[Soon Lee]

The illustrated version was indeed released first.

As for Priestvyrce's comment, I'd much rather a writer left something to the imagination e.g. Stardust than spoonfeed every excruciating detail to the reader e.g. WoT. :)

I rather liked that events beyond the story were alluded to, as they gave the story setting a feel of depth and complexity.

[Fola]

I'm a big Gaiman fan - I have yet to read anything of his that I didn't enjoy and admire. Stardust definitely isn't for kids, the sexual content is too graphic and the story is a bit dark (OK for a teenage readership.) Don't be fooled by the short length of the book.

It is fairly lightweight compared with, say, American Gods, which I consider his best novel. I think he probably intended Stardust as a fable or fairy tale, and therefore didn't present deep, complex characters, since those are not usually a feature of that kind of story.

I think Neil always writes well, even in his not-quite-so-good books. In terms of style and ideas he's never less than original.

Fola (Juliet Marillier)

[Eventine]

That's interesting - I seem to remember the sex as beign more alluded to than anything.

I might go back and read over that bit...

[starry-eyed]

When I read Stardust I was reminded of how the original Brothers Grimm fairytales were much more sensual and violent than their modern day versions. Gaiman's novel brings back that older tradition of fairytales where happily ever after isn't always in the cards. For my part, I quite enjoyed the novel. I did not read the illustrated version, but hope to check it out sometime, as I think that would provide a more complete experience.

[Jae]

Stardust was actually the first fantasy book I ever read (or, I should say, finished). My husband has read fantasy since he was young, and finally after we had been married for a few years he convinced me to read this one as he spoke so highly of Gaiman. I really enjoyed it. It has been a few years since I read it so the specifics are a little fuzzy. And perhaps being the first first fantasy book I read it sits on a pedestal, having had nothing else compare it to yet in my mind. Am I remembering it wrong, or is its tone much lighter than Gaiman's other books? Not that its tone is exactly light-hearted, but compared to his other books at least.... Reading this thread has made me want to go back and read it over again, even with the so-so comments.

Jae

[Magrath]

Unfortunately, I haven't read Stardust yet, but it looks like a great book to me. The books written by Gaiman I have read thus far (Good Omens, Neverwhere and Coraline) are really fantastic an original. I will start in American Gods this week and hopefully in Stardust soon after that...

[Monty Mike]

I'm hoping to pick up a copy of Stardust soon, as I've heard great things about it, plus it's in the SF Materworks (if I'm not mistaken)