My first meeting with Yvaine took place in the seedy cantina in Mos Eisley on Tatooine. This was appropriate considering that the player behind Yvaine was role-playing a fallen star in a galaxy far far away. That is part of the beauty of Star Wars Galaxies.

We became friends and this player promoted Stardust by Neil Gaiman (in which the tale of Yvaine is told), as if it were their own writing (and were very proud of it).

I went out, bought it, and devoured it.

Stardust was not my introduction to Gaiman. My wife Amy had shown me the humorously delightful joys of Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch, some time earlier (admittedly, her bedtime readings initially got me hooked, but when time and circumstance did not permit that any longer, I devoured it myself as well).

Still Stardust was one of the first Gaiman books that I read and came to love.

It is classic Gaiman. Wild fantasy with dark overtones: wonderful for kids, but as enthralling to adults.

When I discover friends that have an interest in reading, I will eventually recommend this to them, depending where their tastes lay. If you are a friend, and I have not recommended this to you yet, take this as your gentle push: go read it. I would be astonished if you did not enjoy it.

It was with trepidation that I learnt that Stardust will imminently be a movie, as I often am when I discover that a tale that I love is going to be fleshed out in that visual medium. It is often a mixture of excitement and nervousness.

Yet from experience with his work being movietised (Neverwhere became a BBC television series which turned out quite good, and Mirrormask is brilliantly beyond its time), and the obvious heavy involvement from the author himself in the project (as detailed often in Neil Gaiman’s blog), I am a little more comfortable that this project may actually end up being a crowd pleaser.

Having recently seen a preview of Stardust, I must admit that I am keener than ever to sit down in those seats in front of a huge projector screen and have a look at this novel that I thoroughly enjoy.

Yvaine was a friend for a brief time, but went away to sparkle in another galaxy far far away, however the story lives on as a source of joy for me and hopefully the movie will too.

Fingers crossed.

Thanks for stopping by and remember: If a camel flies, no one laughs if it doesn’t get very far.