Science Fiction Stories for Teenage Girls? 161
Sooner Boomer asks: "Not having met 'Mrs. Boomer' yet, I'm buying Christmas gifts for my nieces and nephews. Whether genetics or just good luck, almost all of the young 'uns are girls. I've been slowly introducing them to the classics of science fiction: Heinlein ('Podkayne of Mars', _'Starship Troopers', etc.), Asimov short stories, Ann McAffrey (the Dragonrider books), Alan Dean Foster (the Flynx books and others), Douglas Adams and Terry Prachett, some Neil Gaiman (Stardust, Good Omens), as well as the mandatory Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. This is just a partial list, but what would Slashdot consider to be good (or even essential) science fiction for teen and pre-teen girls?"
Nicholas Fisk (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Nicholas Fisk (Score:5, Informative)
- A Wrinkle in Time
Madeleine L'EngleAny of a few score books by Andre Norton.
Anything by Patricia A McKillip, but particularly the "Riddlemaster of Hed" series.
Earthsea series by Ursula K LeGuin
- Ender's Game
by Orson Scott Card. The rest of the series is good as well (as is pretty much anything by Card) but may not appeal as much to your target audience.Re:Nicholas Fisk (Score:3, Informative)
There's also another series I thought was wonderful, but I can't remember the exact titles. I think they were:
- The White Mountains
- The City of Gold and Lead
- The Pool of Fire.
It's about Earth after aliens have taken over and people are "capped" at 13 or so, and immediately start behaving differently. (Capping includes getting a wire-mesh gadget put over their skull.)
If they're young enough, or don't mind something for a
Re:Nicholas Fisk (Score:2)
Great stuff.
Re:Nicholas Fisk (Score:2)
And another one is the original "The Neverending Story" by Michael Ende.
Re:Nicholas Fisk (Score:2)
Re:Nicholas Fisk (Score:2)
Christopher (Score:2, Informative)
Other essential John Christopher:
* Empty World
* Guardians
Anyone who enjoys those should also like:
* The Chrysalids (John Wyndham)
* Futuretrack 5 (Robert Westall)
Re:Nicholas Fisk (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Nicholas Fisk (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Nicholas Fisk (Score:2)
Re:Nicholas Fisk (Score:2)
I dislike Foster, so I wouldn't recommend him to anyone. Likewise Piers Anthony, unless you want them to be scraping the bottom of the barrel, fiction-wise. Children don't have to read tripe just because their tastes haven't (theoretically) matured. Think of
This is Slashdot - (Score:3, Funny)
Re:This is Slashdot - (Score:5, Funny)
Re:This is Slashdot - (Score:2)
Why don't you show them Slashdot's "Science" section? With the exception of "good (or even essential)", it's exactly what you're asking for!
Getting Out Alive by Regina Paul (Score:3, Informative)
Regina is a relatively new science fiction writer- this is her first novel, released just this year, self-published through Lulu press. It was originally written as a romance- and thus has a good deal of appeal for the female sex. But I found it equally interesting as science fiction. It's likely to end up the first book of a series; and thus would give you additional purchases in the future. But best of all, it's available cheap ($5.00) as a PDF e-book; which would allow you to give it as a present to people on your list that you won't neccessarily be seeing for Christmas.
Mercedes Lackey and Lois McMaster Bujold (Score:4, Interesting)
Lackey [mercedeslackey.com], who wrote the Heralds of Valdemar series, is about as perfect as you can get for a teenage girl--for one thing, three of the first books, Arrows of the Queen, Arrow's Flight, and Arrow's Fall have a teenage girl as the main character. All of them are fun to read, and most of them are at least pretty good books. Light fantasy.
Bujold [dendarii.com] is the author of the Miles Vorkosigan series, which has something of everything, as well as the Chalion series and a few other books. They're also excellent. The former are usually termed "space opera" (I'd call them "light SF"), and the latter are rather deep fantasy.
Dan Aris
Heralds of Valdemar (Score:1)
Re:Heralds of Valdemar (Score:2)
On the same line, when I went to see the latest HP movie, I saw a bumbersticker, "Republicans for Voldemort." I'm sure you can turn it into a partisan attack if you feel the need, but I would have found it just as funny if it were "Democrats for Voldemort."
