So I finished "Anywhere There's Game" and it struck me that while I hate watching sports, I really love reading weird stories that have sports featured prominently in them. I haven't read a huge amount of these, but I'm a children's librarian and have read several outstanding novels that were ostensibly about sports and really about relationships and human struggle. I'd love to hear your recommendations for Really Weird Sports Fiction, whatever the genre or format.
BASEBALL
Field of Dreams (film)
Baseball, ghosts and second chances. Worth seeing for James Earl Jones alone.
Query: has anyone here read the book it was based on? I realize that I have not, and probably should.
The Natural (film)
A film with magic, Baseball and Robert Redford. How can you go wrong?
BASKETBALL
On the Devil's Court by Carl Deuker (YA)
Premise: The main character states that he would sell his soul for a perfect basketball season, and then fears that he has done just that when his game suddenly improves.
The Moves Make the Man by Bruce Brooks (YA)
No SF element here but the story does deal with mental illness and a wonderful, highly improbable friendship.
FOOTBALL
Dairy Queen by Catherine Murdock (YA)
Contains a family that cannot talk to one another, cows, football and the most determined fifteen year old girl you'll ever meet.
SOCCER
Tangerine by Edward Bloor
Soccer, blindness and an ominous secret that threatens to tear a family apart.
SWIMMING
Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher (YA)
A rather bizarre story about love, loyalty and the sacrifices that one makes for friendship. One of the most awesome books on this list.
Anyway these are some of mine. What are yours? Please share them, whether short stories, audio, movies, or whatever.
Hmm
