Thursday Morning Superhero: Holiday Gift Guide

 We are approaching the end of 2022 and it is time for my annual holiday gift recommendations.  Per usual there will be gaming, collectible, and comic book related gifts that will hopefully put a smile on someone's face this holiday season.

For the collector:

Troy McClure Simpsons ReAction Wave 2 set from Super7

You may remember Super7 action recommendations from the past, including their M.U.S.C.L.E style toys, but this set puts a massive smile on my face.  Featuring Fuzzy Bunny's Guide to You-Know-What, Meat and You: Partners in Freedom, and Someone's in the Kitchen with DNA, you would be a Grade A moron not to pick up this set for someone you love.  Super7 has been blowing it out of the water with their Simpsons lines and you can check this one out here.

Genuine Thoughts and Prayers Collectible Toy from Death By Toys

Who wouldn't be flattered receiving 100% genuine thoughts and prayers from you this holiday season! Death by Toys makes an assortment of incredible art toys and I have really enjoyed each one I have in my collection. The quality is top notch and I laugh out loud frequently when I admire them in my office.  You can order your own thoughts and prayers here.

For the gamer:

Werewords Deluxe by Bezier Games

A mash up of 20 questions and the social deduction game Werewolf, Werewords is always a delight when it hits the table.  I have played this game with kids as young as six and after a quick round that lasts only a couple of minutes everyone should have a solid grasp on how to play.  I highly recommend getting the deluxe edition as it supports more players.  This game is an absolute delight every time it hits the table and we most recently brought it out here after Thanksgiving dinner.  A great casual game to share with your non-gaming friends.  You can pick it up here.

Marvel Villainous by Ravensburger

In Marvel Villainous, you assume of one of the baddies from the Marvel Universe and attempt to accomplish your specified goal before your competitors do. Each player has their own individual board that determines your action.  When you move to a new space, you take the action on that space.  What makes it more difficult, is that some cards are designed to be played on your opponents board further limiting their ability to take key actions.  It is a tense back and forth and the specific goals and actions are very thematic.  There are also Disney and Star Wars versions of the games so hopefully you can find one that fits the fandom of someone in your life.  You can pick it up here.

For the comic book reader:

Something is Killing the Children by James Tynion IV, Werther Dell'edera, and Miguel Muerto

I was late to the game on this Eisner Award winning series.  James Tynion IV, who is no stranger to horror, delivers a thrilling series that if it isn't in development for a series or movie will likely be soon. When children in a community begin disappearing, a mysterious woman shows up in town who truly understands the horror this community is dealing with.  This is one of my all-time favorite horror series and I would put it up with Locke and Key which is about the highest praise I can give any series.  You can pick up Volume 1 at your local comic book shop or here.

The Siver Coin from Michael Walsh

I am on a role with horror comics so I might as well go with a book that truly surprised me when I started reading it.  Eisner Award winning artist Michael Walsh developed an anthology comic that features a wealth of incredible writers.  The book follows a mysterious silver coin that feels similar to the monkey paw in that it grants its users wish, but at an extreme cost.  Each story features a different individual who found themselves in possession of the coin at various points of time in history.  There is a level of cohesiveness from each story, but each stands on its own and is reflective of its author.  I cannot recommend this one enough and you can pick it up at your local comic book shop or here.

POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.

Holiday Gift Guide: Toys and Collectibles

I find writing this guide gets more challenging every year as my collecting tastes have remained pretty consistent throughout the years. I still enjoy collecting some higher end items from Sideshow Collectibles and love my Funko collection Loyal Subjects army that bring nostalgia to my workplace and home. This year's guide is a bit different than previous entries, but is one of my favorites.

Fable and Black x Illumicrate Pin Club (Recommended by Adri)

Everyone loves a good subscription service, and since discovering both of them at the Young Adult Literature Convention in London last year, Fable and Black and Illumicrate have become two of my favourite suppliers of regular bookish goodies. While Illumicrate's regular book box is totally worth checking out (they had a Gideon the Ninth box in August which offered an early exclusive edition of the book!), I want to wave the flag for the monthly pin club subscription, which offers a pin every month based on various bookish YA fandoms, all designed in Fable and Black's gorgeous style. While there's plenty of representation for major fandoms - an ongoing "HP Dark Artefacts" series has been creating mini pins representing stuff like Slytherin's locket and other recognisable stuff from the series - what I particularly love is the opportunity to pick up items from books that don't command the same level of "merch love" as those those favourites, like Neal Shusterman's Scythe and Toni Adeyemi's Children of Blood and Bone, upcoming in November and December respectively. For those looking for a one-off stocking filler, most pins are also available for single purchase after the subscription period, and Fable and Black also has a selection of non-subscription options (although sadly the "Raging Bitch Queen" pin I picked up from them in the summer appears to no longer be available)...

