We didn’t watch Dr. Who this week. We were watching The Golden Compass on Comcast On Demand. The recording was screwing up the movie so we canceled it and I forgot to set it to record the later reshowing. It will probably be repeated before next week’s episode so we’ll catch it then. I hope David Tennant doesn’t irritate me too much.
Speaking of The Golden Compass. We enjoyed it, though if you’ve read the books, you know the ending of the film is a bit of a cop-out. Far more sunny than the book.
Summer vacation is beginning, so I thought I’d give a few sci fi reading recommendations for kids.
I just finished a new one, a gift to my son from his grandmother: Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke. I recommend it for age 8 and above, although the younger ages should be strong readers.
Some favorites, for ages 8-12 :
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle. The first of many wonderful stories by this author.
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster and Jules Feiffer
The Chronicles of Narnia Boxed Set by C.S. Lewis
A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, Book 1) (the first of the EarthSea Trilogy) by Ursula LeGuin. Read them all.
Dragonsong (Harper Hall Trilogy), Dragonsinger (Harper Hall Trilogy, Volume 2), Dragondrums (Harper Hall Trilogy) by Anne McCaffrey (Harper Hall Trilogy Books 1, 2, 3)
Douglas also recommends the Dragon Slayers Academy books very highly although I admit, I have NOT read them. Dragon Slayer’s Academy Boxed Set # 1- 5
Ages 12 and up
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien [J.R.R. Tolkien Boxed Set (The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings)]
Dragonriders of Pern (multiple books), Anne McCaffrey
Foundation et al, by Isaac Asimov [The Foundation Trilogy]
Kurt Vonnegut. Start with Cat’s Cradle or Breakfast of Champions and go from there.
Harry Potter 1-7, JK Rowling [Harry Potter Paperback Box Set (Books 1-6)]
The Belgariad and The Malloreon by David Eddings [The Belgariad, Vol. 1 (Books 1-3): Pawn of Prophecy, Queen of Sorcery, Magician’s Gambit and The Malloreon, Vol. 1 (Books 1-3): Guardians of the West, King of the Murgos, Demon Lord of Karanda]
Ages 14-16 and up
The Once & Future King by TH White
His Dark Materials Trilogy (The Golden Compass; The Subtle Knife; The Amber Spyglass) by Philip Pullman (book one is The Golden Compass)
American Gods: A Novel by Neil Gaiman