Momo

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Momo, by Michael Ende

In the US, The Neverending Story is the only work of Ende that is really well-known.  But I'd heard that there was this other story, Momo, and kept my eye out for it.  The first copy I found (on the donation table) turned out to be in Spanish, but eventually I got hold of it...

At the edge of town, there is an ancient ruined amphitheater where children go to play.  Momo, a very small person in ragged clothing, arrives and takes up residence in a sort of cubbyhole under the stage.  Adults come and offer to take her in, but she prefers to stay as she is, so they share their food and goods with her.  Momo is an excellent listener -- the kind that seems to spark ideas and solutions for problems just by listening so well -- and she has many friends.  Games are always more fun when Momo is around.

But the city is changing.  Unobtrusive grey men, in grey suits, are visiting citizens and convincing them to save time by banking it with them.  Everyone forgets the grey men once they're gone* and becomes ever more hurried and grumpy, feeling that they have no time to do anything for leisure or for fun.  The town children are neglected.  Momo, the kids, and her last remaining adult friends figure out what the problem is and try to tell the world, but they're ignored -- and now the grey men are alerted to the danger they pose.

Momo's adventures become ever more fantastic as she tries to find a solution to the menace of the grey men and help her friends.  She meets a communicative tortoise and the master of time himself, but in the final step she has to win through on her own.


I enjoyed the story, though I don't think it's as good as the Neverending Story.  It has intriguing ideas and beautiful language and descriptions.  And now I've found another Ende title to keep an eye out for: The Night of Wishes: or The Satanarchaeolidealcohellish Notion Potion.  (Goodness!)

* I wondered if Doctor Who had lifted this for the Silence.

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