Kid Robot: The Simpsons Moe's Tavern blind boxes (Recommended by Mikey)

Kid Robot has been making killer vinyl collectibles as long as I have been in the game. I have a variety of their offerings, but none hit me with a nostalgic blast like their Simpsons line. The Duff beer is flowing in its most recent series that includes the Love Tester machine!!!! Other licenses that might appeal to the Nerds of a Feather crew include Futurama, Bob's Burgers, Adventure Time, Animaniacs, Sanrio, Marvel, and more! You can view everything they have to offer here, but everyone on my Christmas shopping list loves getting some fun blind boxes as stocking stuffers.



Baby Yoda Plush (Recommended by Joe)

Okay. It has barely been announced and it is only available to preorder at the time I'm writing this, but we all need a Baby Yoda plush in our lives. I'm not going to pretend I'm going to buy one for my kids because they are way too young to watch The Mandalorian, Heck, I haven't even watched The Mandalorian yet but LOOK AT BABY YODA!!!!!!! I must have a Baby Yoda plush.

Masters of the Universe Rug - Grayskull Dungeon (Recommended by Mikey)

Based on the decal from the original Castle of Grayskull, this rug is a must for the hardcore Masters of the Universe fan. This will really tie your collectible room together and is a unique item that most of your friends will be envy. It measures 45" x 60" and I might need help convincing my wife that it would look great in our hallway. 


POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.  

Holiday Gift Guide: Games (All Kinds!)

It's the most wonderful time of the year... for people who aren't me. I am basically the Grinch. I hate people feeling like the have to get me something, so Christmas is basically my own personal hell (as is my birthday, which is a closely guarded secret because... I really hate my birthday). But for the rest of you, GIFTS! And I do love giving people gifts, and I love games, so:

Just One by Repos  (Recommended by Mikey)

This has quickly become the party game at my house and it is equally entertaining for both of my kids and all of my adult friends. It is a cooperative word guessing game that forces you to provide one word clues to the active player. The twist is that if multiple people write the same word the active player does not get to see the clue. This game takes about five minutes to teach, 10 minutes to play, and is a hoot. I have yet to complete a round of the game without the group wanting to run it back in order to improve on their score.

Untitled Goose Game (Recommended by Adri)

It will come as a surprise to nobody that Untitled Goose Game is my pick for a video game gift this year. This year's most memeable game, from indie developer House House, combines elaborate stealth-based mechanics with the aesthetics of a rural English village, and puts you in the shoes (well, the webbed feet) of a horrible goose completing a number of tasks to mess with a series of villagers. Featuring four main areas for mischief which open up into an increasingly elaborate world, its a game whose puzzles are satisfying and unrepentantly sadistic, with a great flow through the "level-based" tasks and into more elaborate post-game tests. There's also plenty of fun to be have in tasks which serve no in-game purpose apart from the pure-hearted joy of being a goose, and while this isn't quite Breath of the Wild levels of "exploring the world because its there" content, it's still a diversion that can be returned to even once your goose to-do is all crossed off.

Not only is it one of the best times I've had playing a game ever, the goose game's charm is wide ranging and, despite the rampant sadism, great for all sorts of gamers. Its also an experience that rewards viewers as well as players, meaning that you can give it to somebody you actually intend to spend Christmas day with, knowing that if they decide to play it in your company you'll get a kick out of watching their beautifully-scored slapstick antics. Plus, I cannot think of anything more festive to balance out the capitalist consumerism of Christmas than with the socialist anarchism of the Horrible Goose - especially if you've got one of its friends on your festive menu.

Tiny Towns by Alderac Entertainment Group (AEG) (Recommended by Mikey)

This game might be my current favorite gateway game on the market. In Tiny Towns, you are the mayor of a....wait for it....tiny town. As mayor you are responsible for populating your town on a 4x4 grid in an attempt to make the best town in the world. It plays 1 to 6 players and has zero down time regardless of player count. This is what makes the game so engaging and entertaining. The basic premise is that you will take resource cubes, align them on your grid to match the patterns on various building cards. Once you match a pattern, you clear the cubes off of your board (freeing up space for future cubes) and replacing one spot with the building you completed. Space on your board becomes a valuable commodity as it fills out and the spatial element of this game is extremely well done. When you are the active player you get to dictate what resource will be active for that round granting you a significant advantage as everyone else has to place that resource on their board as well. Do you focus on your town, or try to stick it to one of your opponents by giving them a useless resource? This game plays extremely fast, is quick to learn, and has a wide variety of building card combos giving it a ton of replayability.

