Recommendation for a smart 14-year-old reader...

[Captain Pike]

My son asked me for a good book. Now how often does this happen? He wants to read about battling and fantasy encounters with mystical creatures. He says he doesn't want any Tolkien or Harry Potter. That made me feel great. Any good ideas? He's read stuff like The Catcher in the Rye so is level isn't below his age.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

-PHIL

[EAP]

A Song of Ice and Fire saga. Takes care of all fantasy requirements right there and great literature to boot.

[mtpspur]

I feel almost guilty suggesting Conan the Barbarian by Robert E> Howard which is definitely fantasy/monsters. I prefer Howard's Solomon Kane to Conan but Conan is the more 'fun' read though when I discovered him -- graduating from Tarzan he was a major shock to the 'heroic' ideal--similar to Clint Eastwood's Man with No Name movies vs James Arness from Gunsmoke.

[dramasnot6]

My son asked me for a good book. Now how often does this happen? He wants to read about battling and fantasy encounters with mystical creatures. He says he doesn't want any Tolkien or Harry Potter. That made me feel great. Any good ideas? He's read stuff like The Catcher in the Rye so is level isn't below his age.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

-PHIL

I'm not so sure about smart, but I am 14 and have taken a strong liking to the classics like Catcher in the Rye. Some fairly challenging and very enjoyable books I have read in the last two years:

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
1984 by George Orwell
Metamorphosis by Kafka
Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky
Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
The House on the Strand by Daphne de Maurier
The Curius incident of the dog in the night-time by Mark Haddon
Of Human Bondage and The Razor's Edge by W.Somerset Maugham

Sorry I don't have so much battling fantasy to reccomend, but The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley was a great fantasy based off of the Arthurian legends.
Hope those were of some use!

[BillCosby]

The Chrysalids, i know its not what you want, but its really a good book for someone starting highschool

[SleepyWitch]

the official Star Trek novels?
i know that's sci-fi, not fantasy, but seeing as you're a trekkie, maybe he'll like it too?
live long and prosper ;)

[LPRox015]

MMM...Battlefield Earth by L. Ron Hubbard is pretty good sci-fi/fantasy. Enjoy!

[Shannanigan]

I still like Eragon and Eldest by Christopher Paolini...he started writing Eragon when he was 15, and I think he's about 23 or so now, though I'm not sure...it's a fantasy trilogy about a boy and his dragon...I would read before watching the movie though...

Anyways, I was given books by Robert Jordan (I think The Eye of the World is the first book?). It's a fantasy series that I am having a hard time getting into, but the story is great...

Those are just my fantasy ideas. Has he read the Chronicles of Narnia? Those are my favorites and I think I read them around his age. (I'm 20 now).

[Scheherazade]

Hello Pike,

You might find this thread helpful, where there has been a similar discussion:

http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12921

[the Last 13]

The Sword of Thruth collection by Terry Goodkind
Vampire Hunter D collection by Hideyuki Kikuchi

*I forgot hence editing*

the Dark Tower saga by Stephen King (is ok)

those should be enough to keep him busy for a while and they are good too

[B-Mental]

I personally like the book Watership Down by Richard Adams for fantasy. The tail of a group of rabbits that flee their warren when one has a premonition of doom, and the adventures they have.

[kathycf]

I read Mary Stewart's Merlin trilogy (http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?inkey=65-0688003478-2) when I was around 14 and found them wonderful. They are based on Arthurian legend as well, but focus on Merlin's story.

[byquist]

Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" - phenomenal book

[SaGe]

Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" - phenomenal book
Ehh true but I wouldn't recommend it for a 14-year-old with a developing interest in reading. Of course I don't know enough about him to know for sure if he'd like it.

I'd be tempted to suggest something more along the lines of:
Ender's Game
Dune
Watership Down
1984

Edit: Something Wicked This Way Comes is also pretty good.

[Captain Pike]

Who wrote the song of fire and ice saga? I think I've read that at my friends house one weekend. Is there a dog character who has a short name beginning with a? That was really good, I like that.

And the Conan series, I think that's a good suggestion. I couldn't actually find the title "Conan the Barbarian", other stuff like Conan this and that.

