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Ask Slashdot: Best Science-Fiction/Fantasy For Kids?

Posted by Soulskill on from the getting-them-started-early dept.

Jason Levine writes "My son is 8 years old. I'd love to get him interested in science-fiction, but most of the books I can think of seem to be targeted to older kids/adults. Thinking that the length of some novels might be off-putting to him, I read him some of the short stories in Isaac Asimov's I, Robot. He liked these, but I could tell he was having a hard time keeping up. I think the wording of the stories was too advanced and there was too much talking and not enough action. Personally, I love Asimov, but I think much of it just went over his head. Which science fiction and/or fantasy books would you recommend for an 8-year-old? (Either stories he could read himself or that we could read together over the course of a few weeks.)"

4 of 726 comments (clear)

  1. STAR WARS by Forrest+Kyle · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Have him watch Star Wars in the Machete Order and then get him started on the Timothy Zahn books, Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, and The Last Command. They are awesome! I loved them when I was a kid, and still do.

  2. A Wrinkle in Time by Hatta · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Need I say more?

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  3. H. Beam Piper - _Little Fuzzy_ by WillAdams · · Score: 4, Interesting

    _not_ Scalzi's reboot.

    Charming, stand-alone story which is a part of his ``Terro-Human Future''.

    In the public domain, so available from Project Gutenberg:

    http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18137

    If you're travelling at some point in the near future, the version on Librivox:

    http://librivox.org/little-fuzzy-by-h-beam-piper/

    is absolutely professional in its production quality and would make a great story to listen to in the car.

    William

    (and I second the suggestions of Verne, Ender's Game and the Heinlein juveniles)

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  4. Re:Don't try by g0bshiTe · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I remember those old times, be home before the street lights come on. Did you used to see how far you could go during a day and still be home before dark? Farthest I go was from Houston, TX to Pasadena, TX and back home before dark. Roughly 14 miles one way, not too shabby for an 8 year old.

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