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Holiday Geek Gift Guide 2011: Books & eBooks
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The Book Slave   |  

Holiday Geek Gift Guide 2011: Books

Oh, fa-la-la! It’s that time of the year again and we can hear you hyperventilating all the way over here at Geeks of Doom HQ. Don’t sweat it. Your Geek brethren have got you covered with our annual gift giving guide for all those lovable geeks on your list. We make it so darned easy to get through that daunting list, you won’t even have to pull your face out of your favorite internet-capable device for a hot New York minute.

We’ve been posting our Gift Guides all month, so to round it out, a bunch of us book lovers got together and came up with some great reads for you to get for that book lover in your life. Whether your gift recipient prefers a physical book or reading via computer or ebook reading device, we’ve got you covered. Also, if you’re new to ebooks and are unsure on how to gift them, fear not! We’ve got you’ve cover there, too. See below for our Holiday Geek Gift Guide 2011: Books & eBooks.

Contributed by Waerloga69

Kindle FireKindle Fire

Check your email, watch some Netflix, even download music and books directly from Amazon. This little baby will be your pocket-sized entertainment toy. Of course, for $199, you don’t get a lot of what other tablets take for granted: cameras, expansion slots for SD cards, etc. But it’s half the price of a 10″ tablet and you get a snappy little unit that is guaranteed to keep you playing Angry Birds well into the new year. If you have an Apple iPad or an Asus Transformer, this is not for you. But if you are looking for a great value with decent functionality then look no further. For the first time tablet owner, this is one heck of a bargain. Because what you get is a 7″ capacitive touchscreen tablet that does way more than any overclocked e-reader ever could.

Neverwinter, Book IINeverwinter: Neverwinter Saga, Book II
By R.A. Salvatore
Hardcover | Paperback | Kindle Edition

Book 2 in the Neverwinter Saga is the aptly named Neverwinter. This action packed fantasy novel is going to make many people happy this season. Salvatore shows Drizzt in a light you may not have known was there. Sidestepping justice and law to get the job done, he is still travelling with Dahlia. These two don’t just attract danger, they seek it out! This exciting story is sure to please gamers and readers alike.

Darth Paper Strikes Back: An Origami Yoda BookDarth Paper Strikes Back: An Origami Yoda Book
By Tom Angleberger
Hardcover | Paperback

Sequel to the popular Origami Yoda, Darth Paper Strikes Back is a fun book aimed at young adults. Intrigue, betrayal, paper folding. All of these things exist in junior high…and in this book, as well. Follow a group of kids as the try to rescue their wrongly accused classmate from suspension. A great gift for that younger book reader that has a little love for George Lucas’ masterpieces.

Contributed by Empress Eve

Im In the Band: Backstage Notes from the Chick in White ZombieI’m In the Band: Backstage Notes from the Chick in White Zombie
By Sean Yseult
Paperback

While people nowadays are familiar with the name Rob Zombie, thanks to his success as a director of horror films like House of 1000 Corpses, The Devil’s Rejects, and his reboots of the Halloween movie franchise. But before he was a filmmaker, he fronted the metal band White Zombie, the band people were always surprised to find out had a “chick” bass player. Sean Yseult, who co-founded the New York City-based band with then-boyfriend Rob Zombie back in 1985, released a book called I’m In the Band about her time as bassist and co-songwriter, complete with tales of hardships from the road, and what it was like to constantly be mistaken for a groupie instead of a band member, hence the book title’s play on Pamela Des Barres famous groupie tell-all I’m With The Band. Yseult, who is also an artist who did many of the band’s unique artwork, also includes artwork, rare live and backstage photos, backstage passes and ticket stubs, tour diaries, and songwriting notes. This photo book would make a great gift for a music fan, but also for people who’d love an inside look at not only how a underground NYC band struggled their way to success in the 1980s and 90s, but also the difficulties a woman musician encountered in that scene and how she dealt with it. Highly recommend!

Wuthering HeightsWuthering Heights
By Emily Brontë
Hardcover | Paperback | Kindle Edition

HarperCollins recently released a new edition of the classic Emily Brontë novel Wuthering Heights, a book that happens to be one of my favorites from 19th century literature. This new unabridged edition is the first-ever illustrated version of the book and contains art by Tracy Dockray, so it’s a nice update for someone who’s already a fan of the book. It also has a contemporary look, which would be geared towards today’s teens and young adults, especially those who are fans of the Twilight series.

