The Neverending Story

:This article is about the novel. For the 1984 motion picture article, see The Neverending Story (film).

Synopsis

The book centres on a young boy, Bastian Balthazar Bux, who steals a book called The Neverending Story from a small antique bookstore. Bastian is initially presented as part of a frame tale in which he is merely the enthralled reader of the stolen book — an adventure story about the land of Fantasia, the realm in which all human fantasies and stories are played out. As the book progresses, however, it becomes clear that some of the inhabitants of Fantasia are aware of Bastian, and that he is the key to the success of the quest he is reading about. Halfway through the book, he enters Fantasia himself, and begins to take an active role in events there. Thus, for any avid reader, a large part of the appeal of the book is the way it dramatizes the experience of being "caught up" in a story.

Related Topics:
Frame tale - Quest

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Note: The English translation of the book calls the magic land "Fantastica," although "Fantasia" is a closer translation of the original German name. The film and television adaptations all use "Fantasia."

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The first half of the book, while rich in indelible images and characters, comprises a fairly conventional quest-adventure fairy tale. The second half, however, introduces a number of psychologically rich themes, as Bastian comes to terms with his selfhood, faces his dark side, and moves towards maturity in a world shaped by his wishes.

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The overall theme of the book is the healing power of imagination, as represented by the way in which the world of Fantasia and the real world are presented as vital to each other's survival. Each half of the book can also be viewed as an exemplar of the Hero's Journey story outline.

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