Realms Review: 'Stardust'

Imagine that the magical world of Faerie was next door to your village and the only thing separating the two was a wall. That's how the village of Wall got its name, and no one is allowed past the wall except once every nine years during the market. This is the story of Stardust, a novel written by Neil Gaiman. Would you go in search of what's beyond the wall?
          Tristran Thorn, a boy who's half fairy and doesn't know it, has no interest in what's beyond the wall until he and Victoria, the girl he's in love with, spot a shooting star. Tristran offers to find the star for Victoria in exchange for whatever he desires. She agrees, thinking Tristran would never go beyond the wall, and that even if he did, he'd come back shortly. But Tristran is in love and determined. He just didn't expect his months-long journey to be filled with quite so many fantastical things, like man-eating forests, candles that transport you miles in the direction you walk in, murderous witches, and treacherous princes. And, of course, the biggest shock comes when he realizes that the star isn't a lump of rock, but a young woman.
          A promise to a loved one leads to a perilous journey, the uncovering of Tristran's real identity, and the fate of Stormhold hanging in the balance. We give Stardust 4 out of 5 stars. The story and the world are incredible, and the magic lasts with you long after you've turned the last page. The characters motives are something we can all identify with, though we felt there was room for more development. Nonetheless, it's a fun tale we recommend to anyone over the age of fifteen.
          Stardust came to our attention after watching the beloved film adaptation starring Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer, which adds new life and depth to the characters (and a lot more humor!) than what was portrayed in the book. Still, the novel offers more perspective into the story that the film was unable to touch on. Both version are enjoyable and we recommend them both to you.

For a look at the film adaptation, view the trailer below:

Young Adult Fantasy vs. Adult Fantasy

A friend of ours once asked, "What makes YA fantasy different from other fantasy books or stories?"
          If he couldn't quite draw the line and learn the difference, then we're willing to bet some of you don't clearly know the difference, either. The major difference, of course, is that YA fantasy is intended for the young adult audience and features young adult characters. Other fantasy books are intended for children or adult audiences. Every story needs an audience, a focal point, to define. If you don't have a target audience, then you're not sending a message, and if you're not doing that, you cannot write a story. The target audience helps define what the story is about.
          We told our friend that YA fantasy centers on material related to young adults, but that's not to say adults, or even middle grade readers, can't read YA books. In fact, adults make up 55% of those who purchase YA books, and 78% of those claimed they were the intended reader of the book. Interesting, right? So what is it about YA that fascinates adults, who aren't even the intended audience? That's a whole other discussion, right there, but it largely has to do with re-experiencing adolescence.

Howl's Moving Castle
by Diana Wynne Jones

          For teens, YA fantasy helps them grow and learn about themselves, as it, along with other YA books, largely focuses on coming-of-age, dealing with "firsts" (first loves, first parties, first adventures, first you-name-it), and coping with change. It's an unstable, yet exciting and mesmerizing time of life, which is why teens and adults love it.
          "Well," our friend said, "does that mean adult fantasy can include some things that YA can't?"
          This question was slightly trickier, because the answer is no. YA fantasy can include sex and violence, but, most likely, not as explicit as in an adult novel. However, that, again, brings up the question: how is it different?

Stardust
by Neil Gaiman

          YA fantasy can explore deep themes like adult fantasy, but the difference is that it's written in a way that appeals to the YA audience. Books like Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones delve into appearance versus what people are on the inside, or Stardust by Neil Gaiman, which is about going out into the world to discover who you really are and what you're capable of. We've found that YA is quicker-paced than adult fantasy, allowing young adults to engage in writing that matches their lifestyle. We heard someone say once that he (an adult who taught screenwriting courses) preferred reading YA books because they were similar to watching films and moved quickly, directly striking the heart of the matter.
          The real difference returns to our first point: the writer needs to get in character to make the protagonist, and all other characters, relevant and likable. How a teenager reacts to a situation might be completely different than how an adult would react. What makes YA is the characters, not necessarily the plot. It's about experience and change, and what it's like to grow into the person you will become. Characters change in adult fantasy, too, but do not have as much room to grow, and have some past experiences to fall back on for advice. YA is seeing the world anew again, where everything is an adventure.
          You tell us, did we answer the question? Comment below if you have other questions about the differences between YA fantasy and other types of audiences!

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