This Fantasy Book Should TERRIFY You.

[@Cam_Wolfe]

Hopefully you're seeing this comment (and some below), as KZbin for some reason keeps disabling and deleting comments on this video. If you are, please do let me know what you think about the video! I really appreciate hearing your thoughts.

[@tracythorndike6417]

This story has never been so relevant. Thankyou. Children now are experiencing the void...The references we had as kids are gone, the nothingness is creeping in.

[@LamiNalchor]

I always had taken that The Nothing in Fantastica meant the death of imagination, inner life, or emotions corresponding to the changing times.

[@TamikaDeniseMaryMMaloney-yl5ln]

Yes it is the imagination of the mind that creates reality gives birth to reality and governs the reality that is either based upon truth or the fear based lies in which Atreyu means son of All And that he is Sebastian and this is shown when they see each other through the mirror and they are alive within the consciousness of Sebastian reality for both the empress and Atreyu are the son and daughter of fantasia the world that literally EXISTS WITHIN OUR WORLD HOW THE CHILDREN OF GOD ARE BEING LIED TO BY THE ADULTS WHO ARE INFLUENCED BY THE SERVANT FEAR THE SERVANT OF THE NOTHINGNESS THE FEAR AND THE NOTHINGNESS ARE THE LIES THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR TEACHING THE CHILDREN THAT MIRACLES ARE ONLY TALES TOLD NOTHING MORE ETC AND REPLACING THE TRUE IMAGINATION AND ABILITY TO IMAGINE AND DREAM TO BRING FORTH INTO MANIFESTATION OF REALITY THE END OF DAYS IN WHICH THE WORLD OF AI AND LIES WILL TRY TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL ORIGIN OF REALITY THE IMAGINATION AND THE ABILITY TO CREATE AND MANIFEST ITSELF INTO REALITY FOR THE TRUE LIVING GOD THE LOVING FATHER ABBA EXISTS WITHIN ALL AND IS THE ALPHA AND OMEGA THE SON THE TRUE LIVING LORD JESUS CHRIST JOSHUA BAR JOSEPH IS REAL THE SON OF ALL THE DAUGHTER OF ALL IS REAL THE GREAT I AM WE BEING THE CHILDREN OF GOD WHO EXISTS WITHIN ALL OF EVERYONE EVERYTHING LIVING AND EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE IT'S INFINITE ETERNAL THE NEVER ENDING STORY

[@johngleue]

Gmork, at least in the movie, supports your interpretation. He says The Nothing is the void that's left when a human loses their ability to dream and to think as an individual for themselves. Gmork says that he willingly helps The Nothing because people who've lost this unique love of life are easier to control. Gmork is a powerluster.

[@33rdgrandinspectorgeneral18]

Fantastic

[@Avelithe]

I’m a thirty-something year old woman who had just recently read the Neverending Story novel. I hadn’t expected it to be so good. The ending made me cry. It made me miss my childhood.

[@supernovic99]

I loved it as well. For me, it's the greatest book ever written. The plot twists and character development was written very well

[@AnnaGirardini]

The Neverending Story was the first fantasy book I read, when I was 9-10 years old, and I think it's still my favourite. I think this is because as I grew up my comprehension of the book became deeper and The Neverending Story sure has depth. In recent years, I also started to appreciate more the second half. The first copy I read of the book was the one with the illustrated capital letters, the two different inks and the textile hardcover with the Aurin embossed within. It was like having THE BOOK in my hands. This book is a spell, an enchantment. It took me and it's still with me.

[@Cam_Wolfe]

That's so cool! I only ever had the regular paperback version, so I'm very jealous haha

[@daniellemagee595]

I‘m glad to hear you loved it as a kid! Because I want to buy it for my niece‘s 10th birthday. She loves fantasy books and I am excited to gift her the version with coloured text. I wanted to make sure it isn’t too scary for kids since I only have read it as an adult.

[@mrhaftbar]

I remember watching the movie as a kid. I love it. Then later when I was studying abroad I found it 8m the library of a friend in Brazil and read it in almost one go. Two things happened: I feel deeply in love with it and it’s themes. And I got so angry with the movie. How could it leave out the most important message about learning to love yourself and being able to share the grief with his father, freeing him of his mental isolation.

