Stardust has a different tone and style from most of Gaiman's prose fiction, being consciously written in the tradition of pre-Tolkien English fantasy, following in the footsteps of authors such as Lord Dunsany and Hope Mirrlees.

[1] Gaiman has also occasionally made references to writing a sequel, or at least another book concerning the village of Wall.

[2] The story begins in late April 1839, as John William Draper had just photographed the Moon and Charles Dickens was serialising Oliver Twist.

In the early Victorian era, young Dunstan Thorn meets Una, a fairy enslaved by the witch Semele, at the market.

In Faerie, the dying Lord of the castle of Stormhold throws his pendant out the window, declaring that the first of his three surviving sons—Primus, Tertius, and Septimus—to retrieve it will be his successor.

While walking Victoria home, Tristan sees a falling star land in Faerie and vows to bring it to her.

Dunstan gives Tristran the snowdrop and enables him to pass the wall's guards by alluding to his fairy heritage.

Meanwhile, the Lilim, a trio of ancient witches, learn of the fallen star and plan to eat its heart to regain their youth.

Tristran meets a small man who gives him a silver chain, and a magic candle-stub which allows one to travel great distances quickly while it burns.

Resolving to take her to Victoria, Tristran tethers Yvaine to him with the chain; however, the candle burns out before he can return.

Tristran and Yvaine end up stranded on a cloud miles above Faerie when the candle burns out but are rescued by the crew of a flying ship.

Meanwhile, Yvaine realizes she has fallen in love with Tristran but learns that if she crosses the wall and leaves Faerie, she will be transformed into a piece of rock.

Stardust was originally conceived by Gaiman and Vess as a "story book with pictures", created by both, to be published by American company DC Comics.

It is more accurately titled Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess's Stardust (Being a Romance within the Realms of Faerie).

The hardback edition is quarter-bound in faux leather with the author's names, title, and several stars inlaid in foil.

Art plates were illustrated by William Stout, Mike Mignola, Terri Windling, Bryan Talbot, Jill Thompson, Paul Chadwick, P. Craig Russell, Mark Crilley, Elizabeth Johns, Michael Zulli, Robin Mullins, Lisa Snellings, Terry Moore, Tony DiTerlizzi, Linda Medley, Lorenzo Mattotti, Zander Cannon, Dave McKean, Jeff Smith, Trina Robbins & Steve Leialoha, Gary Gianni, Janine Johnston, Stan Sakai, Michael Kaluta, Moebius, Rebecca Guay, Geof Darrow, Brian Froud, and Charles Vess.

Those who order this collection directly from Green Man Press received an additional art plate by Sergio Aragonés.

[5] In July 2007, a new hardcover edition was published by DC's Vertigo imprint, containing approximately fifty pages of new material, including new artwork and information on the production of the book.

[8][9] The collected edition of the series was also nominated for the Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Award for Favorite Reprint Graphic Album for 1999.