Need suggestions for books for my kid!

delle · Post by **delle** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 3:05 pm

Hi there!

I need some help!

My son (16) is getting really interested in reading fantasy books at the moment. Mediveval, Magic, Dragons, Monsters, Adventuresâ€¦. Etc. etcâ€¦

Iâ€™m trying to find him some new series â€“ or even preferably old ones (thinking Used here!!!) - that he might get interested in, because frankly Iâ€™m liking this reading trend in him - but have come across a bit of a snag.

First of all, I know shit about this genre of books.

Second, we live in Deep-French Quebec. It is near impossible to find a decently priced English book (let alone a whole series, used or new) in my area. Although his current find is in French (la LignÃ©e des dragons) , we can`t find all of the books (missing number 2, so he`s read 1, 3 & 4).
He tells me he`d prefer the next series to be in English, but it`s not absolutely necessary.

Given that so far I`ve had to buy the books one at a time on the internet (which adds up, and gives no immediate love), I`d hoped to hop onto Ebay and just find a whole bunch of choices for buying (USED) full series in one fell swoop, but unfortunately my searches have come up pitifully dry thus farâ€¦. I think I need some direction!

Can any of you suggest other series? I figure once I have some titles I could then re-undertake the search with actual titles in hand, hopefully to a more fruitful outcome.

Bit of a strange request, I know, but I thought I`d throw it out there having gleaned enough to know that fantasy buffs and readers alike abound in this realm, and someone might just throw me exactly the answer I need to keep this kid happily reading!

THANKS!!!

Post by **Elderberry** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 3:22 pm

Sorry I can't help, but I'll bump up the thread for ya!

delle · Post by **delle** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 3:24 pm

Aw gee, thanks, JK!!!

It's a step in the right direction!

VeganChoirGirl · Post by **VeganChoirGirl** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 3:25 pm

http://www.kateforsyth.com.au/eileanan.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Eddings

With David Eddings start with the Belgariad then the Mallorean, then Polgara the Sorceress, then Belgarath the Sorcerer.

Both series are quite good, a boy would probably prefer David Eddings.

Hope that helps.

delle · Post by **delle** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 3:28 pm

Ooooh.

THANK YOU.

Googling 'em now!

Fufa · Post by **Fufa** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 3:37 pm

His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman
The Golden Compass
The Subtle Knife
The Amber Spyglass

I just watched the movie version of this one, haven't read the series yet. It looks a bit more geared to younger teens but the movie was great:
The Books of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin
Wizard of Earthsea
The Tombs of Atuan
The Farthest Shore
Tehanu
Other Wind

You can also always browse http://www.chapters.indigo.ca and read reviews on books in the fantasy and sci-fi category. That's what I sometimes do when I'm at a loss for finding a new book.

gaminwench · Post by **gaminwench** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 3:43 pm

Dragonriders of Pern... lots of books in the series, strong young people, awesome dragons!

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 3:47 pm

Hell, get him the Conan stories. It'll put some hair on his spine.
http://www.amazon.com/Coming-Conan-Cimm ... 0345461517

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 3:47 pm

Anne McCaffery's Pern Series - Sci-Fi with fantasy and a sort of alternate reality bent... and a followable story line...

(Oh hell, Gamin, you beat me to it while I was typing!)

How about C.S. Lewis... there's a LOT more than the whole "Through the Lookinglass" thing... or... Lois McMaster Bujold, who does both pretty cool sci-fi AND amazing Fantasy...

delle · Post by **delle** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 3:51 pm

How did I know this was the place to ask...........

Thank you! Thank you! and Thank you again!

So, I've already found the Belgariad set, used, for 20$. I'm just waiting for a response from the vendor on how much shipping would be. It's either 12$ or 5x that. Bit of a determining factor!

I had read a blurb on the "His dark materials" books that piqued my interest during an earlier search, and had actually planned on looking into it a little more. Your review sparks me to do just that now, Fufa.

I would ask what the overall tone is, tho. I feel reticent to give him something too "dark". He's been suffering from a pretty deep depression lately, and I really don't want to feed it negatively.... I know you can't judge a book by its cover (or in this case, title), but still.... had to ask....

I should also mention that he has a bit of a learning disability that makes smaller print (espcially if there are no pictures to break it up) very difficult for him. He does love to read tho..... Anything with picutres is a major bonus.

