The Stars' Tennis Balls - Stephen Fry

The Count of Monte Cristo, one of literatures classic and timeless offerings of redemption, revenge and love. Many a book and film has drawn on it as its inspiration and many a book has ripped off this legacy of writing. You must have seen the Shawshank Redemption, one of those films that everybody likes, well that in part is The Count of Monte Cristo. Hang on you may think, this chap is supposed to be reviewing The Stars' Tennis Balls by Stephen Fry. Well I am, this novel from Stephen Fry is another in a long line of artistic works inspired by The Count of Monte Cristo. In fact, The Stars' Tennis Balls is almost a re-write of The Count of Monte Cristo, set ...  Read the complete review

The Stars' Tennis Balls is a 2000 novel written by none other than the intelligent, witty comic genius that is Stephen Fry. Comedian, director, actor, quiz show host and generally all round gifted individual Fry has also put his mark on the world of literature. The Stars' Tennis Balls is part a wonderful work of satire and part dark almost psychological thriller but entirely a fantastic read. The Stars' Tennis Balls tells the story of Ned Maddstone, who in 1980 is a young man with the world at his feet. He has a beautiful girlfriend called Portia, is about to embark upon a degree at Oxford and is more than a little good-looking. What's more Ned is actually a ...  Read the complete review

Stephen Fry is a national treasure, and not just because he's worth millions. Erudite and witty, he is the man who can make upper middle class intellectualism cool. He's been a comedian, actor, even director, but you get the sense that it's his writing for which Fry will be chiefly remembered. So what if his novels tend to revolve around the naughty antics of sexually ambiguous schoolboys (The Liar) or postgraduate university students (Making History)? They display a flair for the written word not generally seen in this world dominated by John 'budgie-bothering' Grisham and his dull ilk, and 'The Stars' Tennis Balls' is no exception. Ned Maddstone ...  Read the complete review

Stephen Fry's unique mixture of sophisticated, linguistic humour and schoolboy toilet humour, combined with his ability to weave an outlandish and yet convincing plot make him one of my favourite authors. Having read his Autobiography Moab is my Washpot, Making History and Liar, I have really started to looking forward to Stephen's new releases. In this novel fry looks at revenge, through the main character, he establishes how easy it is to let the need for revenge blind you to the truth, he also shows how unsatisfying the outcome of that revenge can be. This doesn?t mean the book is ever moralistic or that Stephen lets this detract from the ...  Read the complete review

Introduction, Loafing around in my local library the other week, trying to appear nonchalant (I think I’m bit of a puzzle to the librarians), I chanced upon this book by Stephen Fry, a new one to me. I already knew him as a talented comedian and a great actor (I did so love his appearances in Black Adder), and something of a “wit”, but an author? All I can say in my defence is that I have spent years reading my way through all the horror and sci-fi sections of my local library. Okay, so I’m trying to re-educate myself by reading other genres, but there is usually a “light read” in my choices, I thought this was one. The ...  Read the complete review