h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Is this the best childrens book since the Twits?
Is it an evil devilish device that is going to overthrow the world?
Is it going to turn all our children into Satan Worshippers and should therefore be banned??
Is it Just a dead good read for a vacuous tart like me??
TELL ME!!
Hxx

I thought I'd have a look at the Harry Potter books to see what the fuss was all about. I started reading the first three days ago, and am now half-way through the third. I rarely devote myself with quite this intensity to reading, having long ago discovered the dangerous pleasures of the pub, so this is pretty good going.

The books are certainly compelling. They are structured as well as the best 'adult' thrillers. And they are a lot of fun. But as to whether they are the best children's books since Dahl - I really don't know. I haven't read enough children's books to be able to judge. They are well worth a read, though, if you're after some well-crafted, innocent entertainment peppered with sly adult references.

Jesus. I just finished the third last night, and it's pretty damn intense stuff. It's a shame it didn't get the Whitbread.

Sorry, I've been away for a bit...
I think the Smarties Gold award is wasted on them, I love them!! Definately whitbread material, or at least best fantasy or something.
But have you seen all the hype about them getting banned in some states in america cos they're evil and stuff, all I can say is Cool!!
Hxx

The books have that 'Oh my God, I have to read the next chapter' factor, which I haven't come across in some time and which tends to keep me up well into the small hours. Ms Rowling could teach so-called 'adult' authors a lot.

I have not yet been able to put a Harry Potter book down for any lenth of time, I tend to read them in one big Chunk, like when I was getting the bus home from my boyfriends house (its six hours, ample time to read a Harry Potter book in)
Have you seen the Harry Potter books with "Grown up" (ie boring and black and white) covers on, so that they don't look sad reading a Kiddies book! Bizarre! (I bought the fun brightly coloured version me!)

You can see the reasoning. People would be embarassed to be seen reading children's books in public. But bizarrely they seem to read Jeffrey Archer without a qualm. People, eh? Who knew?

If you fancy another superbly written series of books, ostensibly for children but of highest quality, can I recommend Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising books, which I have loved for many, many years? I've just started to re-read them. They are better written than many of the 'adult' novels I've read over the past few years. They're well worth a look.

Can I just butt in here to endorse that Susan Cooper recommendation?
Great stuff - even taught me loads about real old British myth and legend as well as being a good read.
If the Harry Potter stuff is half as good, maybe it's worth a look (if only out of curiosity about all the fuss).

hullo, hullo!
I just had to respond to a conversation that mentions Harry Potter AND Susan Cooper. Glad folks are still reading Susan Cooper!

The whole business about witchcraft and stuff in HP has been overblown in the US. Over here there are some very, very, [did I say very?] conservative christians, who do tend to get hysterical about the term witch. And they got some press coverage because HP is so HOT right now in the US.

Good ole' Harry is following a long line of British children's fantasy. Back as far as Peter Pan, and further with Water Babies, and even further with folklore, celtic myth, etc., etc. There has been a wonderful tradition of magic in literature for children.

The 'Lion the witch and the wardrobe' and the whole Narnia series has magical stuff in it and it is a favorite of christians. [The lion being a christ-figure and all.] and plus, it was written by a christian theologian, CS Lewis. They conveniently forgot that part.

But there are so many more wondrous things. In addition to Susan Cooper there is the Children of Greene Knowe, Lloyd Alexander's Black Cauldron series, which recounts welsh legend. And of course we must not leave out Shakespeare: Midsummer Night's Dream. And I can prob'ly think of a bunch more.

So Harry Potter is in VERY good company!


}:=8

I haven't heard of the "Children of Greene Knowe", but if you put it in the same class as those others, then it must be good. I have read Susan Cooper, just about everything by Lloyd Alexander and the 3 Harry Potters. All were top notch. The Harry Potters were particularly good. I had a funny experience with the 3rd Harry Potter. I found myself thinking part way through it that I could see what was coming and how predictable it was, but fun to read nevertheless. Needless to say, what really happened in the book was nowhere near what I thought was going to happen. It was much more complex and satisfying. I can't wait for the next, um, is it 4 books?

Yes, it takes seven years to complete the full programme of study at
Hogwarts.

And there is a fourth Harry Potter:Harry Potter and the Doomspell Tournament, but it's release date is not till July.

So meantime, here are some other magical books. Now remember, these are Children's Literature. Don't get me started on stuff for grown-ups like Dragonriders of Pern....and these are just what is still in print, there's a whole buncha stuff that you can prob'ly dig outta libraries. Ask the librarian in the children's section. Specially if you are in the UK, not the US.

