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.

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.

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.

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.

I didn't really know anything about this book before starting it - just saw Stephen Fry and clicked! It very much wasn't what I was expecting - it's really a thriller but it's written in sections that feel quite different to each other so at times it reads almost like literary fiction. From the first few chapters I really didn't know what to expect at all! I quite enjoyed the mystery aspect of the book and trying to work out what had happened and why. It was definitely pretty violent - not something I'm a fan of so if you don't like violence I'd probably steer clear. Overall though an interesting and fun read.

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.