Your Sci-Fi Gift Buying Guide for 2009

It's time for the first annual SciFi Squad Holiday Gift Buying Guide. But before we get to the goodies, a few things worth nothing.

- You're probably well aware that things like Star Trek and Watchmen are already out on DVD and Blu-ray. You'll not find them listed here.

- If you can walk into any Barnes & Noble and come face-to-face with a book, it's probably not going to be listed here.

- SciFi Squad is getting no kick backs for anything on this list. If it's here, it's because we think it's cool, and that's it. If it links to a specific store, that's purely for convenience as most of these products are available anywhere.

- The categories are: Books, Blu-ray Collector's Editions, Clothes, Gaming, Random Items, and, my favorite, Expensive Items That Look Like They're From the Future.

Books:



Star Trek: the Art of the Film - I consider this a must-own for anyone who is a big fan of JJ Abrams' Star Trek reboot. Makes a great companion to the fantastic Blu-ray Paramount put out.

The Greatest Sci-Fi Films Never Made - Editions of David Hughes' book chronicling the best of the sci-fi movies that never were have been kicking around for a while, but this one is as up-to-date as it gets. An absolutely engrossing read that sheds meticulously detailed light on often rumored projects that Hollywood has been trying to get off the ground for years. A must read for anyone who hasn't come across it yet.

Star Wars: Death Troopers - Zombie Storm Troopers? I think I've said enough.

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Blu-ray Collector's Editions:



Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series on Blu-ray - Amazon has this set for $200, which seems quite high until you consider that not only is every episode of this seminal series in high definition for the first time, but the cumulative run time of everything in this massive set is some 67 hours. Also comes with a Cylon centurion action figure.

Limited Edition Terminator 2 Endoskull Collection - This is the best presentation one is likely to ever find of Terminator 2: Judgement Day, but it's also the priciest. At $115 it's definitely a heft price point for just one movie, but it's packed to the brim with special features. Plus, ya' know, it all comes in a T2 skull.

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Clothes:


Last Exit to Nowhere - This clothing company is based out of the UK, so the rest of the world unfortunately will have to do with currency exchange rates, but their t-shirts are well worth it considering Last Exit to Nowhere specializes in creating movie-specific tees that may as well serve as a coolness litmus test for strangers. If someone can look at your shirt and realize its the logo for the company that built Robocop or the corporation that owned the undersea drilling rig in The Abyss, then you know they're alright.

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Random Items:


Cthulhu Christmas Cards - These Christmas cards from the Sci-Fi book publisher Tor will put a smile on the face of anyone familiar with the Elder Gods.

Tauntaun Sleeping Bag - It started as an April Fool's joke at ThinkGeek and ended up becoming a real product. If seeing this doesn't put a smile on your face, your heart is colder than Hoth.

Degobah Frog Habitat - Designed for all stages of frog life. Doesn't get much cooler and nerdier than this.


BSG Cylon Toaster - These were available to a lucky few at Comic Con, so if you didn't snag one there, your only chances of finding one are probably on E-Bay. $249.99 is a high price to pay to have the image of a centurion burned into your toast, but a die hard BSG fan somewhere must be willing to pay it.

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Gaming:


Halo Wars Risk - Pretty much exactly what it sounds like.


World of Warcraft Character Posters - Buy a custom, poster-sized print of your WoW Character from Print Warcraft.

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Expensive Items That Look Like They are From the Future:


ZeroEdge Aquarium - Prices start at $600 and go up from there, but if you want to look like you live in I, Robot, that's what it's going to take.


Nook - At $259, Barnes & Noble's answer to Amazon's Kindle is actually affordable for anyone in the market for an eReader, but it's making the list because it looks like something you'd see an extra using in the background of Minority Report.


iREV - Is your current party barge looking old and busted? Don't even own a party barge? Why not pick up the $24,000 iRev, a 10-person floating deck that looks like it belongs in the background of River Tam's school in Serenity.


Nambe Twist 10-Inch Cocktail Shaker - If you want to look like a super villain in a James Bond movie, pour drinks using this sexy cocktail shaker.