Ahoy!

One of the reasons I set my Merlin's Last Magic series in 1985 is because the 1980s were my formative years -- and they were a golden age for fantasy and sci-fi. I spent many hours watching movies like Legend and Labyrinth and Dark Crystal. I spent countless afternoons perusing the bookshelves at Waldenbooks, scanning the titles on the spines of the role-playing games: AD&D, MERP, RuneQuest, Pendragon. From books to board games, from movies to TV cartoons, high fantasy was everywhere in the 1980s. And I loved it.

One movie that loomed particularly large for me was The Neverending Story. I'll never forget watching it on a Sunday afternoon at my grandparents' house, my cousin and I sitting transfixed in the living room, haunted and thrilled by the stories of Bastian and Atreyu. When it was over, I immediately set to playing my own adventures in the realm of Fantasia.

Several years later, as a teen, I happened to be browsing through the public library when I spotted a dusty paperback with an all-too-familiar title. I had no idea The Neverending Story movie had been based on a book. But there in the library, that amazing tome was staring me in the face. For whatever inexplicable reason, I did not check the book out that day. In fact, I went almost 16 years before I actually sought out the book again. I read it this past summer (along with my husband), and it was mind-blowing.

Why I waited so long to read The Neverending Story, I cannot tell you, but I can tell you it was worth the wait. For as much as I loved the movie version, Michael Ende's book is infinitely better. It's one of the best pure fantasies I've ever read. Without giving too much away, the moment when Bastian gives the Childlike Empress her new name is only half the story. The second half examines the very heart of what it means to desire fantasy and escapism. It's an unbelievably visceral and thought-provoking experience.

If you are looking for a new book to start this new year -- even if you've never seen the movie version of The Neverending Story -- I heartily recommend Michael Ende's The Neverending Story.

Amazon has the book HERE, if you'd like to take a look.

Since I'm all about sharing great books, if anybody has any recommendations -- particularly of classic fantasies that are lesser known -- reply to this email and let me know. I'd love to share your recommendations with the rest of the crew.

Till next time! Happy Reading!
Jenny