Most fantasy, especially Arthurian or Epic fantasy, doesn't quite capture the sense of children enough, partly because they're usually extremely exceptional in one or more ways.

To me, the most real children in fantasy/magic are Edward Eager's children, who are very ordinary children who survive with their wits. E Nesbit's children are pretty much the same, except their being in Edwardian England made them somewhat exotic to me. I was grateful to Harry Potter for encouraging publishers reprint books like those. Until Harry Potter, Edward Eager had been out of print for years.

I am grateful to Harry Potter regardless. For all that the later ones needed editing, and it seems that most books these days need editing, the Harry Potter books have that rare quality of making you want to turn the page. I loved having so much public hoopla over books. It was like people running up to the pier and asking "Did little Nell die?" when the ships came from England with the next installment of The Old Curiousity Shop.

When one of the Harry Potter books came out, a reporter here interviewed a father who had his daughter and several more preteen girls with him waiting to buy the book at midnight. They were having a sleepover and they were going to read all night together. It was so wonderful that I cried.

It is the Oprah book phenomenon-- I saw more people that said "I haven't been to the library in years..." and despite the articles saying it isn't making a difference -- on an individual basis, it made a difference.

Bookistas - I'm going on a cruise, and I was thinking that I would go to a used bookstore, buy a bunch of books and just leave them on the boat. Any suggestions for books loved that would be in a used bookstore? I like fantasy, mystery, spy fiction, etc.

The Miles Vorkosigan books, which is like all three of your genre combined together! But I suspect you've read them all already.

I don't think I've heard of them, this is so exciting!

eta: Just checked them on Amazon, do you happen to remember which one is first? I find that even if reading out of order, or not the whole series, you should read the first one first because it sets up so much stuff.

The latest Vokosigan books have a list in the back of them of which ones come where in chronology.

edit: I adored Diplomatic Immunity. I read the books in a big bunch, and reading Diplomatic Immunity was so much fun with all the in-jokes and past events that informed the current events.

That's a trickier question than it should be because the early books have all been repackaged a bazillion times. But Wikipedia has a pretty good list of what's currently in print.

[eta: Oh wow, ALL of them have been repackaged. Yipes.]

That's a trickier question than it should be because the early books have all been repackaged a bazillion times

Yeah, that's why I asked, I couldn't figure out which was a reprint/package from the amazon list.

The wiki list Jessica linked is pretty comprehensive. I don't know how much reading time you'll have on your trip, but you can probably get your hands on the first two omnibus volumes, "Cordelia's Honor" (which is about Miles' mother, Cordelia, and does a good job of introducing you to the universe and gives you some essential background for Miles' character; plus, Cordelia = made of awesome) and "Young Miles" easily at used bookstore -- the two books should be enough to see if you'd be into the series. After that, I'd say go directly into "Miles Errant" books instead of Cetaganda & Ethan of Athos, which are somewhat less relevant to the narrative.

After that, I'd say go directly into "Miles Errant" books instead of Cetaganda & Ethan of Athos, which are somewhat less relevant to the narrative.

I second this. There's nothing wrong with Cetaganda, but Ethan of Athos is out of continuity, and the high point of the series (IMO) is the run from Brothers in Arms through Komarr.