[@ergu7811]

I adore them both. I dont think I would have read the book if not for the movie. I see them as complementing each other, telling somewhat two versions of overlapping stories.

[@supernovic99]

Exactly the book explored Bastian so well. The movie from the trailer itself is understandable bs

[@supernovic99]

​@@ergu7811I don't think they complement or anything. The book as itself shows a lot more than the movie.

[@jenniparks8539]

Artax still makes me cry at 37, and now you’ve got the song stuck in my head lol 😂

[@Cam_Wolfe]

haha you're welcome 😂

[@charlottebowman4033]

I adored the Neverending Story book as a kid (still not seen the film) and the second half was definietly my favourite - I don't see Bastion's tale as character assassination or losing himself to fantasy, but a more bog-standard 'power corrupts' thing (although this could be because I read it as a child with 0 critical thinking skills). The trade-off of wishes for losing your identity is a kind of spicy thing I love to see in fantasy - what is magic worth to you? What are YOU worth to you? Bastion has a low self worth at the start, and I can kind of see why a kid bullied for being overweight and weird and who is struggling with money would perhaps not see much in themselves and not care if they loose all that made them THEM? They haven't learned how important it is to just be themselves because the whole world is telling them that being yourself is shitty. So Bastion choosing to lose his identity in exchange for cool magic seems like a no-brainer decision for a depressed kid, but as an adult it's like My Son, My Child, My Stupid Little Brat, please stop this. Idk The Neverending Story wants to attack and pick at how depression feels from all angles - is it sadness (in the swamp)? Hopelessness (when people throw themselves into the Nothing)? Or is it just hating yourself (to the point you'd literally prefer to be anyone else, including a tyrant)?

[@Cam_Wolfe]

That's a really interesting look back at the book Charlotte, thanks! I can definitely get your point about the "power corrupts" angle. Personally I didn't hate it THAT much, although I guess I wasn't a huge fan of the second part, in retrospect 😂 To be fair, that may also be a tainted memory because I hated the second movie

[@NovusIgnis]

This exactly! To me, it always felt like the natural progression of the story, and I always took away the same message that power corrupts, but also the message that you shouldn't lose sight of who you are, because what then is left?

[@Bezanie]

Honestly. The second part of the book was my favourite. The City of The Old Emperors is one of my favourite chapters. It makes me wonder about the stories of those people who are forever trapped in Fantastica. It's scary, sad and interesting!

[@DanielLopez-zt4ig]

The terrifying thing is that when you finish the whole book the reader is not told if Bastian finally got strenght and learned how to beat those kids from school.

[@Temaile]

The second half is my absolute favourite and I will forever be pissed it never made it properly into a movie. It is far from character assassination, rather the opposite, it is what is reshaping Bastian to be the person he truly is deep inside. The whole "Do as you Wish" thing is highly looked over in importance. Bastian learns along the second half that he shouldn't go for shallow things, and that things he wants are not always the same as the things he WANTS. As an adult this makes this book amazingly philosophical and wonderful. And it also fits in with the existential crsis part of the first half. Some people lose themselves, and it's quite a bit of a journey to learn what you want deep inside and escape your existential dread.

[@SomeRandomGuy12x]

I'd not heard the "this story is existentially frightening" take before but I like it. It's a dense narrative and its messages are best understood when you consider both parts of the book together. I love the metatextuality of the book that interacts with its reader - and on multiple layers. At its best, I have always enjoyed the book as understanding that it is a text about... us. As in, the reader. Re-reading it in my thirties, I am really touched by Bastian's journey to understanding his deepest desires and to loving himself for how he actually is. It is a text about facing our own shame of ourselves and the painful journey of self discovery and the relationship imagination has on that journey. I couldn't grasp that as a child. But as an adult, I can understand why someone would think that the pathway to fulfillment lies in setting yourself apart from others, in service of a self concept that is beautiful, courageous and mighty instead of reconciling how you really are. It's a book that renews itself each time I read it, because I am different each time. It is the first and only time I have read it. Very good narrative, really.

[@kaboart]

The Never Ending Story was my first fantasy book I read. Still to this day, is my favorite.

