The Stars' Tennis Balls

Beautifully written and wonderfully narrated. Apparently this story is a modern adaptation of the Count of Monte Christo but since I haven't read the original, this went over my head entirely! Suspect I wouldn't enjoy the Dumas' version nearly as much as this.
I can't believe that it has taken me this long to discover Stephen Fry as an author of fiction. Will be ordering his other titles!

Satisfying read!
I didn’t like the first part of the book but the rest of the story redeemed itself.
The story is a modern take on the count of Monte Cristo , Stephen Fry’s narration is excellent and brings the story to life.
I found the characters had depth even though they were loathsome in their nature.
An enjoyable audio book!

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK Audio for this copy.

I already knew the story of this book but was intrigued about the audio version. BRILLIANT. The audio was captivating and really drew you in to the tale. Loved it.

Took a while to get going but once it did it was worth the wait!
I had no idea what to expect with this one but a great thriller which is different to the popular psychological thrillers which are dominating the market at the moment.
Love it when the narrator is the author, and even better when it's Mr Fry!
Well worth a listen, thanks for the opportunity!

The audio was masterfully narrated by Stephen Fry.
A story of innocence, love, damage, trauma and a good dose of revenge. Mix that with the distinct ‘Stephen Fry’ humor and the result is a fairly compelling read.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Stephen Fry for an ARC audio in return for an honest review.

WOW! I adored this book. It was certainly not what I was expecting. This is a thriller all about revenge, it was gut-wrenching, dark and satisfying. Stephen Fry may now be my favourite new author. The politics in this book is interesting and gives a refreshing change to usual thrillers. I loved it.

This is a great psychological thriller! This is based upon the retelling of "The Count of Monte Cristo" and is a must read. The story focuses on a young man named Ned, who falls victim to his "friends" plot, which sees him sent to a psychiatric hospital, where his memory is seemingly wiped away. Ned manages to regain his memory and seeks revenge on those who had wronged him. A great story with wonderful narration. Thank you very much Netgalley, thoroughly enjoyed this.

For Ned, 1980 seems a blissful year. Handsome, charming, popular and talented, his life is progressing smoothly, effortlessly, happily. And when he meets the lovely Portia Fendeman his personal jigsaw appears complete. But timing is everything in life, and his life is about to change for ever.

Things are going to get very bad indeed for innocent young Ned. A promise made to a dying teacher and a spiteful trick played by fellow pupils will rocket Ned from cricket captain to solitary confinement, from head boy to hell. When Ned emerges he is a man bent on just one thing - revenge; and revenge is a dish he plans to savour and serve to those who conspired against him.

Part love story, part thriller, a gloriously rich mix that only Stephen Fry can dish up to us, The Stars' Tennis Balls will leave you happy and replete.

Stephen Fry as a narrator made this book for me. I have yet to listen to a book he's narrated and not been delighted with it. Do yourself a favour and get this audiobook.

I found the start of this story quite hard to get into, but if you persist its definitely worth the effort. I've never read The Count of Monte Cristo, and I still enjoyed this retelling. As always Stephens narrating is spectacular, I will listen to anything he reads and its a bonus when it's his own writing. The characters were hard to like but were interesting enough to invest in. I would recommend this book. Thanks so much Netgalley & penguin for my first audiobook.

Always enjoy Stephen Fry’s narration, such a wonderful voice and full of quintessential character. The story is a known theme but does not disappoint, very funny in parts. Enjoyable read, thank you #NetGalley for the audiobook.

This is a fantastic, darkly comical book based on The Count of Monte Christo. Ned and Portia fall in love at 17, despite their very different backgrounds. Ned’s private school, and politician father offer him a life of privilege that some of his peers are dangerously jealous of. When Ned’s unknown enemies hatch a plan to bring him down a peg or two, things go far beyond their wishes and Ned’s life is changed forever.
This is one of the best audiobooks I’ve listened to, due not only to the fantastic fast paced storyline, but also because of Stephen Fry’s animated and entertaining narration. Highly recommended.

