Seeking Science Fiction Recommendations

[beamjockey]

Someone I know has turned to me for help. Her male cousin

"is turning 13 I think… I always buy him books. He is really smart, more geeky than dreamy and likes science fiction. Any suggestions??"

I don't know more about his reading habits than this.

I have a few clues, but haven't read extensively in recent SF. I could recommend a bunch of books that were great 20 to 60 years ago.

I'm looking for suggestions for books published recently-- let's say in the 21st century-- that are a nearly-sure bet to interest someone who fits the description above. Books that would make a suitable gift.

(At 13, he's probably ready to read some SF published for adults, but really good young-adult stories are also worth considering. And I gather there are a lot of good ones around these days.)

Comments

[beamjockey.livejournal.com]

What's wrong with books from 20 to 60 years ago?

I am an expert on books from 20 to 60 years ago. So I can make good recommendations about those.

What I need is to learn about more recent books.

Clear?

[selkiechick]

Do you mind sharing you shortlist of books that are excellent and have aged well (not to sow discord of create drama). I've some younger cousins, too.

[beamjockey.livejournal.com]

Older books I recommended for the present circumstance, after due consideration:

Lois McMaster Bujold, Young Miles (a three-book omnibus that is a good place to start reading the Vorkosigan series)

Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy
Can't go wrong with this, beloved by 13-year-olds of any age.

Larry Niven, *Ringworld*
Great Seventies SF.

Isaac Asimov, *The Foundation Trilogy* (great Forties SF) or *The Caves of Steel* (great fifties SF, also a mystery, with robots)

Robert Heinlein, Starship Troopers, The Rolling Stones, or Starman Jones
I think these are somewhat less dated than other Heinlein stories. Probably should have included Have Space Suit, Will Travel.

I'm thinking I could have included books by Anne McCaffrey or Arthur Clarke (my own favorite author) as well, but my correspondent really needed just one title, so I stopped.

[vnend.livejournal.com]

I would include (or replace) the Asimov with "The Gods Themselves", one of the few Asimov books that I think is *good*. But I vastly preferred Clarke to Asimov.

I reread 'The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress' just a few years ago, and with the exception of the size of the computers, I thought it held up well. Not my favorite Heinlein, but probably his best book.

[derekl1963.livejournal.com]

Ah. misread that in my haste/sleepiness. (Bad inflammation, plus pain pills == dodgy attention span.) My bad. My apologies.