Great suggestions from drama snot. Or is that "drama's note" that might be more deep and meaningful, ha ha. I like how your signature looks like a heart. I see Aldus Huxley's work is back under copyright -- too bad.

The point of view in The Chrysalids might really be the right thing a young guy, except that he (the protagonist) rather hates his authority figure father. Might need to rethink that.
I had forgotten that L. Ron Hubbard was a science-fiction writer -- didn't he die of success or something?
The trouble with the CS Lewis stuff is that it is of a kinder and gentler era -- this is a kid who also likes those violent video games where you can kill prostitutes and stuff. That guy Robert Jordan is on his 10th book, so it must have some appeal.
And to the last 13: I tried to read that Stephen King stuff about the dark Tower -- I think he might have done some damage back in the 80s -- it's like, a few paragraphs will be really good and understandable, good descriptive prose, then, it's as if he went out and smoked another joint, then came back and wrote gibberish for awhile. What's the other reference you make? Is that about Scott Weiland? I definitely want to keep him out of this, ha ha. Is he still alive?
Oh, yes, Watership Down: perfect. That would be good, even if it isn't exactly what he wants; that should be read. I remember reading that: I didn't want to finish it, wanted to leave the last half chapter unread, so it wouldn't end.
The Merlin Trilogy, don't know Mary Stewart at all,mmm... our library will deliver, can you imagine that?
He has read 1984 and Something Wicked This Way Comes.

What a great bunch of suggestions. I did the right thing in asking folks here. Thank you. Thank you all for your help.

[Idril]

I have a 13 year old son and he really likes Darren Shan. He has a couple series, Cirque Du Freak about vampires and the like and then he's started another series, Demonata that looks a little darker so if he's into violence, that might be a good choice. ;)

[Ms.Hanoo]

I do not know what can I say !!!!

your son is a great boy !!! but I do not know books for him

I will find out if I can ...... best wishes

[aXis]

the chrysalids is a good book - actually a course book here in grade 9
brave new world - nice view on the future
1984
the metamorphosis

if we're talking fantasy, I can only recommend harry potter and lord of the rings :P

[Vedrana]

The Sleeper Awakes by HG Wells doesn't have monsters or 'fantasy' in the traditional sense, but then it's similar to 1984 in the sense that it is a futuristic novel, and also a gripping read.

[Titanium]

The Dr Who novels are good and there are recent series of them that are more sophisticated as literature.

Otherwise, if he liked Catcher he might like Catch 22. The best novel I have read recently is Jonathan Safran Foer's Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. The protagonist is a nine year old boy whose father was killed in 9/11. I think an intelligent 14 year old would enjoy it.

[JaneEyre1986]

I can't believe I didn't think about this, but try The Chronicles of Chrestomanci by Diana Wynne Jones. They're fantasy, and something else, but I haven't read them for awhile.

[Return Journey]

C.S.Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia would make an enjoyable read. I first read these stories when I was in my 20’s. They are a lot of fun.

[Stephanie F]

My son asked me for a good book. Now how often does this happen? He wants to read about battling and fantasy encounters with mystical creatures. He says he doesn't want any Tolkien or Harry Potter. That made me feel great. Any good ideas? He's read stuff like The Catcher in the Rye so is level isn't below his age.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

-PHIL

I know this is quite biased because The author I'm about to state happens to be my favourite but Any of the Narnia Series By: C.S. Lewis is amazing! The Last battle is really great and very advance because in order to develope a theme from the book you need to read between the line however I'm not going to lie, Its based on revelations from the Christian Bible so if your not religious it may not make as much sense or it may be "boring" However if your into that its a great book!

[Woland]

Try the Stormbringer series

Elric of Melnibone
The Sailor on the Seas of Fate
The Weird of the White Wolf
The Vanishing Tower
Stormbringer

[Aelend]

I know one person already mentioned it but the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind is a superb read that is while very adventurous somewhat philosophical especially in the later novels. Another great series that I love that I read when I was 15 is the Otherland series by Tad Williams. Those books are probably some of the most on the edge books I have ever read...Another great fantasy writer (though personally I dont like him) is R. A. Salvatore with his Forgotten Realms....Let's see what else??? OH another good series is the Thomas Covenant series I think by Stephen R. Donaldson...lol if all else fails just let him get an Arthur book they are all pretty good, gory, and clean ;)

[Captain Pike]

I feel almost guilty suggesting Conan the Barbarian by Robert E> Howard which is definitely fantasy/monsters. I prefer Howard's Solomon Kane to Conan but Conan is the more 'fun' read though when I discovered him -- graduating from Tarzan he was a major shock to the 'heroic' ideal--similar to Clint Eastwood's Man with No Name movies vs James Arness from Gunsmoke.