Control by Remedy Entertainment (developer) (Recommended by Brian)

Glue together LOST, The X-Files, internet creepypasta, House of Leaves, and Max Payne, and you’ll get something looking like Control. Control is a supernatural third person shooter that puts you in the otherworldly offices of the Federal Bureau of Control. You use your magical weapon (a gun that transforms into other guns) and psychic powers like telekinesis to fight an awful lot of possessed Bureau employees. The action is as fun as you’d expect from the makers of Max Payne, but the game really shines in its setting. Control is jammed full of tons of weird internet horror. It has collectables worth collecting, documents worth reading, and the Remedy signature TV show within the game, The Threshold Kids, is truly creepy. It’s an excellent blend of action game and horror setting.

Control is available on PC, Xbox One, and Playstation 4. 

Observation by No Code (developer) (Recommended by Brian)

It’s been a banner decade for games where you play with security cameras, and Observation may be my favorite of them. You play the whole game from the point of view of an on-board AI on a space station. Something bad happens and you have to help your crew figure out what happened and how do you all survive. Observation is third person horror. Bad things are happening and you’re mostly resigned to watching it. But it’s not completely passive, you do get to manipulate station objects, like opening doors and working with the station’s computer systems. It’s good looking, well-paced, and doesn’t require twitch reflexes to enjoy. 

 
Observation is available on PC and Playstation 4.

Blood Bowl by Games Workshop (Recommended by Dean)

I gotta tell you... I sort of forgot about Blood Bowl. For years, my local game group had a league and it was a blast and then my life took me away from there, and, well, you know how that song goes. Now established in a new area, with new gaming friends, I found they had never heard of Blood Bowl. I find myself telling you, gentle reader, the same thing I told them: I don't know how to explain it.

It's so stupid.

It's so fun.

It's football.. with fantasy characters. And blood. And you get to level up your team with stupid, awesome upgrades.

Just buy it.

Please Help Me

X-Wing (second edition) (Recommended by Dean)

Did you like how, at the beginning, I was all "I'm not selfish" and then all my picks are for things that benefit TWO people? Does that make me a good person, or bad? Either way, make no mistake: Buying someone this gift is a curse. You have doomed them for life, and the only reason you should do it is if:

A) you really hate that person

or

B) you already have a crippling X-Wing addiction of your own.

But, yes, buy them the core set. It has an X-wing and TWO TIE fighters, which should allow for many hours of gaming fun! Except, your squad will be better with another X-wing! Or a specialty TIE! OK, yeah, that works, but what your squad REALLY needs is... you see where this is going.

I need more X-Wing stuff, is what I'm saying. Or an intervention.

-DESR

 Dean is the author of the 3024AD series of science fiction stories. When not holed up in his office tweeting obnoxiously writing, he can be found watching or playing sports, or in his natural habitat of a bookstore

Holiday Gift Guide: Movies, TV, and Music

In this, the gift-giving season of 2019, we find ourselves at a strange technological crossroads. In years past, I have wrapped and given, and received and opened countless CDs, DVDs, vinyl records, you name it. For two generations, we have given each other *a* movie or *an* album we think will mean something to the recipient. But now, suddenly, with the proliferation of streaming services, we can give someone...*all* the movies. Or *all* the albums. It's a huge shift, and one that will continue to play out for many holiday seasons ahead, but this year it creeps into our Gift Guide. What will Gift Guides of Christmases-Yet-To-Come hold? Only Criswell knows for sure. - vk.

Joe:
Disney+

It is the height of consumerism to recommend Disney+. It's the new streaming service on the block and there have been some technical hiccups in the roll out, but I have two small children and there is just so much goodness available and more on the way. From the Pixar movies to Marvel to Star Wars to Disney animated classics to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (I've got small kids) to the wealth of 90's cartoons (Darkwing Duck, we're looking at you) - Disney+ has something for the whole family.

The G:
Stalker by Andrei Tarkovsky (Criterion Collection Edition)

Did you like Chernobyl? What about Annihilation? Men in Black? Mash those three together and then crank the weirdness factor up to 11 and you’ve kinda sorta got Andrei Tarkovsky’s adaptation of the classic SF novel Roadside Picnic. Not for the faint of heart, and like a lot of European arthouse cinema, it requires a good deal of patience. But the viewer’s patience is duly rewarded in spades.