Contributed by The Book Slave

Eddie Trunks Essential Hard Rock and Heavy Metal

Eddie Trunk’s Essential Hard Rock and Heavy Metal
By Eddie Trunk
Paperback | Kindle Edition

Love him or hate him, but you’d be hard pressed to find another noggin on this plain, granite planet crammed with half as much knowledge of rock and metal as Eddie Trunk. Yeah, maybe he’s a little self-important and maybe you watch That Metal Show on VH1 and want to projectile-hurl your ramen noodles as he smugly refuses to be stumped by any metal question thrown his way, but the man knows his shit and he’s good friends with all of our favorite metal gods and goddesses (few as there are). In this book, we get the benefit of Trunk’s experience with firsthand anecdotes, band trivia and his personal playlists. If you aren’t a bit jealous of his life, check your metal pulse and still if it’s still beating. I don’t know about you, but this book’s definitely on my wish list this year.

The George R.R. Martin Song Of Ice and Fire Hardcover Box SetThe George R.R. Martin Song Of Ice and Fire Hardcover Box Set
featuring A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, and A Feast for Crows (Amazon Exclusive)
By George R. R. Martin
Hardcover | Paperback | Kindle Edition

All I want for Christmas is THIS! If you’re a major fan of the HBO hit series Game of Thrones and have yet to read any of George R.R. Martin’s brilliant series on which the show is based, you’ll want to be extra good for Santa this year. Better yet, buy it for your best bud who shares your love of knights, warring kingdoms and dragons (and then immediately ask to borrow the first book). I can’t think of a better way to hibernate this winter.

11-22-63: A Novel11/22/63: A Novel
By Stephen King
Hardcover | Kindle Edition

This is the latest and greatest from master wordsmith, Stephen King, and I’m just busting to read it. The widespread appeal of this novel, I think, is that it takes us back in time (via the magic portal hidden in a diner, of course, or else it wouldn’t be a King story) to the year 1958 and proposes one giant question: What if the assassination of JFK had never happened? Not just for tried and true King fans, this book also makes a great gift for anyone from your weird Uncle Fred to all the avid readers in regular orbit around you.

Aloha From HellAloha from Hell: A Sandman Slim Novel
By Richard Kadrey
Hardcover | Kindle

Know a Sandman Slim fan or wanna create one? Then you must – repeat MUST – get this book for them. In his third Sandman Slim novel, Richard Kadrey takes us on a wild ride from LA to “Hell-A” with a riotous cast of characters. Wise cracking antihero and nephilim Jim Stark, A.K.A. Sandman Slim, takes the lead role in what begins as a simple missing-possessed-person case that quickly escalates into a personal war with a madman who aims to destroy both heaven and hell – and Sandman Slim’s girl. With the help of some truly lovable abominations, Slim wages a mighty battle against the lunatic and his hellish minions while never losing his sense of humor. Get this action packed thriller for someone you love, and if you love-love-love them, get them the whole series!

Contributed by PS Hayes

The World of Smurfs: A Celebration of Tiny Blue ProportionsThe World of Smurfs: A Celebration of Tiny Blue Proportions
By Matt M. Murray
Hardcover

Bring out the child in anyone with this gorgeous hardcover book exploring the world of everyone’s favorite little blue people-The Smurfs! Covering everything from their creation to their big screen debut this year, this book features incredible never before seen pictures and art, and will teach even the biggest Smurfs fan something new. Perfect for anyone from kids to adults who enjoy, quite possibly, the cutest fictional characters ever created.

007: Carte BlancheCarte Blanche
By Jeffery Deaver
Hardcover | Kindle Edition

Quite possible THE literary event of 2011 was the total and complete relaunch of the James Bond novels. Throwing away over 60 years of continuity, author Jeffrey Deaver recreated one of the most well know and loved characters of popular culture for this century. A move that was both frowned upon and long overdue. This thrilling spy novel is perfect for both the hardcore Bond fan or someone who’s not familiar with the character.

