The Neverending Story (Die Unendliche Geschichte) is a fantasy novel by Michael Ende, first published in 1979. The standard English translation, by Ralph Manheim , was first published in 1983.

Synopsis

The book centres around a young boy, Bastian Balthazar Bux, who steals a book called The Neverending Story from a small antique bookstore. It initially appears that Bastian is merely part of a frame tale, with the real story being the one contained in the book he stole, which relates a quest to save 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.

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

Adaptations

A film adaptation of the novel was released in 1984, directed by Wolfgang Petersen and starring Barret Oliver, Noah Hathaway, and Tami Stronach. It covered only the first half of the book, ending at the point where Bastian enters Fantasia. Michael Ende felt that this adaptation's content deviated so far from his book that he requested they either halt production or change the name; when they did neither, he sued them. He lost the case. [1]

The theme song to the film was composed by Giorgio Moroder with lyrics by Keith Forsey , and performed by Limahl, lead singer of Kajagoogoo.

The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter, directed by George Miller and starring Jonathan Brandis, was released in 1990. It used a number of plot elements from the second half of Ende's novel, but told an essentially new story.

The Neverending Story III, starring Jason James Richter, Melody Kay and Jack Black, was released in 1994. This film was based only upon the characters from the Ende book, with a completely new story.

The Neverending Story has also inspired two television series. The 1996 animated series was focussed on Bastian's further adventures in Fantasia (not the same as his further adventures in the book), while the live-action Tales from the Neverending Story retold the whole story as an ongoing series lasting 13 episodes.

External links

• The NeverEnding Story II at the Internet Movie Database
• The NeverEnding Story III at the Internet Movie Database
• The Neverending Story III review, screencaps, sound clips, and a short video clip
• Reconstructivist Art: The Neverending Story
• Tales from the Neverending Story by Muse Entertainment Enterprises Inc.
• The Neverending Story fansite