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

Don't try by crazyjj · 2012-06-20 06:45 · Score: 5, Insightful

My advice might seem a little cynical, but the first thing I always tell someone who asks "How do I get my kid to like X?" is to tell them "Don't." If they're anything like my kids, mom and dad trying to sell them on something is the quickest way to make it the most uncool thing in the universe.

When I was a kid, my dad kept trying to sell me on Westerns. Whether or not that had anything to do with it, or whether it was just my nature, I can tell you that I *hated* Westerns then and still do. Of course, I never had the heart to tell the old man, and humored him to no end. But if there was ever any chance I was going to like those bastards Louis L'Amour or John Ford, my dad trying to make them seem "cool" certainly guaranteed that it was never going to happen.

As an alternative, why not ask your kid what HE likes, and YOU read some of HIS stuff instead? It will probably be a bunch of crap (my evil kids stuck me with reading those damned Harry Potter and pussy vampire books). But at least you won't be turning him off to something.

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Re:Don't try by Grog6 · 2012-06-20 06:49 · Score: 2, Interesting

I'd already read most of Asimov at 8, and lost my chemistry set privileges. :)
Not going to be a geek, is he?
I'd start with Niven's Ringworld; I remember reading that before puberty, lol.

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Re:Don't try by g0bshiTe · 2012-06-20 06:56 · Score: 4, Insightful

We are talking about an 8 year old. They usually tend to still think their parents are cool at that age.

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Re:Don't try by g0bshiTe · 2012-06-20 07:00 · 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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Re:Don't try by dkmeans · 2012-06-20 07:03 · Score: 2

Maybe a little Jules Verne? or a little EE Doc Smith "Valeron" - lots of action....

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Dan Means
Re:Don't try by Pieroxy · 2012-06-20 07:06 · Score: 3, Interesting

Not trying to force feed them the book is one thing. One can always let the book around, when the kid asks vaguely answer "bah, it's just one of my books". You'll see.
By the way, the OP is asking which books are suitable, not how to make his son like it. The thing is, if he starts with sloppy SciFi books, he will be put off.

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Re:Don't try by dkleinsc · 2012-06-20 07:11 · Score: 5, Insightful

Even better strategy: leave the book lying around, and tell him that it's not for kids his age and he's not allowed to read it. He'll pick it up for sure.

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Re:Don't try by jellomizer · 2012-06-20 07:15 · Score: 2

There isn't anything wrong exposing you children to new things, what is usually more dangerous is making your kids avoid what you think is crap, or not your cup of tea.
If you do that you start planting the seed of a divide between you and him... However there isn't anything wrong to exposing you children to things you like and other things as well.
It is Ok if you kid Like Gangster Rap... However he should be able appreciate classical music as well, if you just let him make his own choices most kids will choose to do what is popular, exposing your kids to other ideas and arts, forces them to decide if they like it or not.

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Re:Don't try by cnastase · 2012-06-20 07:20 · Score: 2

I'd have to say Jules Verne too. Also, I think there's a children's version of Sherlock Holmes stories, not sure what age is addressed to though.

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Re:Don't try by HapSlappy_2222 · 2012-06-20 07:31 · Score: 2

While you're 100% correct, there is nothing wrong with providing access to the material. Remember; this kid is 8. I highly doubt he's concerned with how uncool Daddy is yet. I'd recommend he take his son to the local library (a fun event in any case) and let him pick out all the books that sound neat to him, but gently steer him to the science fiction area, too. This can be as easy as "Hey son, wanna see some of the books Daddy likes to read?"

Regarding selling kids on things: I agree totally that this isn't the right way to go. On the other hand, if there's interest in a project, there's nothing wrong with supplying some motivation when the going gets tough. My daughters both played soccer for a couple of years (at their choice, we found a list of summer programs they could take part in). At first, they didn't much like the practices; learning was hard, as was meeting new friends, getting up on Saturdays, etc. We went a few times, anyway, and they came to look forward to practices and games. One has moved on to ballet now, and the other decided karate was more her thing. I fully expect them to move on to other things many times in the future, too, and I welcome it; I have no vested interest in them doing any specific thing. I do try to instill a little bit of responsibility and pride in the things they want to do, though.

My kids ARE at that "You're embarrassing me, Daddy!!" age. I'm not allowed to hang out and watch practices, but I'm allowed to come to recitals and competitions. I'm not allowed to congratulate them for doing a good job (when did high-fives and fist bumps get uncool, anyway?) until we get a few blocks away. Yes, I'm a 'pretty cool dad', for the most part, but only because I save the mushy parenting stuff for home, and treat them like the young adults they want to be in public, so long as they earn that treatment. I'm young enough to remember what I wanted, and am willing to provide that, to a point.

I think that you're spot on with a parent experiencing what their kids want to do; I have no interest in doing any of these things myself, but it's fun because THEY love it. It's simply valuable to participate in projects as a family, whenever possible. The easiest way to tell if your kids have a spark of interest in a project you enjoy is to mention it, and then simply listen to them. Conversely, the fastest way to tell if your kid has lost interest with a project is when they pick a new one to replace it.

