o2binbuzios writes "I have two pre-teen boys who are avid readers, and I am going through my mental register for GREAT Sci-Fi & Fantasy books for them. What are some of the classics (and maybe new additions to the classics) that would be great for them to read?
I am asking because some of the 'straight-up' classics I remember actually seem kind of dark & cynical for younger readers. Starship Troopers and some of the other Heinlein are definitely darker and more political than I remember...Foundation Trilogy and psycho-history maybe too dry..
Road-trip reading season is upon us — what are the good reads for the kids in the back seat?"
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I can't state strongly enough how these books influenced me when I was a child. The Christ allegory aside; they convey a great moral code without being overbearing.
Read in the original publication order; not chronological order. IMHO, if I had read them in the chronological order I wouldn't have enjoyed the last few books as much. Due mostly to the suspense and answers finally given towards the end.
Though they are in some ways dated, most anything by the great masters (Asimov, Clarke, Heinlein, et al) is good for preteens. The older stuff is not full of obscene (to most people) words and situations. I particularly recommend books of their short stories for younger readers. One of my favorite short stories of the deep past is 'The Man With English' by Horace L. Gold. These can also often be found inexpensively in second hand bookstores.
I was reading Orwell when I was your kid's age (probably explains why I have to see my therapist in two hours), but I could always count on Ray Bradbury for a fun, quick, and educational reading experience. If you feel so inclined, they can serve as fodder for some pretty good conversations on the road over the various issues his books present.
Fahrenheit 451 is the obvious choice here, but an underrated classic is The Martian Chronicles. Probably my favorite book of all time, it's one big allegory for Man
"The Complete Stories, Vol. 1" by Isaac Asimov (Easily the best collection of short stories I have ever read)
"Tales from the White Hart" by Arthur C. Clarke (A simple, yet entertaining collection of short stories)
"The City and the Stars" by Arthur C. Clarke (Main character is a young man)
"Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card (A bit of violence, but still a very good book)
"Ender's Shadow" by Orson Scott Card (Again, some violence, but I would still recommend it)
"The Time Machine" by H.G. Wells (A
Narnia and Farmer Giles of Ham (Score:1)
I can't state strongly enough how these books influenced me when I was a child. The Christ allegory aside; they convey a great moral code without being overbearing.
Read in the original publication order; not chronological order. IMHO, if I had read them in the chronological order I wouldn't have enjoyed the last few books as much. Due mostly to the suspense and answers finally given towards the end.
Farmer Giles of Ham, J. R. R. Tolkien
I've suggested this before for
The classics are ... well classic (Score:1)
Ray Bradbury (Score:1)
A few suggestions... (Score:1)
"Tales from the White Hart" by Arthur C. Clarke (A simple, yet entertaining collection of short stories)
"The City and the Stars" by Arthur C. Clarke (Main character is a young man)
"Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card (A bit of violence, but still a very good book)
"Ender's Shadow" by Orson Scott Card (Again, some violence, but I would still recommend it)
"The Time Machine" by H.G. Wells (A