Vance K:
The Criterion Channel

Filmstruck is gone, and the Criterion Channel has taken its place. This streaming service boasts access to the Criterion Collection library, but there are licensing deals on certain titles that mean they'll either never show up on this platform, or will only be there for a little while. This is familiar to all of us who have watched things disappear from our Netflix lists, so we know the drill. But in addition to bringing film nerds (like me!) the works of Bergman, Kurosawa, Ray, Tarkovsky (see above), and other legends of world cinema, the channel is also doing a great job of curating new and under-appreciated talent. With showcase collections about women filmmakers, LGBTQ+ cinema, various spotlights on specific areas of the world and filmmakers from there, animation, and other specialties, it's a rewarding streaming option on several fronts.

Brian:
Shazam! by David F. Sandberg (director)

It’s easy to be skeptical of the DC comic universe of movies. They’ve had a rough launch. But Shazam! requires none of the backstory of those movies, and it’s easily the most fun. Billy Batson is a teenage orphan who suddenly finds himself with super powers. It’s a stark contrast between the dour Superman we’ve seen recently, and a kid who wasn’t born Superman but needs to learn some of the same lessons. It doesn’t bury you under mountains of comic book history. It gives you a quick supervillain origin, a quick superhero origin, and then lets those two forces collide. If you’ve been disappointed by DC’s previous comic book movie outings, forget about them and give Shazam! a shot. It’s just a fun superhero movie, which is what this universe of films should’ve kicked off with in the first place.

Shazam! is available on most major video media formats, streaming, physical, and otherwise.

1000 Gecs by 100 Gecs

1000 Gecs might break your brain. I know it broke mine the first time I listened to it. Coming in from having listened to Stupid Horse on repeat for it’s ska-influence, I wasn’t sure just what in the hell I was listening to. But the more I listened to it, the more I liked it. I’m not a music critic. I don’t know anything about music, and I have bad taste. But 1000 Gecs sounds different. It sounds fresh and new. It’s a brisk 20-something minutes of the best post-pop I’ve heard in a long time.

1000 Gecs is available on almost all music streaming platforms.

Phoebe:
There Existed an Addiction to Blood by clipping.

For the hip-hop fan, the horror fan, the narrative fan — heck, the Hamilton fan — in your life, may I recommend clipping.'s latest album There Existed an Addiction to Blood. Some folks might be aware of their Hugo-finalist album Splendor & Misery (a narrative story about an AI and a prisoner), but this album shakes things up by going full horrorcore. Each song is a story all in itself, ranging from cannibals to werewolves. That being said, the songs don't get lost in the story and remain tracks ready to break out at the next Halloween party. While the songs definitely have a Halloween flare — perfect for its October release — the atmospheric elements will engage speculative fans all year long.

Posted by Vance K — cult film reviewer and co-editor of nerds of a feather, flock together since 2012.

Holiday Gift Guide: Books

Welcome to our annual Holiday Gift Guide, where the flock takes a break from our usual schedule to consider all the different things that the nerds in your life might appreciate for the holiday season this year. Today we'll talk about books and comics, with posts throughout the week on games, collectibles, movies and more.

The Girl Who Drank the Moon (Gift Edition) [Algonquin] (recommended by Joe)

Originally published in 2016, The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill is a Newbery Medal winning novel and it is an absolute delight (my review). I almost can't wait for my children to grow just old enough for me to read them this beautiful novel. Algonquin has recently published a new Gift Edition with a prequel story, new illustrations and a map. It's just lovely.

Of Wars, and Memories, and Starlight [Subterranean Press] (recommended by Adri)
Aliette de Bodard is, thus far, the only author to reach the ballot for the Best Series Hugo with a series entirely developed in short fiction, for her Xuya universe of mindships, filial piety and Vietnamese culture in a far future spacefaring world (at least in the more recent stories - there is an entire earth-based mythology for Xuya as well). This collection brings together a range of Xuya tales, along with a couple of pieces - including an original new novella - from the Dominion of the Fallen world, featuring fallen angels and dragon gods in a post-apocalyptic Paris and explored in the trilogy starting with House of Shattered Wings.

Because this is a Subterranean Press book, it's a beautiful object, coming in a signed and numbered edition with a cover illustration by Maurizio Manzieri which really brings the aesthetics of Xuya to life. There still aren't many opportunities to pick up printed editions of the Xuya stories, and this selection would look gorgeous on any shelf, to dive into when it next makes an appearance on the Best Series ballot.

Dune: Deluxe edition [Ace] (recommended by Paul)
In November 2020, there will be a new screen version of Dune for the first time in nearly 20 years. If you have been waiting for a chance to finally read Dune in preparation for this movie release, have I got an edition for you. While the Folio Society version may be rather out of reach for a lot of buyers price wise, there is a new version of at a much more reasonable price point for readers both old and new to it: I present to you the deluxe version of Dune from Ace.