My kids still love playing video-games with me, and they like watching many of my geek TV shows on lazy Netflix Sundays, though they'd never admit it to their friends, and I'm ok with that. I only get 5 more years until college, so I'm taking what I can get. :)
Re:Don't try by Rolgar · 2012-06-20 07:53 · Score: 2

I disagree. If you show an interest, and do it well they will definitely be interested, although you do need to let them have some input into what is chosen.
My wife and I homeschool (private school is an option, but researching homeschool, we've realized one pace or method does not work for every student). I strongly recommend the Thomas Jefferson Education principles for literature. Thomas Jefferson is a framework where the parents pick the materials and curriculum to match the student, and as such, the principles can be used by any parent, even with a child in school.
For young children of this age, they recommend focusing on the old three R's as the foundation of the rest of their education. For the literacy portion, they recommend reading classic works that have been recognized by previous generations as great works. Now, I personally love fantasy and science fiction, but you need more variety than just science fiction and fantasy, but if you are just looking for some from this category to use, I would definitely recommend Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Asimov, Bradbury, and other names considered among the best of those around a generation ago or longer. A good friend turned me on to Andre Norton and Anne McCaffrey late in elementary. I loved the Xanth novels, and I'm sure there are other series out there. Peter Pan is a classic that is geared more toward that age level. Check this Amazon list or a genre list and look through the list for names you recognize since they are probably some of the more widely read and therefore worth reading.
For works outside this genre, you might consider the 3 Musketeers, Treasure Island, Sherlock Holmes, or the books of Howard Pyle. While not specifically of your genre, they are great stories that might catch the interest of young boys.
Reading with a child is extremely important. But don't make it drudgery, or it will make them think reading is a chore. But if you pick fun stuff, they will probably like it and be interested in it and realize that there are wonderful things to be found in books, and you will have plenty of material to work with. Also make it a point to interact with them after the time of reading, and discuss what's been read. This will help them to learn how to think and talk about what they've read.
Re:Don't try by Capt.DrumkenBum · 2012-06-20 07:57 · Score: 3, Insightful

It is Ok if you kid Like Gangster Rap.
WRONG! If your kid likes gangsta rap you have done something wrong and must be punished.
Also, get of my lawn.

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Re:Don't try by cygnwolf · 2012-06-20 08:06 · Score: 4, Informative

If you want to stay with Asimov, he wrote the Lucky Starr books under a pen name, they were targeted at younger boys and were much more accessible and understandable by me than, say, Foundation

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Re:Don't try by dan828 · 2012-06-20 08:20 · Score: 3, Informative

Some of Heinlein's early stuff was aimed at a younger audience. Red Planet, Time for the Stars, Farmer in the Sky, Podkayne of Mars, Citizen of the Galaxy, to name a few.
Re:Don't try by greenfruitsalad · 2012-06-20 08:58 · Score: 5, Informative

I also forgot to mention Terry Pratchett. He wrote quite a few books for his daughter.
There's Johnny Maxwell trilogy which is cool, Nome trilogy which is hilarious and cool, Carpet people which is also very funny, there are also Discworld novels for kids but I haven't read those.
Re:Don't try by lister+king+of+smeg · 2012-06-20 10:17 · Score: 3, Interesting

If you like Asimov you could go with "Norby Chronicles" by Issac Asimov and his wife Janet Asimov. it is a series of scifi stories for kids it even has the three law show up occasionally.

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Re:Don't try by istartedi · 2012-06-20 12:23 · Score: 2

Yes! And we had to ride miles to the mall. At the very least, it was a mile to the nearest store that had video games. Childhood obesity was virtually unheard of.
Now get off my lawn, which I had to mow in order to earn money to put in the video games.

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Re:Don't try by Pseudonym · 2012-06-20 12:37 · Score: 3, Interesting

The Tiffany Aching books (A Hat Full of Sky, The Wee Free Men and I Shall Wear Midnight) to which you prefer are just a little too advanced for an eight year old. Even a reasonably bright eight year old. About 10-12 is probably more realistic. Oh, and the same goes for Nation.
I totally agree with you about the Bromeliad trilogy (Truckers, Diggers and Wings), though. A bright eight-year-old would eat that up, though admittedly not get some of the jokes.

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Re:Don't try by Will.Woodhull · 2012-06-20 13:32 · Score: 2

Agree with parent and grandparent posts. The juvenile Heinlein stories are a good place to start. The only real problem is in remembering whether with that author it is "i before e" or the other way around.
My suggestions would be to start with _Have Spacesuit, Will Travel_, then the one with the Lumox, I do not recall the title but someone here will. _The Rolling Stones_, of course. _Door into Summer_ would be good in a year or so, but not one of the very first books.
Andre Norton also wrote several juveniles that would be good for his age. One was titled _Plague Ship_ or something like that (it is no where near as dark as the title suggests).
If you want to take the time, Hal Clement's _Mission of Gravity_ would be an excellent introduction to hard science scifi. You will need to read it with him in short, digestible settings, probably with the keyboard in reach so that you can also show him how to use Google, Wikipedia, and so forth to explore some of the physics involved. The story is as engaging as the Sinbad The Sailor stories; the science is as solid as it can be.

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Will

Tolkien, of course by plover · 2012-06-20 06:46 · Score: 4, Insightful

I read the Hobbit to my son around first grade, and we read Lord of the Rings when he was about 7. This was ten years before the movies came out, and he was able to use his own imagination instead of seeing Peter Jackson's imagination at work. Highly recommended - he still has fond memories of our reading those books, and even said so this weekend.

If you read them over the course of a few weeks or so they are like any serial, where you learn to keep track of who is where and doing what, and enjoy the anticipation of finding out what comes next. I wouldn't assume they have to be short stories, they just have to hold his interest.

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John

Re:Tolkien, of course by getto+man+d · 2012-06-20 06:55 · Score: 3, Interesting

Thanks for sharing. My father read The Hobbit to me when I was about the same age as your son (~5 years old). I absolutely loved it and, when I was older, read LOTR on my own (still remember being mad that Bilbo wasn't the main character anymore), which started a long and interesting journey throughout the fantasy genre.
I'm sure the Harry Potter series would serve as a great starting point as well.
Re:Tolkien, of course by Quiet_Desperation · 2012-06-20 06:58 · Score: 5, Funny

I hope it was the original version where Bilbo stabs first.
Re:Tolkien, of course by usuallylost · 2012-06-20 08:22 · Score: 2

Starting at about six my mother read a lot of books to me. I'd say try a number of different genre's and see what he likes. I remember her reading me; "The Time Machine", "War of the Worlds", "Have Spacesuit - Will Travel", "Space Cadet", "The Hobbit", all of "The Borrowers" books and about 20 others I don't remember the titles of. She read them a chapter or two at a time just as John is describing. I enjoyed it and it turned me into an avid reader.
Re:Tolkien, of course by Belial6 · 2012-06-20 10:05 · Score: 2

If watching the movies is seeing Peter Jackson's imagination at work, then reading the books is seeing Tolkien's. While basic reading skills are important in life, the idea that books are somehow 'better' as entertainment is simply BS. If you wanted you kid to use his imagination, you should have had him write his own book instead of reading someone else's and taking credit for the authors imagination.

