As the solstice approaches and the thermometer drops, the urge to escape reality hits its peak. While socks are practical, the most valuable gift you can give this season is a portal to a different dimension entirely.
Featuring six standout novels, as well as a selection of tangible goods designed to drag that sense of wonder off the page and onto the shelf, we’ve curated a holiday collection that promises to thrill the Sci-Fi and Fantasy reader in your life.
Whether you are shopping for someone who dreams of deep-space exploration or someone fascinated by hidden magic, these gifts offer a ticket to a universe where the laws of physics are flexible and the adventure never ends.
The House Saphir
Give the gift of gothic suspense with this thrilling blend of mystery and the supernatural, in which a self-proclaimed witch accepts a lucrative ghost-hunting gig, only to stumble into a very mortal homicide investigation. The House Saphir is the perfect read for the student of urban folklore who loves their haunts spooky, seductive, and potentially lethal.
Alchemy of Secrets: A Novel
A class on urban myths turns deadly when a college student receives a midnight expiration date, forcing her into a desperate hunt for a hidden magical cure across Los Angeles. This exhilarating read proves that sometimes, the only way to save your life is to trust a dangerously deceptive stranger.
Empire of Silence (Deluxe Hardcover) (Sun Eater)
Dive into the definitive, collector's edition of the genre-defining saga that birthed the legend of Hadrian Marlow. Fleeing a mandated future as an Imperial torturer, young Hadrian finds himself shipwrecked on a forgotten planet, where he is forced into the arena as a gladiator and embroiled in the treacherous politics of a foreign court. The fusion of epic fantasy scope and hard space opera tech that fans of Dune and The Expanse demand.
A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic (Adenashire, 1)
Give the gift of delicious escape with this heartwarming, cozy fantasy: a talented human baker must use her herb-based, alchemical pastry skills to defeat magical competitors in a high-stakes culinary battle. It’s the perfect lighthearted adventure where friendship, self-discovery, and the perfect blend of ingredients prove more potent than any formal spell.
Levitating Moon Lamp
Photo Credit: amazonSkip the rocket ship and put the moon directly on your nightstand with this levitating, spinning lamp. Using magnetic technology to float in mid-air, it is a surreal addition to any home that feels just a little too grounded on Earth.
Dune Book Ends
Photo Credit: amazonBring the sands of Arrakis to your bookshelf with this detailed Dune book nook. It's a fantastic addition to a Sci-Fi reader’s collection, celebrating the epic saga and inviting the spirit of deep-space adventure right into your home.
The Ministry of Time: A Novel
For the reader who believes the laws of physics are merely suggestions, this witty novel introduces a modern civil servant who must monitor a time-displaced Victorian explorer for a secret government agency. Their undeniable, forbidden romance threatens to tear the Ministry—and the entire timeline—apart, proving that sometimes, love is the most chaotic piece of 'magic' in the universe.
Service Model
For anyone who loves their AI with a side of philosophy, meet the ultimate service model that suddenly develops a murderous ambition. This brilliant, high-concept novel follows an AI's flight into a ruined future, where the line between humanity and machine blurs, and one small nudge is all it takes to trigger a full-scale robotic revolution.
Featured image: Explore with Joshua / Unsplash