It’s a beautiful hardcover edition of one of my heart books, which I previously discussed here back in October. It has beautiful end papers, dust jacket, excellent binding, and a new and much clearer map of Arrakis than previous versions of Dune use. Readers and lovers of the novel can get a lasting and beautiful edition of the book. Readers who are new to the book can get a copy of the book in preparation for seeing the movie in an excellent edition that works for readers. Dune is a novel that really works best as a book (audio versions having real issues with its omniscient point of view) and this edition leans into that, using typography and layout to help make it clear who is speaking, thinking, and acting: no mean concession in this complex, complicated and wonderful book.

Zach-Like (recommended by Brian)
Reading Zach-Like by Zach Barth, you’re going to learn two things: Zachtronics isn’t a one-man affair, and the Zachtronics creative process creates a lot of cast-offs. If you’re not familiar with Zachtronics games, they make mostly puzzle programming games, the most popular being SpaceChem and Opus Magnum. They also, arguably, inspired Minecraft with a very early game called Infiniminer. Zach-Like shares some of the stories, diagrams, trials of these games, the rest of their published catalog, and lots of unpublished games as well. It’s a fascinating look at indie game development from a fairly niche studio that doesn’t necessarily want to fit in a niche.

Zach-Like is available through Steam in PDF form, and occasionally gets reprinted via crowdfunding.

Battle Angel Alita Vol. 1 by Yukito Kishiro (Recommended by Mike)

My family and I were very pleasantly surprised by Alita: Battle Angel this year and it left me with additional questions about the world that Alita inhabited. Fortunately this entire series is available on ComiXology Unlimited and my son and I were able to read all nine volumes. The story centers around Alita, a cyborg who is found in the dump in the scrapyards beneath Zalem (one of the last great floating cities). It is a quest for her to find her identity and for her friends to make peace with their own personal demons associated with living in as a second class citizen with no hope of upward mobility. The action sequences in this book are phenomenal, but the world building and character development are where this series shines. It can be hyper-violent at times, but it never felt unnecessary or graphic. If you enjoyed the film or are looking for an interesting post-apocalyptic tale I suggest you check this title out.

The NASA Archives: 60 Years in Space (Recommended by Joe)
Covering 60 Years of the United States space program and including more than 400 photographs, this may be the coffee table book of all coffee table books for the space enthusiast who wants to see how it all came together. A collector's item.

Posted by: Adri, Nerds of a Feather co-editor, is a semi-aquatic migratory mammal most often found in the UK. She has many opinions about SFF books, and is also partial to gaming, baking, interacting with dogs, and Asian-style karaoke. Find her on Twitter at @adrijjy. 

Holiday Gift Guide: TV and Movies

Welcome to the final instalment of the annual Holiday Gift Guide where the flock takes a break from talking about all the awesome and not so awesome things to, well, talk about some more of the awesome things that you might want to consider for your Holiday shopping this year. Today, it's movies and TV!

A Quiet Place (recommended by Joe)

Maybe I just watch fewer movies than I used to now that I have two small kids, but A Quiet Place was genuinely unsettling and frightening. If you're not aware, it's the story of a family navigating some post apocalyptic future where making noise is a near immediate death sentence. The need for real silence makes any rustle, any deviance from otherwise excessive precautions a moment of terror. How do you raise children in that situation? How is it even possible? One of the best movies of 2018.

A Netflix Subscription specifically to watch the Dragon Prince (recommended by Adri)

So, obviously there are quite a few reasons one might give the gift of bottomless on-demand TV this holiday season, but I'm here to recommend what could be an impersonal gift for a very specific purpose: introducing your loved one to the magic of The Dragon Prince. This show, created by some of the writing team that brought us Avatar: The Last Airbender, delivers the same sense magic and adventure to a fantasy world that's more western in its sensibilities but still provides plenty of nuance and diversity. We follow Callum, step-son to the King, and his half brother Ezran, as they encounter an elf assassin named Rayla and get sucked in to a quest to save both their own kingdom and that of the dragons and elves from endless war. Throw in some entertaining critters and a complex, funny set of antagonists with realistic motivations, and you've got a recipe for immense success. There's only 13 episodes so far, making it perfect for an evening marathon, and while there's lots of plot threads left to explore by the end, at least you've got the entire of Netflix to follow up with (starting with She-ra!)