Honestly, TLOTR made better movies than books. While the story was pretty good, and certainly formed the foundation for modern fantasy, the writing itself was atrocious.

Tripods by Anonymous Coward · 2012-06-20 06:48 · Score: 5, Informative

Christopher's Tripods trilogy is aimed at the younger reader. There's even an old British TV adaptation of the first two books.

Re:Tripods by RealGene · 2012-06-20 07:38 · Score: 2

I'm pretty sure this was one of the first SF series I read. Highly recommended.
http://www.amazon.com/Tripods-Trilogy-White-Mountains-City/dp/0020425716

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Jules Verne! by Anonymous Coward · 2012-06-20 06:48 · Score: 5, Insightful

I was totally reading Jules Verne as a young kid. They're easy reads, often interesting for kids, and are very light-hearted/G-rated.

Re:Jules Verne! by icebraining · 2012-06-20 11:18 · Score: 2

Try Walter Miller's translations: http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&keywords=Walter%20Miller&rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3AWalter%20Miller%2Cp_lbr_one_browse-bin%3AJules%20Verne&page=1

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Harry Potter in space by fuo · 2012-06-20 06:49 · Score: 5, Informative

Ender's Game.

Re:Harry Potter in space by wynterwynd · 2012-06-20 07:02 · Score: 2

Eh, maybe not. There's some pretty rough stuff in that book* and some very adult moments. Kids die, some psychologically disturbing stuff, and gets fairly bleak towards the end. Wait till about 12 :)
Corrected.

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Heinlein Juvies. by HornWumpus · 2012-06-20 06:49 · Score: 5, Informative

'Space Cadet', 'Rocket Ship Galileo', 'Have Space Suit Will Travel' etc etc.

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Re:Heinlein Juvies. by Jhon · 2012-06-20 07:03 · Score: 4, Insightful

Agreed. Those are good starters.
Didn't work for my son,though. He just wasn't interested. But he did go for Harry Potter. I read the first 5 books to him. He re-read those on his own -- then completed the series as it came out.
So, I left him alone to find is own interests. Around age 11 he picked up a copy of Percy Jackson. He ate up the entire series. Turns out he has the same "useless superpower" that I have -- the ability to read freakishly fast. He's now getting ready to turn 13 and has read through most of my older Heinleins (I'm not ready to try to explain to my wife Stranger, Time enough for Love, etc... so those are off limits), Asimovs and all my old "serials" (Simon Hawke, Robert Asprin, etc).
I think the best advice is to READ to your kids. Get them interested. Read what they like. And if you can, Be EMOTIVE when you read.
As a side note, I used to end an evening with a cliff-hanger. Right smack dab in the middle of the chapter there'd be something like "... and then there was a BANG! Ok... We're done for tonight". Drove my son insane. Made him seek out the book and read ahead.
Re:Heinlein Juvies. by kailSD · 2012-06-20 07:16 · Score: 5, Insightful

The Star Beast! Kids love Lummox. :)
Re:Heinlein Juvies. by Jiro · 2012-06-20 08:41 · Score: 2

Heinlein's works have made it to the big screen, but they haven't been good when they've done so. (Except Destination Moon, and that's for obvious reasons something few kids would be interested in).
And classic science fiction tends to contain a lot of outmoded technology, outmoded social attitudes, and generally outmoded references to everyday life (does your kid really understand why Have Spacesuit Will Travel has a TV show with a single sponsor, and how he can get real drugs for his emergency spacesuit supplies?). Also, Starship Troopers is a juvenile in name only, and I wouldn't push that on any kid who wasn't educated enough to know how voting restrictions often played out in the real world.

Terry Pratchet by daw1234 · 2012-06-20 06:50 · Score: 3, Informative

Great writer.

STAR WARS by Forrest+Kyle · 2012-06-20 06:51 · 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.

Two of my first SciFi books... by KendyForTheState · 2012-06-20 06:51 · Score: 2

...when I was a kid were "The Runaway Robot" by Lester del Rey and "Secret Under the Sea" by Robert Silverberg. I think I still have them in a box somewhere.

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Re:Two of my first SciFi books... by KendyForTheState · 2012-06-20 06:53 · Score: 3, Informative

Oh, and, while not really Science Fiction, "The Mad Scientists' Club" by Bertrand R. Brinley was pretty cool.

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...I just came for the free beer.

Fantasy by COMON$ · 2012-06-20 06:51 · Score: 4, Informative

Narnia or Dark is Rising, both are fast paced and worthy of a few chapters at a time. I was read them when I was a kid, by the time we finished Narnia I was reading the books to my parents and was way ahead of my classmates on a reading level.

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Hard for 8 Year Olds But Here's a Core Dump by eldavojohn · 2012-06-20 06:51 · Score: 5, Informative

I don't recall getting into this stuff seriously until I was 11 or 12 but names I would throw out would be Madeline L'Engle (Wrinkle in Time), C.S. Lewis (Perelandra, That Hideous Strength), Ray Bradbury (Martian Chronicles or his short stories), Lowis Lowry (The Giver), Orson Scott Card (Ender's Game although it's a long one for kids), Robert Heinlein (The Star Beast, The Rolling Stones), Arthur C. Clarke (Childhood's End), Terry Pratchett (Johnny Maxwell series) ... now, since I was young there have been a whole raft of others and I think Neil Gaiman is even writing children's books now. I guess some names I've heard that you can look into are Andre Norton, Douglas E. Richards, Terrance Dicks, Donald Moffitt, Larry Niven, Jane Yolen, Gary Paulson, etc.

