The gift giving season is officially on us, and you know what makes an excellent gift? BOOKS!!!
There are so many reasons books make the best gift. To name a few:
- They’re pretty inexpensive. Far cheaper than fancy shmansy electronics and such do-dads.
- A lot of bang for your buck. Books can be reread over and over and over, and they can be shared with countless others. Plus it’s a low-waste gift, so that’s good for the environment, right?
- You’ll be encouraging literacy. Adults and children alike these days need more encouragement to spend time in the written word.
- Books limit screen time. At least, paperbacks do. This is especially needed this year.
- It’s a great way to support small business. Yes, authors are business owners, especially indie ones. Buying a book literally helps authors put food on the table and coffee in the mug.
Are you convinced yet? I hope so.
The next potential hurdle is that not every person on your gift list enjoys the same kind of stories you do. You’re in luck today, because I have seven recommendations of science fiction and fantasy books that might be just what you are looking for.
Beaumont and Beasley: The First Adventures, by Kyle Robert Shultz
Starting the list off strong is a collection of 3 novels by one of our own author. Shultz’s Beaumont and Beasley world follows a private detective whose goal is to disprove magic’s existence…until he gets turned into the Beast. It’s a delightful romp through a magical version of the 1920s that mixes together all your favorite fairy tales in the best way possible.
I’ve yet to meet someone ages 12 and up who has read these stories and hasn’t loved them. As a teacher, these are the stories I give to my students who hate reading. Then they end up begging me for more. They’re funny, fast paced, heartwarming, and full of the best twists and turns.
The Electrical Menagerie, by Mollie E. Reeder
Sylvester Carthage and Arbrook Huxley are unlikely business partners, and even more unlikely friends. Together, this illusionist/engineer and fast-talking businessman run a traveling circus of robots. They enter a competition that could make or break their business and uncover a plot with far greater stakes than they’ve ever known. The world is whimsical, the characters will capture your heart, and the suspense will keep you reading till 2 am.
If you know people who love The Greatest Showman, Sherlock Holmes, and/or Treasure Planet, buy them this book immediately.
Mark of the Raven, by Morgan L. Busse
Selene Ravenwood has trained as a Dreamwalking assassin for years, preparing to take on the role of women in her family defending their House from harm. As political tensions with other Houses and the threat of war increase, Selene starts to question the legacy she was born into.
This one is for Christian fantasy lovers. There are clear connections to Christianity, but they are woven so thoughtfully into the fictional world and serve more as starting points for thought than as didactic end points of morality. Selene is withdrawn but relatable as a character, and the Houses are each unique. Plus, this is the first in a trilogy, so you’re setting yourself up to have future gifts settled as well.
Furthermore, by Tahereh Mafi
Look at how vibrant that cover is!! The story inside is no less vibrant and full of whimsey. Alice Alexis Queensmeadow wants to bring home Father and to find her magic and color. She embarks on a quest into an upside-down, topsy-turvy world to find her Father and learn how to accept herself for who she is.
This is good for younger audiences who love Alice in Wonderland (it is a retelling, but so unique and fresh it hardly seems like one) and who need stories of love, courage, and friendship.
Child of the Kaites, by Beth Wangler
Rai, a historian exile living under a false identity, knows she is supposed to someday free her people from slavery. Her heart yearns for that day, but in reality, she’s only one girl. It takes a reunion with a former love and an encounter with an enigmatic stranger to launch her on a journey of courage and faith through desert, perilous storms, and imprisonment.
This story is an imaginative take on the Biblical story of Moses and the Exodus. It’s great for teenage readers, especially girls, and for readers who enjoy fantasy with an emphasis on history.
And yes, I am a bit partial to this one, being the author, but I can also give you insider knowledge: the paperback is on sale through December 6th! That will help your gift budget, I’m sure.
Watson and Holmes, by E.B. Dawson
This one is our Editor-in-Chief’s gender-bent, cyberpunk Sherlock Holmes retelling. Jenny Watson arrives in Linden to make a fresh start after fighting deadly aliens. She finds a new purpose for her life in partnering with Sharlotte Holmes, her new roommate and local unofficial detective. With Sharlotte as her guide, Jenny plunges into solving crimes in the multi-species metropolis and finds a deadly mystery lurking under the surface.
Suspenseful, vivid, captivating, and emotional, this is one of the best Sherlock retellings you’ll ever encounter. Get this for people who loved BBC’s Sherlock, even if the end disappointed them, who thrive on mysteries, or who just can’t get enough of space and aliens.
The Door Within, by Wayne Thomas Batson
Aidan Thomas has just moved to a new school and is miserable. Then he discovers mysterious scrolls and finds a path into a mysterious new world embroiled in a battle between good and evil. As Aidan trains as a knight and travels to wondrous regions with his new friends, he learns that he has a key role to play in determining the fate not only of the new world but also of his own.
This first in a trilogy is amazing for tween and teen readers, especially those who love knights and dream of adventure. It was one of the first fantasy stories I read and helped me fall in love with the genre, too, so don’t shy away from giving this to kids who have yet to dip their toes in fantasy.
If you still haven’t found something for that one last person on your list, you’re in luck:
BONUS ENTRY: Of Myth and Monster, by the Phoenix Fiction Writers
The truth behind the myths. What’s really lurking in the shadows. These nine short stories are a menagerie of fantastical creatures and unforgettable adventures. There’s something for everyone, and it will make you laugh, cry, think, and dream.
This is a great gift for someone who’s looking for new favorite authors, someone who doesn’t like reading long novels, someone who loves mythology from all corners of the world, or someone who just wants an epic adventure.
Let me know in the comments: What other books make awesome gifts?
