Good Sci-Fi for 12-15 year-olds?

[muskrat]

My kid (a male humanoid of Twelve Earth Cycles) is a hopeless, unredeemed video game junkie who shows little interest in anything else. His favorite game is the Halo series. Last Christmas, on a lark, I purchased him a Halo novel--just words, no pics, 340 pages or so. I thought maybe...just maybe.

When I picked him up tonight, he dug in his bag, produced the book, and showed me his progress. I'll be damned if he ain't almost done with it. He really seems to dig it. Which sparked a wealth of possibilities in my scheming mind--if he likes that stuff, maybe I could lay some real sci-fi on him.

The first guy I could think of was Heinlein, of course. His 'juvenile' series, stuff like Between Planets, Space Cadet, or The Sky Farmers. I mentioned Starship Troopers, and he goes, "Yeah! I saw that movie." I told him the book is quite different. He didn't seem to care, said, "Books and movies are always different." I had a chuckle at that, told him he was 'preachin to the choir.' This confused him, but I digress...

Anyhoo, point being, I may have actually triggered an honest-to-God desire to READ within this fledgling humanoid. He likes all things Sci-Fi--a genre I've had little interest in, tell the truth, save for Heinlein. I mean, I doubt he's ready for Stranger In A Strange Land, but those early books oughtta do it.

My request--give me some damn sci-fi novel suggestions for a 12 year-old male. Other than Heinlein, that is. Help a Muskie out. Nothing too cerebral, but heavy in action and interplanetary carnage.

 

[Dana Jean]

Kevin J. Anderson writes a lot of kid sci fi. Not sure how good they are, but he is prolific.

 

[muskrat]

Well, they don't have to actually be kids books--just something his undeveloped brain can handle. Stuff like Simmons' Hyperion...nah, I don't think so.

 

[kingricefan]

Wish I could help but I tend to shy away from the sci-fi books.

 

[Walter Oobleck]

Try Wine of the Dreamers...John D MacDonald, a story

*the three worlds the watchers have colonized thousands of years ago:
*1st marith: the sword spear world, circling delta canis minoris near procyron
*2nd earth
*the third world...! ormazd, in the beta aquilae system near altair...and maybe King's Tommyknockers is a nod to MacDonald here. Or maybe there really is an altair-4 or 5.

This story was written in 1951...about a futuristic 1975...yep! 1975! There's a 170' diameter spaceship...and if that don't bring Tommyknockers to mind, we're spending too much time, verily, building our faith up on polls. MacDonald writes about the Paris Peace Talks...in 1951, buds...1951 he was writing this, and in 1975 what was happening? Cue the Twilight Zone soundtrack...the Paris Peace Talks. This one is a favorite of mine...he has another I've yet to read, Ballroom of the Skies...and possibly others? MacDonald rocks the cashba. I'm thinking too...this Koontz story when he wasn't Koontz...

The Haunted Earth...time of story...October, 2000. Heh! You know you're an old coot when the sci-fi stories have dates that you have long passed.

story begins:
count slavek, having proposed a toast to his new friend's great beauty, tossed off the glassful of red wine. then, smiling so broadly that he revealed his two gleaming fangs, he said, "before long, my dear, we shall drink other toasts together, though not of wine."

hold onto your horses, cause jessie blake, private investigator is hiding in the closet, hired by mr cuyler to keep an eye on his wife, ready to be vampire-bit...and the united nations supreme court has made a decision and it bears on vampire/victim scenarios. heh!

 

[mstay]

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card is my recommendation. The book is sooo much better than the movie. Of course!

 

[Jackal.S.Rogue]

There are alot of Star Trek books (at least there are at the library I go to) If he likes Sci-fi he'll probably like those.

 

[ghost19]

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card is my recomendation. The book is sooo much better than the movie. Of course!

Definitely a good series of books. My 10 year old son is devouring them right now...

 

[mstay]

Definitely a good series of books. My 10 year old son is devouring them right now...

Yeah maybe the intended age group is a little younger than muskrat is looking for?

Also sorry about my misspelling of recommendation in my last post. I really hate that!

 

[FlakeNoir]

Yeah maybe the intended age group is a little younger than muskrat is looking for?

Also sorry about my misspelling of recommendation in my last post. I really hate that!

Fixed...

 

[Narvic]

Piers Anthony has written so many books it's actually kind of staggering. I read so many of them when I was a teenager. If your son likes Halo, I am guessing he would have no trouble appreciating Cthon, which is one of the most memorable to me.

Piers Anthony: 3 Classic Piers Anthony Titles Now Available as e-Book, "Mute," "Chthon," and "Phthor."

