"Sci-Fi book" for a 12 year old

[Origin Unknown]

Hi Guys,

I'm looking for a book for a 12 year old lad. The request was "I would like a Sci-Fi book please" from a 12 year old, which is pretty broad. Unfortunately, I don't know this lad, nor can I ask, as it's being gifted via The Giving Tree.

Any suggestions? This isn't a genre I know much about.

My wife thinks "Star Talk: Everything You Ever Need to Know About Space Travel, Sci-Fi, the Human Race, the Universe, and Beyond" would be good but I'm wondering if it's too basic for what is practically a teenager.

Cheers

[br d]

Enders Game?

It's basically about a genius young kid being put through a future-scape military school.
I read it as an adult but remember thinking I wish it had been around when I was a kid.

[ATG]

Maybe some Issac Asimov? Classic but not very challenging. IIRC, "Foundation" is a collection of short stories (easy to consume) and is the first book in a trilogy, so it's a good starting point if the kid likes it and wants to read more.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if there are some proper SciFi enthusiasts kicking around PH, and they'll have much better informed opinions than mine.

[oldbanger]

Stuff I loved as a kid/teen which is still in print:

Stainless Steel Rat
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stainless-Steel-Rat-Omnib...

Starship Troopers
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Starship-Troopers-Robert-...

Ringworld
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ringworld-S-F-MASTERWORKS...

[oldbanger]

I could keep going, but actually, just buy him Stainless Steel Rat.

[KrazyIvan]

br d said:

Enders Game?

It's basically about a genius young kid being put through a future-scape military school.
I read it as an adult but remember thinking I wish it had been around when I was a kid.

Would suggest this as well, as it's probably more the type of sci-fi a 12 year old would want

Stainless steel rat is good, but the humour might be a bit dated for that age group.

[Mr E]

Smart 12 year old?
Are we looking for proper sci-fi? Or something with lots of spaceships in?

[Ziplobb]

I can't think of the author or the series but at that age there was a triologhy about the Tripods - BBC dramatised it - help me out someone ?

[oldbanger]

John Christopher

[meehaja]

I had some azimov books around the same age that were aimed at a younger audience, something about Mars i think?

[Origin Unknown]

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

Mr E said:

Smart 12 year old?
Are we looking for proper sci-fi? Or something with lots of spaceships in?

I have no idea, I don't know the lad nor have any way of speaking with him so this really is a punt in the dark.

[jet_noise]

oldbanger said:

I could keep going, but actually, just buy him Stainless Steel Rat.

+2

Any of Pratchett's young adult stuff e.g. Truckers or Johnny trilogies?
Or are these too fantasy?

Edited by jet_noise on Friday 23 November 16:54

[Bill]

My 11-y-o loves the Gone series if that counts as Sci-Fi.

[designforlife]

I read the Dune series when I was 12, but i was a bit of a book nerd....great classic scifi though.

[Equus]

designforlife said:

I read the Dune series when I was 12, but i was a bit of a book nerd....great classic scifi though.

Another vote for Dune. I first read it at about that age, too.

[ciege]

My daughter is reading HHGTG at the mo..

However in the car we listened to Something Wicked This Ways Comes (son 7, daughter 8) and they LOVED it....



Ray Bradbury is a wonderful writer

[NewNameNeeded]

I've a 13 year old. I can highly recommend

The Maze Runner Trilogy by James Dashner
The Ship Series by Jerry Aubin
The 100 by Laws Morgan

Or, depending on their humour, the Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett.

[paulguitar]

Ziplobb said:

I can't think of the author or the series but at that age there was a triologhy about the Tripods - BBC dramatised it - help me out someone ?

Yes, the Tripods trilogy by John Christopher, absolutely brilliant books.

[peterperkins]

Is he techy or sciency?

'Rendezvous with Rama.' A classic by Arthur C Clarke.

Has a nice section about a young member of the crew and a sky bike..

Available for peanuts..

[irocfan]

oldbanger said:

I could keep going, but actually, just buy him Stainless Steel Rat.

This ^^^^

Also....
Deathworld by Harry Harrison could be a good bet?
A Plague of Demons by Keith Laumer
Destroyermen BT Taylor Anderson (alternative history rather than scifi)
World War 2.1 series John Birmingham (another alt history)
Falkenburg''s Legion series by Jerry Pournelle
Columbus Day:Expeditionary Force 1 - Craig Alanson (a modern author and so my be a little adult in places?)

Get him a subscription to kindle unlimited and try some of the MilFi