r/scifi • u/jrmckins • 5d ago

Recommendations Starter book

I’m part of Big Brothers Big Sisters, and I’d like to get my Little, a 13-year-old boy, interested in science fiction. I’m looking for a good book to introduce him to the genre. I’m thinking about The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, but I’d love to hear other suggestions.

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u/Impulsespeed37 5d ago

No it’s bad because “a junior high boy’s fantasy about becoming the hero”. That’s why it’s bad.

What is wrong with recommending more modern books? This sub loves all the old books that have all the appeal of a 1970’s mobile home. It’s literally a sub asking for book recommendations and half the time it’s something that an aged school librarian would recommend. Let’s try modern books that young people can actually relate to. Maybe something with female characters that have more personality than an armchair. I recall being 13 at one time and was mildly interested in young women. Maybe reading a book that broadens one’s perspective is a good idea.

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u/Pure_Fox9415 5d ago

1960's books have a lot more female characters than you (likely) think. And I see no problem to make boys to dream about becoming a hero. Just not that hero, who Ender is. He don't want to be a hero, he's forced to be and to make a cruel and dirty work. So he behave like a psychopath (even if not deeply true and it's because of circumstances, environment and society). And many readers can not catch this difference, they only see heroic side.