The Stars' Tennis Balls |
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Stephen Fry
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Pages: 384 (Paperback)
ISBN: 0099471558
Pub: Arrow Books Ltd
Pub date: 2004-08-05
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 65976
Editorial Review:
Ned Maddstone has it all. He's handsome and talented; he has the love of a beautiful woman and in 1980, he stands at the brink of a glittering future. He rounds off an outstanding public school career with a sailing trip to Scotland, which is where his fortunes enter a terrifying tailspin. Determined to honour the dying wish of his sailing instructor, Ned returns to London, where the schemes of jealous classmates catapult him into a 10-year nightmare. Confined to a solitary Hell, believed dead by all those who loved him, Ned transforms from a terminally nice guy into a creature bent on revenge, a revenge both satisfying and apocalyptic.
Few writers can deliver so much in one package, but here Stephen Fry combines a riotous satire of the privileged classes with elements of the darkest thrillers. While the plot bounces from the sublime to the surreal, his characters remain acutely real. Ned's classmates, slow-witted hedonist Rufus Cade, and the Machiavellian climber Ashley Barson-Garland--who is aroused by the sight of straw boaters--are masterful creations. This novel has nothing to do with tennis, and everything to do with the cruel logic of Fate. Game, set and match to Mr Fry. - - Matthew Baylis
Reader Reviews:
One of Fry's best (0/1 people found this helpful)
The mixed reaction in reviews has somehow shocked me slightly.
I guess were all looking for different things from a Fry book, and for me this delivered, while for others it was more hit/miss or good, but forgettable.
For me 'The Stars' Tennis Balls' is brilliant. Its oddly fun (for the subject matter of vengeance), the plot is just over-the-top but that makes it all the better.
The characters are all filling with charisma and different personalities which are true to themselves throughout the book.
Other than the main, but thats an obvious discretion seeing as it goes along with the plot
I almost wish it was longer, just to see the plot rumble into something else and explore the main characters changes a little more.
But at the same time, a book which leaves you wanting is always good for the imagination.
There are down-sides, it can be a bit light, but at the same time some light reading is nor less enjoyable than something stronger and fuller - the main thing which makes this slightly lite is the lack of any huge character faults, well other than the obvious, but thats more actions and not in terms of personality, which has always made a Fry book brilliant.
So if your a fan of Fry for his surrealism, I'd say go for this as its possibly the most surreal outside The Hippotomus, (I should say I originally titled this 'Frys best' but changed it once I remembered that terrific book), and remember to just enjoy it and you'll stream through it no time at all.
Another easy classic for Fry (0/1 people found this helpful)
Books this entertaining are an absolute joy, and I get the feeling that this was written very easily by the master writer Fry in a very fluid couple of weeks.
I'm hoping people will read this without knowing much about the plot, as I did and found the twists and turns were unexpected and captivating. There's no suprise to find it starts with a posh clever kid from public school in academic success, from there it unfolds beautifully. As always, Fry's language and imagination are wonderful.
Easy to read but not a dumbed-down novel. Read and enjoy!
Excellent Book (0/1 people found this helpful)
I have read this several times and may well read it again in the future, and I have no hesitation in recommending it. The only reason I haven't given this book five stars is because I have given Catch 22 and Lonesome Dove five stars.
Awful stuff (0/1 people found this helpful)
I dont read many novels these days, I have migrated towards exploration type books and biographies. I picked up this book because I love Stephen Fry in his QI role and respect him as an actor, an intellectual and a comedian. However, he loses my vote with this book, and I think he should stick to what he is good at. The plot here has been done 100 times before, and much much better. I like my novels to be either out of this world, or in it, but this gets lost in the middle. It tells a story about people painted initially as real people, but then destroys it with too many co-incedents at critical points, and the main character goes from a real good guy to a manevolent character from a batman comic. The only reason I finished it is that I always finish a book I start, (ditto with movies).
Brilliant (0/1 people found this helpful)
If you love Fry, you'll love this book. Written in his unique way, it is witty and often dark, culminating in what i think is his best work to date.
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Amazon.co.uk places this book into the following categories:
Books -> Special Features -> Custom Stores -> Fiction Complete -> Contemporary Fiction
Books -> Subjects -> Fiction -> Authors, A-Z -> F -> Fry, Stephen
Books -> Subjects -> Fiction -> Contemporary Fiction: 1970 Onwards -> Popular Fiction
Books -> Subjects -> Fiction -> General
Books -> Refinements -> Language (feature_browse-bin) -> English
Books -> Refinements -> Format (binding_browse-bin) -> Paperback
Books -> Refinements -> Font Size (format_browse-bin) -> Regular Size