Please create and add sections as you wish.  Add the most recent item to the top of each section. Include the citation,  a brief annotation of the item's value, your name as contributior, and the date you added it. Draw a line between each subtopic and  bullet each individual entry within the section.

 

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These pages offer recommended Science Fiction & Fantasy books for young adults of all ages and grade levels.

 

 

SciFi Links

• Each of these links offers a connection to pages devoted to science fiction knowledge, culture and information.

http://www.scifispace.com/

http://www.scifisource.com/

http://www.conjure.com/sfic.html

Ly Tran, December 2006

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De Vous, G., & Altmann, A.E. (1999). New tales for old: Folktales as literary fictions for young adults. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited.

Recognizing the growth of reconstructed folk and fairy tales that has blossomed in the past decades, de Vous and Altmann explore how the oral narrative, captured in print, has continued to fascinate writers and readers into modern times.  After setting the stage with an exploration of folktales and literacy fictions, the authors focus on eight principal tales and their variants, as described by tale type and motifs.  Cinderella, the Frog King or Iron Henry, Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, Rumpelstiltskin, Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White are each presented through their tale types, history, critical interpretations, and re-workings in various forms.  Each chapter includes print and Internet resources, classroom extensions, and bibliography.  Some tales are invariably left out, as are some of the modern re-workings, but New Tales does offer a fairly comprehensive resource for the eight tales of European origin that are most familiar to modern readers. 

Tamara K. Palmer, December 3, 2006.

 

 

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• Yolen, J., & Hayden, P. N. (Eds.). (2005). The year’s best science fiction and fantasy for teens: First annual collection. New York: Tom Doherty Associates.

  This collection of short stories is remarkable! Each piece begins with an introduction that explains the science fiction or fantasy tropes in the story. It also includes similar titles for further reading, favorites that did not make it into the book and classic oldies from literally a hundred years ago. This first annual edition begins the promise of a great sci-fi and fantasy survey each year for teens. I would put this on the must buy list for any library.

   

• Jones, D. W. (2001). The chronictes of Chrestomanci: Volume I. New York: Harper Trophy.

  Diana Wynnne Jones is the original J.K. Rowling. She has written dozens of fantasy books about magical worlds and magical families with unique schools, daring children, and enchanted governments that work to protect non-magic folks. The Chronicles of Chrestomanci is the story of twelve related worlds that are governed by one enchanter who must try to control the misuse of magic by powerful dark forces. Blessed with nine lives, this governor is Chrestomanci, who works with a young boy named Cat to develop his magical skills. Volume II, The magicians of Caprona (2001), is an excellent sequel that is actually a prequel. Check out this website for more information about Diana’a books.

Michelle Bone 7/25/2006

 

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Author Brian Jacques

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Fantasy Film

• MirrorMask (Motion picture). (2005). United States: Jim Henson Company.

  This movie is destined to be a fantasy classic, which is no surprise from the Jim Henson Company, famous for Dark Crystal and Labyrinth.  MirrorMask is a modern Alice in Wonderland type of story. Born into a circus family, Helena longs to be “normal.” She is tired of endless performances, fantastic personalities, pleasing her parents, and life on the road. When Helena is kidnapped into her own drawings and make believe stories, she finds herself trapped in a dream world of masked personalities that strangely mirror reality. She must overcome evil, save her mother, and find the door back to her own world, which now seems ordinary. Writer Neil Gaiman and artist Dave McKean also produced a graphic novella based on the movie, but it can not capture the magic of the film.

Michelle Bone 6/27/2006

 

 

 

 

 

Fantasy Film and Classic Book

The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. (Motion picture). (2005).  Johnson, M. (Producer).  Adamson, A. (Director). United States: Walt Disney Company.

C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, is a timeless classic reborn through Disney's blockbuster film interpretation for 2005.  This allegory about good vs. evil is set in wartime England.  Four children are sent to a prefessor's house in the country to avoid Nazi air-strikes on London.  but can one every really avoid conflict in life?  Through the back of a wardrobe inthe attic, the children stumble upon the magical kingdom of Narnia.  They are challenged by their new friends to help free the kingdom.

C. S. Lewis's book and this film interpretation raise timeless and important issues for young viewers/readers to ponder.  Should you fight to save someone other than yourself?  Should you fight for freedom?  The visuals and the performances in the Disney production are stunning.  We are charmed by the children and the folk-tale-reminiscent characters, and the cameo appearances of the professor, whom we can imagine is the author.  Definitely enjoyable for adults as well as young people.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is the second book in C.S. Lewis's seven-book series, The Chronicles of Narnia.  Lewis also wrote a space trilogy called The Ransom Trilogy.

Valerie Krein  7/22/2006 

 

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Science Fiction and Fantasy: Websites

 

Ryan Gan - June 16, 2006

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