SCI-FI fans !!

[mycats]

I'm looking for some good science fiction books to get my son started on the genre.
He is 10 and a good reader. I'm not sure whats best to start him on

[Clanad]

Here's a nice long list from the SciFan web for 9 to 12 years old... we've used it for selecting reads for out 10 year old who devours them between assembling the latest Star Wars Legos projects...

[Clanad]

Wel... duh...! Add the link!

http://www.scifan.com/themes/themes.asp?TH_the meid=122

[fairkatrina]

Why not try Isaac Assimov's 'Nightfall'? Assimov is a great writer because his stories are short, and play on assumptions we make about our daily lives. 'Nightfall' for example is set on a planet with 5 suns, which only all set at once every 5000 years or something. Of course these people have never seen darkness or stars, and are terrified, go on a mad rampage, and destroy their civilisation. These sort of stories will improve your child's imagination, and teach him to question the world around him, and his perception of it.

[jno]

I started on compilations of short stories - don't know how widely this sort of thing is available now, but any collection would give you a taster of all sorts of different styles and subjects and authors.

[saxy_jag]

You could check out the Doctor Who books - plenty around at the moment.

[mycats]

Thats great thank you Clanad.
fairkatrina I have 'Nightfall' in my bookcase, I think I will give him that.
I have hundreds of sci-fi books so its good advice to start him on the short, compilations, thanks jno.

[mycats]

ooops meant to say I love Nightfall, what a brilliant idea for a story!!

[jessiedog]

How about the Star Wars books or John Wyndham.

Both of these can be watched on film to help get the feel of the stories and to make comparisons between his imagination and a film makers.

[LazyGun]

I would recommend any of Asimovs books... always a good Sci-Fi read.
In addition, Phillip Pulmans "His Dark Materials" trilogy... not quite Sci-Fi but alternate earth which is close enough and a good read besides;
If you can get hold of them, any of Andre Nortons novels... they were the first scifi books I read at that age.
Some of Arthur C Clarkes books would be worth reading... "the City and The Stars" in particular.
If memory serves, Ursula K LeGuin wrote a couple of good books as well.

[Rusks]

There is a short story by H G Wells that I read recently called 'The Truth about Pyecraft'. We were given it to read as an introduction to Sci Fi in our English class. Also, 'Flowers for Algernon' - the short story - by Daniel Keyes is good.

[noxlumos]

Whilst not strictly Sci-fi how about Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy etc or of course Terry Pratchett lots to go at there. My eight year olds upwards read them and they really enjoy them, and if he's a good reader then they'll keep him interested and stretch him a bit.

[mycats]

hhmm thats not a bad idea Nox again, I have al the hitchhikers books and all the Discworld books, so they are already here available! thanks

[Joe Shmoe]

The new series Doctor Who books are very good. Also try Terry Pratchetts Johnny Maxwell trilogy . You might enjoy them yourself.:-D

[mycats]

oh yeah! I forgot about the Johnny books, we have read "Only you can save mankind" are the other 2 any good?

[trakcab]

The Dune series by Frank Herbert,

[mycats]

Dune is my favourite book of all time, I've read it dozens of times (I dont love the othjers as much) but I think it might be a bit too much for him yet, he is only 10. Thanks for suggestion though, are you a fan?

[Joe Shmoe]

Hi again mycats. In My opinion the other two in the Johnny Maxwell series are very good quirky imaginative with lots of humour. In the 2nd Johnny and the dead Johnny can see Dead people and He helps them fight against the demolition of the local grave yard. In the 3rd Johnny and the bomb. Personally I think is the best of the three. Johnny and his friends go time travelling back to 1941. Hope that helps you decide. While I'm here have you read The Box of Delights by john Masefield ? children and Adults of all years have liked that for years.:-D

[pingping]

how about Magician by Raymond E Feist - very good and is part of a trilogy too.

[mycats]

I've never read Magician, thanks will give it a go.
Joe Shmoe I loved The Box of delights when I was young! Good thinking, I wouldnt have thought of that, thanks for your help

[mycats]

oops meant to say Lazy Gun I have got the Dark Materials trilogy (I enjoyed them) but he didnt seem to interested, maybe he will try them again