suggestions for boy who loves Lord of the Rings

[skischoolhelp]

My son's favourite series are Lord of the Rings and Runemarks. He has read both series many times over the last 4 years. I think he has tried everything in young adult in his genres in our libraries and is seeking some new books as he reads several books a week. Over the years I have ordered in all sets of young adult fantasy types so unless there is anything very recent I think he may need to try adult. Any suggestions of adult books for a 12 year old in similar genres or any other suggestions. Many thanks.

Some of these are YA so he's probably read them but I put them in anyway!

The Dragonriders of Pern series
Discworld series
The Dark is Rising series
Alan Garner - Elidor, The Moon of Gomrath, The Owl Service etc
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
The Once and Future King series
He might like the Dune series, personally I couldn't stand it but people do, apparently
The Wizard of Earthsea series

He can cope with older authors then. Not fantasy but has he read the historical novels of Rosemary Sutcliff?

I loved The Capricorn Bracelet: Roman history but with hints of supernatural.

Thanks for these suggestions. I will get him to look at your list Laura. The only ones I remember are Terry Pratchett but I only really remember the real favourites that he re reads many times. Trapped - I am not aware of his trying any Rosemary Sutcliffe and he likes non fiction history so it could work. He wont read anything ghosty though so not sure about supernatural. It is tricky for me as I don't read any of these genres at all. All suggestions with runes/maps etc like runemarks series or LOTR welcome. It is always worth him retrying things as some may not have appealed due to his age at the time of trying.

No ghosts. Just a bit mystical in one part. That's just why I made the connection with LotR.

It's a small book. There's more meat in the full novels anyway!

Thanks for this. Small books are not great for him. He reads fast and really wants series as he gets obsessed with a series and has to read to the end rather than one stand alone book. Ideally something that keeps him happy and absorbed as long as LOTR series!!!

The Dark is Rising sequence
The Bartimaeus Trilogy
Chaos Walking trilogy
Artemis Fowl series

When he's older...
Wheel of Time series
Game of Thrones

My husband who loves this genre suggests David Geddings - there are two series, Belgariad and The Melorian that would be suitable.

And possibly the Shanara Trilogy, Terry Brookes. Don’t pay any attention to the rubbish TV series!

You could also try Mervyn Peake’s Gormenghast trilogy.

The Dragonbone Chair series by Tad Williams could be worth a look.

David Eddings - Belgariad and Mallorian series (5 books each), were my favourites when I was young.

If you look up a group of books by various authors called forgetting realms they are very much like lord of the rings. The books are all about the same world with elves dwarfs magic etc

Thank you some more good suggestions. I know he has read some but think there are some that he hasn't even tried.

Justtowarn - are these based on the fantasy game? Is there an order to read them or a good starting few as there seem to be hundreds?

His dark materials - Phillip Pullman
Eragon series -Christopher Paulini

I'll try and think of some more.

Ooh percy jackson maybe

It has a hint of romance so he may not like it but it's a loooong series and if he does like it, there will be plenty there to read: the mortal instruments series by Cassandra Clare (much much better to read than watch the series!) and all the sequels and prequels that she's written about the shadow hunters

Also, possibly the hunger games? Might be for older kids though

@skischoolhelp yes they are based around the game series, If I remember correctly some of the authors have series which would need to be read in order and some characters appear in several books or have appearances in the games. I am struggling to remember because there are so many and I read them as an adolescent sorry I can't be more helpful, but I moved onto these after lord of the rings :)

Garth Nix's Abhorsen series (and keys to the kingdom although he may find them a little young).
The Magician's Guild by Trudy Canavan.

The Tunnels series by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams
Hitchikers guide to the galaxy

This website might give some good ideas too:

www.fantasybookreview.co.uk/

I loved "Dune"!

What about other science fantasy/fiction, like:

Ursula K Leguin "The Left Hand of Darkness"

Anne McCaffrey's books

DS is also 12. He loves LOTR, has read them all, The Hobbit and some of the others, The Silmarrilion, Unfinished Tales and some by Christopher Tolkien which he tells me are the back stories to characters/places in the main books?
But he has just started to read Sherlock Holmes and is absolutely loving it ... they are obviously not Fantasy but they the type of stories that appeal to him so maybe will to your son too?

Piers Anthony - Incarnations of Immortality series
Kieth R. A. DeCandido - Dragon Precinct series
Gordon R. Dickson - Dragon Knight series - knight who can change into a dragon
Simon R. Green - Hawk & Fisher series
Christopher Stasheff - Warlock series
Fritz Leiber - Fahfred & Grey Mouser series

I was a bookseller for many many years and loved those style of books.
He will probably love Robin Hobb - The Farseer Trilogy is were you want to start. They are amazing.

Also, Tax Williams - I think The Dragonbone Chair is the first one but it's been a long time so might need to check that. He is also amazing, and more traditional style like Tolkein so your son should enjoy those.

Oh; just seen someone else suggest Tad Williams. Honestly, he's great! But I just love Robin Hobb too!

I second Robin Hobb - her books are not that similar to LOTR in style but explore themes like honour, friendship, good and evil, and have a medieval fantasy setting. I found the very compelling, and there are lots of nice thick books in several interrelated trilogies/series, starting with The Assassin’s Apprentice.

Brandon Sanderson is an interesting and innovative fantasy author - your son might have come across him already as some of his work is for young adults - but if not I’d recommend him too.

Neverwhere, Stardust and maybe Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman might be of interest. American Gods is well-written but dark in places and not so appropriate though.

As a curve ball, I’d also suggest Norse Mythology, which is Neil Gaiman’s retelling of some of the Norse myths. These are some of the stories that inspired Tolkien (who was an academic as well as a fantasy author) and Neil Gaiman’s take on them is very fun and easy to read.