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Darn right, Sarge. Mote, Footfall, Lucifer's Hammer, Gripping Hand (Mote sequel), maybe Fallen Angels. Great "hard science" fiction. If forced to pick one for HP transitioners, I'd go with Footfall. The alien invasion concept may be easier to follow than Mote.
Isn't that a little advanced for someone coming off HP? The poor guy runs out of tea and you offer Jose Cuervo.
I never used smaller words or sugar coated when my kids asked me my opinion on issues, and my kids are among the brightest in the world.
Obviously you will have to take age into consideration, but not all HP fans are children, and not all are naive.
Obviously you will have to take age into consideration, but not all HP fans are children, and not all are naive.
Most Harry Potter fans are adults. I'm a HUGE fan, and was reading at college level when I was 9. It's not coddling at all. Harry Potter is just the rich, creamy, tasty dessert that tops off the spicy meal. Those who are being coddled, are the ones that watch the movies instead of reading the books. To beat the analogy into the ground, they're eating the boxed Jello no-bake cheesecake mix, while I flew to New York, and went to a bakery and had home-made with love, real new york cheesecake.
The original series is a classic I re-read it every 3 or four years. I'm sorry his son isn't as good as the old man.
The Dino DeLaurentis movie version sucked.
The SciFi Channel production mini-series, although low budget, was actually better done and more in tune with the book.
The Dino DeLaurentis movie version sucked.
The SciFi Channel production mini-series, although low budget, was actually better done and more in tune with the book.
also Space Cadet by Heinlein.
don't forget Alice in Wonderland
and the Hobbit stuff
don't forget Alice in Wonderland
and the Hobbit stuff
Somewhat accessible for kids but, like Swift, biting sarcasm and satire for adults.
Terry Pratchett's "Tiffany Aching" series for early teens is a great follow-up to HP. It's the story of an apprentice witch.
Wee Free Men
Hat Full of Sky
Wintersmith
Wee Free Men
Hat Full of Sky
Wintersmith
"The Chronicles of Narnia". Though usually billed for children, I didn't read them until well into my 20's, and I just love them!
There are more, but these come immdiately to mind.
My introduction to SF was Bradbury's Martian Chronicles. 50 years later, I'm still hooked
Girls under 12 might not be into the level of "bang bang" some of the SF has, but there is a lot of fantasy that allows for crossover - Ella Enchanted would be a good start.
My qualifications? 10 years as a volunteer at an elementary school, working mostly with 4th & 5th grade kids (ages 9-11). If you can grab their attention and tweak their imagination, most of them will be hooked.
On a more personal note, I have two daughters with master's degrees (one engineering, one library and information science) who were introduced to a wide variety of books at an early age and are still voracious readers. Both were Dr. Who fans the first time it was on PBS (one hasn't been a fan since Tom Baker left, the other still is and goes to DragonCon every year).
My introduction to SF was Bradbury's Martian Chronicles. 50 years later, I'm still hooked
Girls under 12 might not be into the level of "bang bang" some of the SF has, but there is a lot of fantasy that allows for crossover - Ella Enchanted would be a good start.
My qualifications? 10 years as a volunteer at an elementary school, working mostly with 4th & 5th grade kids (ages 9-11). If you can grab their attention and tweak their imagination, most of them will be hooked.
On a more personal note, I have two daughters with master's degrees (one engineering, one library and information science) who were introduced to a wide variety of books at an early age and are still voracious readers. Both were Dr. Who fans the first time it was on PBS (one hasn't been a fan since Tom Baker left, the other still is and goes to DragonCon every year).
"The Moon is a Harsh Mistress". It may be a little advanced, but I still recommend it for early- to mid-high school ages.
"Midnight at the Well of Souls".
"I, Robot". The original short stories, not a novelization of that stinking movie.
"Midnight at the Well of Souls".
"I, Robot". The original short stories, not a novelization of that stinking movie.
I liked Anne McCaffrey's Brainship series and the early Pern series as a youngster. The Pern series was my first foray into reading fantasy and got me hooked. Gotta love Dragons!