Elorrum · Post by **Elorrum** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 4:22 pm

VeganChoirGirl wrote:http://www.kateforsyth.com.au/eileanan.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Eddings

With David Eddings start with the Belgariad then the Mallorean, then Polgara the Sorceress, then Belgarath the Sorcerer.

Both series are quite good, a boy would probably prefer David Eddings.

Hope that helps.

Yes! Belgariad, Malloreon, I really like those. Eddings has written more, but I think these are the best. Better characters and fellowship than some sword and sorcery

If you want a huge series try Riftwar Universe by Raymond Feist. Multiple series, lots of books. It starts with the Silverthorn series.

Earthsea trilogy by Ursula K. Leguin, classic.

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 4:27 pm

He's a little dark, and not too many pictures, but HP Lovecraft is good! And...Its not sci fi but Samuel Colridge's "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" is in book form with illustration by Gustave DorÃ©. Love that book! Is from Dover books.

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 4:43 pm

I don't think he could get depressed reading Terry Pratchetts Disc world books. They're somewhat of a parody of fantasy, but so funny that you would like them too!

delle · Post by **delle** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 4:45 pm

quoting myself wrote: I should also mention...

How's that for a threadstopper!

I probably should have mentionned it first, but frankly had been hoping not to have to mention it at all. (wrapped snuggly in denial here)

Still. This has been fascinating and VERY helpful!

Amazon has a lovely little "look inside" feature that's been allowing me to take a glimpse at the writing style and layout of your suggestions. Without the titles or some kind of direction I'd not have this opportunity.

So I'm already much further ahead than before, thanks to you all.

delle · Post by **delle** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 5:17 pm

I'm pretty turned on by what I've just seen of Discworld right now, to be truthful. It seems to ring all the right buttons....

...and frankly wouldn't hurt my feelings if he doesn't get into it, as at least 2 others of us in the family would surely enjoy them!!!!

Now. The quest is on to find a whole box of 'em! (and then figure out their order!)

MERCI BEAUCOUP!!!!! Fuck you're good! Glad I asked you!

We be just swimming in choices now!!!

Post by **Eric** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 5:35 pm

I haven't seen Tolkien mentioned, and a boy who was formerly 16 & heavy into SciFi/ Fantasy, I loved Tolkien (still do). The Lord of the Rings is a "bit" dark, but the Hobbit is pretty light & fun. I love the Silmarilion as well, but you need to skip the first section the first time you read it- it reads like the most "and Blah begat Blah" parts of the Bible.

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 5:40 pm

That serries does'nt need to be read in order unless you want to watch the progress of re-acuring charicters.

I would suggest you start with "Gaurds, Gaurds" to get him hooked!

hookahdude · Post by **hookahdude** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 7:07 pm

I grew up with Tolkein and Terry Brooks Shannara series.

Here is a site that offers large print - hope it helps...
http://www.pricecheck.co.za/search/?sea ... rry+Brooks

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 7:23 pm

Finding Pratchett used is not easy. People don't give them up, and when they do, they are snatched up pretty quickly.
The Blue Sword is pretty much a one-off (there's a prequel that takes place a few hundred years earlier, but only two characters repeat.) Lovely book. Young adult.
Diana Wynne Jones is nominally a "children's author" but I discovered her at 18, and never looked back. Particular favorites include Howl's Moving Castle and ARcher's Goon.
Watership Down is a gem, my mother read it to me and my little sister when we were kids, and we loved it. There is darkness. There's a lot of darkness in the best fantasy, because it's a form that includes facing the darkness as one of its major themes, but in this case, I think that it is appropriately balanced in the story.
Neil Gaiman is one of the hot fantasy writers today. He's done some children's stuff. I think American Gods might be too old, but it's my favorite.
China Mieville is another hot writer, and this is a charming book that takes place in an alternate London.
I love Tim Powers, but a lot of his stuff is for adults again. On Stranger Tides was my go-to book for him, as it's accessible as pure adventure, but now that they are adapting it for Pirates of the Caribbean I am uncomfortable saying that. Anibus Gates is the other that I'd recommend to a novice fantasy reader, but maybe it's a little old. It's a great romp, but it has dark things in it.
(And while we're on the subject of pirates, let me just say that Treasure Island may not be fantasy, but it's a damn good book and has a solid sense of adventure.)
Assasin's Apprentice is the first book of a trilogy that's pretty good. I find the narrator to be a bit whiney to be reading 3 books in his voice, but again, damn good story.
Is the first three books in a series that's up to 12 or so. Some books are darker than others, but the series is a lot of fun.
I probably could pull up some good science fiction, too, if his interests broaden.
When I was a kid, I read a lot of books that were ostensibly too old for me, and sometimes I'd get weirded out by some of the stuff. But I don't think I was exposed to anything that caused me lasting harm. So, you may want to vet these--I may have no clue as to what's appropriate.