This is another corker of a read from Fry and he’s excellent form (as you’d expect) on narration duties as you dive into his modern day retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo.

This is like several books in one - starting off as a humorous foray as you learn of Ned and Portia’s blossoming romance and their wonderfully embarrassing expressions of true love with each other, and life in their respective social circles and families. But it takes a darker turn as Ned is taken away and held against his will and held prisoner for a very long time. And that’s when the fun begins.

Boy what a story and one that’s got some amazing characters in it. I really loved Babe - he really was such a enigmatic, brilliant, devious and fiercely loyal friend to Ned. And he’s instrumental in Ned’s quest for revenge - and it’s a doozy. As Ned’s plans for revenge on all those that wronged him (he has a long list!) you really do feel for him as it’s bittersweet, as it really does take him to some dark places.

This is a brilliant, humorous, thrilling read. Fry’s wit and intellect shines through this - particularly with the stratagem education through chess. Pure genius!!

I loved this book!

It was a little slow to start but once I got into it, understood the characters and their dynamics I was hooked and couldn’t stop listening.

It was perfectly narrated by the master himself, he brings the story to the next level.

I was really rooting for Ned and was with him throughout the turmoil and trauma he went through.

I’m so glad I was able to listen to this book.

With thanks to Penguin Random House and Stephen Fry for a review copy of this audiobook.

I would listen to anything Stephen Fry reads, shopping lists, financial times? He reads it, I'll listen. Such an emotive and engaging voice.

I didn't know anything about this one going in, other than it was a Count of Monte Cristo. And just like its inspiration this is a book based on revenge. Fry manages to take the well know elements of the original work, and make it engaging and creative in a modern setting.

My particular highlight of the book is the complexity of Ned's character, which the original count was our hero, Ned is not quite the character a reader can route for. He's much more prone to be pitied. This clever change by Fry nods the original, and also tells a unique tale of its own.

This is the story of revenge based on the general story of "The Count of Monte Cristo". I found the first 1/3 of the book a little difficult to get into as a story with the building of the characters and the story just diving in, but then it picked up afterwards. Narration was done well.

What an absolute delight this novel by Stephen Fry is, cleverly “The Stars Tennis Balls “ is a homage to the Count of Monte Christo and I loved the way he played about with the characters names such as in the original novel there was Mercedes and in this we had Porsha, and the other characters names are anagrams of the originals, but what else would you expect from the very clever mind of Mr Fry. Oh and then there is poor old Ned our main man, whose only crime was being a throughly nice chap, who soon finds himself through no fault of his own-in a spot of bother after his so called friends try to show him up and bring him down a peg or two by hiding something illegal in his pocket but what they don’t count on though is Ned having a letter on him that leads him unfortunately to being incarcerated for many years, also what adds to the enjoyment was having it brilliantly narrated by the talented Mr Fry himself really added to the telling and I don’t feel anyone else could of done it justice, all in all I would highly recommend this audiobook as it has everything you want in a novel romance, wit, likeable characters and revenge. It ticks all the boxes.

I had missed reading this book when it was first published which I was more than happy to put right when I was approved for this edition. Fry’s fictional endeavours are a sheer delight which really shouldn’t be a surprise from a master craftsman of the written word. One of his many gifts is the creation of magnificent character names that just thoroughly instils the essence of the character. Ashley Barson-Garland, is the perfect example of this. He was a devilishly delightful foil as a counterpoint to the hapless Ned.

Listening to Stephen Fry narrate this was the icing on the cake! His voice is so captivating and it’s so easy to get lost in the story as he lures you in with every word uttered, in fact with every syllable.

The ebbs and flows of Ned’s life is hard to keep away from in this entertaining tale.

I chose this audiobook as I like Stephen Fry and love his narration of the Harry Potter audiobooks.

As expected, his narration is wonderful, and definitely made the story more engaging.

