“Adults deserve good fairy tales, too.” (Neil Gaiman)
“Stardust”…the image it conjures is of an ink-blue, diamond studded sky, where the gossamer Milky Way is like a veil across a lovely face. Neil Gaiman does it again - transports the reader into a fantasy world, only this time it is star crossed lovers we meet, hearts pounding, minds wondering whether the two shall meet or not.
We meet the first generation of star crossed lovers way back in 1839 - Dunstan Thorn and Lady Una, he is a denizen of the village of Wall and she is a citizen of Faerie. Although he is betrothed to Daisy, it does not stop him from falling for Lady Una, a slave to the wicked witch Semele. Una conceives a child, whom she leaves in a basket for Dunstan to find.
Blessed with Faerie magic, Tristran feels differently from the rest of the folks of the village Wall. He is in love with the most beautiful girl in a hundred mile radius (well, he should know since he’s the only one allowed out of Wall) - Victoria Forrester, who really doesn’t take him all that seriously. In fact, she wants to throw him off scent and tells Tristran she’ll consider his proposal if he gets her a star.
Elsewhere, in Faerie, a star is knocked down from the heavens by a King looking for an heir. The King Stormhold is actually Tristran’s maternal grandfather, who dies after knocking down a star with the Power of Stormhold-this star is actually a beautiful creature called Yvaine. When Tristran sets eyes on Yvaine, he all but forgets Victoria, and vows now to help her. A whole world of unhappy souls seem to bay for Yvaine’s blood- from the Illim to the King’s sons are in a race to find her for she can fulfill their motives-so she must be someone really special!
Tristran, on the other hand, is given a silver chain and a candle stub, that lets him cover great distances when lit. Both he and Yvaine escape the witches, and just so she doesn’t disappear, he imprisons her- sorry though that he has to do so. For her part, Yvaine says she is obligated to him for saving her life, for being grateful for help is the Faerie way.
When Tristran is finally given a ride back to Wall, star in tow, unbeknownst to Madame Semele – he is certain that he will have a happy ending with Victoria. Meanwhile, Yvaine realizes she is about to lose the man she loves, and her home - for since she has chosen to come to Wall, she will now turn into a rock!
More bad news in store for Tristran - his beloved is now engaged to be married to Monday, his old employer. However, not one to come in love’s way, Tristran wishes her well and returns to Yvaine- who is happy that Tristran is hers at last. Lady Una, Tristran’s mother free from her curse, tells Tristran that he is the rightful heir to the Kingdom of Stormhold, but he refuses. So Una rules in his stead .Meanwhile, the happy duo overcome their last obstacle - the witch queen who wants to have Yvaine back, she leaves with the grim warning that like all men, Tristran will break her heart, too.
Many years hence, Tristran returns to rule Stormhold, until the day he dies, after which, Yvaine, his queen rules forever, since she is blessed with immortality.
Gaiman’s fairy love story with magical characters leaves you smiling and a wee bit sad at the end. Originally, Stardust was meant to be a picture story book. It is also a motion picture starring the likes of Robert De Niro, Peter O’Toole and Michelle Pfeiffer. The Book has won Neil Gaiman the Alex Award 2000 from the American Library Association.
+-+Published+in+1999.jpg)
“Stardust”…the image it conjures is of an ink-blue, diamond studded sky, where the gossamer Milky Way is like a veil across a lovely face. Neil Gaiman does it again - transports the reader into a fantasy world, only this time it is star crossed lovers we meet, hearts pounding, minds wondering whether the two shall meet or not.
We meet the first generation of star crossed lovers way back in 1839 - Dunstan Thorn and Lady Una, he is a denizen of the village of Wall and she is a citizen of Faerie. Although he is betrothed to Daisy, it does not stop him from falling for Lady Una, a slave to the wicked witch Semele. Una conceives a child, whom she leaves in a basket for Dunstan to find.
Blessed with Faerie magic, Tristran feels differently from the rest of the folks of the village Wall. He is in love with the most beautiful girl in a hundred mile radius (well, he should know since he’s the only one allowed out of Wall) - Victoria Forrester, who really doesn’t take him all that seriously. In fact, she wants to throw him off scent and tells Tristran she’ll consider his proposal if he gets her a star.
Elsewhere, in Faerie, a star is knocked down from the heavens by a King looking for an heir. The King Stormhold is actually Tristran’s maternal grandfather, who dies after knocking down a star with the Power of Stormhold-this star is actually a beautiful creature called Yvaine. When Tristran sets eyes on Yvaine, he all but forgets Victoria, and vows now to help her. A whole world of unhappy souls seem to bay for Yvaine’s blood- from the Illim to the King’s sons are in a race to find her for she can fulfill their motives-so she must be someone really special!
Tristran, on the other hand, is given a silver chain and a candle stub, that lets him cover great distances when lit. Both he and Yvaine escape the witches, and just so she doesn’t disappear, he imprisons her- sorry though that he has to do so. For her part, Yvaine says she is obligated to him for saving her life, for being grateful for help is the Faerie way.
When Tristran is finally given a ride back to Wall, star in tow, unbeknownst to Madame Semele – he is certain that he will have a happy ending with Victoria. Meanwhile, Yvaine realizes she is about to lose the man she loves, and her home - for since she has chosen to come to Wall, she will now turn into a rock!
More bad news in store for Tristran - his beloved is now engaged to be married to Monday, his old employer. However, not one to come in love’s way, Tristran wishes her well and returns to Yvaine- who is happy that Tristran is hers at last. Lady Una, Tristran’s mother free from her curse, tells Tristran that he is the rightful heir to the Kingdom of Stormhold, but he refuses. So Una rules in his stead .Meanwhile, the happy duo overcome their last obstacle - the witch queen who wants to have Yvaine back, she leaves with the grim warning that like all men, Tristran will break her heart, too.
Many years hence, Tristran returns to rule Stormhold, until the day he dies, after which, Yvaine, his queen rules forever, since she is blessed with immortality.
Gaiman’s fairy love story with magical characters leaves you smiling and a wee bit sad at the end. Originally, Stardust was meant to be a picture story book. It is also a motion picture starring the likes of Robert De Niro, Peter O’Toole and Michelle Pfeiffer. The Book has won Neil Gaiman the Alex Award 2000 from the American Library Association.
+-+Published+in+1999.jpg)
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