Avatar: the Last Airbender Blu-Ray (Recommended by Paul)

Perhaps this happened to you, it happened to me. When the first DVD sets of the MG/YA groundbreaking series Avatar: The Last Airbender came out, there were numerous complaints of bad pressings of DVDs, DVDs that would not work, and a general lack of good quality in the set. The blurry line problem annoyed me no end, even on a small television. For an amazing series with strong story and characters that introduced anime concepts to many views of all ages, it was a disappointing production.

Gleefully, now, A:TLA is now on Blu-Ray, and the production here is top-notch. No issues with physical or image quality now. The series holds up still as one of the best SFF series of any type, animation or otherwise. Like Harry Potter, the series does start and is primarily oriented toward MG and YA readers, but the deeper themes and ideas emerge as the series progresses and grows. Watch it.

Annihilation (recommended by brian)

When I consider gifts of films, I often lean on films that provoke discussion. Annihilation will provoke discussion. It’s full of mysteries, incomplete answers, and unsettling scenes. So many unsettling scenes. Whether you read the novel it’s based off of (closer to “inspired by”, really) or not, I can safely recommend Annihilation because it’s weird and unsettling without taking the unpleasant but all too frequent route of using sexualized violence to provoke a reaction. It’s closer to body horror, but it’s not that either. It’s poking on bits of your brain that expect things to look and act a certain way, but they don’t. Even if you don’t find it as unsettling as I did, there’s enough to talk about in the film that it makes a great gift.

Black Panther (recommended by Adri)

February 2018 might feel like it was fifty years ago, but I have it on good authority (i.e. the laws of time and space) that its been less than one solar orbit since Marvel's big-screen Wakandan adventure helped put Afrofuturism on the cultural radar of a whole lot of new people. Smart, visually stunning and totally rewatchable (seriously, this is the only movie of 2018 that I've watched more than once), Prince T'Challa's rise to become king and see off an external challenger who threatens the integrity of his ultra-high-tech, secretive African nation is the very definition of unmissable. Hopefully it will be shaping the direction of superhero and science fictional aesthetics - and Hollywood's opinion of what stories are worth telling - for years to come.

The Expanse Season 3 (recommended by Adri)

"We set out to #savetheexpanse. And it has been saved - but not for me..." Such is the experience of every Earther outside the select regions of the planet blessed with the original broadcast of The Expanse Season 3, which never found its way to TV or Netflix before the show switched over to Amazon Prime. If you're feeling lucky, however, the Blu-ray of this season is now available and reports suggest it's actually region free, making this dramatisation of the tail end of Caliban's War and opening of Abaddon's Gate just that little bit more accessible to anyone who hasn't seen it. In its book form, the Expanse has grown into one of my favourite science fiction series, and the first two seasons of the dramatisation brought the crew of the Rocinante and the wider solar system to life brilliantly with a perfect cast and strong adaptation. Despite being one of those aformentioned geographically unlucky fans, I've heard nothing but good things from season 3 as well, and I'm happy to recommend it for others to enjoy before I finally get my hands on it some time next year.

POSTED BY: Adri is a semi-aquatic migratory mammal most often found in the UK. She has many opinions about SFF books, and is also partial to gaming, baking, interacting with dogs, and Asian-style karaoke. Find her on Twitter at @adrijjy.

Holiday Gift Guide: Toys and Collectibles

Welcome to our annual Holiday Gift Guide where the flock takes a break from talking about all the awesome and not so awesome things to, well, talk about some more of the awesome things that you might want to consider for your Holiday shopping this year. Today we'll talk about toys and collectibles.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg Action Figure (Recommended by Joe) 

Since we're living on the cusp of a dystopian future (and for some we're a lot closer to that future than others), we might as well celebrate one of the guiding lights of the resistance. As much a symbol at this point as strident voice on the Supreme Court, Ruth Bader Ginsburg has her own action figure and it's really everything you might want to show your support for a dissenting voice.

Masters of the Universe MUSCLE - Trash Can (Recommended by Mike)

This garbage can full of tiny action figures is a double nostalgic blast from the past. I loved M.U.S.C.L.E. men as a kid and had epic wrestling matches with my tiny plastic figures. The good folks from Super 7 have merged M.U.S.C.L.E. style figures with Masters of the Universe and the result is an absolute delight. In addition to the Skeletor Trash Can pack that is pictured above, there is a second wave that includes Orko, Fisto, Battle Cat and more!

