From: MShuttleworth at slv.vic.gov.au <MShuttleworth>
Date: Wed, 23 Nov 2005 12:38:46 +1100

I have to say that the passion for this topic has caught me by surprise.

Could I mention a series form Australia that's creeping over the horizon? It's the Ranger's Apprentice by John Flanagan. It's a medieval adventure series set among a school for rangers. Lots of fast moving action, clearly drawn characters, scary monsters (there's a slight fantasy element) and good wholesome fun.

The books a re written by an Australian author, though the setting is an English medieval world.

I recently mentioned the series to a group of students. Did anyone know about it? Yes, said one boy quietly...I've read the first three and there's a fourth one coming out. Totally into it.

We also had a call from a bookseller in California chasing a forthcoming edition...Did we happen to have a spare copy on the shelf, she had a customer bursting to read it. As it happened we did!

So perhaps I shouldn't be so surprised at all by the keenness readers have for series fiction. There's no shortage of evidence!

Mike


Mike Shuttleworth Program Co-ordinator Centre for Youth Literature 328 Swanston Street Melbourne VIC 3000 PH: 03 8664 7262 FAX: 03 9639 4143 http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/youthlit/
Received on Tue 22 Nov 2005 07:38:46 PM CST