Just so you know, Asimov did edit collections of sci-fi for children (on his way to having his name on 500 books) and I think I remember Young Mutants and Tomorrow's Children being okay collections.

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Re:Hard for 8 Year Olds But Here's a Core Dump by Gutboy · 2012-06-20 07:01 · Score: 2

Asimov also did some books (under the name Paul French) that were intended for juveniles - the Lucky Star series.
Re:Hard for 8 Year Olds But Here's a Core Dump by kermidge · 2012-06-20 07:51 · Score: 2

If one can find a copy, "An Omnibus of Science Fiction" edited by Groff Conklin. Several editions from the Fifties, he also edited a variety of other anthologies. Excellent stories, easily accessible and though-provoking, although some will seem dated. "A Pail of Air" by Fritz Leiber has stuck with me since I read it circa '58.
http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?298440
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2318155.Omnibus_of_Science_Fiction
http://www.iblist.com/book12137.htm
for starters.

e. e. doc smith by Imagix · 2012-06-20 06:51 · Score: 3, Informative

How about the Lensman series?

Farmer in the Sky by Robert Heinlein by genghisjahn · 2012-06-20 06:52 · Score: 2

It's great for kids. About a young boy and his father who emigrate to a terra-formed Ganymede.

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Louis Slobodkin by HockeyPuck · 2012-06-20 06:52 · Score: 2

Check out his series that starts with The Space Ship Under the Apple Tree.

While it was written in 1952, it used to a in every single elementary school library, and is aimed at kids about your child's age.

Jules Verne by ddonato · 2012-06-20 06:52 · Score: 3, Informative

I'd say anything by Jules Verne. I read most of his work between 8 and 10 and I couldn't be happier.

A Wrinkle in Time by Hatta · 2012-06-20 06:53 · Score: 5, Interesting

Need I say more?

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H. Beam Piper - _Little Fuzzy_ by WillAdams · 2012-06-20 06:54 · 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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Douglas Adams and Neil Gaiman by Colonel+Korn · 2012-06-20 06:55 · Score: 2

nt

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Choose you own adventure books by g0bshiTe · 2012-06-20 06:55 · Score: 2

Find some of these. I remember reading these things as a kid and loved them. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choose_Your_Own_Adventure

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The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet by JimProuty · 2012-06-20 06:55 · Score: 3, Insightful

This was got me hooked back in the day (plus the Heinlein juves): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wonderful_Flight_to_the_Mushroom_Planet Part of "The Mushroom Planet Books". These are easy to follow without being condescending. And anyone who isn't captivated by the idea that youngsters could build their own functional rocket ship isn't awake.

Re:The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet by the+gnat · 2012-06-20 07:10 · Score: 2

Oh HELL yes. My mom (!) introduced me to these as a child and I though they were terrific - definitely not "hard" science fiction but an excellent gateway to the genre. Perfect level for an 8-year-old (I doubt he'd have a problem reading it himself).
Some of the other books I've seen mentioned on this thread are probably going to go over the head of an 8-year-old; Ender's Game in particular is pretty dark. The Heinlein juveniles are great but I'd probably wait a couple more years unless you have an exceptionally precocious child. The Norby and Lucky Starr series are both excellent, however. I'd probably give "A Wrinkle In Time" a try too.

Choose Your Own Adventure by SoundGuyNoise · 2012-06-20 06:55 · Score: 2

There's a few sci-fi themed Choose Your Own Adventure books, I bet you can find those easily online.

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Danny Dunn... by LoLobey · 2012-06-20 06:56 · Score: 4, Informative

Books I remember liking from that age that had a science or sci-fi bent were Danny Dunn stories (there were quite a few books, don't know if any are available) and a book called the Dinosaur and the Egg (by Stephanie Lewis?). Lit my imagination and an appetite for all things sci-ency.

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Re:Danny Dunn... by BlueBat · 2012-06-20 07:25 · Score: 2

Great series.

From another non-Sci-Fi/non-Fantasy or maybe semi-Fantasy angle, try these series:

The Great Brain
Mad Scientists Club
Encyclopedia Brown

Wow. Really? by Quiet_Desperation · 2012-06-20 06:56 · Score: 2, Interesting

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

Huh. Shame there's not some vast repository of information where you could search for this.

http://www.google.com/search?q=science+fiction+novels+kids

Kid's Sci-Fi by TubeSteak · 2012-06-20 06:58 · Score: 4, Informative

There's plenty of kid-focused Sci-Fi
Anything with Janet Assimov's name on it is kid friendly.
I loved the Lucky Starr series by Isaac Asimov (under the name "Paul French")
Heinlen even wrote some kids books.

Most of the 'big' sci-fi authors have written stories for kids.
You just have to go looking for it.

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Re:Kid's Sci-Fi by AceJohnny · 2012-06-20 07:16 · Score: 2

I concur on Janet Asimov's books. I actually read those in 7th or 8th grade, after I had read many of Isaac Asimov's other books. I was just looking for anything with "Asimov" on it. I recall finding them a bit juvenile, but still a good enough read that I still remember them 20 years later!

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He's an Eight Year Old Kid by theshowmecanuck · 2012-06-20 06:59 · Score: 2

If he's not interested let him play outside with other kids like he's supposed to. Or at worst let him read comic books. If he's interested in books now then fine, but it doesn't sound like it. Give him a couple of years to develop more. In the meantime interacting with other kids is far better in this internet rich interaction depleted world we live in. Encourage reading sure, but don't push it.

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Stop trying to dumb it down for your kid. by Banichi · 2012-06-20 07:00 · Score: 2

Give him a copy of Accelerando or Cyteen and let him sink or swim.

If it ends up dust covered on a shelf, repeat after me: "It's perfectly OK for my kid not to like what I like, He's my son and I love him anyway.".

