Stardust: Which edition did you read?

Stardust was originally released in a graphic novel/illustrated format, and designed to be accompanied by artist Charles Vess's illustrations (this edition). Later on, it was also released in a prose-only format (this one). Which edition did you read, and what did you think of it?

I read the prose-only format - though each chapter was headed by Charles Vess’s illustration of Wall, the wall and the Lands Beyond.

I read the prose-only version as well. I didn't realize the graphic novel was the original format and I think it would be fun to look through.

I read the graphic novel this time time around and wasn't really that impressed with the illustrations. I liked a few of them, but overall I thought they were a little intrusive and actually prevented me from falling into the story.

I first read the graphic novel 10 years ago, prompted by my enjoyment of the movie, so I went with prose this time around. I noticed that I read much faster, plus the illustrations just aren't of a style I tend to enjoy. I appreciate them, but not as complements to the story.

I also tend to be much more precious with my graphic novels—I hate running the risk of them getting dog-eared or dinged up in my bag. I'm gentle enough with my paperbacks, too, but not quite so much so.

Prose only here. Enjoyed it immensely, now I might check out the graphic version.

I first read the prose edition and loved it. A few years ago I finally got around to reading the graphic novel.

The prose film tie-in edition. This contained no illustrations but did include some additional material :-

Author's preface to WALL: a prologue
WALL: a prologue
an interview with Neil Gaiman
Reading group Discussion Questions

The Audible version has an interview with the author at the end. He says he enjoys reading his books, which is very good news for his listeners. Audio has the disadvantage of one not knowing how characters and place-names are spelt.

>9 .cris: But audio does let one know how names are pronounced.

>10 amanda4242: Good point. I do hate a mispronunciation. I have only recently realised that to riffle through something is different from to rifle through something. I had always rifled through papers, when I should have riffled. I had always thought the reader was wrong.

>11 .cris: You would think that would be obvious. And yet I’ve always rifled instead of riffling, too.

I listened to the audio; but I came across (and purchased) the graphic novel a couple weeks ago (haven’t had time to enjoy it, yet).

I, too, read the prose-only format, and didn't realize the graphic novel was the original edition (until reading the author's introduction). I loved Vess's illustration of Wall and Faerie at the header of each chapter. The only thing that could've made the book better, illustration-wise (aside from having the full graphic novel), would be a map. I'm a sucker for any map in a book.

I'm reading the paperback Harper Fantasy edition. Just lovely illustrations at the beginning of each chapter. A very quick read.

For those of you who have read the graphic novel, how was the Unicorn portrayed?

>16 threadnsong: Standard unicorn: beautiful white horse with a horn in its forehead.

>17 amanda4242: Ah well. I so wish Charles Vess could have followed the descriptions in Peter Beagle's The Last Unicorn. Though the book does make a point that the unicorn is very tall and hard to mount from the ground and able to take on a fully maned lion.

I have a paperback edition from Harper, looks like a movie tie-in edition. The only illustrations are some full page art-nouveau-type chapter headings (all the same), and a section in the middle with coloured photos from the movie.

I read the prose-only version on my kindle. I can see how having the graphic format would make it easier to follow the interconnecting themes, but Gaiman’s prose is so excellent that I wonder if it matters very much.

>14 kristilabrie: I agree with you about the map! Any good adventure story needs one. I noticed there was one at the beginning of the movie.

Prose only, no illustrations. But annoying Dickens-esque chapter headings, a faux style that I really dislike.

Turns out this edition also has the prequel Wall, or at least the only chapter of the novel he had been intending to write, before Stardust was written. Content similar to >8 calm: