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

[derekl1963.livejournal.com]

What's wrong with books from 20 to 60 years ago? If the book is still great (E.G. Heinlein's juvies have aged particularly poorly), it should be recommended.

If someone asked me about submarine novels, I'd be doing them a grave disservice by pointing them to the latest flavor of the month while not telling them about Ned Beach because "they're old".

[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.