A few months ago I was enticed back to my roots after I stumbled upon the site ‘Stainless Steel Droppings’. My roots being: originally a reader of science fiction and fantasy. Aren’t almost all children’s books fantasy? Speaking animals, for heaven’s sake! Speaking of which, one of my absolute favorites was Caroline and her Friends, by Pierre Probst - don’t even think about trying to buy a copy today, they cost a fortune, if you can find one. Sadly, my copy went missing after one of many moves. Caroline (there are never any adults in sight) goes on adventures around the world with a troop of animal friends. Fond, fond memories. Does anyone have a copy of one of the Caroline books they would be willing to part with?
Around 4th grade I started reading mysteries like crazy. Suspense and mystery have definitely been my favorite, right to this very moment. Then, around eighteen or nineteen years old, I found Edgar Rice Burroughs, and I was absolutely hooked on the John Carter of Mars series. I can’t remember if someone pointed me in his direction, or if I was just haunting the stacks at the university library. I purchased a paperback set of the series, so maybe I just happened upon him at a bookstore. I still have that set, minus books one and two, which I loaned to students and never got back. (How old does a book have to be to be an antique!?)
Anyway, at that point in my life I began reading science fiction voraciously – all the regulars plus some that were off the beaten track. Another lull for quite a few years followed, and then voila, please refer to the first sentence to this lengthy introduction. The first book I read in the fantasy realm was Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. Neverwhere is a land below London, a place “that exists entirely in a subterranean labyrinth of sewer canals and abandoned subway stations.” London Below is part fantasy, part nightmare and a rather ratty (literally) clone of medieval court life. Our hero, Richard Mayhew, somehow, inadvertently, accidently, offers to help a young lady in distress to, “preserve this strange underworld kingdom from the malevolence that means to destroy it.” Believe me, that malevolence is a very nasty sort. (A British TV series was made from the book, but I found it unpalatable- just too dated and silly.)
After reading Neverwhere, I set Gaiman aside and went on to other things. Then along came the Once Upon a Time Challenge II. I thought it was time to add Stardust by Neil Gaiman to my list of books planned for the challenge. After finishing the first book on my list, The Sword in the Stone, I read Stardust. This is the story of young Tristran Thorn, who grew up in the village of Wall, which is situated through the hedge, right next to Faerie. The village men rotate so there are always two guards on the gate to keep humans from going in, and…. creatures from coming out. Except, for one weekend a year when there is a fair on the green, just inside Faerie, and the folks from both sides mingle.
I love the way the story is introduced:
There is one road from Wall, a winding track rising sharply up from the forest, where it is lined with rocks and small stones. Followed far enough south, out of the forest, the track becomes a real road, paved with asphalt; followed further the road gets larger, is packed at all hours with cars and trucks rushing from city to city. Eventually the road takes you to London, but London is a whole night’s drive from Wall.
I picture myself in London, driving the busy highway to a paved road, which leads to a track winding through the forest, going back in time as the track takes me higher, until I arrive in Wall, in another century.
Tristam enters Faerie on a quest and is gone some time. You can imagine; strange, frightening, dangerous, and wonderful things happen to him there. It is a delightful tale, very well told. I see that now there is a movie. I guess if Hollywood can make a believable Lord of the Rings, they should be able to make a decent Stardust.
Check out Neil Gaiman’s website, too. He seems a very decent chap, and his website has lots of interesting nooks and crannies to investigate.
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