Contributed by Rough Justice

The Wild Girls By Ursula K. Le GuinThe Wild Girls
By Ursula K. Le Guin
Paperback | Kindle Edition

The Nebula award winning Wild Girls is printed for the first time by this title from PM Press and master science fiction writer Ursula K. Le Guin. The Wild Girls tells the story of two “dirt children” who fight for freedom in a world filled with injustice of every variety. Le Guin studies themes like love, violence, freedom, and social order in this riveting science fiction story. The Wild Girls also features the corporate publishing criticizing essay “Staying Awake While We Read” which analyzes and deconstructs the need for capitalism and corporations in literature.

Crooked Hills by Cullen BunnCrooked Hills
By Cullen Bunn
Trade Paperback

Crooked Hills follows three best friends as they explore America’s most haunted town. It doesn’t seem like Holiday reading but beneath the ghosts and ghouls is an all ages book about friendship, loss, trust, and the spirit of adventure. The Sixth Gun writer Cullen Bunn has created a must read book for kids and adults alike.

Constructive AbandonmentConstructive Abandonment
By Michael Dumontier & Neil Farber
Hardcover

Founding members of the Royal Art Lodge return with Constructive Abandonment, a compilation of small dreamlike paintings that capture the joy and horror of life all in one. Each painting is labeled with text that ties the work to the theme and references the obvious or sometimes otherworldly. Constructive Abandonment does more than provide entertainment; it challenges anyone looking to be challenged.

On the Ground: An Illustrated Anecdotal History of the Sixties Underground Press in the U.S.On the Ground: An Illustrated Anecdotal History of the Sixties Underground Press in the U.S.
Edited by Sean Stewart
Paperback

The underground press in the sixties became a not only the voice of a generation but also a nation in turmoil. Angry with the lack of negative coverage of global events independent press grew from 5 major paper to over 500 and spread like wildfire globally. On The Ground tells the stories of the people behind this movement with interviews and anecdotes told by people who were in the center of this political and social explosion.

Contributed by Willie Gillis

The Nerdist WayThe Nerdist Way: How to Reach the Next Level (In Real Life)
By Chris Hardwick
Hardcover | Kindle Edition

For the creative types in your life, The Nerdist Way is the perfect book for the passionate and obsessed. Described as a self help book for nerds, Chris Hardwick shares his knowledge of how to focus your passions and obsessions into common achievable goals. The Nerdist Way is a great and hilarious book for fans of nerd and geek culture.

Ready Player OneReady Player One
By Ernest Cline
Hardcover | Paperback | Kindle Edition

Ready Player One is one of my two favorite books of 2011! With influences in 80s pop culture, video games, and film, Ready Player One was takes place in a World of Warcraft type world where the winner of a game contest will inherit the recently deceased video game creator’s fortune. It’s a very awesome book that feels fresh and innovative.

Fun and GamesFun & Games
By Duane Swierczynski
Paperback | Kindle Edition

Fun & Games is my other favorite book of 2011! It’s an action thriller with plenty of guns, fists, and explosions that makes it one awesome book. Swierczynski brings his A-game with this first book in a trilogy of books about the character Charlie Hardie. If you like action and thrills then check this book out!

Contributed by Darkeva

The Exegesis of Philip K. DickThe Exegesis of Philip K. Dick
By Philip K. Dick
Edited by Jonathan Lethem and Pamela Jackson
Hardcover | Kindle Edition

Any hardcore Philip K. Dick fan will want this under his or her tree this year as not only is it an annotated journey through Dick’s final work, The Exegesis, but also, it contains notes, journal entries, sketches, and more. It’s a window into the inner workings of the mind of one of the greatest science fiction writers of all time and is extremely comprehensive at a whopping 976 pages.

Shock Totem: Holiday Tales of the Macabre and Twisted 2011Shock Totem: Holiday Tales of the Macabre and Twisted 2011
Edited by K. Allen Wood
Kindle Edition

For most people, Christmas conjures images of chestnuts roasting on an open fire, presents, eggnog, decorated trees, and happy families. But horror writers aren’t most people ;-) Eight writers, including the Shock Totem Five, have envisioned sinister stories involving some of the most screwed up people, a lot of them having a propensity for dressing up in Santa suits to commit foul deeds ;-) Don’t forget, in the Victorian era, people told ghost stories (just think of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens). So if you want a good scare this holiday season, get this title for your Kindle.

