State Library of Victoria \ Inside a dog
Skip to main content

The Neverending Story

Aug 16,2012
Printer-friendly versionSend to friend

Way before His Dark Materials and Harry Potter, there was a book called The Neverending Story by the German writer Michael Ende. It impacted on my consciousness in 1983, which just goes to confirm how truly ancient I am, but there you have it.

The reason I'm bringing it up today, is that it's one of those classics of high fantasy for children and young adults that you may not ever have stumbled across. It's astonishing and a keeper. Its pages contain heroes and anti-heroes, a luck dragon, a childlike empress, a werewolf and interlocking worlds.

I need to re-read it because it's been at least a decade since the last go-round, but time gets that way. One day you're reading a book straight through with a flashlight under a doona at 2 am and the next moment you're positively ... cronelike.

So search out some old-school goodies like this one. If you love Susan Cooper, Phillip Pullman, JK Rowling, D M Cornish and D W Jones, you will LOVE this book.

And please tell me about any slightly forgotten about fantasy classics you think I should know about. I'm always on the look out.

 

Aug 23,2012
Hi to Macadie, Trooperfrank and Reglypuff! Thanks for stopping by. Fantasy is a tough genre because unless you can get that whole suspension of disbelief thing happening with the world you are being invited into, it won't work. The whole souffle of narrative voice, world, cast of characters, language/idiom has to be right for you the reader. I love TLOTR, but I never read the others (Silmarillion etc), though The Hobbit was great, just not quite as great and majestic. I'm just starting The Daughter of Smoke and Bone now (the first YA angel book I've actually been able to read now that my own angels have been set free). It's urban paranormal fantasy with a sci Fi twist. Liking it so far
Aug 21,2012
I wasn't that impressed with the book. I think mainly because I'm not into this sort of fantasy and I don't think there was enough information.
Aug 21,2012
This Book review is very hooking and I will probably read it. Another book (or series) is the lord of the rings series. I may have only read it when I was in grade 4 but even back then I was still a progressing reader. Recommend it for any one (except the faint hearted, young, infant, elderly and any one who doesn't like stories about fighting and weirdly planned world domination.
Aug 21,2012
cool
Aug 21,2012
its sounds alright so i might just think about reading it someday
Aug 21,2012
I LOVE THIS BOOK i also like the move one of my favourites :)
Aug 18,2012
You will definitely love this then but let me know what you think. The second half divides readers a little. I have Inkheart but I haven't read it yet. Reading as fast as I can. Can anyone create a time machine that MAKES time? Please?
Aug 16,2012
Oh, and have you read Inkheart? I think the Ink Trilogy is awesome. That's my recommendation :)
Aug 16,2012
I've heard of this! I think. But if it's for a lover of Phillip Pullman and JK Rowling, it's so for me :)

Post new Comment

All comments are moderated and will not appear immediately. Please be patient - we're keen to know what you think and will get to your comment as fast as we can.