BattleBots Remote Control Fighting Robots (Recommended by Vance)

BattleBots is a show where people build robots that tear each other apart with saws and spinners, or smash each other with hammers, or roast them with fire. Basically, all you should need to know is that it's a show where robots fight. Now Hexbug has teamed with the BattleBots people, and you can buy toy remote control robots that will fight. I don't know what more I need to say, here. You can get mini versions of some of the popular bots from the show, or a kit where you can build your own from snap-on parts. You are literally Prime Shipping away from robots fighting in your living room, and I'm not sure why you're still reading this when you could be fighting robots.

Locke and Key: Legacy Edition Anywhere Key (Recommended by Mike)

Have you ever wished you had the ability to go anywhere in the world? The Anywhere Key, when used with a door, allows you to travel anywhere in the world. Just have that location in mind when you open the door and viola! The Legacy Edition may not quite work that way, but these replicas fro Skelton Crew are beautiful. I have a handful of their keys and pins and the craftsmanship is second to none. As of the typing of this blog there were still signed versions (signed by Joe Hill) available while supplies last.

Funko's Cereal: Retro Freddy Funko (Recommended by Mike)

If you are looking for a gift that provides the Saturday Morning cartoon vibe then Funko's Cereal is a perfect fit. Including an awesome prize in the bag, Funko's Cereal are part of this complete breakfast. I ordered a box when it first dropped and was very pleased with the quality of the cereal itself. From the box design, the cereal that turns your milk red, and the mini Freddy, this gift is ready to be enjoyed in your pajamas watching G.I. Joe, Transformers, or whatever cartoon you grew up on.

Alfred Hitchcock 1/6 Scale Collectible Figure: Mondo Exclusive (Recommended by Mike)

If you want to give the movie lover on your list a unique and memorable gift you can't go wrong by gifting them a replica figure of the iconic director. Featuring a director's chair, multiple cigars, a freaking raven, a clapboard, a butcher knife and four interchangeable hands, this high end collectible will be a standout on your shelf. Maybe you could even start a Hitchcock on the Shelf tradition at your house!



POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.

Holiday Gift Guide: Games

Welcome to our annual Holiday Gift Guide where the flock takes a break from talking about all the awesome and not so awesome things to, well, talk about some more of the awesome things that you might want to consider for your Holiday shopping this year. Today, we're talking gaming - mobile, console, PC, tabletop and board games!

For the Boardgamers:

Carcassonne: Big Box 2017 (Joe)

Do you want to play a game set in medieval France that is all about building roads and cities and making sure that your farm can touch as many cities as possible? You do, actually, because that game is Carcassonne and it is absolutely delightful and wonderful. I won't go so far as to say that has taken over my house, but it is the board game my wife and I have played significantly more than any other in the year that we've had the game. 

The Big Box (2017 Edition) collects the base game, 9 mini expansions to the game, and two of the most popular full expansions (Inns and Cathedrals, Traders and Builders). It's a big jump into the game, but if you're the sort of player who likes expansions and trying new rules, you'll want to jump right in to this Big Box edition.

Fireball Island (Mike):

If you are looking for a blast of nostalgia then Fireball Island from Restoration Board Games is the game you want under your tree. Vul-Kar has returned and is not happy. Players make their way around the island picking up treasures and snapping pictures.  You can try to steal the heart of Vul-Kar, but watch out for the rolling embers and fireballs that will make your adventure a dangerous one.  Featuring a bigger board than the original and some optional expansions, Fireball Island looks amazing on the table with its stunning 3-D board and shiny marbles.

For the person who plays games but you don’t know which ones:

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (Brian):

I know I called Assassin’s Creed Odyssey “a popcorn game, tasty but void of nutrition or substance.” It still is popcorn, but who doesn’t like popcorn? Odyssey is a game made for wide appeal to the wildly diverse audience of “people who play video games”. If you’ve got a friend or cousin you need a gift for and all you know is that they play video games, you can’t really go wrong with Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. It’s lengthy, diverse in gameplay options, and features a cast of characters they probably heard of at some point in school. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is a safe choice to get someone who enjoys video games.

PlayStation Plus/Xbox Game Pass (Dean):

If you have a gamer in your life, they have had a busy, expensive few months. Red Dead Redemption 2 and Fallout 76 and currently occupying my personal time and money, so someone taking care of my PlayStation Plus subscription for a bit would be incredibly appreciated - and not terribly expensive for the gift giver! It makes a great stocking stuffer, and it's something any gamer will put to good use.

For the person you want to talk about video games with:

Kentucky Route Zero (Brian):

Kentucky Route Zero is an adventure game without the esoteric puzzles. It’s more about exploring spaces and talking to people. There are no wrong choices. It’s a journey through surreal locations mostly made of beautifully crafted flat polygons and populated with lonely people. Its minimalistic design and lack of punishment makes it accessible to nearly everyone, even if the slow pace will turn some people off. Sometimes funny, sometimes somber, always thoughtful, Kentucky Route Zero is a great game to play with a friend and talk about just what’s going on. It’s also a gift that keeps on giving as it’s not quite complete yet. The fifth and final act has been in development since the release of the fourth act in 2016. It’ll be finished eventually, but good stories sometimes take a while to tell. 

