Using a magical book, young Bastian is amazed to find that he can enter Fantastica, a realm of unicorns, dragons, sprites, will-o'-the-wisps. Fantastica is decaying, however, and its childlike empress is dying. Only a real human being can set things right, so Bastian crosses the Swamps of Sadness and the Silver Mountains, meeting sorcerers and giants, bats and night-hobs, gnomes and racing snails, as he journeys bravely toward the Ivory Tower. Inspiring the 1984 film, Michael Ende's novel for readers 9 and up remains a favorite, particularly in his native Germany, land of the Brothers Grimm.