Product Description

Life moves at a leisurely pace in the tiny town of Wall - named after the imposing stone barrier which separates the town from a grassy meadow. Here, young Tristran Thorn has lost his heart to the beautiful Victoria Forester and for the coveted prize of her hand, Tristran vows to retrieve a fallen star and deliver it to his beloved. It is an oath that sends him over the ancient wall and into a world that is dangerous and strange beyond imagining...

Includes extra material exclusive to Headline Review's edition

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2371 in Books
• Published on: 2005-09-19
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
There is a way into Faerie, beyond the fields we know, and it lies in a village called Wall, somewhere in the early Victorian era. Every nine years there is a fair on the other side of the wall, where Faerie sells its wares to the mundane. Farmer Duncan Thorne had his moment of mad love with a witch's bondservant; Tristan, his son, turned up in a basket nine months later. Now Tristan is old enough to fall in love, and promises Victoria a falling star... This is a fairy story in the tradition of George MacDonald and Hope Mirlees; a book of passion and terror and wit which reminds us that Faerie is not a safe place, or a fair one. And at its edges there lurk other stories--Neil Gaiman's work in comics and television has previously shown his capacity to evoke mystery and glorious magic by telling us just enough and no more, but he excels himself here. Charles Vess's illustrations, (Vess collaborated with Gaiman on key episodes of The Sandman), have charm and occasionally more--the stars dance, Pan looms from the forest, a witch queen rides a chariot driven by goats and Tristan journeys by candlelight leagues at a step. --Roz Kaveney

Review
'In prose that dances and dazzles, Gaiman describes the indescribable: the eerie colours, ravishing scents and dangerous laughter of Faerie' -- Susanna Clarke

Review
‘In prose that dances and dazzles, Gaiman describes the indescribable: the eerie colours, ravishing scents and dangerous laughter of Faerie’ (Susanna Clarke )

Customer Reviews

Enchanting
Fantasy quests can often outstay their welcome, but Gaiman paces this just about right; more than a novella but the right side of epic. Reminiscent of several of his Sandman stories, this is lovingly told if a little predictable in its structure. Inventive and always entertaining, never overly whimsical. The resolution's all a bit too tidy, but I recommend it for those who enjoy the author's lighter work in other media.

Spellbinding and magical tale....
This was the first Neil Gaiman book I had read and I found it to be a wonderful, enchanting adult fairy tale.

The novel opens with magical descriptions of the village called Wall, and introduces us to the main character Tristan Thorn. One day, during the fair that they hold every 9 years, Tristan Thorn goes through the wall into the land of faerie to search for a falling star and bring it back so that his one true love will grant him his heart's desire. The story unravels from here and proves to be a book of traditional love and passion, mixed with the magic and macabre that Gaiman does so well. The darker side of the novel does prove to be a good balance to the love and 'fairydust' side, and there is a mediocre amount of sex and passion which definitely reminds you that this is an adult fairy tale! I think teenagers would be just fine reading this too though.

Gaiman describes the characters so vividly I almost felt that I was there, you can really imagine the stars dancing, Tristan's journey by candlelight through the wild forests, the funny little man he meets along the way.....

This book is so spellbinding that I am planning to read other Gaiman novels and hope they will be just as good. Pat on the back to him for this one though!

Disappointing
I admit, I saw the film first. Normally I'm a firm beleiver in reading a book before seeing a film but for once I got it the wrong way round. But I'm rather glad I did because, despite its insanely cheesy and cutesy Hollywood touch, I actually enjoyed the film and in comparison was bored by the book.

Its true Gaimon was a nack which makes prose flow unlike any author I've ever read before but I found the story deeply unimpressive. It was very short and highly anticlimatic. I realise Gaimon has quite the following and he's probably just not my thing (which is a pity cos fantasy is my favourite genre) but in my opinion, if you enjoyed the film, you'll be deeply disappointed by the book.