What fantasy/sci fi book first ignited your imagination as a kid?

[J.]

As a kid. The Phantom Tollbooth.

[Jim]

The Book of Three, A Horse and His Boy, A Spell for Chameleon and the biggie...The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath.

[Fred]

Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, Tolkien's Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Isaac Asimov's Foundation Series, Cordwainer Smith's Instrumentality of Mankind series.

[Fred]

Reading the feed there are some great honorable mentions here - Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, The Chronicles of Narnia, Doc Savage, Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, Lloyd Alexander's Prydain series, LeGuin's Earthsea stories, Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders, Heinlein' s Number of the Beast, Zelazny's Amber series, Madelaine L'Engle's Wrinkle in Time, John Christopher's Whie Mountains. There are some great authors honored here. When sci-fi began to be recognized as a genre, we were swimming in novel, creative ideas - and it's only branched and got better since then.

[Lisa]

Chronicles of Narnia - I remember I got them when I was about eight or nine. A lot of it went right over my head until years later, but I was hooked. After that, the Hobbit, and the Chronicles of Prydain.

[Marangie]

The Hobbit

[Bobby]

Jim wrote: "The Book of Three, A Horse and His Boy, A Spell for Chameleon and the biggie...The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath."
The Book of Three!!! Great one to get started on! Did you read the entire series? Fantastic and especially as a boy to a young man. The High King was my favorite but they were all magnificent. Good call!

[Phil]

Bobby wrote: "Jim wrote: "The Book of Three, A Horse and His Boy, A Spell for Chameleon and the biggie...The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath."
The Book of Three!!! Great one to get started on! Did y..."

Not enough kids read the Prydain books anymore. They've been pushed aside by Percy Jackson and Harry Potter. My favorite was Taran Wanderer because I felt it was the most adventure-y one. I've always had a soft spot for episodic books.

[[deleted user]]

I've never even heard of the Prydain books...

I found A Horse and His Boy rather painful the first go round. I was at least half way through the book before I was interested at all...I liked it in the end. But, had I been a child I don't think I would have stuck with it...

[Jim]

Try the Prydain books, Amelia. There are 5 of them. Old favorites of mine, too.

I've probably said it before, but thanks to all for posting here. A lot of these books were early books for me, too. They bring back a lot of pleasant memories.
:)

[Michael]

Islands in the Sky and The Day of the Triffids for me.

[Bobby]

Jim wrote: "Try the Prydain books, Amelia. There are 5 of them. Old favorites of mine, too.

I've probably said it before, but thanks to all for posting here. A lot of these books were early books for me, too...."

Funny you should say that. I was just thinking I think this is my favorite conversation I've ever had on Goodreads, period. Like, I feel like I've even talked about the Prydain books before.

Yeah, I've always been slightly baffled about Harry Potter's popularity and significance specifically because of these five books (and a few others). J.K. Rowling's world/stories/ideas felt relatively pedestrian/hackneyed/derivative. But to be fair, I only read the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone...because I was like, "This is crap." And moved on. But you know, I read The Prydain Chronicles right when I was supposed to, between fourth and sixth grade, and I'm sure that makes a difference.

Michael wrote: "Islands in the Sky and The Day of the Triffids for me."

The flip side of that is that I just recently read The Day of the Triffids based on someone's recommendation and thought it was excellent. I couldn't believe I hadn't come across it before. I've been hearing about it all my life and the title just didn't grab me for some reason but man, it was really powerful, even today.

[Bobby]

Michael wrote: "Islands in the Sky and The Day of the Triffids for me."

Islands in the Sky I don't even know. Though I do love me some Arthur C. Clarke...

[[deleted user]]

The Day of the Triffids is one of my all time favorite books, regardless of genre.

Bobby, the HP books get quite a lot better once you get to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. The characters become much more developed, the story more involved, the writing much improved. I didn't dislike any of the books, really, but I did wonder what all of the fuss was about when I initially read the first one. Now, after rereads I appreciate even the earlier books. First time around, however, it was GoF that won me. SO much better than the film, it's where the films really started doing axe jobs on the story line.

I'll add Prydain to the list! :)

I don't think age is much of a factor for me, if it's a good book. I never read the A Wrinkle in Time books until I was in my 30's...

[Jim]

I'm a real fan of the Harry Potter series. My daughter has some learning disabilities & hated reading. She was in special ed & repeated first grade. I picked up the first HP book at one of her book fairs (2d grade?) & read it. She hated to read, but I kept telling her how cool it was & teasing her with tidbits. She tried to read it. Took her a long time, but she loved it & learned to love reading. By the time she was in 4th grade we had to pry books out of her hands.

We, along with my wife, & youngest son, fought over who got the latest HP book first, too. I don't care how much I personally love any other book or how good anyone thinks the story or writing are. To me, they're top shelf just because of what they did - got my daughter to love reading. Yes, it could have been almost any of the books we've listed here, but the HP books were the ones that did it.

[Bobby]

Jim wrote: "I'm a real fan of the Harry Potter series. My daughter has some learning disabilities & hated reading. She was in special ed & repeated first grade. I picked up the first HP book at one of her book..."

I will say, I've actually witnessed that phenomenon on my own. My goddaughter, Anita, who is just as from around the block as her father, started reading because of Harry Potter. She didn't have a disability. She just didn't have the patience. Harry Potter drew her in. I'm sure it's popularity helped but let that be the reason. And without a doubt, there is something to said for that.

[Bobby]

Amelia wrote: "I don't think age is much of a factor for me, if it's a good book. I never read the A Wrinkle in Time books until I was in my 30's..."

Age isn't a factor for you? Wow, that would be cool. I read a book not too long ago, Doll Bones that was really lovely in its way but just didn't quite get me. And I totally felt that maybe I'd just missed it, like I had to read it when I was in third or fourth grade to really "get" it. It's too bad because I consider myself a huge fan of children's literature. As this thread has reminded me, like Jim, I have a LOT of affection for a lot of the titles mentioned here. I don't read more kids books simply because I feel like I've probably already missed out. I think about going back and reading some of the others I missed (The Witch of Blackbird Pond, The Slave Dancer, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, The Velveteen Rabbit, The Phantom Tollbooth, The Giver)but I'm leery because I think, well, I missed the boat on that one, I won't get the magic!

[[deleted user]]

You have to read The Phantom Tollbooth...you just have to.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond is on my list.

I don't know. I guess I'm still a big kid? I mean, I love Tolstoy too...but, I really am just a big kid. I get just as excited about feeding the squirrels, eating cotton candy, claw machines...

My little sister is 10 years younger than me, pretty big gap, right? So two weeks ago, I'm down in PDX visiting her and the niece (Grace age 7). Grace says (we were playing a game), "Auntie Amy goes next! I go first, then Auntie Amy, then mom, cause we're going by age, youngest goes first." I started laughing hysterically. I said (to clarify), "Grace, who's youngest, me or mommy?" "You are," she says, "mommy's way older!" Priceless!! Obviously, because I'm the one who runs around Dave & Buster's with her dropping 20's left & right and getting excited about the tickets...and mommy makes her do her homework and clean her room and HATES Dave & Busters. *snorts* Still, too funny. I loved it!!

[Bobby]

Amelia wrote: "You have to read The Phantom Tollbooth...you just have to.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond is on my list.

I don't know. I guess I'm still a big kid? I mean, I love Tolstoy to..."

Okay, I will.

Next time you come down to Portland, you should give me a holler.

[[deleted user]]

Will do. I mean, we'll be there over Christmas, but it's not like I will have any time to myself...you know how that goes. But, I'll be down after the first of the year I'm sure.

[Phil]

Jim wrote: "I'm a real fan of the Harry Potter series. My daughter has some learning disabilities & hated reading. She was in special ed & repeated first grade. I picked up the first HP book at one of her book..."

I think that's the magic of it right there. Harry Potter is a first love for a lot of beginning readers. I was way too old and jaded by the time I got to it. I forced myself through the first three books and gave up. My wife is a huge fan and kept telling me to try Goblet of Fire. I got a couple chapters in and all I got was a big steaming pile of Quidditch. I gave up then, but maybe I should give it another shot sometime.

On the other hand, I could read about hussade for days...

[Phil]

Bobby wrote: "Amelia wrote: "I don't think age is much of a factor for me, if it's a good book. I never read the A Wrinkle in Time books until I was in my 30's..."

Age isn't a factor for you? Wow, that would be..."

I read The Slave Dancer and The Giver recently. They both hold up well for an adult reader, and are arguably too intense for pre-adolescents.

[Helen]

Bobby wrote: "Jim wrote: "Try the Prydain books, Amelia. There are 5 of them. Old favorites of mine, too.

I've probably said it before, but thanks to all for posting here. A lot of these books were early books ..."

I read the Prydain books too, and I thought they were great! In fact, I might have to go back and read them again - they're still in my bookcase. And I felt the same way about Harry Potter as well - I read the first book and thought 'eh', and haven't bothered to read any more. However, I may give them another try. And I loved The Day Of The Triffids - I still think of it whenever I see fireworks, just a moment of unease...

[Bobby]

@Helen, I know. Isn't this a great thread?

