Sci-Fi Books For Pre-Teens?

Posted by kdawson on Tuesday July 8, 2008 @01:08PM from the needle-definitely-oh-and-mission-of-gravity dept.

o2binbuzios writes "I have two pre-teen boys who are avid readers, and I am going through my mental catalog 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?"

3 of 1,419 comments (clear)

Re:Dark and Cynical? by XeresRazor · 2008-07-08 14:34 · Score: 4, Funny

Or as my wife like to succinctly put it "OMG WTF Jesus Lion"
Re:Dark and Cynical? by fumblebruschi · 2008-07-08 14:56 · Score: 4, Funny

From McSweeneys:

3-Line Narnia

C.S. LEWIS: Hey, a Utopia ruled by children and populated by talking animals!

THE WITCH: Hello, I'm a sexually mature woman of power and confidence.

C.S. LEWIS: Aaaahhh! Kill it, lion Jesus!
Re:Arthur C Clarke and Doctor Who by CastrTroy · 2008-07-08 22:54 · Score: 4, Funny

throw a copy of Cryptonomicon at them
Just make sure you use the paperback version. Otherwise, you might:

a) hurt the kid.
b) hurt your arm.

--

Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.