books like harry potter

[Steve]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "bathbaby18" <bathbaby18 at ...>
wrote:
>
> I know that there could be no comparison but I was wondering if
> there are any good books that were close to being like Harry
> Potter or any good books along those lines. Thanks in Advance
> 
> bathbaby18
>

bboyminn:

If you are looking for 'boy wizard' books specifically, then 
consider "The Bartimaeus trilogy" by Jonathan Stroud. 

The three books in the series are -

'The Amulet of Samarkand' (1)

'The Golem's Eye' (2)

'Ptolemy's Gate' (3)

The main character (real name: Nathaniel, magic name: Jonathan
Mandrake) is a little more annoying that Harry, but still
interesting. This series has a completely different take on
magic than Harry Potter. Here magic is a product of summoning
various levels of demonic spirits.

You can read a summary at the website -

http://www.bartimaeustrilogy.com/about.html

Near the bottom, you will find brief excerpts from each book.


Now if you just want fun easy fantasy books to read, then I
recommend the 'Artemis Fowl' series. I found them very funny
filled with captivating characters, and at the same time 
containing an excellent mystery and suspense. 

'Artemis Fowl' is, in a sense, a total suspension of reality,
but I really think the author makes the absurdly unbelievable
very believable by creating lovable, but annoying, characters
and a really good underlying story. 

http://www.artemisfowl.com/home.html


Not about a boy wizard in the normal sense at all but I was
fascinated by the Eragon - Inheritance Series, and can't wait
for the next book to come out. This is more Tolkien-like but 
not quite as long winded. In a sense, it is a horse and sword
adventure that takes place in a mythical land. Eragon, through
a set of circumstances, becomes a Dragon Rider, and as is
typical in this type of story, is further forces by circumstance
to fight against, the one lone remaining Dragon Rider, who just
happens to be the evil king. 

Sounds a little cliché, but I found the story and the characters
fascinating. Christopher Paolini has an incredible grasp of
detail. That's also one of the things that drew me to Harry 
Potter. The world is so well realized, and I find that same is
true in Eragon's world. 


I found 'Dark is Rising' to be interesting enough to buy the
whole series. The main character, so far, doesn't really do that
much. It seems to me that he just gets into tighter and tighter
situations, then out of no where magic occurs and the day is
saved. But the source of that magic is unclear.

Still I found the characters interesting and engaging, and am
eager to read the rest of the story.


In more of a science fiction genre, the absolute classic and
dearly love stories of "Ender's Game" and "Ender's Shadow" 
by Orson Scott Card are first rate. Both these stories continue
on with three additional books each. Though they continue the 
stories of the central character, they are not so much a 
continuation of the same story. 

That should keep you busy for a while.

Steve/bboyminn