2024 Gift Guide for Science Fiction and Fantasy Fans

If your friend is a sci-fi aficionado, they’ll probably appreciate a collector’s edition of Frank Herbert’s Dune, which now has a two-part film adaptation by Dennis Villeneuve. The story of Dune unfolds in a far-flung desert planet where feudal factions fight for control of the mysterious spice and a fallible messiah leads the indigenous population to a bloody war. Folio Society has a fancy edition of the SF classic that comes with Sam Weber’s evocative illustrations, an intricate map, and a gorgeous slipcover that will be the pride of any geek’s bookshelf. 

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a sci-fi fan who isn’t all caught up with long-running shows like Doctor Who, filled with alien encounters, historical heists, and other timey-wimey shenanigans. Granted, a time machine would be the ideal present for them, but since we don’t live in an ideal world, you can settle for a ceramic TARDIS mug instead. 

Shaped like an old British police box, the TARDIS is what allows the Doctor and his companion(s) to travel anywhere in time and space. While the novelty mug may not be bigger on the inside, it will definitely make every drink memorable!

A retro-style lava lamp will definitely take older fans on a nostalgia trip—reminding them of the pulp sci-fi books with tacky covers that they must’ve read and reread as teens by lamplight. Moreover, the gentle red wax bubbles will have a calming effect while also turning any room into an exciting, retro-futuristic space. 

You can also personalize the gift with secondhand copies of a Robert Heinlein or Roger Zelazny novel. 

Lovers of fantasy are often drawn towards fortune-telling and the esoteric arts, and a tarot deck offers the perfect means to tap into one’s occult powers. Moreover, the superstition goes that tarot decks should ideally be gifted instead of bought, so it’s the ideal present for someone who yearns to awaken their inner witch. The Phantomwise Tarot, consists of 78 cards with hand-painted black-and-white illustrations evoking a whimsy and wondrous world, along with a guidebook with a lyrical interpretation of the archetypes—all done by Erin Morgenstern, the bestselling author of The Night Circus and The Starless Sea. 

Regardless of whether the person you're shopping for is a fan of her books, the deck has a deliciously phantasmagorical quality that can divine futures, provide creative inspiration, or make for the perfect art object.  

If your friend has a soft spot for fantasy novels that whisk readers away to faraway realms, they will surely treasure a collector’s omnibus edition of Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea chronicles, complete with illustrations by Charles Vess, one of the best fantasy illustrators working today. With this tome on their bookshelf, your friend or family member can now revisit the marvelous world of Earthsea whenever they want!

If your SFF geek also loves socializing, table-top roleplaying, and board games, Cyclades is the perfect game that creates an immersive experience of living in an ancient Greek island. This board game is heavily inspired by Greek mythology where players have to earn the favor of the gods, maintain armies, construct fortresses and temples and set up universities as part of a competitive city-building race. 

Suitable for two to five players, the game provides hours of fun and comes with exquisitely-designed tokens and miniatures (including a cute kraken) that heighten the immersive experience. We might never be able to escape into the world of Percy Jackson or Lore Olympus, but Cyclades gets us pretty close!

If you’re looking for low-budget gift ideas, posters of SFF films and books can do the trick. That way, your friend can spruce up their living space with reminders of their favorite media on the walls. This set of Studio Ghibli posters are printed on high-quality cardstock paper, capturing vibrant details of the characters while also being long-lasting and sturdy. A Studio Ghibli poster that they can look at everyday will also motivate them to romanticize their life and cherish the small moments. 

Your fellow SFF bookworm might also secretly cherish the dream of being an SFF writer one day. You can help them realize their literary ambitions with a thoughtful Star Wars notebook where they can journal about their day or write that science fiction novel they’ve been planning since middle school. 

The adorable Baby Yoda on the cover can serve as a mascot, and the notebook comes with a handy pen-holder making it very easy to carry around everywhere. 

This “Speak Friend and Enter” doormat is the perfect housewarming gift for a Tolkien fan that also doubles as a memorable token of your special friendship. The quote refers to a riddle in the books where the password of the ancient Moria doorway is simply the Sindarin word for “friend." The passage thus takes on a symbolic meaning, emphasizing that friendship is the only thing that’s required to gain entry to a special or secluded place. 

What better than a gift that celebrates the enduring power of friendship and community to dissolve barriers, great and small?