This trilogy can be read as separate books and is suitable for teens upward.
The books are Sundiver, Startide Rising and The Uplift War.
The books are Sundiver, Startide Rising and The Uplift War.
Rather lengthy series but well written and follows group from young people to adults. Lots of magic and travel.
Pat Frank - "Alas, Babylon". This one was shoved down our throats as required reading in High School. I loved it, and it made a deep impression.
But then I was the "nerd" who always read all the reading list...
But then I was the "nerd" who always read all the reading list...
"The Tar-Aiym Krang". Flinx and Pip are probably good transition material from HP.
Out of the Silent Planet. Part of a trilogy that seems to deteriorate, especially by in the 3rd book. OOOSP is first in the series, and excellent in its exploration of 'fear of the unknown'. Perelandra - 2nd in the series was good, but OOSP my fav.
The first book (Brightness Reef)can be a bit hard to get into but if you've read the first uplift trilogy, it's easier. This and the other two books (Infinity's Shore and Heaven's Reach) are best read as a trilogy.
The first trilogy and The Practice Effect are also good reads.
The first trilogy and The Practice Effect are also good reads.
I just couldn't get into it, although I'm not sure why. For some reason I felt cheated when the conclusion moved off planet.
Or just about anything from this author. I also second the Dark Materials trilogy from Phillip Pullman.
Harry Turtledove's Darkness series - Imagine World War II fought with magic, not science and technology. It spans six thick volumes, but HP fans probably won't balk at that.
Okay, I haven't got anything here. But it looked like this would be a good way to organize the discussion, so I stuck this message in as a placeholder. Sue me.
Don't FORGET anything by ASIMOV!!!!
And The "RAMA" series by A.C. Clark / Gentry Lee.
I have been reading SF since I could read.
Highly recommended to help encourage a child's imagination and creativity.
And The "RAMA" series by A.C. Clark / Gentry Lee.
I have been reading SF since I could read.
Highly recommended to help encourage a child's imagination and creativity.
My favorite series when I was young was the whole series surrounding L Frank Baum's Wizard of Oz. These were (if I remember correctly) prequel and sequel to the first and best. To see the list of all 14, click here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Oz_books#By_L._Frank_Baum.
...and in addition to the 14 Baum books, the later books in the series, plus others published by the International Wizard of Oz Club, Hungry Tiger Press, and Books of Wonder, can keep readers of all ages busy and entertained for DECADES!!
I'd really love to see something along the line of the Robert Heinlein teen/young adult books he wrote (Tunnel in the Sky, The Star Beast, Glory Road, Space Cadet, Starship Troopers, Red Planet, etc) written with a current or near future projected technology; and a more equal use of boys and girls in the protagonist roles rather than Mr Heinlein's strong-male orientation.
I cut my teeth on J.R.R. Tolkein's The Hobbit and LOTR trilogy; while Larry Niven got me during my mid-teens. I didn't discover Heinlein until my late teens and early twenties at which time I really had spending money and began devouring his works, plus Edgar Rice Burroughs' and Andre Norton's stuff
I cut my teeth on J.R.R. Tolkein's The Hobbit and LOTR trilogy; while Larry Niven got me during my mid-teens. I didn't discover Heinlein until my late teens and early twenties at which time I really had spending money and began devouring his works, plus Edgar Rice Burroughs' and Andre Norton's stuff
I had all but forgotten Andre Norton's work! How could I? Time to go back and reread!
In addition to her big series, Dragonriders of Pern, The Ship Who..., Powers That Be, Tower & the Hive, Dinosaur Planet, etc., she also has excellent youth-oriented standalones, such as Black Horses for the King.
Eragon is a great book. I haven't yet seen the movie, but hear it deviated pretty significantly and therefore didn't do the book justice. Getting ready to start book two shortly. Paulini is great and was/is just a teenager when he released Eragon, AWESOME.
Harry Potter Encyclopedia
The Making of Harry Potter:The Movie
Breaking Your Harry Potter Addiction:The Go-Outside Edition.
