Steven Brust wrote:
>> Hmmmm...
>>
>> I don't know about that...
>>
>> Whenever I use, or have seen squick used it has a sexual connotation.
>
>
> Whenever I've either heard or used the term, it has been related to an
> activity that is sexual to at least some people. On the other hand, I'm
> having trouble coming up with an actifity that isn't sexual to at least
> some people.
I have seen it used with reference to violence ("if violence squicks you
then don't read this..."). And by that I mean non-sexual violence.
I had always assumed that it was used about anything that made you go
"eeek" and shut the browser window very fast. However the context I know
it from *cough*fanfiction*cough* tends to be quite elastic in it's use
of terminology with one term meaning one thing in one fandom and one
thing in another. I think most terms are slowly becoming less and less
precise in there meaning.
;-)
Fides
P.S. I don't know if it necessarly counts as fantasy: Roald Dahl. Fun
for kids of all ages.
And since you are counting votes:
My little Bro who is 12 is reading the adult Pratchett and loving them
(although I don't think he gets all the jokes).
I second Stasheff especially the earlier Warlock books and, if you can
get hold of them, the The Starship Trooper series (about a group of
actors. Not to be confused with any other books involving the words
'Starship' and 'Troopers')
Early Robert Asprin. Especially the Phule series.
Guy Gavriel Kay - The Fionavar Tapestry Trilogy (can't remember how
kiddie friendly they are)
Susan Cooper's Dark is Rising series
Kipling - Espec Puck of Pooks Hill etc
Alan Garner - The Wierdstone of Brisingamen etc (based on Arthur legend)
Tolkien - Most of my friends (and myself) had read or been read LotR by
that point, the rest can't stand the language even now.
Harry Harrison - Stainless Steel Rat books especially
Douglas Adams
Eddings - At that age you don't care
Redwall - Haven't read it but my little bro loves it
Mary H. Herbert - Valorian & Dark Horse
Also, I don't think anyone has mentioned, The Hounds of the Morrigan by
Pat O'Shea. As the name suggests it is based in Irish Mythology.
When he is a bit older then:
Mervyn Peake - Ghormangast (what my SO was being read while I was being
read Tolkien)
Anne McCaffery (there isn't that much sex, or possibly I just don't
notice any more).
Sheri S. Tepper - Espec True Game (but I think it's out of print)
Ursula Le Guin - Personally Tombs was my favourite but the early
Earthsea books are great
Maybe Mercedes Lackey (another set I think is more aimed at girls but
then I think why should books be for girls just because they have strong
female lead characters). Lackey is pretty much pulp fantasy (especially
the Valdemar series) and the early books are better than the latter ones
(I'm biased since I don't think she's topped her Last Herald-Mage
trilogy) but the later ones are probably more kiddy friendly. Not to be
read by the narrow minded and check the blurbs - some of them deal with
some quite nasty topics even if it's 'off page' (I hadn't actually
realised how much until I started writing this.) . There is also Bedlam
Boyz by Eleen Guon set in the Mercedes Lack/other 'elves in modern day'
setting. It and other books can be found free at the Baen Free Library
(http://www.baen.com/library/).
Simon R. Green - The first one 'Blue Moon Rising' is probably fine for
early teen but the later books have a fair amount of violence (for fair
amount read a lot). Some of them have an annoying and really out of
place Christian insertion but it's mostly ignorable and it's only in his
later books. His Sci-Fi stuff is also good and a good way of bridging
the fantasy/sci-fi bridge.
The Dragonlance and Forgotton Realms books. (Salvatore has a lot to
answer for but I like Drizzt. Preferably presented to me naked and...
*cough* anyway). Of course if we are including books based on RPGs then
some of the Shadowrun books were very good.
Peter Morwood - some violence, small amount of sex (mostly off-page as I
recall). The Warlord's Domain is a darker but your chances of getting
hold of a copy are very small. His books based on Russian legends aren't
quite as good (imho) but I think are much more kiddy friendly (in content).
Alan Dean Foster - O.K. his stuff is a bit variable.
R A. MacAvoy - Tea With a Black Dragon etc (Didn't like Damino's Lute
for some reason but loved the dragon books)
I loved the Ridlemaster of Hed trilogy (swiped them from my parent went
I moved out).
Raymond E Feist Magician Trio and the X of the Empire trilogy.
David Gemmel
Zelazney
Moorcock
And...
Darn - I wasn't going to get involved in this discussion.
Signing off before I think of any more...
F