Science Fiction recommendations

[RubberDuck]

Ds1 (will be 8 in May) has picked up Asimov's I-Robot off my book shelf and started reading it. He seems to be enjoying it so far (am hoping there's nothing wildly inappropriate in it, has been years since I've read it myself!) - but I do wonder if it's a little old for him.

Does anyone have any recommendations for good science fiction books aimed at children which he might enjoy? I would say his reading level is around Harry Potterish sort of level - it's content is more the issue as while his reading is good, I don't think he's ready for the more mature themes in books aimed at teens.

[differentID]

What about fantasy or is he more of a science type?
If you include Fantasy there are the doctor who books- there are some aimed at children. Or Terry Pratchett.

[RubberDuck]

Oh good idea - hadn't thought about Terry Pratchett. I think some of the jokes will go over his head, but I have practically the whole series

[differentID]

There's also Nicholas Fisk- a bit darker, but I enjoyed them

[RubberDuck]

Thanks, I'll look out for those!

A friend has also suggested Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy - I'm sure I have that series up in the loft somewhere...

[differentID]

Jenny Nimmo is another good author- The Snow Spider, Emlyn's Moon and The Chestnut Soldier were made into TV shows in the 90's

[mankyscotslass]

If it's fantasy stuff too he may like the Alan Garner stuff, and the Taran series by Lloyd Alexander. Also the Susan Cooper Dark is Rising series.

Garth Nix?

[CMOTdibbler]

Harry Harrison did some childrens - The Man from PIG and ROBOT is great.

Ursula Le Guin for more fantasy stuff

John Christopher Tripods series was something I enjoyed around that age

Susan Coopers Dark is Rising series

Margaret Mahy has some fab books (well, all her books are fab but she writes for from toddler to adult) - The Greatest Show off Earth, Aliens in the Family come to mind

[OhBling]

Again, with fantasy - Anne McCaffery - the Pern series. Wonderful stories and quite easy at that age.

I'd have said he was a bit young to be reading I Robot, but if he is and enjoying it then maybe something by John Wyndham? The Chrysalids as an easier one or the Kraken Wave perhaps?

[differentID]

The pern series is a bit too challenging for an 8 year old tbh. There are plenty of allusions to sex in that story series.

[didoreth]

I loved science fiction at that age. I recommend the tripod trilogy, I bought them for my nephew recently and ended up rereading them - they're as good as I remembered. Agree John Wyndham good as well. Some early Robert Heinlein would be suitable - not his later stuff, way too much sex (though I read a lot of it before I entered puberty) - I loved 'Have spacesuit, will Travel'.

[RubberDuck]

Wow, what a fab selection! Thanks all - think a trip to the library with a list is called for

[neversaydie]

I would support Pratchett - ds is enjoying The wee free men and hatful of sky at the moment.

Peter Dickinson writes some excellent science fiction/fantasy for children. The Weathermonger is one that I read as a child and still remember vividly.

I personally found both Alan Garner and Susan Cooper's books very frightening as a child.

The other one to look out for is Andre Norton - the Beastmaster series is one I remember enjoying about that age.

[Takver]

Diana Wynne Jones has some good ones which are more sci-fi than straight fantasy (the Homeward Bounders for example). If he likes fantasy as well then she has written lots (the Chrestomanci books probably the youngest in age group)?

I would have though Hitchhikers Guide was a bit old for an 8 yr old? Maybe not .. .

[DuchessOfAvon]

I remember by Sci-Fi mad sister was into books by Robert Westall.

[LadyGlencoraPalliser]

I don't think I would give the Pern series to an eight year old. There is a lot of shagging in it.

[jeee]

Nicholas Fisk, "a rag, a bone and a hank of hair" - John Christopher is very good too.

[SnowWoman]

How about Douglas Hill? or Bruce Coville's Alien in the Classroom series. Louise Lawrence DreamWeaver or Moonwind might be OK too.

[EachPeachPearMum]

Asimov's short stories are excellent- Black Widow Mysteries etc.
I loved Alan Garner as a child... though ~I was more like 9 than 7...
I read a lot of weiss/hickman stuff too- dragonlance... but again was 9 or 10, so not 100% sure on sexual content.
What about Ursula leGuin's wizard of earthsea, Andre Norton- catseye.

[mimsum]

A wrinkle in time - I loved that at 8 ish and am just about to track it down for ds2

[EachPeachPearMum]

Ooh- just had 'Redwall' by Brian Jacques recommended to me- about monks who are all mice...

[Donk]

Heinlein did some good children's stories:
Citizen of the Galaxy
Space Cadet
Have space suit will travel

Just don't go for any of his later, longer stuff! (definite adult themes - and in some cases poor writing IMO)

Andre Norton wrote some good children's SF too - The Zero Stone (and sequel)

• Beast Master, (and the sequel)
• Catseye
• Steel Magic

Red Moon and Black Mountain (Joy Chant)
Grey Mane of Morning (Joy Chant)

• brilliant books, which I loved and re-read time and time again.

A wrinkle in Time (Madeleing L'Engle) terrified me at that age - but I grew to love it over the years.

John Christopher books - several series IIRC
Nicholas Fisk - Trillions

[seeker]

I think Anne Mccaffery is too difficult for even the best 7 year old reader. My dd is enjoying them very much at the moment and she's 13.

My ds is 8, and is working his way through the Artemis Fowl books at the moment. He's a good reader and they are just about at his level. I do think it's important not to over-face them - it's easy to put them off books at this age.

[seeker]

Interestingly, I do find that a lot of the things I enjoyed as a child- Heinlein, Garner, Norton - are too 'wordy" for my children, even though they are both good readers.

[KatyMac]

I would agree about Anne McCaffery & I think she would too (I had dinner with her once)

7 is way too young maybe 10-12 for Dragon song/singer/drums - but older for the others much older