"There was once a young man who wished to gain his Heart's Desire. And while that is, as beginnings go, not entirely novel….there was much about this young man and what happened to him that was unusual, although even he never knew the whole of it."
So goes the magical tale of Stardust, the story of 17 year old Tristan Thorn, who went on a quest to retrieve a fallen star from the land of the faery.
But the story didn't begin with Tristan. It began in a Wall, in a time before Tristan was born. It began with his father, his chance encounter with an enchanting maiden, a bashful seduction and a basket outside Dunstan Thorn's door, where Tristan is found in a year later.
The rest of the story though, is entirely about Tristan. About how he made a rash promise to get the fallen star, in exchange for a kiss from a girl that he fancies. And how he found the star, which (err..who) is actually a beautiful maiden and may be his true heart's desire.
As expected, the quest does not run smoothly, because there are other parties interested in gaining the star as well, for reasons of their own.
Known and loved for his Sandman graphic novels, Neil Gaiman's foray into adult fairy tales didn't disappoint, and there are many pleasant and sometimes shocking surprises for readers along the way.
Deceptively easy to read, it's a tale not unlike a Grimm Brothers' story, with old style (read aloud friendly) story-telling.
But there are clear differences from the traditional fairy tales. Gaiman's style is quirky and whimsical, tempered with a touch of darkness and horror, a trait that his Sandman's fans may be familiar with. He is unperturbed about blending genres, mixing wonder and shock, but does it with enough finesse to delight readers.
While it began innocently enough, there are also are some racy bits, that put the book squarely in the adult section. And if your pulse is racing, let me tell there is nothing too bawdy though.
As far as fantasy novel goes, Stardust is no Lord of the Rings, though you'll find the endings of both novels eerily similar. I wouldn't say it is Gaiman's best effort either.
There are too few characters, and the story is resolved too easily to pacify the hunger of a diehard fan. However, it's still a story worth savouring, to be read and enjoyed like many of the best loved fairy tales.
Am I a little partial to Gaiman? Perhaps - But he was here! And he signed my books! And he's an absolute charmer!
But then again, I may just have a little bit of stardust in my eyes.
ABOUT NEIL GAIMAN:
Neil Gaiman aka 'The Sandman' believes adults deserve more than just comic books. He says, they deserve their own fairy tales.
And it is this belief that led him to create the 1980s comic book series 'The Sandman' which has an almost fanatical following worldwide.
The imaginative series is widely credited with bringing the comic book industry out from under the weight of muscle-bound heroes and scantily-clad vixens.
And it's won over the hearts and minds of readers. Norman Mailer lauded it as "a comic strip for intellectuals."
But that doesn't mean Gaiman had a flawless start as a writer. After being rejected many times by publishers, he pursued journalism as a means to learn about the world and make connections that he hoped would later assist him in getting published, conducting interviews and writing book reviews.
After forming a friendship with famed comic book scribe Alan Moore, Gaiman started writing comics. He wrote two British graphic novels with his favorite collaborator and long time friend Dave McKean: Violent Cases and Signal to Noise.
His job with DC Comics resulted in the limited series 'Black Orchid' and since those days there has been no looking back for either Gaiman or his fans. |
Connie is a Producer with Channel NewsAsia.
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