On Stardust

Neil Gaiman, Stardust - Sometimes Tristran would look up to see his mother staring at him intently, as if she were trying to tease some secret from his face. - - At age fourteen, by a process of osmosis, of dirty jokes, whispered secrets and filthy ballads, Tristran learned of sex. - - 'Well,' he said. 'We're probably doomed, then. But we may as well have a look around while we're up here. - - Adventures are all very well in their place, he thought, but there's a lot to be said for regular meals and freedom from pain. -...