Fantasy and Science Fiction

Mrs. Lopez, Media Specialist Highland Park Middle/High

School

Speculative Fiction

• A group of fiction that answers the question: "What if?"

• Uses the imagination • Not reality• Suspenseful (maybe scary)• Unexplained phenomena

Science Fiction

Impact of science and technology on society

– an extraterrestrial civilization

– a parallel or alternate dimension of space

– Teleportation

– a mutant

– a telepath

– artificial intelligence

Fantasy

• Uses magic or the supernatural in the plot, theme or setting:

• Ancient myths and legends

• “Things that can’t happen” – talking animals, witchcraft, etc.

• Result of magic or other phenomena

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxyby Douglas Adams

Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy who for the last 15 years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor.

The Diary of Pelly Dby L. J. Adlington

Toni V, a construction worker on a futuristic colony, finds the diary of a teenage girl whose life has been turned upside-down by holocaust-like events, and he begins to question his own beliefs.

Midnight Magicby Avi

In Italy in 1491, Mangus the magician and his apprentice are summoned to the castle of Duke Claudio to determine if his daughter is indeed being haunted by a ghost.

Ender’s Gameby Orson Scott Card

Ender, who is the result of genetic experimentation, may be the military genius Earth needs in its war against an alien enemy.

The White Mountainsby John Christopher

The Tripods Series

Young Will Parker and his companions make a perilous journey toward an outpost of freedom where they hope to escape from the ruling Tripods, who capture mature human beings and make them docile, obedient servants.

Fire Bringerby David Clement-Davies

Rannoch, born with a fawn mark the shape of an oak leaf on his forehead, is destined to lead the deer out of the Lord of the Herd's tyranny, but he must first complete a journey through the Great Land.

Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colonyby Eoin Colfer

Teenager Artemis Fowl solves a temporal equation that helps him and Captain Holly Short track fairy demons who are appearing from another dimension, but there is another person who has figured out the formula and abducts one of the beings.

Aliens Stole My Bodyby Bruce Coville

Rod has found his father but lost his own body to the villainous BKR, which leaves Rod sharing the body of a one-eyed blue alien named

Seymour. • Aliens Ate My Homework

• I Left My Sneakers in Dimension X

• I Was a Sixth Grade Alien

• My Teacher Flunked the Planet

• Space Brat

• My Teacher Glows in the Dark

So You Want to Be a Wizardby Diane Duane

Young Wizards Series Thirteen-year-old Nita,

tormented by a gang of bullies because she won't fight back, finds the help she needs in a library book on wizardry which guides her into another dimension.

Coralineby Neil Gaiman

Looking for excitement, Coraline ventures through a mysterious door into a world that is similar, yet disturbingly different from her own, where she must challenge a gruesome entity in order to save herself, her parents, and the souls of three others.

Satch & Me a baseball card adventure

by Dan Gutman

With his ability to travel through time using vintage baseball cards, Joe takes Flip with him to find out whether Satchel Paige really was the fastest pitcher ever. .

Among the Hiddenby Margaret Peterson Haddix

In a future where the Population Police enforce the law limiting a family to only two children, Luke has lived all his twelve years in isolation and fear on his family's farm, until another "third" convinces him that the government is wrong.

Shadow Children:Among the Imposters, Among the Betrayed, Among the Barons, Among the Brave

The Secret of Platform 13by Eva Ibbotson

Odge Gribble, a young hag, accompanies an old wizard, a gentle fey, and a giant ogre on their mission through a magical tunnel from their Island to London to rescue their King and Queen's son who had been stolen as an infant.

The Alchemist’s Cat by Robin Jarvis

Deptford Histories

Will Godwin escapes to London and becomes an assistant to the evil alchemist, Elias Spittle, who sends Will on an errand where he finds and rescues a mother cat and her kittens which sparks an extraordinary tale of sorcery and murder.

Of Two Mindsby Carol Matas and…Perry Nodelman

It is hate at first sight

Princess Lenora of Gepeth and Prince Coren of Andilla are expected to marry. Their parents arranged it.

They are one strange couple. Lenora can make whatever she imagines real. Coren can read thoughts. Somehow, before the wedding ceremony, they become trapped in a world ruled by the fierce tyrant Hevak. And Hevak will never let them out of Farren Place alive.

Wait a minute. What if Coren uses his power of mind reading and Lenora uses her imagination? Would they be able to escape this horror?

Yes, it might work-if they are of two minds.

Z for Zachariahby Robert C. O’Brien

After the nuclear blast and radiation seepage, I am certain I am the only person left alive.

That’s why I’m writing this down. I need someone to talk to, even if it’s just to myself.

I am wrong. I’m not alone. Someone else is still alive. A man named John Looms is also alive. He is a scientist who wears a “safe suit” to protect him from radiation. After we meet, he takes control immediately. He becomes crazier and crazier. He reminds me of a “mad scientist” from the scary movies that I used to watch so long ago.

Now that I’ve survived the nuclear blast, can I survive this mad scientist?

Wild Magicby Tamora Pierce

The Immortals

The mage Numair, the knight Alanna, and Queen Thayet enlist thirteen-year-old Daine's help to battle the dreadful immortal creatures that have recently begun to attack the kingdom of Tortall.

The Golden Compassby Philip Pullman

First in the Dark Materials series

One afternoon, Lyra and her daemon-disguised as a moth-hide in the Retiring Room of the Master of Jordan College. When Lyra sees the Master put poison into a wineglass, she knows she has stumbled onto a sinister plot. It appears that the Master plans to murder Lyra’s uncle, Lord Asreil!

Lyra warns her uncle about the poinsoned wineglass, just in time. In exchange, he tells her about the magic dust that is found only in the Artic North. This dust can unit the universes. But…there are those who fear the dust and will do anything to destroy it…even murder!!!

Heir Apparentby Vivian Vande Velde

While playing a total immersion virtual reality game of kings and intrigue, fourteen-year-old Giannine learns that demonstrators have damaged the equipment to which she is connected, and she must win the game quickly or be damaged herself.

Dealing with Dragonsby Patricia C. Wrede

Take one very bored princess who runs away from a prearranged marriage to a very dull prince. Add one dangerous dragon who allows the princess to cook and perform other household tasks. Together they provide humor and excitement in an enchanted forest filled with witches, wizards, and wicked giants.

Will Cimorene, princess of the dragon Kuzul, be able to stop the wizards from collecting the deadly plant dragonsbane? Will the enchanged stone prince find a princess to break the spell and live happily ever after?

Try this topsy-turvy tale about dealing with dragons.

Tiger’s Bloodby Laurence Yep

The Tiger’s Apprentice A Chinese-American

boy and his friends--a monkey, a dragon, a rat, and a tiger--must ensure that a magical phoenix egg does not fall into evil hands in the underwater dragon kingdom.

If you don’t see one of these?• Look for a “good” titles.• Look for interesting covers (spine stickers)• Look for a title by the same author.• Read the first sentence, paragraph or page.• Check the blurb.• Review the OPAC (Here or at HPPL)

– http://hphs.scoolaid.net (here or at home!!!)

• Or…ask your Media Specialist.