[[deleted user]]

I resisted the HP books for years. I liked the films, but refused to read the books. It wasn't about reading the first one and feeling it a bit underdeveloped, or it being a book for kids. It was about the mad fans dressing up like Fudge and standing in line at a book store for two days to get the next book, and arguing on goodreads about whether Dumbledore was gay, or if Neville should have ended up with Luna (never happened in the books)...it was obsessive and I thought quite odd. I'm not much of a "drama" person. I can't even do a proper practical joke, can't keep a straight face. I also can't lie. Well, can, I'm just so bad at it there's no point in bothering. Frankly, the "fans" freaked me out.

So, a few years ago (all of the books were out, Deathly Hallows was still only available in hardback, though) a friend finally bugs me enough to get me to read them. I promised I'd read them, if she'd get up off my back about it, but I didn't promise to LIKE them...

Book one: I wasn't so impressed. It was okay, but not earth shattering crazy fandom inducing. Book two, more of the same for me. They're fun, lighter, kids books. But, they lay some groundwork and world build that is worth it later. By book three things start getting better (Prisoner of Azkaban), darker, new characters, bit more character development etc. Goblet of Fire (book 4) does start out with them going to the Quiddich World Cup, so the start is saturated with the made up mash up of soccer & basketball on brooms with evil balls that try to kill you...but, that's just the very beginning, and it sets up some important facts and new characters. I don't remember minding, but I quite like sports, so I found it it fun. Anyway, I loved every book from there on. They get darker and more complex as they go along.

Next time you're in the book store, just look at them there on the shelf. Goblet of fire is easily twice the thickness of any of the first three books. That's all fantastic character building and detail. That is Rowling taking off, and it's good stuff.

[Phil]

Amelia wrote: "I resisted the HP books for years. I liked the films, but refused to read the books. It wasn't about reading the first one and feeling it a bit underdeveloped, or it being a book for kids. It was a..."

I have a mean-spirited gripe about HP fans. There are an awful lot of them who demand that I read yet another HP book to get to the good parts, while they still can't make it through 100 pages of Fellowship of the Ring to get to the good parts of that. Sorry, I know this is a positive thread, but it really bugs me when reading HP is presented as a zero/sum choice as opposed to one choice of many, many fantasy series.

[Bobby]

Phil wrote: "Amelia wrote: "I resisted the HP books for years. I liked the films, but refused to read the books. It wasn't about reading the first one and feeling it a bit underdeveloped, or it being a book for..."

The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings were yet another series that made the popularity of Harry Potter confusing to me. I'm more tempted now to read that series just because Jim and Amelia have recommended it and they both have a pretty good track record buuuuttt... should I read the HP series instead of something else that is more immediately compelling?

[Helen]

Bobby wrote: "@Helen, I know. Isn't this a great thread?"

It is! I don't know anyone else who's read them, so it was thrilling to see you all talking about the Prydain books :-) LOL, that's Goodreads for you. I am seriously going to find those books and start reading them again.

[Katherine]

Kind of an unloved author/series now, but Terry Goodkind's Wizard's First Rule. The first two books in the series sucked me in and I've been buying SF/F books ever since.

[[deleted user]]

Wow, you read those as a kid? Brutal!

[Jim]

I grew up reading the Hobbit & LOTR. I knew the Hobbit so well by the time I was in 6th grade that I recited the first few pages. I like the HP series & both are easy to get very enthusiastic about. My oldest boy never understood why the rest of us loved them both - he was busy reading books by Einstein & Hawkings.

My wife & I both read a lot of fantasy, but she likes Robert Jordan's series which I can't get into while I like Stephen Brust's Vlad series which she doesn't like. We had a lot of duplicates when we merged our libraries 30+ years ago & still read a lot of the same stuff.

[[deleted user]]

Jim, my husband won't read fiction. Well, that's not true entirely. He once read Moby Dick (I'd rather have my fingernails pulled out) on vacation, and he recently expressed an interest in Hemmingway (I only own The Old Man and the Sea, so I took him out and bought him everything I could get my hands on)...but, generally, it's all no-fiction for him. He has a slight variety, as in History, Biography, Physics, Astronomy, he is also into astro-photography and HF radio...bet he and your son would have a lot to talk about. I think he thinks I'm a bit nuts when I tell him about stuff, trying to explain how it works with the dragons of Pern etc. Heh. Ah well, I give his life color. :)

*wanders off to look up Stephen Brust*

[[deleted user]]

At a glance, The Wheel of Time series looks more compelling...maybe it's a girl thing? :)

[A.J.]

I loved reading This Perfect Day by Ira Levin. Curious world and a story about exploring and following your own path. Great read.

This Perfect Day

[A.J.]

