Stardust by Neil Gaiman (novel #195)

“Adventures are all very well in their place”, he thought, “but there’s a lot to be said for regular
meals and freedom from pain.” ~ Tristran Thorn, the hero of our tale

What a delightful little tale: fairy tale to be precise. For it is little, barely 150 pages, and definitely a tale of Fae, precisely in the vein as described by Professor Tolkien’s scholarly essay On Fairy Stories. So much so, that I wonder if Gaiman read it, and then carefully followed the rules to compose this wonderful story. Fae, or Fay, or Faerie is a land similar to our own in many ways, but inhabited by mythical beasts, and peopled by a diverse set of sentient beings. Humans of our world at times are suffered, or fated, or chanced to wander into Fae, through various portals and times.

 

For Tristran Thorn, it was through a simple break in the wall, which separated his town from Fae. None were allowed to pass. But Tristran does not know that his first trip through the wall was not as a grown man, from the human world into Faerie, but rather as a babe from Faerie into the human world. Owing to this distinction, and for the love of a beautiful woman and a fateful oath, Tristran is allowed to pass…

 

…too ignorant to be scared, too young to be awed, Tristran Thorn passed beyond the fields we know…

… and into Faerie

 

Tristran’s quest is a search for a fallen star, a promise to his love. The star, in Fae at least, takes the form of a young woman. He encounters witches, and kings, unicorns and fairies, enchantments and dangers, causing him to eventually lament…

 

“Adventures are all very well in their place”, he thought, “but there’s a lot to be said for regular meals and freedom from pain.”

 

I love Gaiman’s narration. It is vivid, friendly, and whimsical. In his description of his version of Fae, he offers this amusing line…

 

Here, truly, there be Dragons.

 

It isn’t for young children. It is rather violent at times, and there is one brief amorous scene that is a bit risqué. This was my second read of Gaiman, Coraline being the other. I enjoyed both very much and I’ll definitely read more by this versatile writer.  

 

 My rating 3 1/2 out of 5 stars

 

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