Witchworld series Andre Norton
Wizard of OZ L. Frank Baum [and ALL the OZ books, many in print again after many years!]
Wizard of Earthsea Ursula LeGuin [and other titles in this series]
Sword in the Stone T.H. White [first part of the Once and Future King: which is the Aurthurian cycle retold]
the Hobbitt [of course] JRR Tolkein
the Neverending Story Michael Ende
The Phantom Tollbooth Norton Juster
The Weirdstone of Brisingamen : A Tale of Alderley
Half Magic N.M. Bodecker
Wrinkle in Time Madeleine L'Engle
and dont forget Peter Pan...

*pant, pant*

that oughta hold you for a while.

}:=8

Wow, I just have to say how much I luv the Harry Potter books. I've got through two already and will be tearing the third apart as soon as I get hold of it. Any one who kncks them for being of "Demonic influence" etc, should be reminded that they are CHILDERENS STORIES, ie NOT REAL and with a content that will appeal to CHILDREN (even the 20 year old child that is me). They really are a wow read, so if you haven't read them, what are you waiting for?
(PS BluDragon, you forgot the Lord of the Rings trilogy)

Hi Brain!
I agree with you completely about HP and any *snicker* daemonic influence. [I wrote a long rant about the whole thing in The Library http://www.h2g2.com/A93944 conversation called 'the library' http://www.h2g2.com/forumframe.cgi?MESSAGES[(*?threadid*9048?forumid*12428)threads[(threadid*9048?forumid*12428?subset*0)#p135065 ]

an' I left the Lord of the Rings out 'cause I was really trying to limit myself to books that can be considered at the 9-12 year old reading level. The point here is that there are many, many children's books that have been highly acclaimed, received awards and honors, and have been well read for years that also have 'magic, witchcraft, and enchantment' in them. And the children who read them did not seem to suffer any ill effects.

I also left out the whole genre of fairy tales: the Arabian Nights is FULL of magic and wizards, as is Grimm's Fairy tales.

Many of the above authors have written other books, some at a more adult reading level, that also are wonderful reads! [The Hobbit is considered 'children's literature' by the 'experts' and the Ring Trilogy is not. Simply because the reading level is much higher.]

Fantasy literature will be with us always, as will the retelling of tales of magic and enchantment! Legend and myth is far richer in the retelling than some of the colorless drivel that is written in unending series for children, simply to capitalize on movie tie-ins and the like. PAH! PFOOEY!

OOPS...a rant could begin here...must control myself.



}:=8

Well, thank you, blu for the list. I've read some of those you listed (the T.H. White, Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, Phantom Tollbooth, Wrinkle in Time serries), but the others are new to me. One other author that you might add would be Robert Louis Stevenson. I've read most of his stuff and enjoy it for his use of the language, as well as the stories. Oh, and the other one that I forgot to mention is Rosemary Sutcliffe. Anything I have read by her, I have been quite impressed by. Wait ... I just realized why you didn't mention these - you were thinking of fantasy-type books. Oops, sorry.

hullo, Garius Lupus!
Rosemary Sutcliff!!!! yes, yes! I almost forgot. She qualifies 'cause much of her childrens' stuff deals with ancient Britain, arthurian legend and the like. Although she writes with historical accuracy, you cant write about Arthur and Britain without magic and wizardry coming up. *wink, wink*

And I certainly cant complain about the reference to Robert Louis Stevenson. [You certainly have a taste for language.] And besides, he wrote 'The Bottle Imp', a variation of the 'genie in a bottle' legend.And also 'New Arabian Nights' more retellings of magic and wizardry.


Just goes to show ya that creative literature is interwoven with fantasy and magic everywhere. Thanks for the mentions of some more great reads.
}:=8

I hadn't heard of 'The bottle imp' or the arabian knights retelling. A few more for my "to read" list - thanks

Ok you've got me flummoxed. I've read a fair few of the books mentioned (not the Harry Potter though) and I'm sure I've come across the Children of Green Knowe, but I can't for the life of me think who the author is.
My little sister (17) has recently read the Susan Cooper books (i read them when I was bout 12/13) and has had to borrow some from our niece (10).
Also Enid Blighton has some books which had magic woods/trees populated with elves, fairies and such like.

Children of Green Knowe is by Lucy M Boston. The Land of Far Beyond is by Enid Blighton, but I really dont know very much about it.

}:=8

I was thinking of the faraway tree stories by Enid Blighton. My eldest sister has all three in nice hardback editions from when she was small. Her daughters now read them (or have read them).

Sorry, I forget that the 'rings' trilogy is supposed to be adult literature as me, my sister and my niece all read it before our 10th or 11th!!