This book is billed as a thriller, a modern retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo. I’ve never read it and don’t know much about it so wasn’t sure what to expect.

I found the plot very complex and initially difficult to follow. There were so many characters and name changes and I got them mixed up for the first half of the book. I found the first half quite boring and I struggled with it. The second half picks up a bit and I understood what was happening.

A lot goes on in this book, what’s meant as teenage revenge on a schoolmate goes disastrously wrong. The once popular Ned is involved in an elaborate cover up and eventually he exacts his own revenge, often in quite gruesome ways.

Some parts I felt were pretty implausible and I didn’t feel it was much of a thriller. I felt it took so much concentration to follow the plot. However, a lot of effort has gone into constructing the plot and it is quite clever.

The narration really made this for me and if it hadn’t been for that, I think I would have given up on it in the first half.

I’m not convinced this book was for me. I didn’t enjoy the first half much but I thought the second half onwards flowed a bit more and held my interest.

2.5 stars rounded to 3.

Thanks to Penguin Random House UK Audio and NetGalley for a copy for review.

Dark, capitivating and beautifully written. I absolutely love Stephen Fry's voice and have listened to countless audiobooks narrated by him (favourites being the Paddington series and the Harry Potter series). This one does not disappoint. A fantastic retelling of The Count of Monte Christo, in his own, intelligently-crafted and witty words,

So, it turns out that back in 2000 Stephen Fry wrote a psychological thriller. I'm a little baffled about how this novel has failed to hit my radar before, but I'm glad that I discovered it at last - 'The Stars' Tennis Balls' is an absolute gem!

Inspired by Alexandre Dumas's 'The Count of Monte Cristo' , which I'm ashamed to say that I haven't read, this is the tale of Ned. It is 1980 and Ned is seventeen. He has everything: good looks, money, intelligence, popularity and a besotted girlfriend. Obviously, there's going to be a change coming along, and this is the tale of Ned's downfall and his ultimate revenge on those who did him wrong. (Incidentally, 'Revenge' is the title of the American edition of the novel if you're confused about having read something like this before.)

After reading quite a few thrillers over the last few years, I found this one to be refreshingly different. This book is dark and twisted in places, but yet hilarious and poignant in others. Ned's character is vulnerable and naïve, then vengeful and much darker towards the end. We have all endured plenty of people like Ned's foil, Ashley Barson-Garland, either in real life or on Question Time, and I think that other readers will also enjoy his downfall, but my personal favourite was the hyperbolic character of Babe, who is a wonderful polymath.

Finally, on to the audiobook edition. Well, I've always felt that Stephen Fry is the king of audiobook narration, whether it's Harry Potter or his own novels. Did I enjoy his narration of this novel? Absolutely! No complaints here at all - this is a masterful reading of an excellent novel. Thoroughly recommended.

4.5*
Stephen Fry narrates the audiobook and again, this has been a companion over several hours of lockdown walking. I was surprised to discover that the novel has actually been knocking around since the early 2000s and is a modern interpretation of the story of the Count of Monte Cristo. If you don't know the 'original' story penned by Dumas in the mid 19th century, then don't look it up. Just let yourself be led through Stephen Fry's picaresque storytelling.

It is the 1980s and Ned Maddstone has found the love of his life - Portia - in his final, Oxbridge year at school (guessing he's a Harrovian). He is the son of a Tory MP and has the world at his feet. Portia is the daughter of long-haired lefties (who read the Morning Star) and who insist that their offspring call them by the Christian names. So it is already abundantly clear that the author is tinkering with class and politics before the story really gets into its element. At school he has friends but these are friends who have issues - with him. He is guileless and he secures Ashley Barson Garson (or some such double-barrelled surname - this is the problem with audiobooks, you have no idea how the names are written) a job with his MP father. Gordon is Portia's cousin and arrives unexpectedly from the States following the death of both his parents. There is a right motley gathering of characters in London.