[@Cam_Wolfe]

That's awesome, I don't blame you for keeping it as a favourite 👌

[@milkwater1204]

This book was really one of the first fantasy stories I'd ever read. Easily my favourite. It's haunting, and yet its themes- chiefly, the necessity of resisting the death of imagination and childlike wonder- have had a lasting and hopeful effect on me to this very day.

[@Layrena]

I must admit, I've never seen the movie nor have I ever read the book although it's a German fantasy classic. BUT this is not going to stop me from bragging about the fact that I once, when I was like 8 or 10 years old, rode Falkor during a visit to the Bavarian Filmstudios in Munich. Most scenes of the movie were shot there so naturally they have an exhibition centered around that movie and a life-sized Falkor model. The phrase "power of the name" reminded me of Studio Ghiblis "Spirited Away", in which not forgetting your own name is such a vital part of the whole story. I've always been fascinated by that tiny but impactful story detail, so I think I should put The neverending story or Die unendliche Geschichte on my to-read-list.

[@Cam_Wolfe]

One of the most popular German fantasies ever and you HAVEN'T READ IT?? Lenaaaa c'mon, I'm disappointed

[@Layrena]

@@Cam_Wolfe I knoooooow ! Let me crawl into my box of shame !

[@marocat4749]

Its also in the webtoon kubera the last god, althrough translations on mangadex are better. And warning ots a mystery so there gradually comes up more really dragic stuff and layers up. And still fun. Also very philosophic too. I mean its about humanity, and oh boy. Very existentialist too. Just a recommendation.

[@mondinsel4235]

I haven't read the book, but I feel like I want to after all despite being an adult now. And disliking the sequel movies.

[@mondinsel4235]

That scene with Artax...profound emotional damage in early childhood. 💀 I'll admit I never got around reading the Neverending Story in my childhood because I only turned into a proper reader in my early teens and then never picked it up. Fantastic video!

[@Cam_Wolfe]

Thanks so much! Sorry for bringing back the memories of Artax 😂

[@winnnathan3372]

I've always kind of felt this when I watch the movie, but never knew how to put it into words. Great video :D

[@Cam_Wolfe]

Thanks Winn, much appreciated

[@AgentSapphire]

Adults are just children who can't afford to be children anymore and who eventually forget entirely what it means to be a child. It's heartbreaking.

[@l3x_92]

I read the book and then watched the movie for the first time in my mid-twenties, and I couldn’t believe it was for children lol. The book maybe, although structurally it felt pretty unusual and was especially disorienting once he gets the medallion, but the scene with the horse would have destroyed me as a child. That said, while I didn’t like the movie much, I do think the book is great, if a little slow at times. I honestly liked how awful the main character became, and that he came back from it-I saw it less as character assassination and more the classic “power corrupts.”

[@Cam_Wolfe]

That's definitely an interesting way to look at it! I think for me personally, it was just a bit jarring to have the power corrupting arc squashed together with the whole first part in the same book. That's just me though, I can see how others would love it

[@l3x_92]

@@Cam_Wolfe oh yeah it was super jarring lol. It felt like two separate books. At the same time, the sections are so wildly different that it almost felt like he HAD to make it one book to make sure people would read the full story. If there had been two books, my feelings re: character assassination would probably be different, and I don’t know that I would have finished the second one.

[@bonniehammil2333]

😮 thanks for reminding me about Artax 😔

[@Cam_Wolfe]

my bad 😬

[@winnnathan3372]

just saw your post about youtube deleting comments so came back to leave my comment again LOL can't remember what I said, but great video anyway. Loved this movie and watching it again will never be the same now hahaha

[@Cam_Wolfe]

😂 sorry I missed your first one. I'm talking to KZbin now, so hopefully they can sort it

[@iLiviesimone]

I *love* how you approach book reviews/analyses! Also, tell Frank I say hi- I happen to think he looks like a swell guy Best of luck with the youtube comment thing- happened to me too once 😩 someone went to another video to comment saying they couldn't on the initial video since it was disabled (which I never did), so I went and fixed it, and next day saw that for some reason they were disabled again 😩😩😩. It kept doing that and it felt like some automatic censoring?? youtube gotta get it together

[@Cam_Wolfe]

I don't want to jinx it but it seems like they fixed the comments now, fingers crossed. Also, thanks Livie, I hope you're well!

