The local library has classified this book as adult SF but I'm putting it here as I suspect most reader's of Ende's book think of it as YA fantasy. It's been a while since I saw the movie but I believe there are large differences, especially when it comes to the last half of the novel. However, I enjoyed both.

Bastian Balthazar Bux finds a tome called "The Neverending Story" while hiding inside secondhand book store. The tome interests him so much that Bastian steals the book, and to escape being caught, decides to hide in the attic of his school, and soon becomes immersed in the world of the novel.

The novel-within-a-novel, "The Neverending Story" start out as a fun, but somewhat pedestrian fantasy. A problem plagues the world, and at the same time, the Childlike Empress, a being that presides over the land of Fantastica, is slowly wasting away. The world can only be saved by a young boy, Atreyu, who is entrusted with the Gem, Auryn, to assist in his task.

As the novel progresses, it slowly becomes apparent that Bastian is not merely reading an ordinary novel, and Bastian is the one required to rescue Fantastica from imminent destruction. All of this culminates with Bastian Balthazar Bux entering the world of Fantastica, and the rest of the story details Bastian's journeys throughout Fantastica.

The storyline is, at times, somewhat cliched, but they are quite fun cliches, nonetheless. What is more noteworthy is the sheer inventiveness Ende brings to Fantastica. The beings, the locales, and the activities of those within Fantastica are quite varied and quite original, and it is what makes the book so enjoyable.

I also like the fact that the book presented its messages within the story without being preachy or blatant about it. It's not shoved down your throat at all, unlike what many children's novels do, and I quite appreciate that.

This novel was a favourite from childhood, yet still stands up to re-reading as an adult. Although some cliches are present in the storyline, it is an inventive and original. Highly recommended. ( )

I very much enjoyed this book. I absolutely devoured the first half and loved following Atreyu's Great Quest. And I entirely sympathized with Bastian in the human world as a devoted reader. I felt a little thrown off, though, as Bastian became more and more enmeshed into Fantastica and began losing himself, but upon finishing it realized it was entirely necessary and the perfect way to balance it. I was just a little sad that it had to be sort of extreme. But it turned out right, which is the most important, and I am very excited to find my portal into Fantastica--but that is another story that shall be told another time. ( )

This book is highly imaginative and a classic. In one sense it is a coming of age story for the hero. In another it is an epic fantasy, but the ideas are delightful throughout and no one could regret the time spent reading this work. ( )

I bet you've watched "The Neverending Story" movie when you were a kid? C'mon, dredge it out of your memory banks. It's impossible that you haven't (that is if you're in my generation). If you haven't...sacre bleu! How come?! So don't tell me that you also didn't grow up on Bioman, Shaider, and Daimos etc.? How utterly sad.

Anyways, just finished reading the book that the movie was based on. Yep, there is a book. It's by a German author: Michael Ende. Apparently the book was a bestseller in Germany for 3 years! Facts: it's Fantastica, not Fantasia, although the latter sounds so much better, don't you think?

This is truly a Neverending Story, most of which springs from the imagination of the unlikely human hero, the aforementioned Master Bux, who steals the titular tome, and flees with it to the safety of his school attic, where he becomes much more than a casual onlooker of the worlds of Fantastica.

Michael Ende's imagination works overtime in creating Fantastica and all its inhabitants, and for each thrilling chapter, he introduces another story to be told at another time.

The main story however, is the metamorphosis of Bastian Bux from a frightened, insecure child, and the new relationship he was able to forge with his father after his great learning adventure.

Be wary in your reading of the adventures of The Childlike Empress, Atreyu, Morla, Ygramul, Falkor, Grograman, Hero Hynreck and Xayide, among others, beware the Nothing, and be careful what you wish for, lest you also become a part of the Neverending Story, and forever lose your memories of this life.

Thick-ish pocketbook, but worth reading if you loved the movie. Heck, I even bought the soundtrack when I was a kid! I love Falkor the luck dragon & of course I imagined myself getting married to J. Brandis!

Book Details:

Title The Neverending Story
Author Michael Ende
Reviewed By Purplycookie ( )