It all kicks off when Ned is part of the school sailing team, on a boat where he is asked to deliver a top secret note by the dying skipper. As if that isn't traumatic enough, a stupid prank by the youngsters in London ensues and that sees Ned bundled off for a lengthy stint in a rather scary institution in the Kattegat area. But that is not the end of the story, his incarceration is only the beginning.

Stephen Fry has a light and well turned writing style. This book can be read on all kinds of levels from a simple enough story of revenge, to spotting the literary references that pepper the prose (the astute among you will know that the title derives from The Duchess of Malfi). As well as politics (and this was written well before the shenanigans around Brexit and sleaze, hard to believe to be honest) - and among other things - he takes on religion, mental health, learning, computer expertise (I was well impressed), gruesome violence and control; and the class system in England. He also examines the leverage over others that great wealth has, used for good and bad.

For anyone who wants to understand a little more about the vagaries of English society, then this novel is a great one to pick up. It is full of humour but it is also an incisive and intelligent look at the chosen themes.

A modern take on the timeless classic The Count of Monte Cristo, well-written and brilliantly read by the author himself. A very enjoyable and entertaining tale.

This book is a retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo, a book I haven’t read but very much want to now! Fry has probably included many subtle references that went over my head but I’m sure would be fun to note if your familiar with the original.

As it is, I had to approach this book with no prior knowledge. The plot becomes quite dark at times although Fry keeps the tone light, this humour is mostly employed during the more ridiculous plot points which I imagine are included as nods to the original. Technology takes a central role and I admire how well Fry was able to fit this in but it does mean that a book published in 2000 already feels outdated given the advances in technology since then!

Fry is fantastic as narrator, his voice makes for easy listening and really elevates a story that can feel a touch formulaic at times.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Stephen Fry is a fabulous author and has the most alluring voice as the narrator of his novel. Very creative writing. This is a book that will give you hours of enjoyment.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this ARC audiobook.

A great audiobook! Stephen Fry is one of my favourite narrators and this book did not disappoint.
Since finishing the book, I’ve looked into the title and it still doesn’t make sense. The original title “Revenge” feels less “Fry” but suits the plot.

This crime/thriller book begins at Harrow boarding school for boys in 1980 and there we meet Ned, our protagonist. A series of events result in Ned’s life turning upside down and him being kidnapped.

I preferred the second half of the book and was rooting for Ned. It’s difficult to not give spoilers and I’m not sure how much the blurb says because when I book is written by and/or narrated by Stephen Fry, I’m in!

This story spans many years and there’s a lot of character development. I was satisfied by Ned’s story arc and the outcomes. This was a great audiobook, I’d recommend it!

I received a copy of this audiobook via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own.

A really fun take on the Count of Monte Cristo! You can always rely on a Stephen Fry book to be well written and narrated, and this one is no different. Bit of a slow start but it got there eventually. A dark and winding revenge thriller, perfect to keep you company for a weekend.

This was a gripping read. At first, I was surprised by the simplicity of the storyline, however this quickly changed. Fate dealt Ned a tragic hand and his life ends up taking an unexpected change to the life he should have lived. Fry uses wit to liven up this fast paced story and I enjoyed listening to it a lot. I love Fry as a narrator but haven't read anything written by him before. A refreshing read and something a little different.

This was a brilliant book to listen to - I had read it years ago but truthfully couldn't remember much of the storyline so it was very much like coming to it afresh. It is cleverly written with lots of dry observations which have stood the test of time. The story is compelling and there is almost no filler, every section has purpose and adds something to the storyline. Being narrated. by Stephen Fry is excellent - he has a very soothing voice and it is nice to hear the author read his own words! I haven't read The Count of Monte Cristo but I am told this is a modern retelling and it makes me interested to go back and read Alexandre Dumas's novel.