[@miaikonteras4006]

Okay, late to the party sharing my thoughts. I first read the Neverending Story in its German original (my native language) at about six years old. I loved both parts, from the beginning. Interestingly, the second part appealed to me more. I was the strange child too, the bullied dreamer, so the idea of all this power and being able to be whoever I wanted appealed a lot. I think the second part is not a character assassination, nor is it simply a case of power corrupts. It's deeper. Bastian loses memories related to his wishes, which stands out to me. He wishes to be fit, he forgot he was ever chubby. I realize the same thing in my life - if an aspect of it improves, I forget how bad it was and take the new status for granted. That's part of it, because it keeps me - and Bastian - wanting. There's even a line about how he can't appreciate his new body, cause why appreciate something that's a matter of course? The other part is that almost no-one in Phantasien critisizes Bastian- He's basically surrounded by yes-people, enabling him to push on and on and on. Atreyu and Fuchur are the only ones who try, and Bastian snaps. What happens if people are never critciced? It's scary, cause, given similar circumstances (fast success and yes-people), someone could become corrupt like that. And there's still the old Bastian underneath - his last wish is to cure his father's depression, which enables him to go back home. The ending - 'I'm glad Bastian makes up with his dad, and his life somewhat improves. Still, as a kid, I would have preferred staying in Phantasia.

[@kaitlyng7850]

I watched the movie for the first time when I was around 8 (I'm 19 now). It definitely scared me lol, like Gmork and the Sphinx Gate (with the laser eyes) would definitely get my heart racing. And the nothing was scary too. I loved (and still love) the movie even though it definitely scared me as a kid lmao

[@Cam_Wolfe]

The Sphinx gate spooked the HELL out of me as a kid, even though it's technically one of the tamest parts of the movie 😂

[@kaitlyng7850]

@@Cam_Wolfe True! But damn those lasers eyes had my heart racing every single time I watched that movie. Like maybe this time he was gonna get hit by them (even though I knew he was going to make it haha)

[@FreggFaerie]

This has me thinking about the BONE graphic novel series, have you read those? If not, you might enjoy. I loved them as a kid and they still hold up in adulthood.

[@Cam_Wolfe]

I haven't, but I appreciate the recommendation 😃

[@פוליטיקטינסקיקליינר]

Interesting, i see the connection

[@berserker3414]

It sucks that book didn't have the movie (s) it deserved (I watched it after reading the book). It's too condensed, oversimplified and it changes important parts of the script. I understand back then the movies were shorter and it's a really heavy book for children, not only on themes but in length, but it would be cool they did it the LOTR treatment. Also... What did they do to Falkor??? It pissed me off, he was a white lucky dragon, not a weird dog faced hybrid. He was one of my fav characters in the book and as a dragon kid I was flaggergasted. Did the staff thought an actual dragon would be too scary for kids?? I found his big eyed face more scary honestly. Oh, I also loved Morla, I related to her lol One thing they did right, apart from the music which is really iconic, is that they did the Nothingness pretty well, instead of .. don't know, putting some weird black shadow or humanoid entity

[@leveling.up.consistently]

I love the dragons in Pete’s Dragon and how to train your Dragon. Those dragons are so cute, I don’t know why they didn’t go that direction. But I saw the movie before reading the book and I’ve always loved Falkor. Especially since I had a Russian wolfhound growing up and Falkor looked like my dog. 😆🥰❤️

[@johngleue]

I think the people who willingly gave themselves up to The Nothing would be represented in the real world by people like Bastion's father. They let their romantic dreams die, gave into societal pressures, and thus conformed to an idea of what they're "supposed" to do. They're controlled by the expectations of others and are spiritually primed to be followers. Which is what beings like Gmork want, to control the spiritually empty vessels in the human world and rule over them.

[@JustinMohney]

Honestly I enjoyed the book more than the movie trilogy.

[@mittag983]

Same it had a more phantastical feel

[@shotokanjav]

It was recently announced that the bidding war is over and the novel will be adapted again. Hopefully the core themes are more fully depicted this time. Also to see the second half that was never filmed.