Re:Mercedes Lackey and Lois McMaster Bujold (Score:2)
For fantasy, you might try Elizabeth Moon's The Deed of Paksenarrion. It's a really good novel with a teenage female main character. In fact, it's an omnibum of three novels, (Over 1000 pages) and can be picked up cheap on amazon.com
I'm coming up blank on Sci
Re:Mercedes Lackey and Lois McMaster Bujold (Score:2)
Re:Mercedes Lackey and Lois McMaster Bujold (Score:2)
However, I've managed to get her interested in a female SF author who writes strong female characters, which I'm rather proud of: Kay Kenyon [kaykenyon.com]. Some of her stuff may be a little too strong for pre-teens, but any teenager, male or female, who's in to relatively intelligent ass-kickemups should enjoy it.
Re:Mercedes Lackey and Lois McMaster Bujold (Score:2)
Foundation (Score:5, Informative)
Seriously though, don't miss Le Guin's "Earthsea" books, and the old Andre Norton stuff - the "Witch World" stories are good.
Re:Foundation (Score:2)
David Webber (Score:3, Insightful)
The books tend to be a little formulaic, but still very enjoyable.
Re:David Webber (Score:2)
Check out Piers Anthony (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Check out Piers Anthony (Score:2)
They drive me insane, I just can't read Pier's work.
Re:Check out Piers Anthony (Score:2)
Which... Even with the puns is a fairly good series. And best of all... you can read until you want to stop
He's at almost 30 books in the series. Another hint is... The earlier the book the less the puns... "A Spell for Chameleon" has very few compared to "The Color of Her Panties" and such...
Re:Check out Piers Anthony (Score:2)
Don't just grab anything written by Anthony, though. The Adept series is both good and fairly tame. The Xanth books are as dirty as your imagination (heavy on very vague innuendo). Anthony has some other stuff, though, that is absolutely X-rated. The title of "Pornucopia" says it all, and his "Bio of a Space Tyrant" series is very adult. I've also read some other books and short stories he wrote whose titles I don't recall, but they're probably not what you want to give to a pre-teen girl.
Re:Check out Piers Anthony (Score:2)
First three in the adept series are good, but... (Score:2)
One quick (and somewhat enviable) spell later, our hero was able to accomodate her. I don't recall it being very explicit, but it's still probably not something I wo
Re:Check out Piers Anthony (Score:2)
Recommendations (Score:5, Insightful)
The Meri by Maya Bohnhoff
Mary Stewart's Merlin Trilogy (start with The Crystal Cave)
Mercedes Lackey's Heralds of Valdemar series (start with Magic's Pawn or Arrows of the Queen)
David Eddings's Belgariad and Mallorean (start with Pawn of Prophecy)
Mary Herbert's Dark Horse trilogy (start with Dark Horse)
Trudi Canavan's Black Magician Trilogy (start with Magician's Guild)
Piers Anthony's Incarnations of Immortality Series (start with On a Pale Horse)
Piers Anthony's Apprentice Adept Series (start with Split Infinity)
Garth Nix - Sabriel (Score:2)
Oh, yeah, one I forgot: Garth Nix [ozemail.com.au]'s Sabriel series. It's really, really good. Main characters are 2 teenage girls (well, one grows up, then the other one's the main character). High and deep fantasy.
Dan Aris
Re:Garth Nix - Sabriel (Score:2)
Re:Garth Nix - Sabriel (Score:2)
Well, if you'd read the 2 sequels, you'd see that there's a LOT more to it...Nix has created a very deep world, with a lot of backstory and a fascinating system of magic and Death. You'd probably see pretty much the same thing if you read Sabriel itself with an open mind, 'cause the end scene with the Ancelstierre army trying to hold back the Dead with the guns is in no way the goal of the book. There is, of course, a possibility that it was somewhat the inspiration for it, but I've had weirder inspiratio
Re:Garth Nix - Sabriel (Score:2)
Science Fiction Stories for Teenage Girls? (Score:2, Funny)
If it's your first time, you can't get pregnant.
Harry Potter? (Score:2)
So give them some Harry Potter. They can read some pretty good fantasy and there won't be any social stigma attached to it.
The problem with books in general for young people is that you have to know what things
Asimov, gender-archaic? (Score:2)
Re:Asimov, gender-archaic? (Score:3, Funny)
Foundation - various dudes in space.
Foundation and Empire - dude and his girlfriend unknowingly take the enemy of the foundation on a trip in space
Second Foundation - Young girl travels in space looking for the second foundation
Foundation's Edge - Two dudes try to find Earth. They pick up some chicks on the way.
Foundation and Earth - The dudes find Earth as well as a robot.
Prelude to Foundation - A dude meets a chick and a kid and has adventures on Trantor
Forward the F
No, you got it all wrong. (Score:2)
Since Susan Calvin until the Second Foundation.
Susan Calvin -- amongst other stuff, creates mentalic-powers robot for the first time (Liar!) and destroys it.