“We are merely the stars' tennis balls, struck and banded which way please them.” John Webster
Stephen Fry is an incredible narrator, adept at atmosphere and emotion, irony and at conjuring up a myriad of characters before my eyes! Even better that this is his novel too. I don’t know if it helps you to know it is a version of the Count of Monte Cristo ..it didn’t help me. It isn’t anything to do with tennis balls or stars- the title is a reference to the quote above - akin to Shakespeare’s ‘As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods - they kill us for their sport.’ A reference to a cruel and random universe, where we are at the mercy of capricious fate. It is the story of Ned and Portia, young people madly in love - just read their love letters! Ned is a really decent chap, at public school and on his way to Oxford. His father is an MP, he’s enjoyed a life of privilege. Ashley attends the same school but his journey has been less smooth, he’s manufactured his double barrelled surname and created a more laudable narrative for himself because his origins aren’t so worthy. Ashley resents the meritorious world weighted against him.When he discovers that Ned has read his diary he plots revenge...but capricious fate jumps in to play its own part!
This is absolutely glorious! The story could only have been written by one as clever and educationally rounded as Fry, with spatterings of numerous languages, references to chess moves, the classics, theology, history ..It is wickedly funny, ingeniously plotted and crafted. I would add there’s a degree of violence which made me squirm a little - but I’m a wuss. This novel may make you reflect on the morality or otherwise of revenge, a society which perpetuates privilege, how events shape character..but most of the time you will marvel at its audacity and genius! The character of Babe is one I am adding to my favourite character wall of fame! With thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Audio for this marvellous book!

Not having read any Stephen Fry books before, I wasn't sure what to expect, but did enjoy it. I found the beginning a bit slow, but it picked up and it helped that it was read by Stephen himself.

The Stars' Tennis Balls - Stephen Fry

This was a nice change from the usual types of thrillers that I have been reading. As expected beautiful narration and storytelling, however I did struggle a little with the amount of characters and keeping up with them, but this was a personal problem and doesn't reflect on the book at all. Thank you to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for letting me give this book a go.

I love The Count of Monte Cristo, it's a book I couldn't put down once I'd started it. I love Stephen Fry so this was a perfect combination for me. I thoroughly enjoyed how 'Thoroughly thought Through' it was.

A very enjoyable modern take on the classic, The Count of Monte Cristo,.
As one would expect from Stephen Fry, it is well written and as narrator too, what's not to like.

A fab audiobook by Stephen Fry, narrated by the man himself. I enjoy the way he told the story and found it even more amusing during the parts where he would swear. He is able to put make the characters expressive through his narration adding different tones and emotion to his voice, along with what’s happening in the page and the progression of the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook and look forward to listening to another narrated by Stephen Fry in the future.

**I received an advanced copy of this audiobook to listen to and review. Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for allowing me this opportunity. **

Stephen Fry updates The Count of Monte Cristo for the Millennium. That's not just embarrassing press release speak, the dotcom bubble plays a huge part in the latter part of the novel – and having been born in the 1980s, the adolescent nostalgia rush the book gave me earns it a star all on its own.

On the other hand, I find stories of betrayal and false imprisonment very difficult. I suppose you could dig into my childhood for reasons behind that too, but let's be honest, the enduring success of the story of Edmond Dantès suggests plenty of people don't like being screwed over or accused of things they haven't done.

And boy are people screwed over in The Stars' Tennis Balls. It's not a book for the squeamish – bits are up there with Misery for the levels of cruelty they depict. But cruel it must be or Ned/Dantes's revenge would not be so satisfying.

It never escaping the boundaries of the original text, but it's not clear it wants to, and it doesn't need to in order to be a taut and compelling thriller.

(Some might complain that the plot relies on most people in power knowing each other by some extension, but after almost a decade of living in London, I'm willing to buy that.)

Firstly, I should confess that I've been a fan of Stephen Fry ever since I first saw The Cellar Tapes on BBC2 back in the early 80s. I have devoured everything he's done, from ABOFAL through Last Chance To See to his latest podcasts, including reading all his novels as soon as they were published. So this chance to hear him narrating his own book was too good to pass up.

