Recent years have found Neil Gaiman, creator and writer of the much-admired Sandman series, expanding beyond comic-book work with novels and short stories. This title, a four-part miniseries, allows him to fuse his two forms of choice by producing a fairy tale illustrated by occasional collaborator Charles Vess. Stardust is set in the English town of Wall, a small village unextraordinary in every capacity but one: Every nine years, Wall plays host to a market of merchants from the realm of Faerie. Creating a fairy tale, both literally and generically, for a contemporary, grown-up audience is a difficult task. Attempts run the risk of coming off as precious and overwritten, and even a veteran like Gaiman veers in this direction on occasion ("Bromios gave each of them a mug of his best ale—and his best ale was very fine indeed…"). The jaded aren't easily enchanted, but by and large, Stardust's first installment is enchanting once the story takes hold. Vess' lovely illustrations—more in tune with the style of the book's 19th-century setting than contemporary comic-book work—are carefully integrated, helping immeasurably in setting the mood. If future installments fulfill the promise of this first book, Gaiman will have performed a magic trick of his own.