The Art of Todd McFarlaneThe Art of Todd McFarlane
By Todd McFarlane
Hardcover

Note: this title will come out on January 10, 2012, but is available for pre-order.
Hardcore fans of Spawn will clamour to get their hands on this deluxe hardcover edition that features art boards and rare, never-before-seen drawings. Batman, Spider-Man, and Hulk sketches among others are also included, as well as commentary on his works.

Encyclopedia GothicaEncyclopedia Gothica
By Liisa Ladouceur
Hardcover | Kindle Edition

Anyone who identifies as a Goth but wishes that people would stop asking what that means now has a book that they can point people to. Including illustrations from the talented Gary Pullin, Encyclopedia Gothica is the essential Goth reference whether you’re wondering who Sisters of Mercy are or what absinthe is (and why Marilyn Manson has his own brand of the green stuff).

Monsters In The MoviesMonsters in the Movies
By John Landis
Hardcover

From the legendary director comes a broad collection of conversations with the likes of David Cronenberg, Christopher Lee, John Carpenter, Sam Raimi and many more who discuss the monsters that have frightened them and why. The book also discusses vampires, werewolves, and ghouls that have graced the silver screen and spooked audiences since the inception of motion pictures. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at some of the most famous monster films of the twentieth century with amazing, high-quality stills””essential for film fans, especially those who are into vintage horror movies.

Giving Kindle Books as Gifts

— You can gift Kindle books and set your gift to be delivered whenever you want to anyone with an email address. On the Product Page (on the top right side), click the button that reads “Give as a Gift.” From there you enter the recipient’s email address and note the date you’d like your gift to be delivered via email, and also include a personalized message. There’s also the option to have the gift emailed right to you that you can forward the gift email to the recipient yourself or print it out and personally deliver it to the recipient.

— You don’t actually need a Kindle device to read these ebooks. Books can be read on a Kindle or one of Amazon’s free reading apps for iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows PC, Mac, Blackberry, and Windows Phone 7.

AMAZON SHIPPING INFORMATION

If you’re ordering through Amazon.com in the United States, here’s their ordering deadlines for delivery on or before Christmas Eve (12/24) for items in-stock shipped to physical addresses within the United States and marked “Ships from and sold by Amazon.com” or “Fulfilled by Amazon.com.”

December 15th – FREE Super Saver Shipping* [Last full day to order]
December 19th – Standard Shipping [Last full day to order]
December 20th – Two-Day Shipping (FREE with Amazon Prime), Last full day to order
December 21st – Two-Day Shipping (FREE with Amazon Prime) – Order as late as 8pm PST (varies by item); One-Day Shipping ($3.99 with Amazon Prime) Last full day to order
December 22nd – One-Day Shipping ($3.99 per item with Amazon Prime). Order as late as 4:30pm PST [varies by item]
December 23rd – Last-Minute Christmas Delivery ($9.99/item with Amazon Prime) While available (varies by item)
December 24th – ($3.99/item with Amazon Prime) While available (select cities, varies by item)
December 25th – Christmas Day: Email and printable gift cards can be sent immediately, at any time.

For more details about local delivery, see the Christmas Ordering Deadlines For U.S. Shipments page.

*Super Saver Shipping is FREE on orders $25 and over.

Remember, if all else fails, there’s also the Amazon.com Gift Card, you can have emailed to the recipient (arrives immediately) or you can print out the gift card at home and give it to the intended that way. If you order in enough time, you can get the physical gift card sent to you.

Here’s the list of our 2011 Guides:

Comic Books (Part 1)

Comic Books (Part 2)

Video Games

DVDs & Blu-rays

Batman Edition

Action Figures & Collectibles

Art Prints

Books & eBooks

1 Comment »

  1. you forgot…. the newly released Doctor Who Encyclopedia ;-)   http://www.amazon.com/Doctor-Who-Encyclopedia-Gary-Russell/dp/1849902313/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323788231&sr=8-1

    Comment by Ottawajulia — December 13, 2011 @ 9:58 am

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