Hey Amanda, someone on my gift list likes short sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and/or poetry, and I would like to buy them something with you in it. What should I get them?
How thoughtful, imaginary inquirer! You should definitely get books for everyone on your list. Also people not on your list. Books for everyone. For you, I have made a decision tree to help you on your PURCHASING ADVENTURE. The best part is, while these books all CONTAIN me, they are mostly NOT me, so your recipient receives a cornucopia of terrific contemporary spec-fic authors between two covers. Or four, or six covers! Sky’s the limit here. Even numbers only, though.
Would your gift-receiving person prefer:
- A collection?
- An issue of a magazine or periodical?
- An anthology?
A COLLECTION:
Fine choice! My sister Megan Engelhardt and I had a collection of dark fairy-tale retellings published earlier this year.
AN ISSUE OF A MAGAZINE OR PERIODICAL:
Exciting! Who knows, your story-loving giftee might get hooked on a great new ‘zine.
Do they prefer:
- Horror?
- More general SF/F/H?
- Poetry?
HORROR:
Consider Shock Totem #3 or the Arcane Sampler!
MORE GENERAL SF/F/H:
How about Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine #57 or Bull Spec #8?
POETRY:
Why not get Illumen #13 or Not One Of Us #47?
AN ANTHOLOGY:
I love anthologies!
What kind of story would your anthology-loving gift receiver most enjoy?
- Horror
- More general SF/F/H
HORROR:
Does your horror-anthology-loving giftee prefer:
- Creepy horror?
- Gory horror?
CREEPY HORROR:
Ghosts and gravesites! How about Candle In the Attic Window or Specter Spectacular?
GORY HORROR:
Zombies and killers! Why not Zombie Kong or Night Terrors II?
MORE GENERAL SF/F/H:
So many themes! So many crazy themes!
What anthology theme would most appeal to the person on your gift list?
- Water and fishes
- History and the twisting thereof
- The circus and prognostication
- A broad theme, with ties to Pittsburgh
WATER AND FISHES
You’ll want FISH or Beast Within 3: Oceans Unleashed!
HISTORY AND THE TWISTING THEREOF:
Try Retro Spec or Broken Time Blues!
THE CIRCUS AND PROGNOSTICATION:
Check out CIRCUS or What Fates Impose!
A BROAD THEME, WITH TIES TO PITTSBURGH:
The Triangulation series offers the themes End of the Rainbow, Last Contact, and Morning After!
Hey, thanks, Amanda! That was fun AND informative!
You are SO WELCOME.
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