Young Adult Magical, Mystical Book Ideas?

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He’s 19 and has read the Narnia and Lord of the Rings books. He likes magical, mystical type books for relaxation, not sci-fi books. Any modern suggestions along these lines…besides Harry Potter? (He’s read them and likes them but I’d like to encourage more non-wiccan type reading!)
 
Andre Norton wrote many many series and books starting back in the 50s. She is a very good writer of young adult books. Katherine Kurtz Deryni books are also good and use lots of Catholic imagery. The orginal Conan series by Robert E. Howard are good (but be careful of the later authors who took over the series). Edgar Rice Burroughs (don’t laugh) Pellucidar, John Carter of Mars, his independant novels (e.g. Outlaw of Torn) and, yes, even Tarzan (book bears no resemblance to any of the movies). Ursula LeGuin (Wizard of Earthsea). Mary Renault’s Arthur/Merlin series. T H White’s Arthur/Merlin series. Just a start.
 
My son enjoyed the Artemis Fowl series of books. (He’s 17, and looks forward to the next book)
 
Tolkien has written several books besides the Lord of the Rings, including The Hobbit and the *Silmarillion. *You could also give him a book such as Pearce/Birzer’s, which explores the very Catholic symbolism in the Lord-of-the-Rings story.

Lloyd Alexander wrote the Chronicles of Prydain, which must be purchased as the separate books (e.g., *Book of Three, The Black Cauldron, *etc.). He has many other books. Similar to C.S. Lewis, Alexander also writes Christian allegorical stories full of moral lessons.

Goldman’s The Princess Bride is a treat; and Ende’s The Neverending Story is a must-read staple of morality tales.

L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time.

How about less fantastical but still incredible stories of adventure? Three Muskateers, Man in the Iron Mask, Robin Hood, Count of Monte Cristo and King Arthur in all its various treatments are all great novels, and on a higher reading level.
 
the Robert Jordan Series is good and so is the David Edding series *Belgriad *and Mallorean
 
Sword of Shannara, and the rest of the Shannara series, by Terry Brooks.
 
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alessandro:
Lloyd Alexander wrote the Chronicles of Prydain, which must be purchased as the separate books (e.g., *Book of Three, The Black Cauldron, *etc.). He has many other books. Similar to C.S. Lewis, Alexander also writes Christian allegorical stories full of moral lessons.
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Spectacular series. There’s five of them. Tell him to read them in order, even though the Black Cauldron is the most well known of them all (The Book of Three is probably the first, if I remember correctly). I can’t recommend them enough. I’m a seventeen year old guy myself. I read them some years ago, they’re a bit younger than our ages, but I remember them fondly.

alessandro also mentions A Wrinkle In Time, which is good. Also, see, a Wind in the Door and A Swiftly Tilting Planet (which are connected with the first one).
 
*Eragog *by Christopher Paolini. It is the first of a trilogy. The second book, Eldest, is due out within a month. The author was only 15 when he wrote the first book. This series is receiving great reviews from critics. I HIGHLY recomend this book and series. I think your son would really enjoy them.

Maggie
 
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brotherhrolf:
Andre Norton wrote many many series and books starting back in the 50s. She is a very good writer of young adult books. Katherine Kurtz Deryni books are also good and use lots of Catholic imagery. The orginal Conan series by Robert E. Howard are good (but be careful of the later authors who took over the series). Edgar Rice Burroughs (don’t laugh) Pellucidar, John Carter of Mars, his independant novels (e.g. Outlaw of Torn) and, yes, even Tarzan (book bears no resemblance to any of the movies). Ursula LeGuin (Wizard of Earthsea). Mary Renault’s Arthur/Merlin series. T H White’s Arthur/Merlin series. Just a start.
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Excellent suggestions!!! Kurtz’s novels are flat-out great, Howard is wonderful, if a bit crude, Norton rules (my 1st sci-fi novel ever was “Sargasso of Space”, and I still reread it occasionally 30 years later!). I certainly won’t laugh at Burroughs… not well written, but some of the best “escapist” fare out there. Leguin’s “Earthsea” TRILOGY is great… the last book that she wrote in this world sucks… stick with the original three. TH White is truly classic stuff. Lewis’s “Narnia” books are a bit flaccid, juvenile, and will make one wonder if pedophilic rumours about the author are true, but are still entertaining. I also recommend Donaldson’s “Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever”, Wolfe’s “Book of the New Sun” series, and E.R.R. Eddison’s novels (especially the 1st one… “The Worm Ourobouros”. NOTE: The last 3 series I’ve recommeded can NOT be considered “light” reading. They are heavy, intense, and can be tedious at times, but the rewards are well worth the efforts. I love these books, but I’m pretty literate… the casual reader might want to beware…

Peace.

PS: NOTHING wrong with Harry Potter, either!
 
Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series is great light reading and enjoyed by a lot of people of that age. It’s more for people that favour English literature and humour - not everyone’s cup of tea - and not for youngsters but it’s worth a try. (I’m nearly 19, by the way, and have been reading them for a few years)
 
Michael Moorcock’s earlier works. Sometimes a bit racy, but certainly well-done.

Fritz Lieber.

Stephen King’s Dark Tower series.

Dark Horse Comics is currently publishing an excellent Conan series.

– Mark L. Chance.
 
Just a few suggestions off the top of my head…

The Death Gate Cycle by Margaret Weis is very good, as is The Dark Sword Trilogy (with Tracy Hickman). Any of her Dragon Lance novels are good as well.

I would also suggest RA Salvatores Forgotten Realms novels- The Dark Elf Trilogy, The Icewind Dale Trilogy, & the Cleric Quintet. He has extended the series to (I think) about 19 books…its standard swords & sorcery hack 'n slash fantasy, but there is no foul language or sexual themes. It is somewhat juvenile, and he may be beyond it, but I know it got me through highschool…

Also, if he likes Tolkien, he should like Elizabeth Moon’s **The Deed of Paksenarrion **. This is a very, very good epic fantasy series. The first 3 books can be found in a single (1040pg) volume. The story of a lowly sheepfarmers daughter who leaves home to become a great Paladin of light.
 
The Giver was written more for a younger (teenish) audience, but I found it a great read. Good morality tale.
I recommend it.
 
I loved **The Giver **by Lois Lowry and The Time Quartet (A Wrinkle in Time, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, etc.) by Madeleine L’ Engle.

I also liked **Cirque du Freak **by Darren Shan, which is a series about vampires. I’ve heard that **Interview With the Vampire **by Anne Rice is a good read, but I’ve never actually read it myself.

The Once and Future King by T.H. White is amazing, part I is The Sword in the Stone. You’ll also likeThe Book of Merlyn **by T.H. White if you liked The Sword in the Stone.

There’s also A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain.

**The Chronicles of Narnia **are always a great read. 🙂

I also love the Harry Potter books. 😉
 
C.S. Lewis’ other books are a must-read too!!!

and of course, books by G.K. Chesterton. :love:
 
I suggest C.S. Lewis’s Space Trilogy (Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength), and also his Till We Have Faces.

'thann
 
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