The Making of Harry Potter:The Movie
Breaking Your Harry Potter Addiction:The Go-Outside Edition.
This is now an eleven book series. Very well written.
WOT
WOT
David Eddings has a host of excellent books that can be either young-adult or adult. I particularly enjoy the interplay between the characters as much as the rich plots and the well-designed fantasy backdrop.
Young Adult:
The Belgariad (5 books) story about the fight to overthrow an evil God. Begins with Pawn of Prophecy.
The Mallorean (5 books) story about the fight to fill the void left over after the Belgariad. Begins with Guardians of the West.
Adult:
The Elenium: The Crystal Throne, The Ruby Knight, The Sapphire Rose - another save the world trilogy.
The Tamuli: - follow up trilogy to The Elenium. Domes of Fire, The Shining Ones, Hidden City
Young Adult:
The Belgariad (5 books) story about the fight to overthrow an evil God. Begins with Pawn of Prophecy.
The Mallorean (5 books) story about the fight to fill the void left over after the Belgariad. Begins with Guardians of the West.
Adult:
The Elenium: The Crystal Throne, The Ruby Knight, The Sapphire Rose - another save the world trilogy.
The Tamuli: - follow up trilogy to The Elenium. Domes of Fire, The Shining Ones, Hidden City
Anne McCaffrey has about a dozen books out about regarding the fantasy/sci-fi world of Pern, where humans and dragons fight to save their world from a space-born attack of mindless eating machines called "thread".
Dragonsong, Dragonsinger, Dragondrums, and more. Very good for teenagers struggling to find a place in the world.
Dragonsong, Dragonsinger, Dragondrums, and more. Very good for teenagers struggling to find a place in the world.
in collaboration with Michael Whelan are excellent as well.
Very good for teenagers struggling to find a place in the world.
I love AMcC, but I must admit that is a completely new take on the reason why I'd recommend it to my neice!
"What's that Susie? Struggling to find a place in the world? Here, read a fantasy book about a future planet, bonding with your own personal flying dragon (if you're good enough) and time travel. That will help put it all into perspective."
I love AMcC, but I must admit that is a completely new take on the reason why I'd recommend it to my neice!
"What's that Susie? Struggling to find a place in the world? Here, read a fantasy book about a future planet, bonding with your own personal flying dragon (if you're good enough) and time travel. That will help put it all into perspective."
did you really miss all the psychology underlying the holders. guilders, the white dragon going to a kid who never should have had one in the first place, the social and political battling that went on between holders and dragonflyers, etc...???
What I obviously missed was when it became a psych text instead of just fun to read !
Perhaps you got the inherent social allegory - great! I got the bit about having sex while your dragons are going hammer and tongs at 30,000 feet. Been looking for a chick with a dragon ever since.
Perhaps you got the inherent social allegory - great! I got the bit about having sex while your dragons are going hammer and tongs at 30,000 feet. Been looking for a chick with a dragon ever since.
That was a great quote. I don't think fantasy/fiction books are a basis for figuring out what to do with your life. There are also many non-fiction books that fit that category. For me, its always been about a trust network. Its started with my parents, and grew from there. Once you get older, you can figure out whether you can trust someone's advice, or if they are just full of hot air.
In fact, once you reach that point, you need to go back and re-evaluate your parent's advice. No disrespect, but they are human, just like everybody else.
In fact, once you reach that point, you need to go back and re-evaluate your parent's advice. No disrespect, but they are human, just like everybody else.
Perhaps the most famous is his line beginning with The Sword of Shannara, the Elfstones of Shannara, and the Wishsong of Shannara. There are well over a dozen books in this series and all are excellent "save the world" themes very similar to The Lord of the Rings.
I've been reading Terry Brooks for years now and have to agree with blarman. Most of Terry Brooks books are parts of a Trilogy or a four book series and he puts out a book a year. The Shannara stories are 14 books in 4 series and a prequel. There is also the Word and Void stories which has two series the latest which seems to be bridging the gap between the world of the Word and Void ant that of Shannara.
http://www.terrybrooks.net/
http://www.terrybrooks.net/
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