Re:Tom Swift books by farnsaw · 2012-06-20 07:01 · Score: 3, Insightful

Seconded again, Tom Swift books come in various Generations... get the latest ones for the most relevance to today. But don't ignore the old ones, they are more fun in my opinion.

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Alan Dean Foster by IWantMoreSpamPlease · 2012-06-20 07:03 · Score: 2

Very accessible, minimal (or none) profanity and sex, very funny (Jed the Dead) and insightful (Nor Crystal Tears)

ADF all the way.

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HP? by BattleBlow · 2012-06-20 07:03 · Score: 2

Some others have already mentioned 'The Hobbit', which is great for his age (I read it to my son at the same age yours is).

I can't believe no one has yet mentioned 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' yet though. That was about the age I read that to my son too. The only caveat is be careful how fast you progress. He's likely not old enough for 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows'. We've tackled that by giving one a year for Christmas.

Re:Short, Fiction, with simple words by Herkum01 · 2012-06-20 07:04 · Score: 2

You need to consider that one of them is one is fiction, and the other is straight out delusional...

"The Day of the Triffids" by stanlyb · 2012-06-20 07:04 · Score: 2

"The Day of the Triffids" - John Wyndham.
Actually, you could say it not science fiction, as it is the reality now....but anyway.

Science Fiction for an 8-yr old by John_Yossarian · 2012-06-20 07:05 · Score: 2

8 is a little young for most kids to appreciate hard science fiction, so I would stick to the softer stuff. Here are a few softer stories I enjoyed at that age:

The Pern books by Anne McCaffrey
The Zero Stone by Andre Norton
Startide Rising by David Brin (I think I was 10 when I read this one, but the concept of dolphins piloting starships blew my mind...some sexual content, though)

Harry Harrison: Stainless Steel Rat series by maroberts · 2012-06-20 07:05 · Score: 2

Always good for a starting point into sci fi.

--

Donte Alistair Anderson Roberts - hi son!
Karma: Chameleon

Alan Garner as well by jd · 2012-06-20 07:06 · Score: 2

Weirdstone of Brisingamon and Moon of Gomrath have plenty of action and are every bit in the same spirit as Tolkien.

For sci-fi, at that age I was into Citizen of the Galaxy, Spaceship Medic and other lighter stuff. However, I would strongly suggest Pratchett's "Only You Can Save Mankind".

--
It's a small world and it smells funny; I'd buy another if it wasn't for the money; Take back what I paid (SoM)

Re:Alan Garner as well by ghostdoc · 2012-06-20 07:27 · Score: 4, Insightful

Good call on Alan Garner, I'd second that.
Also the Wizard of Earthsea series (Ursula LeGuin) are very readable and the character is (or at least starts the adventure as a) kid, which I think is necessary for kid-suitable fiction.
It's heartbreaking to say it, because they've given me so much pleasure over so many years, but we may as a civilisation be moving away from Plain Old Books and into other forms of storytelling.
It might be more useful in the long run to teach him how to discern between mass-market crap and good, meaningful stories in whatever form they take.

--
Business/App ideas are like arseholes: everyone's got one, they're mostly shit, but very rarely they contain a diamond

The Prometheus Project trilogy by slackerfilm · 2012-06-20 07:06 · Score: 2

This series was written by Douglas E. Richards specifically because he was looking to interest his children in science. Though, the books are about an alien race visiting Earth, the science is real (at least the explanations are) and the action is fast paced. He writes in the voice of children very well.

All that said, I got hooked on this author for his Wired series and I recommend that as well.

I also think the Ender's series has been spectacular, but probably not for pre-teen.

--

throw the baby out. The bathwater is cold

The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet by Lurker2288 · 2012-06-20 07:07 · Score: 2

When I was about your son's age, I read Eleanor Cameron's 'The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet,' about two boys who befriend a scientist (who's really almost a wizard) and with his help build a spaceship to explore a small, hithero undiscovered moon populated by friendly mushroom people. It sounds wacky, but it was a lot of fun, and there are a few other books in the series if your son enjoys the first.

Depending on your son, some of Heinlein's fiction for children might also work. I remember loving 'Tunnel in the Sky' and 'Red Planet' when I was ten or so.

Danny Dunn by ai4px · 2012-06-20 07:07 · Score: 2

I liked Danny Dunn when I was in middle school. They'll be a bit dated, but good never the less.

2 Suggestions by CanHasDIY · 2012-06-20 07:10 · Score: 2

1 - The Pern series by Anne McCaffrey. Excellent mix of both fantasy and sci-fi (though perhaps a bit gruesome for an 8 year old...)

2 - the Animorphs book series; I read them when I was a kid and really got into the story. What 8-year-old hasn't dreamed of being able to transform into an animal?

--
An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese

SF or Fantasy? by Frequency+Domain · 2012-06-20 07:10 · Score: 3, Informative

For SF, the Heinlein juveniles: Red Planet, Have Space Suit Will Travel, Between Planets, Space Cadet, etc. if your kid can deal with young-teen reading levels. If you need something younger, Asimov had "Norby" and "Lucky Starr", there were a set of books about "Danny Dunn" in the 50's and 60's, Brinley wrote "The Mad Scientist Club" for Boy's Life around the same time, and there were a bunch of "Tom Swift" books - Jr, not Sr, the latter are way too dated. Also from the 50's, check out "The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet" by E. Cameron. Fifteen years ago my own kids plowed through the "Animorphs" series, but I thought they were formulaic and trite - I guess the recommendation depends on whether you're looking for "good" books or something that the kids will find engaging. In the same vein, Coville's wrote a bunch of lightweight but fun things such as "My Teacher is an Alien".

I would NOT recommend Verne or HG Wells for modern young readers, the prose seems long-winded and obtuse by modern standards, but after your kid's hooked he can certainly go back and fill in with these.

For fantasy, you couldn't do better than "The Enchanted Forest Chronicles" by Patricia C Wrede. Hold off on Tolkien until later, "The Hobbit" might be okay for a read-aloud family activity but is a bit much for most 8 year olds.

