Influential Book of the Month  

A list of books from before “our time” that have heavily influenced the direction,
content, or philosophy of today’s biggest otherworldly hits.

. . . . October 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Day Boy and the Night Girl by George MacDonald

An 1882 fairy tale about the romance of Photogen and Nycteris,
two young people who come to discover themselves (and the world)
despite the schemes of an evil witch.

Known Progeny:

Enclave by Ann Aguire
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

. . . . November 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin

First published in 1968, this first installment in the six-book Earthsea
cycle follows the wizard Ged as he travels across the realm of Earthsea
(including to a wizarding school) in search of a freedom he can only
find within himself.

Suspected Offspring:

Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling
The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett
The Relic Master and The Interrex by Catherine Fisher
 
 
 
 
 
 

. . . . December ’11-January ’12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Iliad by Homer

Written around the 8th Century BC, this epic Greek poem about the
Trojan war has influenced countless classic authors with its tragic
and quintessential tale of hubris, love, and war. With hunks like Achilles
and Odysseus, hotties like Helen, and powers that be like Ares, Apollo,
and Aphrodite, it’s no wonder this book is also prime inspriation for
today’s YA otherworldly writers.

Known Progeny:

Goddess of Yesterday by Caroline B. Cooney
Nobody’s Princess and Nobody’s Prize by Esther M. Friesner
Troy by Adele Geras
Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
Goddess of Yesterday by Caroline B. Cooney
The Memoirs of Helen of Troy by Amanda Elyot
Achilles: A Novel by Elizabeth Cook
 
 
 
 
 
 

Know of another bit of offspring from any of these books that isn’t listed here? Email it to me at booknotized[at]gmail[dot]com!