In honor, I'd be curious to see every Andre Norton fan here note the first book of hers that made a big impression on you.
I think Daybreak 2250 might've been my first Andre Norton and it's a classic introduction to her themes and character types. I also really loved The Zero Stone which gets quite a bit less press.
Then I discovered the Witch World series.
Gosh, I can't remember what the first Andre Norton was that I read-- but I ate them up when I was a kid.
In honor, I'd be curious to see every Andre Norton fan here note the first book of hers that made a big impression on you.
That's funny, since I just saw that exact same topic in an LJ community.
I think I read the Crystal Gryphon series pretty early. I should pull those out.
The advantage with Andre's books (over many other SF writers) was that they were always in the school library. Only Bradbury and Heinlein got the same kind of institutional play when I was growing up.
A for Android.
First one on the library shelf in my high school. I was a freshman. The first ever science fiction I ever read.
In honor, I'd be curious to see every Andre Norton fan here note the first book of hers that made a big impression on you.
Star Rangers. Elementary school--probably second grade, though it's possible it was first. I took that book out of the school library over and over; I've always thought I should track down a copy of it to own, just for sentimental value. (I'm not sure I want to try re-reading it. Loved it too well as a child to feel entirely safe trying it again.)
I think I read the Crystal Gryphon series pretty early.
I've still got my copies, I still read them.
Gah, I remember the stories, I can't remember the titles. The series with the people who can sing themselves into the bodies of animals, the Witch World series ...
edit: Moon of Three Rings.
This one!
Women as competent major characters.
I can never even remember what order the Gryphon series comes in.
The Stars Are Ours
Also, one of my first crushes on a fictional character was on Ross Murdock in the Time Trader books.