[@CameronKiesser]

The movie has always freaked me out for some reason.

[@Cam_Wolfe]

I don't blame you 😂 the gate scene with the laser beam sphinx guards spooked me bad

[@EstoNoEsUnSpoiler]

And to think they have never published an edition of the book similar to the prop you see in the movie: a large, luxurious leatherbound. It’s my favorite book by the way.

[@Cam_Wolfe]

I remember trying to find a copy of the book that looked like the prop 😂 I begged my mum to take me to like 3 different libraries

[@daniellemagee595]

I actually saw some on Etsy!

[@bannisher]

I'm on a journey to read all the source material to the movies that defined my childhood. Next onto The Princess Bride!

[@kamiliajohnson7430]

I tried to read the book I got about half way through,but was having trouble with one section. Been years ago and I just never picked it back up.

[@Hope-bp2wk]

my favourite memory of the neverending story is the song never ending story and the ending when the dragon chases the bullies and they get their come upings

[@krux02]

The name "Moonchild" isn't a name an adult would pick. But that isn't the point. That is a name an upoular chubby boy picked. It is meant, to be a childish decision, as the boy has yet to grow to make wiser decisions. This is just the start for the boys own hero's journey.

[@erinreijnders7697]

Book is fantastic. Deals with dark themes. I trully hope if they adapt it again, its not aimed at children (or at least not exclusively). One of my favorite chapters was Spook City. With all the inhabitants going mad and commiting mass suicide by jumping into The Nothing. In the movie Atreyu reaches Spook City once its already abandoned to find Gmork dying. So many deep themes in the book. But.....I will forever love the original movie as it stands!! I am open to a modern adaptation.....if it's done correctly.

[@barbkester9612]

I certainly watched this as a kid and completely agree that the sequels do not exist 😂

[@ergu7811]

I dont agree about the second half of the book. It was nearly 30 years since I read it now but I remember that much, that much of the allegory is twined together in the second part. I was like 10 when I read it and it felt as the brain became like melted sugar while the author challenged ones world view and norms about the world. Some things have come in handy even in the world of university. The best example is the half truth personified by Gmork in the story, later challenged by the empress. Ive seen countless of scientists fall into that trap; many times even not knowing. I although appreciated your input about things Ive never thought about. Gmork as an icon of death for example. Im still a bit hesitant though since according to another video I appreciated, reading from the book, the author (Ende) describes Gmork as a wherewolf which might render the dog of death a bit vague. I liked the video though.

[@lionessoftheseas]

I'm not going to lie; I only know about the neverending story because of stranger things. I genuinely thought it was just a meme. I did not know it was bucket load of childhood nostalgia with a hint of reflective existentialism. Interesting video, I might finally get round to watching it🤣😭

[@Cam_Wolfe]

I'd highly recommend it! The movie still holds up pretty well. Loved the Stranger Things reference too haha 😂

[@johngleue]

I haven't read the book, but from what little I've heard, i think you're right about the author trying to stress the necessity of balance between the two worlds of fantasy and reality. I think the Auryn is a representation of this balance. It ties the two worlds together. It makes me think of empiricism and rationalism. Empiricists neglect the mind and think reality just imprints knowledge onto us through experience. So they flat out reject concepts as being a part of the epistemological process (the process of gaining knowledge). Rationalists hold ideas above reality itself and believe knowledge is gained by deducing concepts. Concepts that are inside their head and aren't derived from physical facts. Both of these camps are wrong. So Bastion goes from nearly losing his childlike wonder of the world to nearly losing his grip on reality altogether.

[@mr_reborn]

If you can't do this without shitting on the subject matter, then don't bother doing it at all.

[@TLBainter]

It's good to see that Frank got out of that playground!

[@Cam_Wolfe]

😂

[@oceanbreeze987]

What's interesting to see aspect of "blue a guild." I'm putting the pieces together, I'm thinking that the book might be hinting that the mother may have taken her own life. If that's the case then it really is a dark, tragic story.

[@MetalMoose13]

Whatever is supposed to rhyme with Blueaguide is going right over my head.

