Book 43

"Stardust" by Neil Gaiman

I read it in a day.

That's pretty much my review. A typical Gaiman stunner, with amazing use of language, brilliantly realised plot and his usual smattering of mythology that may or may not be completely made up but nonetheless feels just so right. With my previous Gaiman review(s?), it is clear to see that he is one of my favourite authors and everything I read of his just reinforces that opinion.

Set in Victorian England, and initially in the small village of Wall, a young man (who is a half-blood faerie, but doesn't know that) is walking with his girl (the most beautiful girl in the village, mind) when they see a falling star. He has been trying to sneak a kiss as they walk, promising all manner of fancy things, when the young lady says that if he goes and gets her the star that fell, she will give him what his heart desires. The man agrees and sets off to find the star, with the small obstacle that it has fallen on the other side of the wall from which the town gets its name, a wall that separates the land of Man from the land of the Faeries.

Of course the young man is not theonly one who wants the star and so, with a witch queen of the Lillim and the would-be Lords of Stormhold also trying to find the fallen star, our hero has his work cut out for him and all manner of mystical adventures and whackiness ensue.

This is a modern (sort of) fairy tale in the truest sense of the world and was a hugely enjoyable book to read. I just wish it had been a little longer, or that I'd paced meself.

Four and a half sivler chains woven of moonlight, cat's whiskers and fish scales out of five.