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by INeededALogin · 2012-06-20 07:11 · Score: 4, Insightful

I've seen an eight year old read it and love it. It is very accessible because it is just random fun.

Ask your librarian... by vtTom · 2012-06-20 07:11 · Score: 2

Visit your local (or school) library and ask the librarian what other kids your son's age are reading....

Try, just don't force. by pavon · 2012-06-20 07:11 · Score: 2

I agree with you that you shouldn't try to force something on the kid if he doesn't like it. However, at that age there are there are an innumerable number of things that he has never been exposed to, and has no idea whether he likes them or not. Exposing your kids to different things, especially ones that are good for him in general (reading) or had positive impact on your life (like sci-fi) is part of being a good parent. If he doesn't latch onto it, then fine, let it be and move onto something else, but the guy should try, and finding stories that are at the right level for his kid will avoid turn him off unnecessarily.

Choose your own adventure!! by dloolb · 2012-06-20 07:11 · Score: 2

Choose your own adventure !! With a childs limited attention span, the ability to go back and pick another storyline is great, plus the stories are shorter.

--
The electric yellow has got me by the brain banana

Re:Do Try Asimov by Drafell · 2012-06-20 07:12 · Score: 2

Asimov's "Complete Robot" is responsible for getting me into Sci-Fi at the age of 7 or 8. The stories are fairly sanitary from what I remember.

William Sleator by Trunklebob · 2012-06-20 07:14 · Score: 2

As a kid/teen, some of my favorites were by William Sleator. A lot of sci-fi staples were introduced to me in his books (cloning, 4th/5th/nth dimensions, black holes, telepathy, time travel). My favorites were House of Stairs and Interstellar Pig.

I also enjoyed the Tripods series by John Christopher.

Also, I'm seconding the Danny Dunn and Tom Swift series. I think the series of Swift I read was the Tom Swift, Jr. from the 50's and 60's.

Diane Duane - So You Want to Be A Wizard? Series by musicon · 2012-06-20 07:16 · Score: 2

I'd highly recommend the series So You Want to Be a Wizard? series by Diane Duane for kids in the 8-15 age range, although they read fine for older ages as well. And before anyone asks, I'd recommend them over the Harry Potter series. For older kids (12-18), the Amber series by Roger Zelazny is great as well. There's also the old Danny Dunn series. Finally, depending on the kids' maturity level, go for the classics (Stranger in a Strange Land, A Wrinkle in Time).

Hard For Kids? by Tenebrousedge · 2012-06-20 07:17 · Score: 3, Insightful

Those are all good suggestions, I might add Anne McCaffrey to the list. I am confused however by the idea that it's bad to exceed a child's comprehension. Let his own reading material be age-appropriate if you must, but he will enjoy being read good stuff even if he doesn't completely understand it. What exactly is gained by reading unchallenging books?

--
Those who advocate genocide deserve every protection afforded by law, and none afforded by common human decency.

Start with books made for kids by Pontiac · 2012-06-20 07:17 · Score: 2

Rather than trying to get the kids reading the adult shorts and novels try the books they wrote for kids
Asimov has the Luckey Starr series. This was probably the first Sci-fi book I remember my dad reading to me.

David Starr, Space Ranger (1952)
Lucky Starr and the Pirates of the Asteroids (1953)
Lucky Starr and the Oceans of Venus (1954)
Lucky Starr and the Big Sun of Mercury (1956)
Lucky Starr and the Moons of Jupiter (1957)
Lucky Starr and the Rings of Saturn (1958)

From Heinlein

Rocket Ship Galileo, 1947
Space Cadet, 1948
Red Planet, 1949
Between Planets, 1951
The Rolling Stones aka Space Family Stone, 1952
Farmer in the Sky, 1953
Starman Jones, 1953
The Star Beast, 1954
Tunnel in the Sky, 1955
Time for the Stars, 1956
Citizen of the Galaxy, 1957
Have Space Suit—Will Travel, 1958

--
If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur. --Red Adair

Lloyd Alexander by Medievalist · 2012-06-20 07:19 · Score: 3, Informative

Lloyd Alexander's Prydain series for fantasy, Heinlein's juvenile stuff for SF. And don't ask him to read the books, read the books to him. Let him find his own things to read (it'll be godawful stuff in your opinion, and that's OK).

Counterpoint by eldavojohn · 2012-06-20 07:21 · Score: 3, Insightful

I had the same experience with Westerns. I guess when I saw "My Name Is Nobody" I was a bit lost but the Fist Full of Dollars stuff was right in my wheelhouse. Today I don't watch much other than Clint and my dad was okay with that. On the other hand, my dad used to play records for me like Baba O'Riley by The Who and The Beatles' Red and Blue collections on his old record player. I gobbled that stuff up and, later, when I would be exposed to then popular bands like Ace of Base and Green Day from my classmates my body rejected that trash like a baboon heart with the wrong blood type. So I think it can easily go both ways depending on the relationship and the kid's interests. This guy's kid already sounds like he's showing a positive enjoyment towards the books so let's further it.

And today, I have many younger cousins that I guess I never realized looked up to me and thought I was cool. Well, one Christmas, my aunt just put my name on a present to my younger cousin Hunter and it was for some book I never heard of. She e-mailed me the synopsis and he read that book in five days we did a little back and forth over e-mail about it. So I took her cue and started sending him books I pick up at thrift stores and other used book stores if they're cheap (I'd wager he's got some pretty good sets and maybe even doubles of most of these authors). Seriously, stop in a goodwill sometime, pick out some good books and gift them to your younger relatives, it's worth the ~50 cents for the old paperback on the chance the kid reads it. Now when I'm visiting I casually ask him about the books and he goes nuts where he never said two words before.

So, if you want to help the person asking Slashdot, perhaps the suggestion should be "Give the book to his idol and politely ask them to give the book to your kid." Then once the kid is hooked, you just so happen to have read the book as well.

