OK. I withdraw my recommendation of the Thomas Covenant series as _beginning_ fantasy, and will admit that I read them after I was already a well established reader of the genre (even if I was 11 or 12). As for forcing anything on anyone, well that I just would not do. As for the typos in my post, I am indebted to Mark for the corrections. Thank you kind sir. I can't believe I misspelled Dragaeran. The rest I might get away with pleading AFB, but ... As for Kurtz, yes, I was explicitly recommending the first two trilogies. I can't speak from personal experience reading the Redwall books, but they were favorites of my sister-in-law for many years (including at age 11), and I have enjoyed catching the animated series on PBS on Saturday mornings. Casey. Wow. People feel strongly about Donaldson! John Mietus > I wouldn't think the themes involved, the overly-depressing > characterization of the utterly unappealing protagonist > through the entire series, nor the rape scene early in the > first book and subsequent whinging over it through the rest > of the series are really appropriate recommendations in this > case, particularly when the parents are worried about any > "dark" influence the elder sibling has on the younger. Later > on, yes, by all means these books are recommended; right now, > no. David Dyer-Bennet > I would consider this both unfit for human consumption, and > specifically unfit for children. Matthew Hunter > Donaldson has yet to write a work suitable for younger readers. > > They are all consistently dark and horrific, even in their > moments of beauty. > > Wonderful stuff, but not in a childish way at all. Jim Katz > ... I found the Unbeliever series to be the most depressing fantasy > books I have ever read, or I should say, attempted to read.... Andrew Bailey > Giving a 11 year old Donaldson? Is that legal? *shudder* Chris Turkel > I dislike them. I hated them when I was in high school and I still > dislike them now. I wouldn't force them,on anyone. rone > Some people i know (including myself) have a very strong aversion to > the Unbeliever trilogy. It is definitely not what i would recommend > to any 11-year-old.