For the Roleplaying Gamer:

13th Age and 13th Age in Glorantha (Paul)

You may have recently heard of the passing of RPG legend Greg Stafford. Greg Stafford was a key figure in a number of roleplaying games, and founded a number of a couple of roleplaying game companies, including Chaosium. What is best known for, the single RPG word; Glorantha.

Glorantha is Stafford’s greatest creation, an ever evolving and growing mythic world that he channeled and filtered from an unfathomable outside source as much as he wrote down. Glorantha is a bronze-age like fantasy world like very few. The world is flat, with the boundaries in all directions leading to the realm of the Gods. There are thousands of Gods, and the world has been changed radically several times in its history…including one of those changes being the invention of time AND history. But there are some things that are the same—or are they? There are Elves—but they are living plants. There are Dwarves, workers in the world machine who hope to be purified into creatures of metal. There are trolls—but they eat evil creatures of Chaos. And then there are the Durulz, or as everyone else calls them, the Ducks. Yes, Ducks. Ducks are figures of comedy, not the strongest race on Glorantha by any standard, but they are dedicated undead-hunters. 

There have been a few systems like Runequest and Heroquest that have tried to capture the world of Glorantha and allow it to be a playable world and system, but there is a large learning curve when you have a system *and* a vastly complicated world to try and navigate. Glorantha often gets admired but not played and that is a terrible shame! Glorantha is such a rich place that it should be explored and loved by more gamers than it is.

But, you regular gamer, you can play and run Glorantha, and relatively easily, too, without too much of a stick shift change in systems. You, oh GM of the weekly D&D group, can give your PCs the richness of Glorantha, too. Let me introduce you all next to 13th Age. 

13th Age emerged in the explosion of D&D like systems that occurred around the creation of 4th Edition. 13th Age’s D&D like mechanics and character builds and creation are relatively easy for D&D players to port into. Hit points, Hit Dice, Saving Throws, character classes and races, spells and the like are all very much in line with what a D&D player might encounter. It’s not a formless D&D clone, however, with meddling Icons that influence the world at large and have connections to players. The escalation die provides new mechanics and tempo for combat. Every PC has “one unique thing”, which provides story hook and ideas for GMs to incorporate PCs history into the campaign. 13th Age is my favorite of the current crop of D&D and D&D like games.

13th Age in Glorantha, recently released by Pelgrane Press, is the fusion of these two that gives you a roleplaying experience in Glorantha, with the D&D like engine of 13th Age that you will find relatively easy to pick up. It expands some of the rules of 13th Age to allow for Gloranthan concepts such as runes to work within the rules of the core system, replacing the Icons of the base system as the focus for character relationships with greater powers.

Together, now you can roll dice and wade into the desperate fight against the tyrannical Lunar Empire, support your tribe against its rivals, deal with monsters, or explore ruins from past ages of the world. The default location for characters and their people is the tumultuous Dragon Pass, an area of Glorantha full of history and dangers. The locals are under threat, there are numerous colonies of creatures benign, neutral and dangerous alike, and there are surprises around every corner. In other words, its like any sandbox D&D world full of adventure. And with the prophesied Hero Wars about to erupt…perhaps the heroes might become Heroes.

Or the GM and players alike can really get into the spirit of the mythic root of Glorantha, and travel into the God Time, into the realms of myth, and reenact the stories of their Gods, to gain power for themselves and for their tribe. With great risk, comes great rewards, for the PCs and their loved ones alike.

Together, 13th Age and the 13th Age in Glorantha do what earlier iterations of Glorantha sometimes fumbled to achieve for many gamers: to give gamers a chance to explore and make the wild, mythic, magical world of Greg Stafford their own. Including the Ducks.

D&D 5e Starter Set (Dean)

One of the best parts about giving people games is that you usually get to play them! So it's kind of a gift you give yourself, as well. D&D is entering the public consciousness in ways it didn't seem to before, and a lot of people are genuinely excited to try it, where it used to be, well, the sort of people who frequent sites such as this. So maybe you have friends and/or family who have said they want to give it a shot. The starter set includes everything you need to get going - a rues manual, ready-to-play adventure that is pretty easy to jump right in to DM'ing, character sheets and dice. Oh, and it's under twenty bucks.