I know he was born a bit under 30 years before me and time were different for him, but he only started reading F/SF/myth at age twelve? That's middle school for most districts, and high school in mine. I learned to read on Tom Swift Junior and Edgar Rice Burroughs before I was five, and was gifted a copy of Bulfinch's Mythology when I graduated first grade and was devouring my aunt's mystery novels from second grade onward. My reading tastes have only broadened over the years, but I'll always favor F/SF.
What was he reading during grade school that he started so late?
Gosh, Dick, I thought I was precocious to be reading the Lord of the Rings at 8. You're an advanced specimen, and should probably take that into account when you judge the age at which other people start reading seriously.
And whenever he started, the stuff he read clearly made an impact and benefitted us all.
He may have just not come across anything until then. I remember introducing a guy in my class who thought reading was stupid to the Sword of Shannara in 7th grade. He became an avid reader after that, he just hadn't ever been exposed to anything that piqued his interest. We read some very dusty and musty novels for school back then.
I got into fantasy some time before I got into D&D, around second/third grade. My mother had noticed my interest in mythology, she had received a copy of Sword of Shannara through her Reader's Club subscription and passed it on to me. I first read Lott when I was 12, and by then I was utterly surprised that most of the other kids my age hardly spent any time reading. Those who did struggled to mantain interest in hundred pagers.
I thoroughly enjoyed Finnegans Wake as a grade schooler and indeed came to enjoy it more thoroughly in junior high. I'd finished all the great Russians by middle school. I assume Gygax was slumming it with philosophy or histories until then. What matters of course is who read it earliest.
I know he was born a bit under 30 years before me and time were different for him, but he only started reading F/SF/myth at age twelve? That's middle school for most districts, and high school in mine. I learned to read on Tom Swift Junior and Edgar Rice Burroughs before I was five, and was gifted a copy of Bulfinch's Mythology when I graduated first grade and was devouring my aunt's mystery novels from second grade onward. My reading tastes have only broadened over the years, but I'll always favor F/SF.
ReplyDeleteWhat was he reading during grade school that he started so late?
Gosh, Dick, I thought I was precocious to be reading the Lord of the Rings at 8. You're an advanced specimen, and should probably take that into account when you judge the age at which other people start reading seriously.
DeleteAnd whenever he started, the stuff he read clearly made an impact and benefitted us all.
And he clearly made *much* more of his delayed start than Mr. McGee (whom I've never heard of).
DeleteHe may have just not come across anything until then. I remember introducing a guy in my class who thought reading was stupid to the Sword of Shannara in 7th grade. He became an avid reader after that, he just hadn't ever been exposed to anything that piqued his interest. We read some very dusty and musty novels for school back then.
DeleteStill living up to your first name.
DeleteI got into fantasy some time before I got into D&D, around second/third grade.
ReplyDeleteMy mother had noticed my interest in mythology, she had received a copy of Sword of Shannara through her Reader's Club subscription and passed it on to me.
I first read Lott when I was 12, and by then I was utterly surprised that most of the other kids my age hardly spent any time reading.
Those who did struggled to mantain interest in hundred pagers.
I thoroughly enjoyed Finnegans Wake as a grade schooler and indeed came to enjoy it more thoroughly in junior high. I'd finished all the great Russians by middle school. I assume Gygax was slumming it with philosophy or histories until then. What matters of course is who read it earliest.
ReplyDeleteI was into science fiction before fantasy caught my eye. Lewis and Tolkien made me love fantasy, too.
ReplyDelete@Reason -- Well played! You win the thread, and indeed the Internet, for the day.
ReplyDelete