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The Stars' Tennis Balls (Paperback)

by Stephen Fry (Author)
3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (73 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 496 pages
  • Publisher: Arrow Books Ltd; New edition edition (1 Nov 2001)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0099727412
  • ISBN-13: 978-0099727415
  • Product Dimensions: 17 x 10.9 x 3.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (73 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 334,880 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #80 in  Books > Fiction > Authors, A-Z > F > Fry, Stephen

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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk 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 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.



Review

"A Count of Monte Cristo for the dot.com generation...whatever Stephen Fry does, he has it -- that rare, unlearnable quality. When he speaks, you listen. When he writes, you read." -- "Literary Review"
"Stylish...written up with zest and humour...a page-turner and full of fun." -- "Spectator
"
"A revenge tragedy for our times." -- "The Times"
"A taut thriller...a talent for terror and suspense-writing." -- "Sunday Telegraph"
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Customer Reviews

73 Reviews
5 star:
 (22)
4 star:
 (28)
3 star:
 (13)
2 star:
 (6)
1 star:
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Average Customer Review
3.8 out of 5 stars (73 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Revenge isn't always sweet ... but do read this novel! , 15 Jun 2006
This review is from: The Stars' Tennis Balls (Paperback)
Note: `Revenge' is the same novel as `The Stars' Tennis Balls' re-titled for the American market

You can't go wrong with Fry's novels: his plots are unpredictable, his writing style is witty, intelligent and captivating, and his (dark) humour is ever-present ... what more could you ask for?
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars The Star's Tennis Balls, 4 Sep 2003
A friend lent me this book read as she said she had not got further than the first 20 pages, so I was not prepared for a good read. I have to admit this is not the type of book I would normally go for. I think the cover gave it a light hearted feel and it not a light hearted read by any means. I must congratulate Stephen Fry on this work, his language is excellent and is obviously totally at ease in author mode!

The story begins with Ned Maddstone, who I imagined as a bit of Hugh Grant type but more intelligent and able. The story unravels how his 'friends' are harbouring building resentment towards Ned and how a practical joke turns Ned's & thier lives upside down. I didn't expect the book to be as shocking in parts as I found it.

My only criticsm is that it was a bit slow to begin with & I thought it was going to be a love story but once the plot thickened (excuse the cliches) it was a real page turner, which I couldn't put down. The effect of the book once it finished stayed with me for hours after.

Excellent book. I'll definitely read Fry again.

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12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, 3 Nov 2001
By A Customer
I enjoyed 'The Liar' which I read years back but this came as something of a surprise. I had no idea Fry's writing had developed such dark corners; though his dazzling style sparkles with wit, this book is not the light-hearted comedy I was expecting (particularly due to the inapproriate jolly blue cover). The characters are all excellent Stephen Fry creations, but they are also his most unlikeable. I found Ned vaguely sympathetic at the beginning, and it is impossible not to feel for him during his ordeals (though I found the torture scenes and island experience pretty sick - despite being understated it was all grim stuff) but by the end he was really rather repulsive (as was the other central hero, Ashley).

Despite the surface humour, despite the intrigue of the mystery, this is actually quite a bleak and bitter book. I was left feeling bloody miserable, to be honest. Buy this if you want a good read, but don't expect something light and enjoyable along the lines of 'The Liar.'

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Another easy classic for Fry
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. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Some Bloke

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book
I have read this several times and may well read it again in the future, and I have no hesitation in recommending it. Read more
Published 4 months ago by K. J. Dean

1.0 out of 5 stars Awful stuff
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... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Michael Murphy

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
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.
Published 4 months ago by Mr. J. D. Hawthorne

5.0 out of 5 stars Absloutely fantastic!!
I recommend this book to everyone!! First Stephen Fry book i have ever read and it was amazing. I even got up in middle of the night to carry on reading it, this happened about... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Ms. P. Jeffery

4.0 out of 5 stars Great read, but unfortunately, seen through Monte Cristo coloured spectacles
I certainly enjoyed this book; ah, how wonderful! - a tale of revenge - what a delicious theme! It is in fact a modern retelling of the ultimate revenge novel (and one of my... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Thomas Wade

4.0 out of 5 stars Read this with an open mind...
Don't read this book expecting a rip-roaring, side-splitting romp that you might expect of a man possessing Stephen Fry's ability (as demonstrated in his other fictional works)... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Say Again

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Thriller, a Great Novel.
Fans of Fry expect humour, and clever ideas but they are in for a shock when they read this.

This a dark book; full of ruminations on the origin of personality and... Read more
Published 21 months ago by D. Wright

4.0 out of 5 stars Tragic and touching
As most of my friends know, I am a big fan of Stephen Fry, so I guess it's no surprise that I liked this book. Read more
Published on 12 Aug 2007 by Lecari

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly Fabulous
This has got to be one of the best books i have ever read. I couldn't put it down, i thought about the plot for days afterwards, i dreamt about it, it was constantly on my mind... Read more
Published on 11 Jun 2007 by Mrs. N. J. Kewley

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