A new convert

Sita · 03-04-2008, 05:15 PM

Took my young'un to the library today, and the opticians. He hasn't been reading books much for years, regarding books as an imposition put upon him by schools to stop him from playing computer games...
Well, the optician told him he needs to play less computer games and find other things to do as he's straining his eyes.

He is quite short-sighted, and it hasn't been noticed till now (because the schools he went to didn't use blackboards I think) - and it does run in the family. So suddenly he wants to go back to the library... the upshot being that he got out Starship Troopers! SO another convert to the Master...

Greg · 03-04-2008, 05:45 PM

Yippee! Depending on hold he is, I'd say that Starship Troopers is an excellent introduction. If he likes that one, he might also like Farmer in the Sky and The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.

Miros1 · 03-04-2008, 09:59 PM

Also Andre Norton's Star Man's Son. Even my mom liked that one.

Greg · 03-04-2008, 11:34 PM

When he gets really hooked: Larry Niven's Ringworld

Hokieman · 03-05-2008, 12:07 AM

Don't forget Drake, Turtledove, Aspin, Weber and Clarke!!!

Miros1 · 03-05-2008, 04:46 AM

Well, Sita didn't specify age, so we were sticking to the juvenile stuff... If he's older, I can recommend tons of stuff.

Greg · 03-05-2008, 05:03 PM

Good point. Ringworld has some elements that might not be appropriate for a pre-teen.

Sita · 03-06-2008, 01:38 PM

He's a very young but highly intelligent 22 year old with Asperger's Syndrome. And I think he would dislike books with "naughty" stuff in them, though he loves action and blowing things up... latest games he played were Stalker, Prey and Railroad Tycoon (3 I think?). My knowledge of "clean" SF mostly dates from the 50s and 60s... after that it seems to get a bit murky. Clarke seems a bit wordy for a new reader. I thought early Heinlein, Yes! The Moon is an excellent suggestion! and then let him choose some, experiment. But all suggestions gratefully received.

Hokieman · 03-06-2008, 11:45 PM

Ok then, I'd suggest David Weber's Honor Harrington and Armageddan Moon series for sure. Most of Clarke's works, Turtledove's Kripos series. Also, a number of his alternative history novels.

Non Science fiction, basically any of Clive Cussler's fiction.

Greg · 03-07-2008, 12:46 AM

For more modern stuff, he might enjoy Steve Gould's yarns; that's the fellow who wrote Jumper. As I recall, Steve pretty much avoids naughty stuff in his books.

03-04-2008, 05:15 PM	#1
Sita Solar Max Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: England Posts: 371	A new convert Took my young'un to the library today, and the opticians. He hasn't been reading books much for years, regarding books as an imposition put upon him by schools to stop him from playing computer games... Well, the optician told him he needs to play less computer games and find other things to do as he's straining his eyes. He is quite short-sighted, and it hasn't been noticed till now (because the schools he went to didn't use blackboards I think) - and it does run in the family. So suddenly he wants to go back to the library... the upshot being that he got out Starship Troopers! SO another convert to the Master...

03-04-2008, 05:45 PM	#2
Greg Da Guy Wut Owns Dis Joint Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 3,566	Yippee! Depending on hold he is, I'd say that Starship Troopers is an excellent introduction. If he likes that one, he might also like Farmer in the Sky and The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. __________________ Who are all these people and what do they know?

03-04-2008, 11:34 PM	#4
Greg Da Guy Wut Owns Dis Joint Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 3,566	When he gets really hooked: Larry Niven's Ringworld __________________ Who are all these people and what do they know?

03-05-2008, 12:07 AM	#5
Hokieman Solar Max Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 520	Don't forget Drake, Turtledove, Aspin, Weber and Clarke!!! Last edited by Hokieman : 03-05-2008 at 12:18 AM.

03-05-2008, 05:03 PM	#7
Greg Da Guy Wut Owns Dis Joint Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 3,566	Good point. Ringworld has some elements that might not be appropriate for a pre-teen. __________________ Who are all these people and what do they know?

03-04-2008, 09:59 PM	#3
Miros1 Goddess for Life Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NY State Posts: 3,303	Also Andre Norton's Star Man's Son. Even my mom liked that one.

03-05-2008, 04:46 AM	#6
Miros1 Goddess for Life Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NY State Posts: 3,303	Well, Sita didn't specify age, so we were sticking to the juvenile stuff... If he's older, I can recommend tons of stuff.

03-06-2008, 01:38 PM	#8
Sita Solar Max Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: England Posts: 371	He's a very young but highly intelligent 22 year old with Asperger's Syndrome. And I think he would dislike books with "naughty" stuff in them, though he loves action and blowing things up... latest games he played were Stalker, Prey and Railroad Tycoon (3 I think?). My knowledge of "clean" SF mostly dates from the 50s and 60s... after that it seems to get a bit murky. Clarke seems a bit wordy for a new reader. I thought early Heinlein, Yes! The Moon is an excellent suggestion! and then let him choose some, experiment. But all suggestions gratefully received.

03-06-2008, 11:45 PM	#9
Hokieman Solar Max Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 520	Ok then, I'd suggest David Weber's Honor Harrington and Armageddan Moon series for sure. Most of Clarke's works, Turtledove's Kripos series. Also, a number of his alternative history novels. Non Science fiction, basically any of Clive Cussler's fiction.

03-07-2008, 12:46 AM	#10
Greg Da Guy Wut Owns Dis Joint Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 3,566	For more modern stuff, he might enjoy Steve Gould's yarns; that's the fellow who wrote Jumper. As I recall, Steve pretty much avoids naughty stuff in his books. __________________ Who are all these people and what do they know?