Quote:
Originally Posted by fjtorres
Harry Potter. 
Expanding the scope to books published in living memory, more or less:
- DUNE
- THE HOBBIT
- NARNIA (pick one)
- Kurt Busiek's SECRET IDENTITY
- Neil Gaiman's STARDUST (or anything else by him)
- Terry Pratchett MORT, BAD OMENS
- Piers Anthony A SPELL FOR CHAMELEON
- Heinlein's THE MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS OR HAVE SPACESUIT WILL TRAVEL for younger readers.
- Doris Piserchia's SPACELING
- Patricia McKillip's ALPHABET OF THORNS, RIDDLEMASTER TRILOGY or OMBRIA IN SHADOW
- Niven and Pournelle's MOTE IN GOD'S EYE
Yes, they're all SF&F because that's my area of expertise and because any of the above will resoundingly give the lie to the headmaster from the OP. There's brilliance in modern fiction.
If I had to cut it to three I'd go with Pratchett, McKilip, and Busiek.
(Persepolis is worthy, too, but it's already been mentioned.) |
When you are picking books for school, you have to take size into account and if a book is too large, it won't do no matter how good. So that means
Dune,
Mote in God's Eye, and
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress have to go. Also, you cannot start in the middle of a series, so
Mort is out.