Isotopia · Post by **Isotopia** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 7:23 pm

I'd highly recommend Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross.

That in tandem with Silence of the Lambs which I read to my four year old one summer just before her bedtime.

lonestoner916 · Post by **lonestoner916** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 7:25 pm

All those are pretty good. Also the Dragonlance Chronicles by Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman is a good series.

Eragon, Eldest, and Brisingr, by that one young kid *googles* Christopher Paolini. How do I know all three titles but couldn't get his fucking name out of storage file? Anyway you really can't do any better than Tolkien. I'm assuming he's read the Harry Potters already but if not those are pretty fun.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 8:32 pm

I have some friends that keep up with this stuff much better than I can.
I could ask for you.
The local science fiction group also sells donated books.
They just had the con, but I can check.
I could probably get them to put a package together for you from what they have, and as they shop.
I would think most would run $1-2 a book.
They have some hardbound too, also cheap.
If I'd known before the con, I could have found anything, but I couldn't go anyway.
The members might donate books, but group sales go to a nonprofit purpose.

I suggest
Bran Mak Morn, The Dark Man, etc by Robert E Howard
Doc Savage series by Lester Dent, under the name Kenneth Robeson.
Not all are Lester Dent.
The basis for much future science fiction, superman, batman, etc, etc, etc

Anything by Pohl
Most Andre Norton
Katherine Kurtz, though I haven't read much.
I did meet her.
Early heinlein
In Watermelon Sugar by Brautigan
EM Forster's science fiction stories, one book, as I recall, superb.
Twain
Jerome K Jerome short stories, many are online
The Open Library may be useful too.
They were seeking volunteers once for digitizing books.
http://www.archive.org/post/337580/inte ... -your-help

Nonfiction
History of the World HGW
Halliburton's Wonder Books, and anything else he wrote.

Hard to classify, but everyone should read this
Meetings With Remarkable Men, Gurdjieff

Fufa · Post by **Fufa** » Fri Apr 15, 2011 9:52 pm

delle wrote:How did I know this was the place to ask...........

Thank you! Thank you! and Thank you again!

So, I've already found the Belgariad set, used, for 20$. I'm just waiting for a response from the vendor on how much shipping would be. It's either 12$ or 5x that. Bit of a determining factor!

I had read a blurb on the "His dark materials" books that piqued my interest during an earlier search, and had actually planned on looking into it a little more. Your review sparks me to do just that now, Fufa.

I would ask what the overall tone is, tho. I feel reticent to give him something too "dark". He's been suffering from a pretty deep depression lately, and I really don't want to feed it negatively.... I know you can't judge a book by its cover (or in this case, title), but still.... had to ask....

I should also mention that he has a bit of a learning disability that makes smaller print (espcially if there are no pictures to break it up) very difficult for him. He does love to read tho..... Anything with picutres is a major bonus.

I only actually read the last of the trilogy, The Amber Spyglass (didn't realize it was a trilogy until I finished it, then didn't bother to read the first two cause I already knew the ending). The age group it's geared towards (in my opinion) is late junior high/early high school. The main characters are themselves preteens or teens (can't remember). I know in the Amber Spyglass the protagonists had to travel to the world of the dead to retrieve another character who had died or been stolen, but it was so many years ago I'm a bit fuzzy on the details. I don't remember it feeling too dark, and I personally liked that it was about someone traveling to a new mystical world where he gains an animal guardian/"familiar" that travels with him. I know it's also won quote a few awards as youth books, and been made into a movie not too long ago.

