Stardust is a relatively short book and uses easy language, but Neil Gaiman paints such an image of wonder that I felt like a little kid again reading this. It's an awesome trip into a fantasy world that I was pleasantly surprised to find could catch me off guard around every turn.

It's just a really great book. I was amazed with the magic Neil Gaiman could weave in only a few simple words. In the beginning of the book I brushed most of it off as just pulling randomness out of the air, but by the end when that randomness actually took a shape and all the loose ends tied themselves up I was just shocked. He certainly has a way with words... and while that may sound like a rather generic compliment to give an author, I really mean it. Neil Gaiman can write in a way that very few others could hope to.

I also really loved Neverwhere. It wasn't as vibrant a world as in Stardust, but it was no less fascinating. I got sucked along in that book and blew through the whole thing almost before I knew what hit me. It has a lot more real-world elements than I'm used to in fantasy, but the fantastical was blended so expertly with the mundane that I couldn't help but love it.

With that said, I tried American Gods several times, but couldn't stand it and thus I've only ever gotten through the first few chapters. I know it's supposed to be Neil Gaiman's greatest work, but I guess I'm just not at all a fan of the dark gritty side of contemporary fantasy. I like a more magical feel (imagine that, who'd have guessed a Harry Potter fan would like a magical feel?). When I got to the part in the book where the main character kisses his undead wife, and Mr. Gaiman painted a disturbingly vibrant image in my mind of what that would taste like... let's just say that's the farthest into the book I've ever ventured.

Is the book that the movie Stardust was based on?

I can't remember the name of the author at the moment so I can't be sure or not.

I think I would actually enjoy this 'American Gods' then. I rather nitty gritty books to the fluffy ones for lack of a better term :P

I'd seen part of the Sandman series, graphic novels with plot by by Neil Gaiman (art by various others). I was mostly looking at the art, but the plot seemed good too, so I've been meaning to read more of his stuff. (I'll get around to it eventually; I'm behind in everything at the moment).

Anyway, I saw Stardust and I liked it a lot. That's surprising because I usually like darker, grittier movies, film noir, etc. Stardust was really sweet, and I liked it anyway! :lol:

So thanks for the tip re IAmerican Gods and Neverwhere.