I must admit that I started reading this with very fond reminiscences of Neil’s co-authored “Good Omens” (Terry Pratchett being the other author). In Stardust we have a reasonably fast-paced, vividly realised fairy tale centred around Tristran Thorn – and as a fairy tale it is a good work. Tristran, in an attempt to gain the love of the most beautiful girl in the village, goes through to the Faerie lands beyond The Wall in search of a fallen star. Passing through The Wall is not something to be done lightly, in fact the Villagers guard the gap to ensure that no-one passes.
After a diet of fully-fleshed out, sometimes flabby fantasy, this brief work comes as a pleasant surprise. “Stardust” is a real page-turner, the disappointing thing is that Neil telegraphs the coming events, leaving us few if any surprises. That said I am looking forward to reading more of Neil’s work, I just don’t know that Stardust will be a “keeper”.