If you are looking for something funny (and with pictures!), these aren't necessarily fantasy dragon style, but they fall into sci-fi. Quirk Classics is a set of books where they take old classics by authours like Jane Austen and Tolstoy, take out the long winding intricately written parts, add pictures, and turn the basic plot lines into humourous sci-fi adventure. I like to read them because they're easy to read, the pictures are great, and they're hilarious.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith - zombies, ninjas, and elaborate fight scenes are added to this romance

Sense and Sensibility and Seamonsters by Jane Austen and Ben H. Winters - once again a romance but now with undersea adventure and people morphed into seamonsters

Android Karenina by Leo Tolstoy and Ben H. Winters - turn of the century Russian high society complete with robots for every task, including personal companions. However, there are threats of terrorists, aliens, and government espionage!

The above three are my favourites (I own all, and am near the end of Android Karenina). They all include some of the best illustrations I've seen in any novel, and are great for anyone who doesn't have the patience to read the originals. They have a website too: http://www.quirkclassics.com/

Ranger Genius · Post by **Ranger Genius** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 2:03 am

I'm gonna have to go with Tropic of Capricorn. I read it at about that age and it changed my life.

graidawg · Post by **graidawg** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 2:27 am

this is my reading material through and through. i tend to read repeatedly then discard so i can discover again later.

David gemmel. has written a whole range of books - start with legend its like conan but a longer story.

stephen donaldson - the chronicles of thomas covenant. i read this about every 5 years its about a leper in another universe long books but engrossing

robert e howard - conan and others whose titles elude me but there was someone or other of mars series if you can find them

raymond E feist wrote an earlier series with someone else who again there name eludes me, called magician, silverthorn and a darkness at setthanon, which lead to a whole spin of series from the riftwar saga there are fantastic it covers several generations of characters so far the writers seem to have devided the two worlds in that series between them and write many, many stories in the respective worlds

theres another series by an auther i cant remember its a trilogy, and the titles of the book are too do with music rhapsody and two others i enjoyed reading them

oh yea Anne Rice i know its vampires but they are good books, and she does none vampire stories too.

dammit i am going to have to go looking for books in charity dhops now

goathead · Post by **goathead** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 2:58 am

Ender's Game Orson Scott Card good series

On a Pale Horse Incarnations of Immortality series Piers Anthony

really like the twists in both of these series of books.

delle · Post by **delle** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 3:15 am

This list is fantastic. (oh yes it is!!!) It's also going to keep me busy for a while, looking them all up.

I think for now, tho, I'll be going with this suggestion:

Isotopia wrote:I'd highly recommend Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross.

That in tandem with Silence of the Lambs which I read to my four year old one summer just before her bedtime.

Tho I'll be replacing the "Dark Night of the Soul" with "The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul", and Hannibal Lecter with Hannah Montana.

Or not. He already got the Hannah Montana lunch-box cold-pack for Christmas and hasn't used it once!!!

You are all most generous with your suggestions and links, and I have to say again how grateful I am for all of you! I came in here a bit lost and now have some direction. Thank you all!!!

graidawg · Post by **graidawg** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 7:53 am

omg omg omg omg thank you for this thread because of it I went into a charity shop looking for books and theres a NEW chronicle of thomas covenant book! which i didnt know about at all, however this means i may not be around for a little while as i have to read it, this is a series of books i have been reading and re-reading for over 25 years

eeeeeeeeeeeeeee proper excited !!!!!!

Post by **AntiM** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 8:04 am

Fritz Lieber, his books about Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser. Ill met in Lanhkmar, Swords and ... well, there are several Swords books, you can get them in anthologies such as The Three Of Swords. Swords in the Mist, Swords and Ice Magic, Swords and So on... I loved them as a teen. A lot of "thud and blunder".

Dragonlance books, although the whole series gets muddy, because there are dozens of spinoffs. Not high literature, but fun. Usually in sets of six, three and so on.

Tolkien is, of course, the root of all high fantasy.

And I hated Sword of Shanarra and all the sequels. I was a Tolkien snob, LOL.

MyDearFriend · Post by **MyDearFriend** » Sat Apr 16, 2011 8:09 am

goathead wrote:Ender's Game Orson Scott Card good series

On a Pale Horse Incarnations of Immortality series Piers Anthony

really like the twists in both of these series of books.

Ender's Game

Ender's Game

ENDER'S GAME

Absolutely fantastic book, it's been turning young male brains inside out for years.

Follow with Ender's Shadow.