I've looked over a lot of stuff. I have the first Conan book coming through interlibrary loan -- I live in the sticks, but am well-connected.

Thanks

[Mugwump101]

What about Dragonlance series by Margaret Weis and Tracey Hickman??? Excellent fantasy books! As well as Terry Pratchett's comic fantasy books!

You also said your son like video games? ^_^ lol (Just as an extra something)
-Final Fantasy VI-XII
-Xenogears
-Xenosaga
-Kingdom Hearts

[Lioness_Heart]

How about the Wind on Fire trilogy by William Nicholson. I first read those when I was about 11/12 but I still love them now that I'm 16. also the Tales of the Otori series by Lian Hearn. They are AMAZING, although they can be a little disturbing at times. But if he's mature, he should be fine with them. Also, how about Garth Nix's books? They are really good for sci-fi/fantasy fans.

[Ecurb]

It's been a while since I was 14, so all of theise books were writeen long ago. But here's a list:

Classic Novels

Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice
Published in the 1790s this is one of the early great novels. Filled with wit, humor and wisdom, it tells the story of the five Bennet sisters and their mother’s quest to find them all husbands. Elizabeth Bennet is one of the most charming heroines in all of fiction – yet as brilliant and charming as she is, she must learn the truth about herself before she can find happiness. The language is a little dated, but if the reader is not intimidated, I dare anyone to read this book without laughing out loud. Watch for Darcy verbally demolishing the Bingley sisters.

Harper Lee To Kill a Mockingbird
The story of Scout and Jem and their father Atticus Finch in a small Southern town in the 1950s. Racism, rape and murder are intrinsic to the story, but the charm of the novel is the panoply of unique characters (look for the neighbor boy supposedly based on Lee’s real life neighbor, Truman Capote) and the strength and fortitude of the three main characters. Author Lee won the Pulitzer prize for this novel, and never wrote another one.

Rudyard Kipling The Jungle Books
Forget the Disney cartoon. This is the real thing. Good hunting.

J.R.R. Tolkien The Lord of the Rings
If you like mythology or fantasy, this is the ultimate “Quest Genre” novel, filled with hope, courage, and love, and set in an imaginary world of incredible historical and mythological richness. A simple, pleasure loving hobbit finds a magic ring. What he doesn’t know is that it is the “One ring to bring them all, One ring to find them, One ring to rule them all, And in Darkness bind them.” This makes other fantasy novels read like Peter Rabbit.

Mark Twain Huckleberry Finn
Along with Austen, the funniest of the great novelists. Huck, of course, is the homeless orphan who, because he has not been contaminated by the preconceptions of culture, can see things as they really are. The way things really are is very strange and very funny. Look for the scene where Huck decides he must help Nigger Jim escape even though he knows it’s robbery and it’s sinful and he’ll go to hell for doing it. But, to Huck, whose innate goodness shines through the book like a beacon of hope, helping a friend seems worth risking both prison and the fires of hell, even though he knows its evil.



E. Nesbit The Treasure Seekers
The six Bastable children try to restore the fallen fortunes of their house. They find their treasure by becoming one. Hilarious and charming, part of the fun in this book is the first person narrator who wishes to remain anonymous, but can’t help giving away his identity by bragging. One chapter title is “The Nobleness of Oswald”.

H Rider Haggard King Solomon’s Diamond Mines
Head to darkest Africa in the late 19th century to search for a lost husband and the fabled diamond mines. White hunter Alan Quartermain leads his little troop into a continent that seemed to Europeans as we might imagine a populated Mars. The stuff that dreams – and nightmares – are made of.

