Welcome to RFF-WA

    RFF-WA has a Recommended Reading List of books that may appeal to the teenage reader. This list is by no means comprehensive, so if you know of a book that should be included, please email Heidi with your recommendation.
     See what others have recommended!      Without Further Ado...

RFF-WA Recommended Reading List

This list is designed to get a reader started. There are literally hundreds of good books out there, and it is nigh impossible to list them all. If you read a book and don’t like it, try a different one. This list also includes further recommended authors. If you like a particular author, give another a try.

Classical
Homer, “The Iliad”, “The Odyssey”
Alighieri, Dante, “The Inferno”
Shelley, Mary, “Frankenstein”
Verne, Jules, “20,000 Leagues Under The Sea”, “From The Earth To The Moon”, “The Hunt For The Meteor”, “Into The Abyss”, “Journey To The Center Of The Earth”

First Golden Age
Asimov, Issac - “The Foundation” series, “I, Robot”, “Bicentennial Man” and about 200 more
Clarke, Arthur C – “2001, A Space Odyssey”, “By Space Possessed”, “The Deep Range”, “A Fall of Moondust”
Heinlein, Robert A – “Citizen Of The Galaxy”, “Friday”, “Glory Road”, “Job: A Comedy Of Justice”, “The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress”, “Red Planet”, “Starship Troopers”, “Stranger In A Strange Land”

Second Golden Age
McCaffrey, Anne - “Dragonriders of Pern” series
L’Engle, Madeline - “A Wrinkle in Time” series
Eddings, David – “The Belgariad”
LeGuin, Ursula K – “A Wizard of Earthsea”, “The Left Hand of Darkness”, “The Dispossessed”
Card, Orson Scott – “Earthfall”, “Ender's Game”, “Alvin Maker” series, “Lost Boys”, “Shadow Trilogy”
Hambly, Barbara – “Dragonshadow”, “Darwath Trilogy”
Prachett, Terry – "Discworld" series
Feist, Raymond E – “Magician”

Contemporary

Prior, Natalie Jane - "Lily Quench" series. Lily Quench is a Dragon Quencher in charge of defending the land of Ashby. But are the bad guys really who they seem to be?

Colfer, Eoin - “Artemis Fowl”series. Twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl is the most ingenious criminal mastermind in history…. but he didn’t count on commando fairies.

Rodda, Emily - “Deltora Quest”. Magic, monsters, and mayhem. Recommended for fans of Harry Potter.

Snicket, Lemony - “A Series of Unfortunate Events”. Perhaps it is better to not read this series, as you may be thoroughly depressed by the terrible things that happen to the Baudelaire orphans. Put this series down and walk—no, run—away!

Stewart, Paul & Riddell, Chris - “The Edge Chronicles”. Good escapist fantasy in the traditional fairytale vein about those who set out to find themselves.

Adams, Douglas, - “The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy”. Silly British Humour and an absolute Must Read. Babel fish, the destruction of planet earth to make way for a new interstellar bypass, and the restaurant at the end of the universe

Haynes, Simon - “The Adventures of Hal Spacejock”. If you like “Hitchhikers,” you’ll enjoy “Hal Spacejock”. SF humour from local WA author.

Lowry, Lois - “The Giver”. 12 year old Jonas lives in futuristic utopian society, and discovers it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Newberry Award winner that is often banned (Isn’t that ironic?) for "mature themes" of euthanasia, infanticide, suicide and the occasional sex scene. May not be suitable for the younger set.

Stevens-Arce, James - “Soulsaver”. In similar vein to Lowry’s “The Giver” (though not banned), “Soulsaver” is a book about a future Christian-based dystopia where Juan Bautista’s job is to drive around in an ambulance and “save the souls” of those who have killed themselves. A good reading pace and an excellent view of a future SF society in Puerto Rico.

Willis, Connie - “Impossible Things”. This collection of some of her best short stories is more speculative, rather than “science fiction”, as it explores more the human side of life. Anything of Connie Willis’ is a good read. Highly recommended.

Wilkins, Kim – “Gina Champion Mystery” series. Gina Champion is a teen with psychic detective skills. For some reason, trouble seeks her out instead of the other way around. What Nancy Drew did for the 1950’s, Gina Champion does for the 2000’s

If You Like….Then Try…

Orson Scott Card – Greg Bear, David Brin, CJ Cherryh, Alan Dean Foster, David Zindell

Connie Willis – Octavia Butler, Ursula Le Guin, Sheri S Tepper, Gwyneth Jones

David Eddings - JRR Tolkien, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Robin Hobb, Robert Jordan, Guy Gavriel Kay, Michael Moorcock

Issac Asimov – Ray Bradbury, Philip K Dick, Joe Haldeman, Brian W Aldiss, H G Wells

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