A Comparative Study of The Endless Myth and Interstellar — Where Mythic Time Meets Scientific Time
The novel The Endless Myth and Interstellar both explore themes of time, human survival, and transcendence. Yet their approaches are fundamentally different.
The Endless Myth is a structural narrative in which the world is sustained by myth and belief.
Interstellar is a science-fiction epic grounded in physics and cosmology, depicting humanity’s struggle for survival.
This article compares their world-building, treatment of time, protagonists, and concepts of salvation.
World Structure: A World Sustained by Meaning vs. A Universe Governed by Physics
In The Endless Myth, reality is stabilised by myth. The world persists because it is narrated and believed. If myth collapses, meaning dissolves—and with it, the foundation of existence.
In contrast, Interstellar presents a universe governed by physical laws such as relativity and gravity. Humanity seeks survival through scientific exploration rather than faith. The structure of the world is mathematical, not mythological.
The Endless Myth: Meaning sustains the world.
Interstellar: Physical law governs the universe.
The Concept of Time: Cyclical Myth vs. Relativistic Time
Time in The Endless Myth is mythic and cyclical. Events are retold, reinterpreted, and sustained through narrative repetition. Time is embedded within structure rather than measured as a linear progression.
In Interstellar, time is relativistic. Near a black hole, time dilates dramatically, separating parents from children across decades. Time becomes a scientific phenomenon that shapes emotional consequences.
Mythic recurrence contrasts with scientific relativity.
Both works centre on time, yet define it differently.
The Protagonists: Bound by Structure vs. Acting by Choice
The protagonist of The Endless Myth, Messiah, is a symbolic figure fixed within a mythic system. He carries a predetermined role that limits his freedom. His existence upholds structure.
In contrast, Joseph Cooper in Interstellar is a former pilot and a father. His journey into space is motivated not only by humanity’s survival but by love for his daughter.
Messiah exists for structure.
Cooper acts for family and hope.
Divinity and Transcendence
In The Endless Myth, God is an absolute being sustained through faith. Divinity is integrated into the structure of reality and guarantees order.
In Interstellar, transcendence appears in the form of advanced future humans who manipulate higher dimensions. This “higher power” is not divine in a religious sense but an evolutionary extension of humanity.
Mythic transcendence contrasts with scientific transcendence.
Both suggest perspectives beyond ordinary human experience.
Forms of Salvation
In The Endless Myth, salvation lies in the continuation of myth. As long as meaning endures, the world survives.
In Interstellar, salvation emerges from the union of science and love. The decoding of gravitational data, combined with emotional connection across time, enables humanity’s future.
One offers structural salvation.
The other offers salvation through knowledge and human bonds.
Conclusion: Between Meaning and Science
Both The Endless Myth and Interstellar depict humanity facing extinction, yet they diverge in philosophical focus:
One asks why the world exists and how meaning sustains it.
The other asks how humanity can survive through scientific discovery.
Mythic time and scientific time represent two different ways of confronting the infinite. In comparing these works, we see that whether through belief or physics, the ultimate concern remains the same: the preservation of human hope.






