Rick Z

Jessica K says

I like the Elizabeth Moon books a lot, especially the Vatta's War ones (although I have to admit, I found the final climax to be less exciting than the rest of the series). The reason I didn't necessarily mention it for your purposes is that they can be a lot more romance-y and political maneuvering, as well as fun space battles. They aren't heavy romance space opera (I've read and enjoyed a bunch of those, as long as the 'romance' aspect was balanced by really fun characters) but, depending on the 11 year old boy, that part might lose interest. Moon's Serrano series has less romance, but also a relative lack of male characters -- again, it depends on the reader's interests, but I know I always got irritated by too many main characters who weren't my gender, at that age. It also has an obsession with horses, and fewer space battles.

I have to ask if you've done some of the 'classics' as well. I know at that age, I loved Ender's Game -- it has some in-depth political stuff, but I thought, and still think, it was really great.

This note is getting long -- I'll only add one more. Sorry -- I worked in Barnes and Noble for a few years and really love recommending books. I don't know what your comfort level with sexual content is -- Honor certainly had some, especially during the brief Paul Tankersley period. But one author who I love and who might appeal is Eric Flint. The books aren't military scifi, quite. They are, however, strongly steeped in history, which I love :) One series, the Belisarius series, takes place in 4th century Byzantium (possibly 5th century, it's late and I don't recall). Essentially, the premise is that some time travel ends up bringing modern military know-how to the so-called Dark Ages, and a military genius must turn his clever mind to defeating a powerful enemy controlling what would be modern day India. The characters are compelling, the military knowledge impressive to me at least, and the battles feel clever. There is, however, a reasonable level of sexual content, especially in the opening. The other series takes place in 1632 (hence the title, 1632) when a town in modern West Virginia is transplanted through a random event into 1632 Germany in the middle of the 30 years war. It's about their struggle to take modern know-how and recreate an America they can be proud of, in the midst of late medieval/early modern turmoil. Again, not the same as Honor (although Eric Flint cowrote a new series in the Honorverse with Weber) but it might also appeal -- lots of interesting battles, serious research and compelling characters you really care about. The sequels in that series aren't as strong as the first, but it's a good book.

Sorry to ramble on -- hope it might help. I think it's awesome you and your son still read together -- my dad and I did until I was about 10 (he had to sit through a lot of elementary school girl tripe, poor man) and I think it really cemented my love of reading and was a wonderful experience we both really enjoyed together. Good luck!

posted 2 years ago. ( send a note )