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My work here is dung.

Xanth by treerex · 2012-06-20 07:22 · Score: 2

Piers Anthony's Xanth series can be a lot of fun, especially the early ones. Eight may be a bit young for them though. I'll second the suggestions of Narnia and The Hobbit (LotR is not engaging enough for the average 8 y/o IMHO).

Re:Do Try Asimov by halivar · 2012-06-20 07:23 · Score: 2

Norby the Mixed-Up Robot was both my introduction to Asimov, and sci-fi in general.

Re:Dune by mooingyak · 2012-06-20 07:23 · Score: 3, Funny

I think GRRM's Game of Thrones might be slightly more kid friendly.

--
William of Ockham had no beard. The most likely explanation is that it was chewed off by squirrels every morning.

Re:Stfu, troll by StillNeedMoreCoffee · 2012-06-20 07:24 · Score: 3, Interesting

Not hate, not even ideology, stupidity is politically neutral but it seems that there is a preponderance of good fiction, and re-writing of history that begs laughter in this political compaign. It also seems like much is coming via Fox "News" (since when). What you see is laughter.

I detect though that you have some scorn, and hate. You wouldn't be invested in that message would you? and you with your "festering bullshit" comment seems like you missed the point and as other have stated, possibly, lack a sense of humor.

Well better than Republicans, lets see. by keeping an open mind, caring for more than just myself and my pocketbook, feeling that every citizen should vote and we should not provide road blocks to suppress voters from voting, I think congress should govern (parties working together and compromising) rather than lying down on the floor and pounding their fists and saying no, no, it that to be my way. Realizing that we are better off now than when Bush was in office, because the economy was in free fall, it is not now. Thinking that unregulated commerce has almost killed the economy what 5 or 6 times, so anyone saying that more de-regulation is the path out of economic crisis, is not playing with a full deck (or most likely, they feel they can take advantage and take your money and run behind the gated community gate before you realize what has happened). I don't know what makes anyone better than an ideologue, on either side.

But as you said, this was about what children should read. But you asked the question.

Re:Stainless Steel Rat by MRe_nl · 2012-06-20 07:28 · Score: 2

"Bill, the Galactic Hero" by H.H. is also good kiddiesoftware.

And some of Jack Vances simpler stuff, Dying Earth/Planet of Adventure (maybe not sci-fi enough).

--
"Kill 'em all and let Root sort 'em out"

Tom Swift by arikol · 2012-06-20 07:32 · Score: 4, Informative

the Tom Swift books are pretty fun for kids. Crazy airplanes, spaceships, submarines, and all kinds of weird things. The books will make YOU cringe a little (not the best prose in the world and sometimes quite tacky) but may spark the imagination of a child.

Hardcore sci-fi can start being interesting soon, but most of that does not get REALLY interesting until the children become old enough to read between the lines and see the actual point of the stories. At least a little. Books such as Animal Farm (okay, not sci-fi, but bear with me) are often seen as boring by children who haven't trained themselves to read books and understand the point. Most hardcore sci-fi isn't about robots, but rather about the human condition. Choose something simpler that really is about robots to begin with. The rest comes when the children start exploring by themselves.

Re:Short, Fiction, with simple words by ReverendLoki · 2012-06-20 07:36 · Score: 2

As I understand it, one has a fantastical, fictional story of the unbelievable, centering around aliens invading our world and threatening our way of life, and the other features Orson Welles...

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09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0

I loved Mercedes Lackey for Fantasy by BlueBat · 2012-06-20 07:38 · Score: 2

I started reading her when I was very young and over time her books have become among my favorites. She is among my top authors that I keep an eye out for. There are probably less than 20 authors that I keep an eye out for their books and want when I see a new one.

One author that I loved when I was younger was Piers Anthony. I loved the early Xanth books and the Incarnations of Immortality books. I've drifted away from the Xanth books because they seem like he is just putting them out for the puns he gets from fans. They just don't seem as fun anymore to me. Also his single novels have never done much for me. He seems to do much better with series. A really good Sci-Fi series of his I loved when I was younger was his Bio of a Space Tyrant series but that contains some things you may find objectionable to a young reader. Of course, I was reading hard Sci-Fi before I was a teenager, including some of the Gor books with their sexual situations and it never scarred me.My uncle used to tease me about them though. :) But I haven't become a fetishist that likes to tie up women and treat them as slaves so I guess I can say that they didn't hurt me any. :)

Andre Norton by CrimsonAvenger · 2012-06-20 07:40 · Score: 2

Since noone has bothered to mention her juveniles. Time Traders, first three or four novels, Witch World, most, if not all of them Almost any of the stories that mention the Dipple, though you'll probably have to explain that part to him (or might have to have someone explain it to you, if you're young enough for an 8-year-old son still). Not sure whether her post atomic war stories (Stars Are Ours, Star Man's Son, etc) would fit within his worldview (it's been a very long time since that was a big concern), but the stories are reasonably entertaining, usually involving a teenage boy as protagonist....

--

"I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"

Comment removed by account_deleted · 2012-06-20 07:46 · Score: 4, Funny

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Tom Swift books by ageoffri · 2012-06-20 08:06 · Score: 2

Look no further then the Tom Swift and Tom Swift Jr. books. Sure the older ones are outdated, but they gave me a love of Science Fiction that I still have.

According to the wiki article they are still being published as of 2007.

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

When we have kids I plan to read these to our kid very early on.

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-- Slashdot, making the Left look conservative since 1997.

The Hobbit by Oxford_Comma_Lover · 2012-06-20 08:08 · Score: 5, Insightful

Absolutely, The Hobbit. At eight it should be easy. We were reading LOTR by eight. The Narnian Chronicles are also good for children and easy reads. (Some people hate them as inherently religious--kids don't notice.)

Harry Potter, though reductive and non-classic, is also easy and can be fun.

The Dark is Rising Sequence is a slightly tougher read, but also uses much better language.