Jessie Baley was a fundamentalist.
The Solarian woman (Gladia Delmarre) that was a murder suspect. Her Nemesis, Vasilia Aliena, super-roboticist, created R. Giskard Reventlov.
Valona (the girl that saves the Earthman's ass) in the Currents of Space.
You mentioned Arkady Darrell and R. Dors Venabili, bu
some suggestions (Score:4, Informative)
The Telzey books by Schmitz (Schmidt?) would likely be good. The classic Witches of Karres has been reprinted, I think, and I believe there's also a sequel (written by another author, of course), though I could be wrong about that.
I see someone else has already suggested Mercedes Lackey's Arrows of the Queen books. Those are great, and much easier for a younger person to get through than the other Valdemar novels.
You might also look at some stuff by Patricia Wrede, the Enchanted Forest books are great fun, and not just for younger folks, either. Talking to Dragons is my favourite of the series.
Books by Tamora Pierce would be really good stuff. Multiple series by her - lots of good stuff.
If you want more of the science fiction, then space opera is always easier for younger kids to get into.
Scott Westerfeld is a newish author who has written some stuff that may work well. I especially liked Peeps.
If you're into Heinlein, then I can always suggest the Moon is a Harsh Mistress. That'll always get them thinking, though ya gotta be careful - many people mistake this story as an endorsement of Libertarianism. Still - ya gotta love Professor de la Paz's philosophy, Rational Anarchy. And Manny is a funny guy. Certainly reading the novel Starship Troopers will give a whole new perspective on things that the movie 'based on' the bok didn't.
The Honor Harrington novels by David Weber could certainly be appreciated by younger folks, as long as they're prepared to wade through all the 'technical' details. It's the same way you have to read Tom Clancy. Just let your eyes glaze over until you get to the story, which is always good stuff. I wish these two had editors with balls of steel and an eagerness to snip, but oh well - it's generally not wise to mess with success, and they are both very successful, indeed.
There's always the Xanth novels by Piers Anthony (Xanthony), though that series has gone on _waaaay_ too long.
There's the Myth Adventures books by Robert Aspirin, at least the first several; another series that's long since outlived its entertainment value.
The Belgariad/Mallorean books by David Eddings is good high fantasy, and has fantastic characters.
Okay, this is harder to do off the top of my head than I would've thought.
The various "Ship Who Sang" series - written by Anne McCaffrey and others.
Elizabeth Moon has some good military-oriented space opera. Much like Weber, but without the extraneous technical details.
Space Angel by John Maddox Roberts
Healer by F. Paul Wilson
Eridahn by Robert F. Young
Hmm.
I'm sure I'll think of several dozen other things on the way home from work. Maybe I'll post more later. Always a favourite topic.
Re:some suggestions (Score:3, Informative)
First, I'd like to say that I highly, highly recommend a series by Philip Pullman "His Dark Materials" the first book of which is "The Golden Compass". It's definitely more fantasy than SF, but since you mentioned Tolkien and such I thought it would be a good recommendation. Though this series is not at all Tolkienesque aside from the fact that I found the process of reading this series in my 2
Re:some suggestions (Score:2)
Re:some suggestions (Score:2)
I strongly recommend Connie Willis. She's a fantastic author, and she shouldn't be over their heads, although I would suggest starting with something like Bellwether, which is both hilarious and romantic, ins
More Heinlein (Score:5, Informative)
If you want you can try leaving a few copies of John Norman's Gor around when they're teenaged, they helped me discover and understand my BDSM side (Bugger if they don't have any or aren't bright enough to differentiate fantasy from reality!). This advice is not for the faint of heart, though (Still, I'm thankful for my father having these on his library board, where I was free to read since aged about 12).
Later again I can recommend the RGB-Mars series by Kim Stanley Robinson, which offers a few great examples of scientific thinking along with idealism vs. realism, but the reading is quite dry, so wait till they're 16 or so.