I had no idea that it was based on 'The Count of Monte Cristo' but it is no less good for that - stories become classics for good reasons. At its heart, this thriller is a story of revenge and one which would be enjoyed by anyone who likes a good story. OK, it's a few years old now, but the passage of time doesn't affect the quality and depth of the writing - and the beautiful narration is a lovely added bonus.

If you've not read Stephen Fry's novels before, in my opinion, this is not the best of the bunch, but it is still very good. An average Fry novel is the equivalent of almost anyone else's meisterwerk. I love this and have no hesitation in recommending this title.

A really great audio book, I really enjoyed The Stars Tennis Balls, I went from rooting for Ned to not liking him to feeling sorry for him. Stephen Fry is a great narrator. Overall a really enjoyable listen.

I’m not really sure why this audiobook popped up on Netgalley recently. I can only say I am delighted that it did. Written and narrated by Stephen Fry, The Stars’ Tennis Balls is an absolute delight from start to finish.

Loosely modelled on the outline of the story of the Count of Monte Cristo, Fry brings us a tale that enchants and delights. The Stars’ Tennis Balls is a revenge tragedy intelligently told with brio and wit. The title comes from John Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi –“We are merely the stars’ tennis-balls, struck and bandied which way please them.”

Having no idea what to expect, the opening took me by surprise. A tale of public school and snobbery; of boys and their casual cruelty and of friendships and betrayals. It starts as a bittersweet love story and soon turns into a full throttle story of callous betrayal and bitter rivalry.

Our protagonist, the Edmond Dantès character, is Ned Maddstone, a naïve young man with his whole life in front of him. He is good-looking, applies himself to his studies and is popular. He is of course, Head Boy at his school and his father is Charles Maddstone, war hero, retired Brigadier of the Guards, ex colonial administrator, and a cabinet minister in the Conservative government. His destiny seems assured. He is envied by some of his fellow pupils, but Ned is a generous boy who only wants to see the best in people. He is something of an innocent at large. Ned is also head over heels in love with Portia Fendeman a delightful girl whose Morning Star reading parents, Peter and Hilary, are aghast at their daughter’s relationship with such a bastion of the right. But Ned’s love is reciprocated, as so eloquently and lightly displayed in the love letters that flow between them, and Ned has everything he wants in life.

Sadly that will not last.

Ashley Barson-Garland is everything that Ned is not. Duplicitous even at an early age, he is a cunning sneak with a burning inferiority complex and he wants what Ned has. Ned introduces Ashley to his father and Ashley manages to charm his way into a job. When Portia’s cousin Gordon arrives in London from the States, the stage is set for the rocket that will set Ned’s life on a different course.

Fry writes with a light and humorous touch and still manages a nuanced, layered story that works on a range of levels. Class, politics and betrayal are the underpinnings of this revenge tragedy. The narration is glorious.

Verdict: This is a clever and well-constructed book with a series of deeply improbable events that you will enjoy swallowing whole. It wears its learning lightly. Stephen Fry’s novel is beautifully judged, a delight to listen to and woven through with humour even as it sends up the obsessive pretensions of Britain’s class system. It’s a tale with a moral compass and none the worse for that. I really enjoyed it and I will look out more of Fry’s work.

I really enjoyed this and enjoyed Stephen Fry reading it. I’ve never read any of his other books so was keen to listen to this as I’d heard other people say his books were good.
I liked the idea and was intrigued by what was happening so I wanted to keep listening. The story kept me interested until the end and there were good twists and turns throughout.
I would recommend this to others.

All expectations far exceeded! And I didn’t have low expectations to start with.
Really, Steven Fry is a genius. This was a brilliant story, superbly narrated. The characterizations were spot-on, the plot beautifully twisted and slightly mad and the delivery engaging and enjoyable.

Note: I am glad I did not know of the alternative title ‘Revenge’. If I had, too much of the story would have been revealed and I fear I wouldn’t have enjoyed the story as much. Not to mention the fact that “The Stars’ Tennis Balls” is such a brilliant and fitting phrase and title.