{{short description|1999 novel by Daren King}} {{More citations needed|date=November 2025}} {{Infobox book | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Novels or Wikipedia:WikiProject_Books --> | name = Boxy an Star | image = Image:Boxy an Star cover.jpg | caption = First edition | author = Daren King | country = United Kingdom | language = English | genre = | publisher = Abacus (UK) | release_date = 1999 | media_type = Print (Paperback) | pages = 244 pp (Paperback edition) | isbn = 0-349-11191-X | oclc = 43070024 }} '''''Boxy an Star''''' is the first novel by English author Daren King.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Guest |first1=Katy |title=The author who dances |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-independent-the-author-who-dances/184106335/ |access-date=1 November 2025 |work=The Independent |date=13 June 2008 |page=20 |department=Arts & Books Review |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> It was shortlisted for the 1999 Guardian First Book Award,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Armitstead |first1=Claire |author1-link=Claire Armitstead |title=Ordinary readers have their say |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian-ordinary-readers-have-their/184106793/ |access-date=1 November 2025 |work=The Guardian |date=6 November 1999 |page=10 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> and longlisted for the Booker Prize.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tanner |first1=Nick |title=Former diplomat's sparkling debut wins Nestle prize |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2006/dec/13/nestleprize |access-date=1 November 2025 |work=The Guardian |date=13 December 2006}}</ref> The book is notable for its unusual futuristic vernacular style, reminiscent of works such as ''A Clockwork Orange'' or ''The Book of Dave''.
== Plot summary ==
''Boxy an Star'' tells the story of the relationship between two young lovers, 'Bole' (Thomas Boler) and 'Star' (Stacey Brain), Bole being the narrator of the story. The 'Boxy' in the title is the couple's friend and drug dealer.
After a party at Boxy's flat, at which Bole and Star consume a large number of Boxy's spangles and Es and confuse a duvet with a bag of drugs, they go to visit Star's friend Prim and have afternoon tea. Invited to stay the night, the pair later awake and, forgetting where they are, become frightened and decide to escape, encountering Prim's boyfriend Gary on the way who they think is a 'Mephisto Conjurer' due to his 'smoking stick'.
== Characters == *'''Thomas "Bole" Boler''' — the main character and the novel's narrator. *'''Stacy "Star" Brain''' — Tom's girlfriend.
===Minor characters===
*Prim - a posh bohemian alcoholic. Referred to only as Prim in ''Boxy an Star'' but by the full name Primula Spatula in the prequel ''Tom Boler''.
== Film ==
The book was optioned to be directed by the English photographer Rankin.
==References== {{reflist}} {{Authority control}}
Category:1999 debut novels Category:1999 British novels Category:1999 English-language novels Category:1999 science fiction novels Category:British science fiction novels Category:First-person narrative novels Category:Novels set in the future Category:Books written in fictional dialects Category:Abacus books