In the quiet English village of Wall, life is defined by a literal stone barrier that separates the mundane world of 19th-century Britain from the uncharted realm of Faerie. For most residents, the wall is a boundary to be respected, save for one day every nine years when a fair allows the two worlds to mingle in a brief, regulated exchange of magic and commerce. The story begins with a young man named Tristran Thorn, who, driven by a desperate and naive desire to win the hand of the beautiful Victoria Forester, makes a reckless vow: he will cross the wall and retrieve a fallen star that they witnessed streaking across the night sky.

What follows is a deconstruction of the traditional "quest" narrative, as Tristran discovers that the laws of Faerie bear little resemblance to the romantici...

In the quiet English village of Wall, life is defined by a literal stone barrier that separates the mundane world of 19th-century Britain from the uncharted realm of Faerie. For most residents, the wall is a boundary to be respected, save for one day every nine years when a fair allows the two worlds to mingle in a brief, regulated exchange of magic and commerce. The story begins with a young man named Tristran Thorn, who, driven by a desperate and naive desire to win the hand of the beautiful Victoria Forester, makes a reckless vow: he will cross the wall and retrieve a fallen star that they witnessed streaking across the night sky.

What follows is a deconstruction of the traditional "quest" narrative, as Tristran discovers that the laws of Faerie bear little resemblance to the romantici...