[@Cam_Wolfe]

Sorry about that, the only reason I couldn't just say it is because sometimes KZbin will flag the video if we say certain words. In this case I was referring to the word that starts with S and ends with U-I-C-I-D-E

[@MetalMoose13]

@@Cam_Wolfe Oh.... Oh my.

[@PezFil1]

Funny to know that I read the original ( German)

[@shodannadohs4045]

After reading the book I think the Empress switched places with Bastian in order to escape Fantasia. She probably had only one memory left. She planned everything with Falcor. She took Artax out of the way so Atreyu could meet Falcor acting as trapped. And later turned the book into a Neverending loop to force Bastian to get in and switch places.

[@shodannadohs4045]

Edit: After reading the book a second time, the Empress had 7 wishes left.

[@gozerthegozarian9500]

While I have a lot of nostalgic love for the movie, I agree with the author Michael Ende that it bastardizes his book and fails to do it justice. I think the only filmmaker who could pull off a proper adaptation of The NeverEnding Story is my man Guillermo del Toro - he has the right sensibilities for it!

[@chop_a_chico4183]

What song are you using in the background for most of the second half of the video

[@ltleflrt]

I was 4 years old when this movie came out, which means I was around 5-ish by the time my grandmother got it on Beta to watch at home (the Beta vs VHS war was in full swing lol). I watched it over and over and over and over and... I think that may explain a few things about my personality tbh lol

[@Cam_Wolfe]

hahaha well we have that in common. I must have nearly destroyed the VHS copy rewinding it so many times 😂

[@yogidonnie]

I'm looking for an explanation of the Childlike Empress. What she is up to in the book is never explained, but it comes off as absolutely EVIL. She sucks kids into the Neverending Story to renew her power by giving her a new name, tells these kids they can wish for anything they want, and then disappears. She never warns the "saviors" that all these wishes have a cost, and they will be sucked into the Neverending Story forever and that she will never see them again to explain what is happening. The City of the Old Emporers was terrifying. Thousands of humans, the Empress' previous saviors, with dementia are trapped forever. Fantastica is Hell and the Empress is its devil and jailor. It is weird to me that so many thought she was a good person because of the movie.

[@leveling.up.consistently]

Oh my God that is terrifying!! I read the book over 30 years ago and I don’t remember any of this, thank God. I wonder if I met the Empress because I’ve lost so many memories. I’ve been thinking about reading the book again but now after reading your comment I’m changing my mind ! Lol.

[@innerbytes]

I hate this movie, but I love the book.

[@kamdensteiner5151]

When I was a kid I always Was terrified by this movie

[@Geo_Seven]

There was also a short lived HBO series... which is really really bad like the sequels. They did introduce a neat concept though. The Nothing becomes aware of Triple B and sends some cronies out of the book to antagonize him. It's a really creepy idea, just not executed very well unfortunately.

[@Cam_Wolfe]

I actually vaguely do remember that!

[@voicevitality7197]

For the love of heaven, please get a thesaurus!

[@longobardo9871]

Bastian should have become the slave of Xayide in my mind

[@Danko_Sekulic]

Whaaat??

[@MManel]

I agree By the 70s and 80 s the culture were submerce in the scaping world ,no matter with what

[@trapstar007148]

Im weak he said Sage tortoise 😂 😂

[@BakinKoljac]

i can't watch this video (i only listen to it) because that shaky cam annoys me

[@Cam_Wolfe]

Yeah I’m sorry about that, was something I tried to make the look more dynamic but it didn’t work well so I stopped doing it. Thanks for listening anyway 😃

[@robinmarie8213]

You would describe Bastian as chubby? Really? Does it say that in the book? It's been a long time since I read it.

[@dancegregorydance6933]

One of the greatest books I’ve read

[@J0ker0314]

The original is obviously the best but I didn't mind the 2nd one story was still good as a kid and today... Never liked #3 tho... Seemed rushed and unoriginal, probably since there's no book content for that one

[@vt31008]

Great video you earned a sub and like 👍

[@Cam_Wolfe]

Thanks so much!

[@quincyjones5676]

Im so tired of people using the word Meta.....its so stupid stop it.

[@robynbyrne3278]

;p

[@jerendenlar]

# 310th like