From the top of my head I can also think of these (Don't consider them "recommended", though. They were simply the ones I read...), that I liked quite well then (but then, I am male, though I doubt reading preferences are much more than behavior adopted from the surrounding society): The "Riverworld" series by Philip Jose Farmer, "The ragged astronauts" series ("Wooden spaceships" & "The Fugitive Worlds" are the other two, I believe) by Bob Shaw, the "Omega 2" books by Bo Anders (were particularly intersting when I was younger still (8,9?), so you might want to check them out. The author is german, so they might be difficult to find), "Hellstroms Hive" by Frank Herbert (A lot easier to comprehend than "Dune", but grizzly nonetheless) and finally "House of stairs" by William Sleator (Rather easy to read as well, certainly a "juvenile")
Re:More Heinlein (Score:2)
Re:More Heinlein for females - I'm surprised (Score:2)
Re:Hey, you want independent thinkers, you get... (Score:2)
Harsh Mistress is great BTW! I tried not recommending specific stories though, since I don't want my person
William Sleator (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:William Sleator (Score:2)
--
I'm always serious, never more so than when I'm being flippant. -- Cr. Ziller
Xenogenesis - Octavia E. Butler (Score:2)
Madeline L'Engle (Score:2)
Quite good books that appeal heavily to both genders. Edges a bit more into the fantasy than Sci-Fi... but great stories all the same.
Why Science Fiction? (Score:5, Insightful)
Probabilistically, what are the odds that they are all interested in sci-fi/fantasy? Nothing is "essential" as you put it, it's all a matter of taste. I read some growing up, but disliked a lot of it. So even if they are studious or like to read (an assumption right there, maybe a CD is what they would really appreciate) the topics could be as far ranging as biography, architecture, 18th century literature.
Giving the same genre across the board doesn't speak to any of them personally, and showcases what you think they should be interested in, not what they actually seek out themselves.
And, I believe, the season of giving is about selflessness and doing for others. Perhaps, rethink your strategy?
And if not, all these other suggestions here are good too.
Re:Why Science Fiction? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Why Science Fiction? (Score:2)
It's a concept called consideration of others.
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Why Science Fiction? (Score:2)
He clearly states that he has already introduced them to sci fi books. Either they like them and he's giving them more (he's doing the rightish thing), or they don't like them and haven't told him (can't really blame him), or they don't like them, told him, and he's still pushing them on them (he's a jerk).
No matter which case you have, really, it seems clear to me that delivering recommendations that the girls are more likely to enjoy is in their best interest.
... for Teenage Girls? (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:... for Teenage Girls? (Score:4, Funny)
Didn't your school have the Special Assemblies where the girls and boys were separated and watched the different films? Well, the girls watched The Abyss and the Boys watched Predator.
Re:... for Teenage Girls? (Score:2)
(There are some websites around that will allow you to verify this visually, I've heard)
Re:... for Teenage Girls? (Score:2)
Maybe for the same reason girls read Nancy Drew and boys read Asimov.
We've already narrowed it down to "SciFi", more so than just "books". If we were asking what types of gentle sleuth novels teenagers like to read, Nancy Drew would apply to both genders. Apart from the odd scantily-clad busty barmaid, what is it about some SciFi that would turn girls off, if they were interested in SciFi at all?Firsthand (Score:2)
Re:Firsthand (Score:2)
The Deed of Paksenarrion (Score:4, Interesting)
It is in the Tolkein genre, but more personal, less "grand armies crashing". It's more accessible than Tolkein, but still grand. The hero is an -ine, which makes it a little more appropriate for the nieces. Everyone I have introduced to the book has loved it, including my in-the-Marines brother. And all of my sisters.
If they are in the Christian-way, I can also recommend the Stephan R Lawhead books: The Dragon King trilogy and the Empyrion saga.
My other favorites are more mainstream, and have probably already been mentioned.
One more book to consider is The Count of Monte Cristo. Long, but oh so good. I first read it when I was in sixth grade with a five-day flu, and it has been on my top 5 list ever since.
Re:The Deed of Paksenarrion (Score:2)
It's a bit dark, but more...realistic then most fantasy is, and it's quite refreshing to read.
I find some of her other stuff a little silly, but not the Deed of Paksennarion.
Highly, highly recommended.
--LWM
John Hackworth (Score:2)
Re:John Hackworth (Score:2)
Philip Pullman (Score:3, Informative)
That said, I think you're going in the right direction with Pratchett and Gaiman.
Tolkien's always worthwhile as well, but i'm sure you already know that. If you have any relations you particularly dislike or want to intimidate, you can always give them the Silmirillion.
Not to troll the question... but... (Score:2)
Re:Not to troll the question... but... (Score:2)
Introducing someone to a wonderful new experience is going to be a much more memorable christm
why not ask her/them? (Score:3, Interesting)
When I was in college I tried to get various people hooked on the genre and I had the most luck with the Hobart Floyt and Alacrity Fitzhugh trillogy by Daley. The first one (Requiem for a Ruler of Worlds) did the trick. And for some reason, Moorcock's Elric never had much success. Go figure.
Although you do mention Pratchett in your queston, I have to bring up _Wee Free Men_. It was a fun read, the protagonist was a girl "coming of age", and was targetted to the pre-adult reader. And to agree with many of the earlier posts, LeGuin's Earthsea Trilogy was another excellent choice.
