Stardust by Neil Gaiman

AudioforBooks.com - Podcasts powered by Odiogo

An Overview

Stardust begins in a small English town named Wall, located a night’s drive away from London. Wall is named after an old rock wall to its east, in a small opening leading to a forest. This opening is a portal to the magical world of Faerie. It is carefully guarded by two watchmen at all times, except once every nine years on May Day, when a market comes to the meadow just past the wall.

Main Body

Stardust takes place in a small British town named Wall. The name comes from a rock wall with a small opening that leads to the land of the Fairies. Guarded at all times except for Mayday, no one may pass. The only exception is Mayday every ninth year, when the Fairies bring a market to the meadows just East of the wall.

One Mayday, a man named Dunstan Thorn made the mistake of falling in love with a woman from across the Wall. Next thing you know, he’s the proud father of the infant boy Tristran, left on his doorstop without ceremony. Oblivious to his ancestry, he grows up to be a likeable young man.He repeats his father’s mistake by falling in love with Victoria Forester.

Upon being rejected, he offers to cross over to the other side of the Wall and return with a fallen star for her, if only she will consent to marry him. After crossing the wall, he finds the star and learns that it is Yvaine, a daughter of the moon, knocked out of the sky by a careless Lord. She is being pursued by a witch whose intentions are less than savory.

She and her sisters intend to sacrifice this girl to become young again. Tristran’s loyalties are tested as he finds himself called upon to protect Yvaine. I’ve been a voracious reader since I was about two years old. I spent countless hours at my grandmother’s house reading her copies of Andrew Lang’s fairy books.

I’m always thrilled to find copies of books based on familiar fairy tales from my childhood but with an adult twist. Neil Gaiman’s Stardust is definitely for adult audiences, though it’s not like the erotic tale Claiming of Sleeping Beauty. Much like the pumpkin cheesecake ice cream that I ate while listening to this book, I wanted to share it with my kids, but I didn’t. It’s just a little racy and has a bit of naughty language.

I know that in a few years, they’ll appreciate both. In the meantime, they’re all mine.

The Narration

Neil Gaiman narrates with a soft and tender tone.