Katherine wrote: "Kind of an unloved author/series now, but Terry Goodkind's Wizard's First Rule. The first two books in the series sucked me in and I've been buying SF/F books ever since."

Why is he unloved at the moment? I thought the Wizard's Rule's books were great. Though I have not read any of his latest work after the law of nines.

[Bobby]

Amelia wrote: "Jim, my husband won't read fiction. Well, that's not true entirely. He once read Moby Dick (I'd rather have my fingernails pulled out) on vacation, and he recently expressed an interest in Hemmingw..."

Man, my lady reads fiction. Good stuff too. Except sometimes she's kind of a sap and reads the entire Twilight series or A Discovery of Witches and lots of YA fantasy. She's all about the angsty romance. I don't get that and she doesn't get why I wind up reading so much post-apocalyptic and people-doing-terrible-things-to-each-other stuff. Come to think of it, I don't get that about myself.

[[deleted user]]

*smacks Bobby up the back of the head*

Be glad she's soft! I told the Mr. just today; I wouldn't want to be with me. There's a reason why opposites attract. :) The fact that they read is enough. Just being able to be quiet together is a gift. In my opinion.

A.J., I quite literally HATE those books:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Pretty much says it all...

This Perfect Day sounds interesting though. It has been added.

[Bobby]

Amelia wrote: "*smacks Bobby up the back of the head*

Be glad she's soft! I told the Mr. just today; I wouldn't want to be with me. There's a reason why opposites attract. :) The fact that they read is enough. J..."

Ouch! HEY! Listen, I'm the one who recommended A Discovery of Witches to her (after I had to put it down after like, fifty pages.)

[[deleted user]]

Monster yoga...I've used that line so many times since you said it! It's the monthly read in one of my other groups. It's a split, so far. About 50/50, love it or hate it. There don't seem to be a lot of middle of the road people out there.

[Leo]

The Wizard's First Rule starts out entertaining, but gets mighty repetitive and preachy real fast. I liked it at first glance, but just stopped after the third book, nothing changed. Definitely glad I didn't get into it when I was a kid... bit gratuitous for the young'uns.

Narnia and Prydain got me hooked early, but I started in on Jordan's Wheel of Time when I was 12. Pretty sure Myrdraal and Shadar Logoth gave me nightmares, but I couldn't put those books down!

[Colleen]

I loved David Eddings the Belgariad.

[[deleted user]]

Yes, Colleen! Eddings is a favorite of mine as well. I think I'm the only person I know who prefers The Elenium series...

[Colleen]

I loved the worlds he created, the mythology. Is the Elenium series his? that I haven't read. Another favorite is the white gold series but for the life of me I forget who wrote it. I just remember huddling under my covers reading it in my teens.

[Olivia "So many books--so little time.""]

It wasn't a book, it was a movie. I saw 2001: A Space Odyssey when I was 13 or so. And I found it fascinating and it made me want to read the book.

[[deleted user]]

Colleen wrote: "I loved the worlds he created, the mythology. Is the Elenium series his? that I haven't read. Another favorite is the white gold series but for the life of me I forget who wrote it. I just remember..."

[Bryan]

For me it has to be Jules Verne, to this day Mysterious island still has a huge significance to me. I also loved HG Wells. A little later I loved the Hobbit but couldn't get into LoTR.
I also read more contemporary stuff, and as a kid absolutely loved Anthony Horowitz; his Pentagram series but also and especially Groosham Grange and its sequel. I can't even imagine how baffled/pissed off he must have been when years later JK Rowling had global success with basically the same idea, only he did it darker and a decade earlier.

[Bobby]

Bryan wrote: "For me it has to be Jules Verne, to this day Mysterious island still has a huge significance to me. I also loved HG Wells. A little later I loved the Hobbit but couldn't get into LoTR.
I also read..."

Timing is everything, though. Earlier on this thread we talked about the Rowlings books. I found the first one derivative of other better books and never went back. It must have been frustrating for several writers.

I read Wells' The Invisible Man in sixth grade -- a teacher of mine had it in his classroom -- and loved it. And actually, my dad had a collection of Wells' short stories that I enjoyed a lot.

[Will]

Raymond E. Feist - Magician

Before that I read mostly books based on games that I had played.

[Jonathan]

For me it was pretty much all about Heinlein. Books like Starman Jones, Tunnel in the Sky and Citizen of the Galaxy are what turned me into an avid reader. I think I still have my copy of Tunnel in the Sky from when I was 13. It's an absolute mess, but I just cant throw it out and buy a new one.

[Jim]

Jonathan wrote: "...It's an absolute mess, but I just cant throw it out and buy a new one. "

Treasured books! I have a few like that, too. I think one is "Tunnel In The Sky". Small world.
:)