- doug
L. Neil Smith books. (Score:2)
http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults? an=l+neil+smith&y=6&x=48 [abebooks.com]
http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults? an=l+neil+smith&y=0&tn=brightsuit&x=0 [abebooks.com]
http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults? an=l+neil+smith&y [abebooks.com]
_Treason_ by Orson Scott Card (Score:2)
Re:_Treason_ by Orson Scott Card (Score:2)
Do you mean the original version (1979, A Planet Called Treason) or his rewritten version? (1988)
Re:_Treason_ by Orson Scott Card (Score:2)
Stellvia of the Universe. An anime (Score:3, Informative)
Review of the first DVD [animenewsnetwork.com]
A general review. [blogspot.com]
"There is another..." (Score:2)
Early stuff, avoid what they wrote latter (Score:2)
There have been many good suggestions. However a warning is important: go for the early stuff the authors wrote, not what they write after they quit their day job. A few (Andre Norton comes to mind) managed to continuously write quality books. However many authors do not. (Mercedes Lackey) Those latter authors often get worse and worse over time.
I wish publishers had the nerve to stand up to established authors and tell them that this garbage would never have been printed if they were new, so why
Here's an idea (Score:2, Interesting)
Marion Zimmer Bradley? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Marion Zimmer Bradley? (Score:3, Informative)
Marion Zimmer Bradley is a great choice for young women- or anyone. Along with The Firebrand, I would recommend The Mists of Avalon- which is based on the story of King Arthur and Avalon, though Mograine is the main character, instead of King Arthur (TNT did a very good movie adaption of this which is available on DVD too).
You might also look into the Harry Potter books, which are quite good and quite popular.
MZB and more... (Score:2)
For fantasy
Marion Zimmer Bradley, sword and sorceress series, and her darkover series.
MZB taught Mercedes Lackey (who I recommend too - though she can get a bit too much into child abuse issues for my taste)
Anne McAffrey - does they like dragons, and mental telepathy?
For Science fiction
I second:
Lois McMaster Bujold - especially Cordelia's Honour and the Warrior's Apprentice series - a lot of these have been "omnibussed" ie two novels in one, so check wha
Just SciFi, or can I suggest "fantasy"? (Score:2)
Rite of Passage (Score:2)
"The People" series by Zenna Henderson (Score:2)
The backdrop of the stories is a spaceship of human-looking aliens ("The People") that crash-lands in the American Southwest, scattering individuals and groups over a large area. The aliens have certain abilities not usually seen in the Southwest (telekinesis, etc.), but have to try to blend in with the local population nevertheless. Not onl
Redwall Series (Score:3, Interesting)
C.J. Cherryh (Score:2)
As an ex-teenager female... (Score:2)
Some of the suggested authors have varying levels of 'clean'ness. McAffrey was typically quite clean in her earlier Pern novels, with the exception of a reference to the unf-unfing in the very fi
Frank Baum (Score:2)
A great thing you can do that will be remembered by them later is to read to t
Till we have Faces (Score:2)
Not being a girl... (Score:2)
1. the Madeline L'Engle "Wrinkle in Time" books
2. The Chronicles of Narnia
3. Some of the more sci-fi'ish "Choose Your Own Adventure" [gamebooks.org] books
4. Any of the Tom Swift / Tom Swift Jr. adventures [nasa.gov]
5. The Mad Scientists Club [madscientistsclub.com]
6. Any of the Doctor Who novelisations.
7. and while not exactly sci-fi, how about some of the "The Three Investigators" [threeinvestigators.net] stories?
Re:Not being a girl... (Score:2)
8. A good anthology of H.P. Lovecraft stories. Closer to horror than sci-fi, but probably good stuff for teens to read.. I wish I'd discovered Lovecraft sooner.
9. 1984 by George Orwell. May result in the reader developing an aversion to statism and government, but hey..
10. Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
11. Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card. I would recommend this *extra* highly if the would be recipient has been identified in his/her school system as "advanced" or "gifted" in any way and esp
Mrs. Boomer... (Score:2)
Check out Scott Westerfeld. (Score:2)
Re:a short list. (Score:2)
Re:Terry Brooks.... (Score:2, Interesting)
If you are an RPG player, you can practically hear the dice rolling on the table while reading any Weis/Hickman book.
I will admit to avidly reading both of these two series. But please don't make the same youthful mistakes I did! Their glaring atrocities can be overlooked if you're young enough. If you're going to buy the first two series of books, the target read