Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess' Stardust

I have been hearing about Gaiman from many persons for a long time and I decided to pick up the illustrated version of "Stardust" as a quick dip into his writing.I have read tons of fantasy novels, including a good chunk of what used to the TSR "Dungeon and Dragons" series, Michael Moorcock, Tolkien, Terry Pratchett, Robert Jordan, C.S. Lewis, H.P. Lovecraft, Anne McCaffrey, J. K. Rowling and tons of the classics and more.So in the range of books I have read, this is a good book but not much more. Let me get this out now since I have heard this several times it is not even close to a "The Princess Bride", I don't see it becoming a classic. There was a je ne sais quoi about "The Princess Bride" that can not be easily reproduced. Don't get me wrong, I liked the story and it kept my attention, there were many unique elements that I appreciated and the characters were for the most part well developed. It was a short story, I appreciated it and would recommend it as being worth your time, especially if you want something quick. In many ways I feel the quickness of the story was the most fatal flaw. The story feels like it is missing depth at times, you are enjoying yourself but you know it could be much better. The flip side of this is that if the story was shorter, more like a classic fairy tale, it probably would have also been better.As for the illustrations, they were very nice and complemented the story nicely. Some of the illustrations are just priceless, such as the juggler with the skulls and the first journey with the candle, they produce a sense of wonder that the story does not fully provide on its own. Although I now regret buying the illustrated version first because it tainted my inner version of the story and my impressions of the characters. I had a somewhat different impression of many things until I saw the illustrations and so I felt after a while a little forced into a specific way of interpreting the story. So, I would advise you read the story and then see how the illustrated version matches your mind's eye version. Yes, I do realize that the original version was illustrated.

Neil Gaiman is the Grimm brothers for the 21st century. And this, lady's and gentlemen, is his fairey tale. It is whimsical. It is crisp; it never drags. It follows the adage of "why use 20 words with 2 will do?" It is has moments of dry humor, yet never forgets that this is at heart a serious quest, one for love itself. Indeed, its plot is simple at its core. Yet despite that, the story itself is twisty and full of adventure. The setting, as most of Gaiman's settings are, has no comparison. The characters are enjoyable. They are not overly complex in and of themselves, but they are extremely varied and certainly have some growth. Gaiman always writes each character like a different individual, and does it well. None of them are an extension of himself.As for the artwork, it is ... difficult to describe as to it' style. Frankly, I personally don't think I have a good comparison. Here what I will say: it doesn't get in the way of the tale. It subtly adds something to the story without becoming the story itself. I find myself glancing at it and smiling as I read, rather than gaping at it in awe as I struggle to focus on the words. It is the backup keyboard to the lead guitar, if you will. And like every good backup, there are several sections of full page imagery to show of Vess' talent without distraction.Overall, I recommend this book wholeheartedly. In a sentence: This is the adventure you tried to have as a kid; most of our imaginations simply aren't this powerful. I take no shame in embracing my failure and enjoying instead the wonders of the imaginations of these two artists, who are clearly masters of their craft.

"Stardust" won the Mythpoeic Award for best adult fairy tale. After all, fairy tales are not just for kids. And they're not for wimpy adults, either. Just read "The Hard Facts of the Grimms' Fairy Tales" by Maria Tatar if you don't believe me. "Stardust" has some pretty Grimm stuff in it too, however the only people who might not enjoy it are those who take Unicorns very very seriously. Or are extremely fond of billy goats.Gaiman's story begins and ends with a fair that will remind you of Christina Rossetti's "Goblin Market":"Backwards up the mossy glen/ Turned and trooped the goblin men,/ With their shrill repeated cry,/ "Come buy, come buy.".../As Laura of "Goblin Market"-fame learned, it is better not to sample the merchandise at such Unseelie gatherings. Dunstan Thorn, who "was not romantic" learns this lesson too, when nine months after the "Stardust" fair, a baby is abandoned at the boundary between Faerie and the English village of Wall with his name pinned to its blanket. Thus begins the story of Tristan Thorn who is raised as a proper Victorian lad until age seventeen. Unlike his father, Tristan is romantic and at the bequest of the most beautiful girl in Wall, he sets out on a quest through the Land of Faerie to fetch her a fallen star. Not just any fallen star, but the one Tristan and Victoria both saw on the night she refused to kiss him."Stardust" is stuffed with stock fairy tale creatures who have been blown loose from their moorings and brought to life in the most wildly imaginative way. Some of them make only token appearances, but all are memorable. Two of the most poignant are the boy who is turned into a billy goat, and a billy goat, turned into a boy. There are three truly evil witches, and one who is only so-so wicked. There are...well, read the book. Even if you aren't drinking while you read it, you'll feel drunk by the time you finish.If ever there was a book that could be labeled, `Drink me!', "Stardust" is that book.

This is the original, and still the best version of this wonderful book. But as stated by other reviewers, the Kindle version is simply not up to scratch - someone has obviously done the conversion who neither knows nor cares, and the result is a version in which double-click doesn't work, zoom doesn't work, and some pages simply cannot be read even on a Fire HDX 8.9. Until such a time as someone can be found to redo the job properly, please avoid this rotten version and buy the paperback. Dave.

The drawings are beautiful and the reason for 2 stars.Now for the big but, the font is too small to read and there is no option to enlarge as you normally can on a kindle. There is one page is so small I can't read at all. Shame it has not converted to kindle well.This a book needs to be physically held and read.There is another version, without drawings that is much easier to read on a kindle.

A few differences from the film, but a better story for that.My gripe is the illustrations don't always match the text-there's one illustration where the text clearly says the right hand is covered in blood and the drawing shows the left hand instead, f'r instance. If that was the only one I probably would have given 5 stars anyway, bit it isn't. However, Neil Gaiman, fire your proof-reader and hire me for the next one, that way you can have the full 5 stars next time from the rest of the rest of us pedants.

If you haven't read it yet than give it a go.

Arrived very late was packaged okay. Nit really in the style of a graphic novel more like a picture book for children xx