The Neverending Story
by Michael Ende · first published 1983
45% recommend55% neutral
Why HN recommends it
An imaginative, immersive fantasy full of wonder. Its layered second half offers adult readers philosophical ideas about imagination and meaning, and it is generally considered stronger than the film adaptation.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
Related books
2009–2020When the Lion Feeds
Wilbur Smith
Recommended by 2 · mentioned by 22 recommend · 2 mention2 recommend · 22 recommend
2008–2024Grendel
John Gardner
Recommended by 8 · mentioned by 98 recommend · 9 mention8 recommend · 98 recommend
2010–2026Disgrace
J. M. Coetzee
Recommended by 6 · mentioned by 96 recommend · 9 mention6 recommend · 96 recommend
2008–2022The Chosen
Chaim Potok, Jonathan Davis
Recommended by 2 · mentioned by 52 recommend · 5 mention2 recommend · 52 recommend
2012–2025A Prayer for Owen Meany
John Irving
Recommended by 9 · mentioned by 119 recommend · 11 mention9 recommend · 119 recommend
2007–2024Shantaram
Gregory David Roberts
Recommended by 21 · mentioned by 2921 recommend · 29 mention21 recommend · 2921 recommend
2010–2025Demian
Hermann Hesse
Recommended by 11 · mentioned by 1611 recommend · 16 mention11 recommend · 1611 recommend
Best overall: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, and its less well-known sequel, Lila Best fantasy in terms of most imaginative and full of wonder: The Neverending Story by Michael Ende. (I know, everyone saw the crappy movie; it simply does not do the book justice.) Best Scifi: The Hyperion Cantos by Dan Simmons
on “Ask HN: What is the greatest book you've ever read?” ↗The Neverending Story by Michael Ende. This is a book for children but I don’t think I fully appreciated the second half until I was an adult. Also, there’s a cute attempt at a stack overflow crash in the middle :)
on “Ask HN: Great fiction books that have had a positive impact on your life?” ↗It is a pity that later, cheaper editions of The Neverending Story were printed in black ink only. I read the original (well, original English translation) and it really added to the story. Incidentally, for anyone out there that hasn't read The Neverending Story, I…
on “'The Sound and the Fury' as William Faulkner imagined, in color (2012)” ↗…War, etc.). While we're at, why not the Narnia books? I loved them, and I'd no idea the Lion was apparently Jesus until I was nine or so. But by far do not DO NOT forget Michel Ende's marvelous 'The Neverending Story.' If you're only familiar with it from a movie, you've missed the best part, when the boy 'Bastian must take up arms and become the adventurer he has read about and loved.
on “What are great books for boys?” ↗…your comment made me think a lot. You're both right and wrong at the same time, but I couldn't find a good way to express why and how. In the end, I believe Michael Ende described it the best in "The Neverending Story" (the book, not the movies). The essence of what I would recommend to anyone is expressed by the words on the back of AURYN: "Do what thou wilt". As Bastian is told, it's not about doing anything you…
on “Let's build an entire programming environment around Brainfuck” ↗* Anything by Cortázar. * Trainspotting, * Fight Club * Anything by Carl Sagan, specially Contact * Lord of the Rings * The Hobbit * And finally: Anything by Michael Ende: The Neverending Story, Momo (one of my faves).
on “Ask HN: What are your favorite books? I'm bored” ↗A few that haven’t been mentioned: Red Plenty by Francis Spufford is a historical fiction story about the mathematicians and engineers who tried to optimize the Soviet economy. The Neverending Story by Michael Ende is much deeper and more interesting than any of the theatrical versions. Reminiscent of the Matrix sequels, the Childlike Empress threatens to crash Fantastica with a stack overflow (via…
on “Ask HN: What are the best books you've ever read?” ↗Include a copy of The NeverEnding Story by Michael Ende
on “Ask HN: You've got $300 to fill an empty library. What do you choose?” ↗The Neverending Story by Michael Ende Always.
on “Ask HN: What are you reading?” ↗…most excellent and The Glass Bead Games is a revelation for anyone who feels there is something just a little bit ill with the mind and motion of our modern age. Oh, and something along the lines of The Neverending Story (The Silmarillion/LotR), because it's something to lose yourself in with kids and doesn't even have to be read.
on “Ask HN: Please name two of your most favorite books.” ↗It is! Ende was raised under the esoteric Anthroposophy philosophy, and I suspect much of his works are dedicated to debunk its nonsensical beliefs. The second half of The Neverending Story is a philosophical treaty on itself (it hurts the book as an action story, but gives you a lot to ponder about). His child books certainly have a deep second reading as adults.
on “Ask HN: Is the past disappearing on the web?” ↗The original 1979 edition of The Neverending Story was printed in two inks (red and green) depending if the action was set in the real word or in Fantastica. I wonder if more books use this technique?
on “'The Sound and the Fury' as William Faulkner imagined, in color (2012)” ↗…humans blind, so they can no longer distinguish between reality and illusion. Do you know what you and your kind are called there?" "No," Atreyu whispered. "Lies!" Gmork barked ― Michael Ende, The Neverending Story
on “Ask HN: Is the past disappearing on the web?” ↗Michael Ende's The Neverending Story is quite self-referential. Actually, I think there are many examples of recursion in literature. Not that any of it takes away from Douglas Adams' genius.
on “Douglas Adams' 61st birthday doodle by Google” ↗There is one book I know of which uses text color significantly: Michael Ende's _The Neverending Story_. It's very coarse-grained- the color just tells you whether currently-described events are in Fantastica or The Human World- and I don't know if it actually assists in reading comprehension or anything…
on “Syntax Off (2012)” ↗