Stardust

By: Neil Gaiman

Narrated by: Neil Gaiman

In the sleepy English countryside of decades past, there is a town that has stood on a jut of granite for 600 years. And immediately to the east stands a high stone wall, for which the village is named. Here in the town of Wall, Tristran Thorn has lost his heart to the hauntingly beautiful Victoria Forester. One crisp October night, as they watch, a star falls from the sky, and Victoria promises to marry Tristran if he'll retrieve the star and bring it back for her. It is this promise that sends Tristran through the only gap in the wall, across the meadow, and into the most unforgettable adventure of his life.Fantasy fan? Don't miss more from Neil Gaiman.©1999 Neil Gaiman (P)2006 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Eminently readable, a charming piece of work." (Washington Post)
"An original and well-written fairy tale....This is a refreshingly creative story with appealing characters." (Library Journal)
"The resolution is satisfying and complex, proving that there is more to fairy tales than 'happily ever after'." (School Library Journal)

Witty and magical

I'm a big fan of Neil Gaiman after listening to American Gods and The Anansi Boys. This book is even better! Mr. Gaiman's lyrical voice makes the story come alive in a way I haven't yet encountered in audio books. This book was definitely meant to be read aloud. After the first 20 minutes I began to dread its ending. Every minute was a treat and I am thinking seriously of starting back now at the beginning. A masterpiece!

Wonderful!

I loved this story! It was enchanting, amusing, and kept me entertained from the first word to the last. The narrator, who just happens to be the author as well, is a treat to listen to. However, like all Neil Gaiman stories that don't specifically say 'For Children', this would not be suitable for the 'younger set'. There's a lot of violence, some sex and a some adult language. If that doesn't bother you, I strongly recommend this story. If it does, you could try 'Coraline' or 'The Neil Gaman Audio Collection', both of which are also narrated by the author, or 'Mirrormask'.

One of the best adult fairy tales ever!

Any additional comments?

I never get tired of this story. So much imagine, heartwarming characters, and superb narration by the author himself. I only wish there were more stories like this and more storytellers like Mr. Gaiman.

A classic...

A great book to start a lifelong fantasy story obsession with...but also great for an old fan of the fantasy genre like myself.

Modern Fairytale

What made the experience of listening to Stardust the most enjoyable?

Neil Gaiman's performance is wonderful and his humor is on point.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Stardust?

The descriptions of all of the places are so beautiful and easy to picture. I love when the young man sneaks into the marketin the beginning of the novel.

Have you listened to any of Neil Gaiman’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I've listened to several and he is always fantastic.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I listened to it in two sittings during a very long, multi-state drive when I was going to visit my dad. He heard part of it in the car and immediately loved it. I think he might be an even bigger Gaiman fan than me now.

Any additional comments?

This book was a great gateway into the rest of Neil Gaiman's work.

Brilliant!

I saw the movie, ran out and bought it immediately!! Then bought the book and loved it too but be warned, quite, quite different. I have listened to the book a number of times and have enjoyed it as much at each reading. Solitary walks along the river with Neil Gaiman reading Stardust or The Graveyard Book - couldn't be better.

Stardust is a Gaiman Classic

What made the experience of listening to Stardust the most enjoyable?

Strangely, it was the fact that Neil Gaiman was narrating his own work. He has a nimble and talented narrative style, and he was able to provide voices for all his characters with ease. I say "strangely" because many authors who narrate their own works really should be using a professional narrator rather than reading their own material. Gaiman is a rarity in that (at least as far as Stardust is concerned) his talent as a narrator is well matched to his talent as a writer, which is considerable.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Stardust?

One of Stardust's most memorable moments is actually a series of moments, when the dead brothers' ghosts are present for the murder of all their siblings. It's most amusing when, as ghosts, they launch into commentaries on their own deaths.

What does Neil Gaiman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Neil Gaiman's narration is exceptional because it provides the listener the unique opportunity of hearing the story exactly as the writer meant it to sound.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

A film was made of this book, and the adaptation was wonderful. Michelle Pfeiffer, Mark Strong, and Peter O'Toole were in it, as well as Robert DeNiro, who played the most unforgettable pirate on film (including Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow, which is *realllly* saying something). I can't begin to think of an adequate tag line.

Any additional comments?

If you liked the movie, you'll like the book. While the book is a bit darker than the movie, neither is made less by the other. The book adds depth to the movie, while the movie adds quite a few great visuals and a fair amount of humor that the book doesn't have. Either way, I recommend reading the book and then watching the movie. Or vice versa. It's such a fun story, it's hard to imagine one without the other.

Wonderful

A great adult fairy tale. Filled with interesting characters, you can't help but been drawn in. The story is bittersweet and leaves one wanting more.

Loved it!!

Love the story and love Neil Gaiman as a narrator! The story is so engaging and Gaiman is so entertaining to listen to! I can't wait to listen to him narrate more of his books!!

Amazing fairy tale for adults!

Do yourself a favor and get this!

Gaiman is a delight to listen to read this adultish spin on the classic boy meets princess story. His attention to fun details really makes this read fun to listen to!