Most importantly, turn off the TV/Computer/Videogames. Books get MUCH more interesting when there isn't something around that gives faster rewards.

--
-- IANAL, this isn't legal advice, and definitely isn't legal advice for you. Also, Squee!

Nix, Pinkwater, others by unfortunateson · 2012-06-20 08:11 · Score: 3, Interesting

Some of the classics of SF are awfully dated: theirs are futures which didn't happen. Because of that, Asimov, Heinlein, Andre Norton, Williams and Abrashkin's "Danny Dunn" and other juveniles of that time may be hard to swallow. I'd say that CS Lewis falls in the same category.

Daniel Pinkwater is a genius, with books for all ages:Tooth-Gnasher Superflash is a picture book about test-driving a car, and hopefully it flies and eats other cars; Alan Mendelsohn, The Boy from Mars is about the strangeness of growing up. You can't go wrong with one of his books.
Roald Dahl, while written half a century ago, hold up pretty well: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a good gateway drug, and Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator is a little more SFnal
Orson Scott Card's "Ender's Game" is a tough read for a youngster -- be available for the reader, answer questions, help them along. Some object to Card's politics, and his psychology of cruelty, but it's still a darn good read.
Lois McMaster Bujold's "The Warrior's Apprentice" may be a little old for an 8-year-old, but not by much. It's a modern space opera, about someone older but not bigger than an 8-year-old.
Scott Westerfeld's "Leviathan", "Peeps" and "Uglies" series are perhaps aimed more at teens, but don't get too adult. His wife, Justine Larbalester, writes great fantasy (How to Ditch your Fairy, Liar).
Clive Barker's "Abarat" is sort of an Oz/Wonderland inside-out. Yes, the creator of Pinhead can write kid-safe stuff too. But oops, that's fantasy too.
China Mieville's "Railsea" is getting great press, but I haven't had a chance to read.
Paulo Bacigalupi's "Shipbreaker" is another I haven't read yet
Adam Rex's "The True Meaning of Smekday" is one my wife enjoyed a lot
Cory Doctorow's "Little Brother" might work well, if you don't mind your 8-year-old becoming an activist ;^)

--
Design for Use, not Construction!

Girl Genius! by undeadbill · 2012-06-20 08:16 · Score: 2

My 8 year old has been reading Girl Genius comics for over a year now. She can't get enough of them. The comics are free online, you only pay for print versions and merch. She has all of the print copies, and rereads them regularly.

http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/

Re:The Hobbit by PCM2 · 2012-06-20 08:43 · Score: 3, Funny

(no depth, just a series of rather hum-drum encounters and a load of nonsense about magic and superstition)

Wow. I'd hate to hear your review of Homer's Odyssey.

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Breakfast served all day!

The kid's 8 years old by PCM2 · 2012-06-20 09:06 · Score: 2

We're talking about an eight-year-old here, and all anybody seems to be mentioning is the same old stuff that crops up every time there's a "what should I read?" question on /. Seriously, Dune for an eight-year-old? Get out.

It seems strange to me that anyone would even need to ask this question, when the market for juvenile fiction seems to be exploding right now (especially as compared to the market for literary fiction). Why not just take him to a bookstore and have him pick out something that looks fun?

But if you want to find some suitable, critically-acclaimed books for his age, perhaps you should consult the list of Newbery Award winners. There's a decent amount of science fiction and fantasy in there, and a bunch of other good stuff, besides.

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Breakfast served all day!

Comic Books! by Gilmoure · 2012-06-20 09:12 · Score: 2

My daughter (11) was not a reader but enjoyed us reading stories to her. What finally got her going, around 8 years old, was Star Wars and Doctor Who comics. From there, she graduated to Star Wars (scholastic has some for grade school kids) and Doctor Who books, and now she's working her way through Hunger Games and Golden Compass.

She's also hooked on web comics; Girl Genius, Darths and Droids, Gunnerkrig Court, and Irregular Web Comic. The last is a Lego comic and that appeals to kids. Darths and Droids is a reselling of the Star Wars films, as if they were an ongoing tabletop RPG. Having a 10 year old involved really explains the weirdness of EP. I.

--
I drank what? -- Socrates

A wrinkle in time by TapeCutter · 2012-06-20 12:45 · Score: 4, Insightful

I agree, I tried to wade through Tolkien as an adult but could never stay awake long enough to turn the page. For an 8yo I would suggest A wrinkle in time, I enjoyed immensly when I read it as a kid in the 60's. Unlike Tolkien it flows very well. The main charcters are kids a teenage girl hero and her younger brother, the writer does a great job of making them real by giving the charaters everyday kids problems. For example the girl is seen as a troublemaker at school and lacks self-confidence in her looks because of her red hair. It's educational without reading like a text book, it firmly plants science and math concepts into the child's mind by applying them to situations the hero's find themselves in, (a visit to a 2d planet is one example of that covers the concepts of higher spacial dimemtions).

But most importantly it's a great story about two kids growing up on an road trip through the universe, guided by wise beings who do not belittle their childhood concerns but rather expose them to experiences and hard choices that provides them with the perspective to deal with their own problems. The Harry Potter series does the same thing but in a different setting and with less educational value. Ultimately I belive the ability of these writers to relate to kids in this way via a fantasy world is why both books have been immensley popular with children. The fact that both books mention wicthcraft have also made them very unpopular with religious nutters, Both are high on the list of books that have garnered the most petitions to ban them in the US, wich to me is even more reason to give them to your kids and let them make up their own minds.

Now if someone could just explain to me why my 3yo grandaughter is facinated by kids shows that to me look and sound like they were the product of some really funky drugs? I'm not having a go at modern kids shows here, my favorite when I was very young was "Bill and Ben the flowerpot men" which as an adult appears every bit as fucked up as the modern stuff. Since I only had B/W TV as a young child, this universal urge to watch bizzare animated creatures wander around the screen can't be explained away by "bright colours".

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And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.

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