It holds up well, since he is on an alien planet, no one questions why he has no cell phone! LOL

 

[Kurben]

Some suggestions;
Harry Harrison: West of Eden, Winter in Eden, Return to Eden
John Wyndham: The Chrysalids, Kraken wakes (aka Out of the Deeps), Day of the Triffids, The Net
John Christopher: The Tripod-series (4 bbooks), The Possessors, The Death of Grass
Edgar rice Burroughs: The first 3-4 John Carter books. (A Princess of Mars, The Gods of Mars and Warlord of Mars)
Ursula K. Leguin: The Earthsea-trilogy: A wizard of Earthsea, The Tombs of Atuan and The Farthest Shore
Jack Vance: The Tschai-books: City of the Chasch, Servants of the Wankh, The Dirdir and The Pnume
and my nephew loves Terry Pratchett
and i actually recommend The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins.
All of these are relatively short but good. Perhaps with the exception of Harrison which is good but a little longer and takes place in a world where inheritors of the dinosaurs have developed a high culture, language and a society which has humans as their servants. The hero of the book grows up with them, rebels and try to form a new human society. Good but perhaps wait a bit with that one.
Then i liked Hugh Howeys trilogy Wool, Shift and Dust but perhaps a good idea to wait a few years before that one.
And if you can stand that they are old the best of Jules Verne is still worth reading. Some of his SF arent SF anymore, like trips to the moon or submarines that go deep, but they are full of adventure and fun to read.

 

[danie]

Some suggestions;
Harry Harrison: West of Eden, Winter in Eden, Return to Eden
John Wyndham: The Chrysalids, Kraken wakes (aka Out of the Deeps), Day of the Triffids, The Net
John Christopher: The Tripod-series (4 bbooks), The Possessors, The Death of Grass
Edgar rice Burroughs: The first 3-4 John Carter books. (A Princess of Mars, The Gods of Mars and Warlord of Mars)
Ursula K. Leguin: The Earthsea-trilogy: A wizard of Earthsea, The Tombs of Atuan and The Farthest Shore
Jack Vance: The Tschai-books: City of the Chasch, Servants of the Wankh, The Dirdir and The Pnume
and my nephew loves Terry Pratchett
and i actually recommend The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins.
All of these are relatively short but good. Perhaps with the exception of Harrison which is good but a little longer and takes place in a world where inheritors of the dinosaurs have developed a high culture, language and a society which has humans as their servants. The hero of the book grows up with them, rebels and try to form a new human society. Good but perhaps wait a bit with that one.
Then i liked Hugh Howeys trilogy Wool, Shift and Dust but perhaps a good idea to wait a few years before that one.
And if you can stand that they are old the best of Jules Verne is still worth reading. Some of his SF arent SF anymore, like trips to the moon or submarines that go deep, but they are full of adventure and fun to read.

If one didn't know, one would think you read a great deal.

 

[kingricefan]

If one didn't know, one would think you read a great deal.

He's a skimmer.

 

[FlakeNoir]

He never sleeps... (except for the coma-like crashes occasionally )

 

[Kurben]

If one didn't know, one would think you read a great deal.

I actually havent read any Terry Pratchett... but since my nephew, who is about the right age loves them i thought they might be right. If anyone likes King Arthur The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley and The Sword in The Stone by T.H. White are good. White later developed his work into a series called The Once and Future King where Sword is the first part. Havent read the others in the series though.

 

[danie]

I actually havent read any Terry Pratchett... but since my nephew, who is about the right age loves them i thought they might be right. If anyone likes King Arthur The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley and The Sword in The Stone by T.H. White are good. White later developed his work into a series called The Once and Future King where Sword is the first part. Havent read the others in the series though.

For shame! What have you been doing with all your time?
You were assigned to read 100 books this month, young man! Get with it, or no recess for you!

 

[FlakeNoir]

I actually havent read any Terry Pratchett... but since my nephew, who is about the right age loves them i thought they might be right. If anyone likes King Arthur The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley and The Sword in The Stone by T.H. White are good. White later developed his work into a series called The Once and Future King where Sword is the first part. Havent read the others in the series though.

Terry Pratchett is great.

 

[kingricefan]

For shame! What have you been doing with all your time?
You were assigned to read 100 books this month, young man! Get with it, or no recess for you!

Run for the hills- Danie has unleashed The Teacher upon us all!!!!

 

[Kurben]

For shame! What have you been doing with all your time?
You were assigned to read 100 books this month, young man! Get with it, or no recess for you!

Yes, Miss! At once, Miss! I do everything you say, Miss! But pleeaase let me get recess....