Stardust
core novel 1999 Stardust
Record
| First published | 1999 |
|---|---|
| Original language |  EN |
| Work type | novel |
| Canon status | core |
| Reader rating | 4.09 (489,005 ratings, collected 2026-09-14) |
| Page count | 248 |
| First-edition ISBN | 9780061142024 |
Synopsis
Stardust is a 1999 standalone fantasy novel by Neil Gaiman, written in the tradition of pre-Tolkien English fantasy. It opens in 1839 in the English village of Wall, which borders the magical land of Faerie and is connected to it by a market held every nine years. Eighteen years later, Tristran Thorn, the half-Faerie, half-human son of Dunstan Thorn, falls for a local girl named Victoria Forester. When the two see a star fall from the sky into Faerie, Tristran rashly promises to bring it back for her, and Victoria agrees that if he succeeds she will grant him whatever he desires, including her hand in marriage. Tristran crosses into Faerie to find the fallen star, only to discover it has taken the form of a young woman named Yvaine, who is being hunted by other dangerous parties with their own reasons for wanting her.
Where it sits
- Universe: Stardust
- Series: not part of a registered series (standalone work within its universe)
- Author: Neil Gaiman
Awards (verified)
- Mythopoeic Award (Adult Literature), 1999: won
- Alex Award (Selection), 2000: won
- Locus Award (Best Fantasy Novel (reader poll)), 1999: finalist; Locus reader poll placement: 2nd place.
Notes
- The prose-only novel text (Avon, 1999) is what this project registers. The 1997 comic serialization and 1998 illustrated book (both with Charles Vess) are the same story in a different, earlier medium/edition -- not a separate work; Gaiman rewrote it without illustrations for this 1999 edition at his publisher's request. The illustrated Vess edition placed separately in Locus's 1999 Art Book poll category (4th place) -- a different category for a different medium, not double-counted here.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Stardust (Gaiman novel)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stardust_(Neil_Gaiman_novel)
- ALA: Stardust (Alex Award)
- sfadb: Neil Gaiman
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