Alexandre Dumas The Count of Monte Cristo
The classic adventure story. The “Count” is long, but perfect. Revenge is mine, sayeth the lord. But the mysterious count thinks differently. And with good reason.

R. L. Stevenson Kidnapped and David Balfour
Kidnapped is an acknowledged masterpiece of one of the great writers. David Balfour is its almost unknown sequel and as charming a romantic novel as you could hope to find. Travel to the Scottish Highlands shortly after “the ‘45” to visit the heather and the Highlanders. The chapter where Alan Breck meets Robin Oig is one of the greatest 10 pages of prose ever written.

Ken Kesey One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest
Kesey remains one of the counter culture’s most intriguing figures, and one of the greatest modern American novelists. He only wrote two great novels, and this is one of them. It’s the familiar story of Randall McMurphy – told through the eyes of Chief Broom, a supposedly insane and institutionalized Indian who sees the world differently from the rest of us. Are we right, or is he?


Non-Fiction

Joe Simpson Touching the Void
One of the most harrowing true-life mountaineering stories ever told, written in a straight-forward no-nonsense style.


Pierre Breton The Search for the Arctic Grail
Long, well researched history of arctic exploration reads like the most thrilling adventure story, filled with romantic characters, grueling adventures, cannibalism, starvation, and triumph.

Barry Lopez Arctic Dreams
A combination of natural history and the short-version history of arctic exploration. Brilliantly written by one of the most talented modern American writers, Arctic Dreams hits close to home. Author Lopez lives in Vida.

Gerald Durrell My Family and other Animals
Naturalist Durrell’s reminiscences about the five years his family spent on Corfu. Charming, funny, drenched in the bright sun of the Mediterranean and hazy glow of childhood, My Family gains added interest because “Larry” (the oldest son) went on to become a famous “new wave” novelist.


Myth and Legend

James Baldwin The Story of Roland and The Story of Siegfried
No education is complete (or even started) without knowing the great stories of Western Europe. The legends of Charlemagne (France), Siegfried (Germany), and England (King Arthur stories) have this added recommendation: they are thrillingly exciting, romantic and stunningly beautiful. I read them again and again. For King Arthur, try The Once and Future King.

[Lector]

The Ender's game series as well as the parrallel Ender's shadow series were both some of the best books i have read. There are eight books in all but since I couldn't put them down I finished them in less then a month; I strongly recomend them.

[Lector]

Sorry, those books were written by Orson Scott Card

[Nightshade]

I cant belive how many of these Ive read,not really much more I can add, Edgar burroughs rice, are all scifi/fantasy but I think they would nowdays be classed as romantic fantasy??? As you seem to all ways have the hero heroine romance going on and not always in the background.
But yes theyre interesting espcially if he knows anything about the nature/nurture debate. Actually having said that I read them before I knew about/studied it by a couple of years but the books and the thinking I did while I read them really helped me when it came time to argue your points.

hummm cant really think of much else, Verne?Bram Stoker( not that Ive ever actually manged to read that).

[Isagel]

If he wants mythical beasts, how about the legends of king Arthur and his knights? I remember reading alot of myths and legends as a child, both religious and nonreligious, from stories about the Asa gods to hinduism. I also liked Robin Hood. For fantasy that is more intelligent than the average I would suggest Ursula K le Guin. Some are more mature, but perhaps the Earthsea novels might be of interest? Her books usually deals with themes that gives new perspectives on the world today- without pointing fingers or being dull she writes about oppression, equality, gender, race and ethics. There is also Lloyd Alexander - some of his books might be too childish but there is a couple of books about politics and battle for freedom in a fantasy world. I can´t remember the names, though.

I do not think I would recommend the Covenant books at age 14, but that depends on the child I guess.

[papercut]

Someone mentioned The Tales of Otori by Lian Hearn. I think he would definitely like that one. You want to make sure to borrow it. The prose is beautiful and there's plenty of action and a nice dose of fantasy. Plus, it's told from a young warrior's viewpoint.

I'm a little surprised no one's mentioned Robin Hobb. She's fantasy, battling, and mystical creatures, but most importantly, her characterizations are brilliant. I don't think I've read many fantasy authors who take such time to build and really understand their characters. Try The Farseer Trilogy. That's told from a young assassin's viewpoint. ;)

[tiredstudent]

i would try the maze runner by James Dashner, its a series that is just starting and is really good..

