Bastian, the main protagonist of the novel, is a “boy of ten or twelve” who lacks athletic ability but has a strong imagination and a deep love of reading (5). Bullied by other children at school and mourning the recent death of his mother, Bastian longs to escape the mundane world. When his attention is drawn to a mysterious book called The Neverending Story, he steals it. Initially, Bastian is merely the reader of the text, supplying his thoughts as he immerses himself in the tale of Fantastica. During this section, his investment in the novel and his musings about its characters and plot allow for a greater understanding of his own personality and the nature of the realm of Fantastica.

During the first half of the novel, Bastian reveals that his current relationship with his father is strained. Since the death of his mother, Bastian believes himself to be invisible to his father. Bastian also feels that he is the butt of jokes at his school, due to his inability to perform adequately in gym class. Bastian’s moral flexibility is also noted early on, for not only does he steal a book and play hooky from school, but he also admits that he has “a weakness for making little fires” (90).