submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by Crul@lemmy.world to c/fantasy@lemmy.ml

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I don't really have anything to add, I just love this book. I searched for "The NeverEnding Story" in this community, saw that there was no post about it and wanted to fix that :).

Image found on Facebook. I think the source of that specific printing is the Spanish version of the book, [EDIT: as pointed by @alvarolh@lemm.ee, the version on the link is also a Spanish version, I may have had a brainfart because of the font (?)] ~~but it's very similar to some German version covers~~.

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[-] HandsHurtLoL@kbin.social 7 points 1 year ago

If you pick up this book, I highly recommend another book written by the same author - Michael Ende - called Momo.

The fantasy parts of the NES sometimes feel like allegory but mostly feel like folly. But Momo is ostensibly an allegory from the beginning. It also feels like waking up your inner child.

The parts of the NES that were not adapted into the films are absolutely whimsical and amazing. It's a true wonder why some details were used in the film and not others. It's a lot of fun!

[-] Crul@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Agree, Momo is GREAT! I resonate a lot with both books.

The fantasy parts of the NES sometimes feel like allegory but mostly feel like folly.

Note that (if I'm not mistaken), NES is mostly an adaptation of Nietzsche's ideas:

Will to power = "Do what you wish" written in Auryn
Eternal recurrence = many "infinite loops" hidden over the book

Many parts of the book make more sense once I was aware of those references (which was not so long ago).

[-] HandsHurtLoL@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago

This is an interesting insight. I have a degree in philosophy but tap danced around the Nietzsche class to go to the phenomenology & existentialism course instead lol

[-] serfraser@sopuli.xyz 4 points 1 year ago

As a 30 something, the movie is part of my dna, but I never read the book sadly. May check it out soon though, I'm trying to get my 7 year old to read more with me atm. And that cover art is beautiful.

[-] Crul@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

I thought about adding a warning about the movies... I find very hard to ackowledge they exist (half kidding :P). Not because they are bad, but they are sooo different from the book; it's sad for me that they are the reference for the name.

I'm not sure I would recommend the book to children younger than ... (?) 11-12 years old. Although maturity in this regard is very personal and subjective and I'm not the one to say who should read what.

[-] Schlemmy@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago

The NES movie was my gateway into fantasy.

[-] serfraser@sopuli.xyz 2 points 1 year ago

Good to know, thanks! Something for when he's a bit older definitely. Also sorry lol, hopefully others here enjoy the books too.

[-] Crul@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Also sorry lol

Hehe, no need for it.
There is nothing wrong with enjoying the films!

[-] alvarolh@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago

I have the edition this picture is from in my shelf, my father handed it down to me when I was a kid. It's a gorgeous edition, each part of the story is printed in a different color to represent which world it's taking place in, I wish more books tried to experiment with the style a little bit. By the way, both links in your post lead to two different Spanish editions, mine is the one from the second link.