Monthly Archives: August 2023

Level 1: For the Young Readers

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Part 2 of my Level’s of Science Fiction and Fantasy Series

I look at this group of novels as something you would pick up in 4th to 6th grade that could draw you into the fantasy/science fiction universe.  When I was in that age group, I read all of the Wrinkle in Time series and loved it.  I also read Jurassic Park, The Lost World and Sphere and loved them, but don’t think I was the target and wouldn’t fit them in this group.  Despite loving those books, I really didn’t get into other fantasy or science fiction until later. But if you’re trying to build some love of Science Fiction and Fantasy from a young age, these would be some good choices.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone- This seems the obvious choice.  It’s the book and series that got so many into reading generally.  It has so many great aspects of fantasy: the world building, the layered plot where more and more is revealed as the series goes on, the interesting, fantastical elements.  It’s incredibly accessible as the story consistently follows one main character with very few deviations.  It’s easy to read but that doesn’t take away from its magic. 

The Giver- Few books could get young readers into dystopian science fiction than this highly accessible and well written novel.

The Hunger Games- Deals with some older themes so it’s probably on the edge with level 2, but its writing and structure are simple enough that I think a young reader could really appreciate it.  The story is engaging, the characters are interesting, it hits the right emotional notes.  The kind of book that can show how fun dystopian science fiction can be. 

A Wrinkle in Time- A blend of fantasy and science fiction.  I loved this book so much as a child and really enjoyed the follow-up novels (especially A Swiftly Titling Planet).  It doesn’t deal with a ton of concepts but I remember how intriguing the idea of the tesseract was to me as someone new to science fiction.  I was fascinated by the idea of folding space to travel. 

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe- I did not fully get into the Narnia novels, but they are incredibly accessible and many love them.  I was a big fan of the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe on my first reading.  Finding that fantasy world within your own home was an exciting proposition. 

The Hobbit- Tolkein is the king of fantasy and this is a fun, engaging, less serious story that young readers could certainly enjoy. 

The Golden Compass- So much going on in this alternate, magical earth.  I think it’s very accessible, but some of the ideas in the last two novels might be difficult for younger readers.  Personally I liked The Golden Compass better than the last two in the series and think it is one that could easily get young readers into fantasy. 

Redwall-  I never actually read this, but it is one that comes to mind based on talking to others I know who loved Fantasy novels. 

Felan’s Rescue is available in Ebook form (and Kindle Unlimited), Audiobook, Hardback, and Paperback!

The Descendants of Prontoth is available as an Ebook (and Kindle Unlimited), Audiobook, hardback and paperback!

Preorders for Seventh Contact are now available!

A Desolation Called Peace, by Arkardy Martine

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Another of the great modern Space Opera writers, Martine delivers a fitting and fun conclusion to the Teixcalaan duology. You can tell Martine is having fun with the names, cultures, and world-building. It’s a unique spin, impeccably written, and undeniably fun.

While the first story dealt with the mystery of the previous ambassador’s death and the political intrigue surrounding it, this deals with an outside threat. A mysterious alien species is wreaking havoc and the Teixcalaan Empire must figure out how to deal with it or if they can even communicate with it. The palace intrigue is still there though more on the periphery and playing out in fleet politics. We also get more of the Lsel Station politics and the ramifications to Mahit from her actions in the prior novel.

Desolation certainly lived up to its predecessor and in some ways surpassed it.

Felan’s Rescue is available on Audiobook!

Felan’s Rescue is available in Ebook form (and Kindle Unlimited), Hardback, and Paperback!

The Descendants of Prontoth (Galactic Civilizations Book 2) is now available on Audiobook!

The Descendants of Prontoth is now available as an Ebook (and on Kindle Unlimited) hardback and paperback!

Levels of Science Fiction and Fantasy Introduction

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Pictured: My tattered copy of Ender’s Game from 8th Grade, read far too many times to count.

This is a concept I came up with a couple of years ago.  I have been an avid science fiction reader since my 8th grade English teacher assigned me to read Ender’s Game (still number 5 of my favorite SFF novels ever list).  She gave us a week to read the first 5 chapters and I waited until the night before like I always seemed to.  I picked up the book at 9:00 p.m. and didn’t put it down until 3:00 a.m.  I was absolutely hooked.  I could not stop reading.  I finished the book that night after school then plowed through Speaker for the Dead soon after.  From there I was off, constantly reading science fiction and eventually adding fantasy to the agenda. 