Graceling and Fire by Kristin Cashore are both excellent books. I liked Fire better though.

Anything by Neal Shusterman is good- his books really go into topics that we encounter in everyday life, and he presents these issues so artfully, its incredible. they are ALL entertaining but i Particularly LOVED his book Unwind. It deals with a difficult subject, but it is literally one of my FAVORITE books ever. I think a fourteen yr old can deal with it. but i would suggest reading it before you give it to your kid. it does give some disturbing images and scenarios. overall tho? Completely worthwhile and amazing book.

The warrior and the series that follows it by Cinda Chima is also good, lots of warlocks and the such...

Eragon and the Inheritance series is another good one... not the best from a writing style perspective certainly, but entertaining nonetheless.

[Modest Proposal]

A Song of Ice and Fire saga. Takes care of all fantasy requirements right there and great literature to boot.

Whoa, wait a minute. Being a smart 14 year old doesn't mean that they are ready to read about violent rape, incest, pedophilia, torture and a myriad of other themes. That series, while moderately well written, is adult for very different reasons then the intelligence needed to follow it. Besides, the imaginary creatures is exactly the type of fantasy that GRRM's is not. There is little fantasy at all and rather very depressing and realistic betrayals and political intrigue.

As far as fantasy that is well-written, I would suggest LeGuin's Earthsea saga, surely one of the best entries in the genre from it's most critically acclaimed author.

I'm a little surprised Pike that you are proud he is steering clear of Tolkien, as the man's work is some of the best fantasy. While, not up to the quality of literary greats it is in the top 1 or 2 percent of the fantasy fare. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia is also excellent as is Pullman's His Dark Materials. Be aware that both have a very clear agenda--ironically polar opposites--.

As to well written intelligent fantasy for that age, I remember liking some of Tad Williams and Guy Gavriel Kay.

[Leland Gaunt]

If he is trying to avoid things like HP, then don't get him Eragon or Terry Brooks. As some have mentioned already A Song of Ice and Fire is a little graphic, so proceed with caution (same goes for the First Law Trilogy). Otherwise for excellent action I would suggest anything from the Warhammer series, R.A. Salvatore, or Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman. If he wants something a little more, erm, sophisticated get him Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, Raymond E. Feist, or Acacia by David Anthony Durham. And congratulate him on picking the most entertaining genre of reading material.:hurray:

[victorianfan]

What about Gods and Heroes: Myths and Epics of Ancient Greece by Gustav Schwab? :wave:

[Pecksie]

I second the Ursula K. LeGuin recommendation. Her Earthsea books are wonderful --- I read them when I was about your son's age and they have all the elements you mentioned he wanted.

[Brad Coelho]

Vonnegut's Sirens of Titan- and the Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy, which was chiefly influenced by the former novel.

[mystery_spell]

It's sad that your son doesn't want to read Rowling or Tolkien because both are very good writers. Rowling's HP series gets better as the characters get older, and Tolkien is quite the adventure, especially for someone who enjoys dense novels with a lot of details and fascinating plots.

The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice are a modern classic and definitely worth the read.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is a great novel that I read during my high school years about a Utopian society.

The Once and Future King by T.H. White is also a great read. King Arthur story.

[NikolaiI]

Ender's Game

[mal4mac]

Anne Mcaffrey's Dragonquest series - at least the first two, and choose carefully after that...

[sandy14]

Michael Moorcock has a lot in his eternal champions series, with different flavours and the original books were trilogies of short novellas.

Of the ones I remember - there's the Hawkmoon and Elric series which are very good - the advantage of these books is that the original novels were published as a trilogy of short novellas and as such means that readers can get through them quite quickly which gives a sense of achievement.

The first three Dragonlance novels are pretty good too.

In addition - Poul Anderson's Broken Sword is worth look for anyone interested in fantasy fiction.

Conan is pretty good too, although not all the books are equal in quality. The early original Robert E Howard series are a good start.

And David Gemmel's Waylander series was excellent - and the Game of Thrones series is a rip roaring read.