
Submission + - Best Science Fiction/Fantasy for 8 Year Olds 7
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.)
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.)
Heinlein juveniles (Score:4, Insightful)
Robert Heinlein had a good series of juveniles, as did Arthur C Clarke, though maybe both were just a bit much for an 8 year old. Still, they're closer to age-appropriate than "I Robot." Come to think of it, Isaac Asimov also had the "Lucky Starr" series, which were aimed at juveniles.
Re: (Score:2)
this, I remember enjoying quite a bit "Farmer in the sky" by Heinlein when I read it around maybe 10-11? 8 might be a bit young but if you read it with him it should be ok I would think.
thought (Score:1)
I don't believe it is the difficulty in the books, but the older prose and style that makes it harder to understand. When I started reading Asimov at 15, it took me a bit to learn the 60-year old writing style.
Depending on how mature he is, I would recommend Ender's Game. Yes, the subjects are heavy but the prose is simple and the story is about other people his age.
Tom Swift and Others (Score:2)
Pratchet (Score:2)
Jack Vance (Score:2)
His fantasies tend to be somewhat lighter-themed than his science fiction, which I might recommend if he were a bit older.
Vance is probabl
Tom Swift series - liked as a kid (Score:2)
Probably out of print, but might be able to find as used books from Powells' and such.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Swift [wikipedia.org]