I started reading Nicholas Fisk at around the age of 9 or 10 and it was ideal for my age bracket at that time (Trillions was a great one, think of the movie 'Batteries Not Included' and combine it with some ultra basic nano-tech concepts).
Piers Anthony had some great stuff in the Xanth series, but tread carefully there as some of his other works (Bio of a Space tyrant for example) were DEFINITELY a little full on for a youngster. The space-pirate rape/marriage scene as one example and the theme of rape/murder being extremely common. Not so good for pre-teen, but great for a 15-16yo with an enquiring mind and a thirst for shock value writing.
Slashdot Mirror
Ahem, do the words Deus ex Machina mean anything to you?
Surely you could build a trailer park and then harness the power of the inevitable twisters that would hit it.
I started reading Nicholas Fisk at around the age of 9 or 10 and it was ideal for my age bracket at that time (Trillions was a great one, think of the movie 'Batteries Not Included' and combine it with some ultra basic nano-tech concepts). Piers Anthony had some great stuff in the Xanth series, but tread carefully there as some of his other works (Bio of a Space tyrant for example) were DEFINITELY a little full on for a youngster. The space-pirate rape/marriage scene as one example and the theme of rape/murder being extremely common. Not so good for pre-teen, but great for a 15-16yo with an enquiring mind and a thirst for shock value writing.