There is a lot that drew me to Ender’s Game, but one thing I think back to was how accessible it was.  The story essentially followed one character (ignoring brief tangents with Peter and Valentine), the world was revealed to you in a very comprehensive way, the characters were well developed and the plot was interesting.  The story worked and it really didn’t make the reader work.  For someone relatively new to science fiction it was a perfect entrance.  Since then I’ve ready science fiction from Frank Herbert to Dan Simmons to Iain M. Banks.  I’ve read accessible classics that are fun and easy to follow and I’ve read great books that make the reader work hard.  All are great in their own way. 

Now I have a daughter and son who one day I would love to introduce to the great world of science fiction and fantasy reading.  I want them to find what Ender’s Game was for me.  I hope that would eventually lead them to some of the more ambitious reading endeavors finding enjoyment in those as well.  Basically, the levels of Science Fiction and Fantasy deal with accessibility.  The more accessible books aren’t lesser just like the books that make you work harder aren’t necessarily better.  They are their own thing.  I have a great appreciation of books that I would classify at various levels of accessibility and my personal favorites span those groups. 

In the next couple of weeks I’ll unvale my Five Levels of Science Fiction and Fantasy based on accessibility.  I feel like starting someone in fantasy and science fiction with the novels that make you work hardest could turn them off from the genre.  I think having the experience in the genre makes you better appreciate the books that make you work without losing the appreciation from some of the other novels.  I wouldn’t tell someone new to fantasy to pick up Gardens of the Moon but would certainly recommend The Hobbit as a starting point.  

I don’t want to include every book in this either.  I want to pick out the books that would draw people into the genre that would really make them want to read more.   Likewise, for those who have been drawn in I want to choose the high-level books that you’d recommend for someone looking for a little more.  I also am only including the first book if it is a continuous meant to be read in order series but may include stand-alone books set in the same universe as earlier written books.  I hope others will help me further develop this idea. 

Felan’s Rescue is available on Audiobook!

Felan’s Rescue is available in Ebook form (and Kindle Unlimited), Hardback, and Paperback!

The Descendants of Prontoth (Galactic Civilizations Book 2) is now available on Audiobook!

The Descendants of Prontoth is now available as an Ebook (and on Kindle Unlimited) hardback and paperback!

Down Below Beyond, by T.A. Bruno

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I was very excited to listen to this book, as I really enjoyed Bruno’s previous novel, In the Orbit of Sirens, and I was familiar with the narrator, Kyle Snyder, who did a fantastic job narrating both my novels, Felan’s Rescue and The Descendants of Prontoth.  Neither the story nor the narration disappointed.  Down Below Beyond was a fast-paced, galaxy-spanning, adventure travelogue.  The characters were fun, diverse, and interesting.  Though self-contained, the universe feels big and lived in.  Few novels achieve the continued sense of fun and discovery that Down Below Beyond manages throughout.

Our main perspective into this universe is a prospector named Levort Aatra, who stakes a claim to a salvage on Tayoxe.  That claim sets the stage for a story that moves quickly, with Aatra discovering much of the forgotten history of Lodespace.  He jumps around worlds after the gift of a portal, allowing him to travel like Rick Sanchez, though with far less control over where he is going.  The planets and species populating them are diverse and the characters he finds along the way are a joy.  And the characters he meets along the way, become an incredible, found-family supporting cast. 

Meanwhile, Levort is being followed across the galaxy by his friend, who wants to both protect Levort from the trouble he believes Levort to be in, but also sees an opportunity for himself.  His friend is not going to let anything get in the way of his quest. 

I highly recommend this book, particularly if you are looking for a fun, stand-alone novel.  And of course, Kyle Snyder’s narration is on point. 

Felan’s Rescue is available on Audiobook!

Felan’s Rescue is available in Ebook form (and Kindle Unlimited), Hardback, and Paperback!

The Descendants of Prontoth (Galactic Civilizations Book 2) is now available on Audiobook!

The Descendants of Prontoth is now available as an Ebook (and on Kindle Unlimited) hardback and paperback!