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Stardust Audiobook
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(2.63) - 16 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
The acclaimed, bestselling author of The Good German and Los Alamos returns with his most absorbing and accomplished novel yet—a mesmerizing tale of Hollywood, postwar political intrigue, and one man's determination to learn the truth about his brother's death.
Hollywood, 1945. Ben Collier has just arrived from war-torn Europe to find his brother has died under mysterious circumstances. Why would a man with a beautiful wife, a successful movie career, and a heroic past kill himself?
Ben enters the uneasy world beneath the glossy shine of the movie business, where politics and the dream factories collide, and Communist witch hunts are rendering the biggest star makers vulnerable. Even here, where the devastation of Europe seems no more real than a painted movie set, the war casts long and dangerous shadows. When Ben learns troubling facts about his own family's past and embarks on a love affair that never should have happened, he is caught in a web of deception that shakes his moral foundation to its core.
Rich with atmosphere and period detail, Stardust flawlessly blends fact and fiction into a haunting thriller evoking both the glory days of the movies and the emergence of a dark strain of American political life.
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“This may sound like a basic thriller formula, but Kanon operates with an intelligence that briskly evokes the atmosphere of a vanished era… Kanon, a romantic at heart, makes the case that in the end honest labor, not malicious conniving, creates the magic of the movies.”
— New York Times
Quotes
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“Spectacular in every way...wonderfully imagined, wonderfully written, an urgent personal mystery set against the sweep of glamorous and sinister history. Joseph Kanon owns this corner of the literary landscape.”
— Lee Child -
“Stardust is sensational! No one writes period fiction with the same style and suspense—not to mention substance—as Joseph Kanon. A terrific read.”
— Scott Turow -
“Stardust is the perfect combination of intrigue and accurate history brought to life.”
— Alan Furst -
“Delectable stuff.”
— Washington Post -
“James Ellroy fans will find a lot to like in this gritty look at post-WWII Hollywood...Kanon perfectly balances action and introspection.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Atmospheric [and] character-driven...Time and place are...vividly evoked, and the writing is...strong.”
— Kirkus Reviews -
“A terrific read...an intelligent and engaging historical mystery.”
— Bookmarks magazine
Awards
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Selected for the October 2009 Indie Next List
Stardust Listener Reviews
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" Interesting detective approach - almost entirely composed of the detective adjusting his patterns of thinking to match those of his murdered brother, in the absense of physical evidence. Unfortunately, I figured out who the murderer was long before the book ended - and I'm a dummy at mysteries. "
— Sylvia, 4/10/2011 -
" I found this novel very interesting and would have given it a 35 if I could have. The setting is after World War II and has the Hollywood glamour and the behind the scene murder mystery. It moves a little slow but it is very captivating. "
— Tabetha, 3/8/2011 -
" Hollywood after WWII. Congress has begun the witch hunts for Communists as Ben Collier, the primary character, arrives for his brother's funeral. The death is suspicious. Does a good job with the atmosphere around the Communist witch hunts with an interesting story line. "
— Florence, 2/4/2011 -
" Interesting story that gives you an idea what it might have been like during the McCarthy era, but ultimately it's not interesting enough for me to recommend. Just ok. "
— Bonnie, 2/2/2011 -
" 3.5 stars. Enjoyed the setting and themes of this story set in 1940s Hollywood after WWII. A mystery that takes place amid the big studio politics and communist blacklisting of the era. The book is a little choppy and drags in places, but I would still recommend it. "
— Julie, 1/3/2011 -
" Not perfect, but engrossing and thought-provoking. "
— Adele, 10/16/2010 -
" This would have been much better with more character definition. I couldn't remember who most of the players were so it ended up not being very interesting to find out how the plot resolved. "
— Jennifer, 9/5/2010 -
" Interesting coverage of post-WWII Hollywood, and pre-HUAC trials. Different insider Hollywood take. I had DIFFICULTY getting through, but it may have been me. "
— NuevoRain, 8/16/2010
About Joseph Kanon
Joseph Kanon is the Edgar Award–winning author of many novels, including The Good German, which was made into a major motion picture starring George Clooney and Cate Blanchett.
About T. Ryder Smith
T. Ryder Smith is an American actor. A native of New York state and long-time resident of New York City, he has appeared frequently on stage, particularly in avant-garde theater works, and in film, sometimes as a voice actor.