The Neverending Story

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Initially, an unedited version of this episode was uploaded.  The newer version is a lot more fun to listen to. 

Inklings Variety Hour welcomes author Jonathan Geltner to the show to discuss The Neverending Story!  

Yes, The Neverending Story is a 1979 children's novel by Michael Ende, who was never an Inkling, and it was made famous by the 1984 movie which Ende disavowed.  We get it.

But we really, really love synth.

In all seriousness, Inklings fans should read this underrated book, as it has much to say about the virtues and perils of imagination and other worlds.  

Among other things discussed: 

• The Catholic Imagination Conference
• 1980s Fantasy Films
• The Second Half of The Neverending Story and the dangers of fantasy
• The evolution of the term "fantasy"
• Carl Conrad Coreander and Chesterton's/Dickens' "MOOR EEFFOC"
• Possible military implications of Falkor coming to Vancouver
• Fantasy as part of reality, rather than an escape from it
• "Fantastica: It just sounds better in German"
• Geography and Landscape in Fantasy

Tomorrow, we will post a bonus episode discussing Jonathan's own highly acclaimed debut novel, Absolute Music.  Both conversations are part of a larger discussion about fairy stories, fantasy, and imagination.  

This episode masterfully produced by Logan Huggins.  There are a few more sonic treasures like this sprinkled throughout the season--enjoy them!  Chris continues to try to grapple with the basics of editing for future episodes--but that, as they say, is another story, and will be told another time.