite hilarious and definitely worth reading about. All the while, a love story between Tristan and Yvaine shines through, giving the reader a satisfying fantasy fairy tale.

For those who have seen the film, you would be surprised how similar the book and the film are.

The only interesting exception is that the book throws in some very descriptive sex scenes that most definitely were not featured in the film (if they were, it would not have maintained its PG-13 rating).

It certainly adds a different affect than most of your general fairy tale novels. Walt Disney would have probably blushed.

Regardless of the sex and cursing included in the novel, it still maintains that idealistic world we all love to escape to when the real world just gets plain boring.

Witches, talking animals and a new definition of “star-crossed lovers” are all included in this delightful story of a boy’s hunt for his heart’s desire. Overall, this is definitely a crowd pleaser.