Stardust (Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess’…)

(Vertigo, 1998)
™ and ©1998 Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess

Once in a generation, there comes a writer who is not content to tell storie,s but instead weaves tales and myths. Neil Gaiman, architect of the Sandman saga and Books of Magic, is such a writer. His vision is perfectly complemented by the pre-Raphaelite artistic sensibilities of illustrator Charles Vess. The ambitious Gaiman, who writes best-selling books and challenging television series in addition to comics, tells his dark faerie tale of quests and magic in text, punctuated by full-page paintings by Vess.

Stardust follows the adventures of young Tristan Thorn of the land of faerie who has sworn an oath to fetch a fallen star for the most beautiful girl in his village. From this gentle premise, Gaiman crafts a tale in the great tradition of 19th and early 20th century childrens’ stories that are equally charming to readers of any age.

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