The Endless Myth and Makai Suikoden Compared
Endless Stories Shaped by Myth and Rebellion
The novel The Endless Myth and Makai Suikoden, the legendary series by Kaoru Kurimoto, are both works of vast scale and strong ideological depth. At first glance, they appear very different: one is a fantasy centered on myth and faith, while the other is a piece of occult science fiction depicting rebellion by those with supernatural powers. Yet they share a key similarity. Both are stories that confront the structure of the world itself, and therefore cannot easily come to an end.
This article compares The Endless Myth and Makai Suikoden, focusing on their worldviews, protagonists, and the meanings of myth and rebellion.
Worldbuilding: A World Ruled by Myth vs. A World That Resists the Gods
The world of The Endless Myth is a closed system in which myth and faith function as the foundation of order. Myth is not merely a story; it is a social institution that defines how people live and what they value. The world remains stable through myth, but that stability is gained at the cost of freedom.
In contrast, the world of Makai Suikoden depicts gods and higher beings as clearly antagonistic rulers. Humans and those with supernatural abilities fight to overthrow this structure of domination. The world is not closed; it is something to be broken apart and rebuilt.
Why the Stories Cannot End
The Endless Myth cannot end because losing myth would mean the collapse of meaning itself. Myth is constantly renewed and retold, refusing closure. An ending does not bring salvation; it creates a void.
Makai Suikoden became a long-running narrative because rebellion continually escalates. Enemies are not defeated once and for all; they are replaced by ever higher and more powerful adversaries. Each battle leads to the next stage, forcing the story to expand without limit.
Protagonists Compared: Bound by Symbol vs. Choosing Rebellion
The protagonist of The Endless Myth, Messiah, is a chosen symbol consumed by meaning. Placed at the center of myth, he loses freedom in proportion to the role imposed upon him. Being chosen is itself a curse.
The protagonists of Makai Suikoden, by contrast, are those who reject being chosen and instead choose rebellion. They refuse destiny and divine plans, selecting their own reasons to fight.
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Messiah: a being burdened with meaning
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The warriors of Makai Suikoden: beings who seek to destroy imposed meaning
This difference decisively shapes the direction of each story.
Myth and Free Will
In The Endless Myth, free will exists only within the boundaries of myth. People can make choices, but those choices can never escape their mythic roles. Myth is both salvation and a cage.
In Makai Suikoden, free will is explicitly depicted as the will to defy the gods. Even if defeat or death awaits, the act of choosing rebellion itself has value. Freedom is not safe, but it is undeniably real.
Differences in Philosophy
The Endless Myth raises introspective questions such as:
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Why do humans need myth?
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Is faith salvation, or is it bondage?
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Is a life lived according to meaning truly right?
Makai Suikoden presents a far more confrontational philosophy:
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Rebellion against domination
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The rupture between gods and humanity
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Freedom that can only be gained through struggle
Conclusion: A Story That Preserves Myth and a Story That Destroys It
The Endless Myth and Makai Suikoden embody two opposing narrative structures:
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A story that cannot end because it cannot afford to lose myth
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A story that never ends because it keeps destroying myth
One binds humanity through meaning; the other wages war against meaning itself.
Together, they represent two extremes of Japanese fantasy and occult literature, both relentlessly questioning what the world is and how far humans can resist it through stories that refuse to end.
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