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Geek Holiday Gift Guide ’08
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Here at Geeks of Doom we know how hard it can be to wade through those frenzied crowds at the department stores during the holidays. We also know that Christmas time is a time where, let’s face it, we’re all spending tons of money on our friends, family, and colleagues. That’s why every day, we post about great sales on DVDs, music, video games, and more to help our readers save a buck, especially during this bank-breaking season.

Hopefully, our daily Deal posts have already helped all of you get most of your holiday shopping done, but for those of you who still are on the lookout for great gift ideas, we Geeks compiled some of our favorite items to help you finish up your last-minute gift-buying. If you plan to buy these items online, we’ve also included the shipping deadlines to ensure that you get your stuff on or before Christmas Eve.

Check out our handy Geek Holiday Gift Guide ’08 below for all the coolest items this season has to offer in DVDs, music, books, comic books, video games, collectibles, electronics, and more.

DVDs

TOP PICK The Dark Knight

God forbid if anyone missed this movie now here’s your chance to catch it and relish in it. The second film to ever earn $500 million at the box-office comes to your own home theatre on a 2-Disc Special Edition. Need I say more?

  • Batman: The Complete Animated Series
    For the Batman fan in all of us, Batman The Complete Animated Series is just what the doctor ordered. Collecting the entire Batman The Complete Animated Series run, complete with a bonus dvd documentary, in a ultra sleek slipcase, this is the one deal that comics fans all around will enjoy.
  • Indiana Jones – The Adventure Collection
    Available for the first time as a box set are the first three Indiana Jones movies — Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, starring Harrison Ford as the adventuring title character.
  • Sweeney Todd – The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Two-Disc Special Collector’s Edition)
    Johnny Depp will have vengeance as the titular barber in Tim Burton’s film adaptation based on the award-winning musical by Stephen Sondheim. After losing his wife and child and enduring years of wrongful imprisonment, Todd returns to his hometown of London where he teams up with his landlady Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter) to off the dregs of the city’s underworld as practice for when he finally gets the Judge who wronged him in his barber’s chair. As if murder wasn’t enough, the duo find a clever way to dispose of the corpses … yum!
  • Casablanca (Ultimate Collector’s Edition)
    Fans of the classics will love this new Casablanca Ultimate Collector’s Edition. The set includes the movie and some never before seen features along with a 48-Page Photo Book, 10 One-Sheet Reproduction Cards, Archival Correspondence, and Exclusive Passport Holder and Luggage Tag.
  • The Nightmare Before Christmas (2-Disc Collector’s Edition + Digital Copy)
    Tim Burton’s beloved Halloween/Christmas hybrid gets the special collector’s edition treatment with this DVD re-release. Revisit the stop-motion animated world of Jack Skellington and the inhabitants of Halloweentown as give Santa a rest by taking over Christmas duties. This reissue comes with new features never offered before like feature commentary, a look inside Jack’s Haunted Mansion Holiday at Disneyland, Tim Burton’s original NBC poem narrated by Christopher Lee, and much more.
  • The Day the Earth Stood Still (Two-Disc Special Edition)
    The Earth originally stood still back in 1951 in this black and white science fiction classic starring Michael Rennie as a humanoid alien who comes to Earth with his robot protector Gort to warn the humans against their violent nature. This re-release comes with tons of bonus features like feature-length commentary by director Robert Wise as well as new commentary by film and music historians; and isolated score track; and “Making Of” featurette.

TV SHOWS on DVD

TOP PICKFamily Guy – The Total World Domination Collection (Stewie Head Packaging) – (Amazon.com Exclusive)

No Family Guy fan can be without this insane collection, the Family Guy – The Total World Domination Collection in special Stewie head packaging! The set includes every single episode of Family Guy up through season 6, the movie Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story and the Family Guy Star Wars spoof, Blue Harvest.

  • Family Guy – Blue Harvest Special Edition (w/ limited-edition collectibles)
    Speaking of Family Guy and their Star Wars spoof Blue Harvest — if you’re not up for spending the $100+ for the huge set above, this Blue Harvest Special Edition is another must own. Along with the movie, it also comes with a t-shirt, some 3D glasses for a special 3D fight scene, 12 collectors cards and a 20-page book of notes and a letter from Seth MacFarlane.
  • The Complete Monty Pythons Flying Circus – Collectors Edition Megaset
    Fans of Monty Python can’t be without this huge set of pretty much everything the gang ever did. The Complete Monty Python’s Flying Circus Collectors Edition Megaset has 21 discs and almost 2,000 minutes of Monty Python goodness with every episode from their four-season run, unseen documentaries, two live performance discs and a “best of” disc hand selected by the group themselves!
  • Seinfeld – The Complete Series
    One of the best deals out there is this 32-disc, over 4,000 minute Seinfeld – The Complete Series. How could any fan of this, one of the funniest shows EVER, be without this thing? It’s not possible. *Insert Random Soup Nazi Joke Here*
  • Deadwood: The Complete Series
    Deadwood is the relentlessly raw and graphic world of the old west that was on HBO for three seasons. The show was known for its very adult nature and naughty language covered dialogue and many historical figure cameos. It starred Timothy Olyphant, Ian McShane, Molly Parker, and Brad Dourif among many others. This is the complete show set, which contains all three of those seasons on 19 discs and is essential for fans of the show and hard-edged westerns alike.
  • The Wire: The Complete Series
    Finally, the award winning HBO show The Wire is collected in one massive box set. Created by David Simon, The Wire focuses on the drug trade in the city of Baltimore through the eyes of the police, the government, and the dealers themselves. Fans of the show are fully aware of the series’ gritty violence, quick dialogue, and satisfying conclusions, but I am sure there are some who not been formally introduced to one of the most realistic cop shows ever on television. This is the best example of how cop shows should be written and is the truest example of a DVD version of a novel. Pick this up if you are a fan or grab one for a friend who is not aware of great television.
  • Heroes Franchise Collection (Season 1 | Season 2)
    Hello! It’s Heroes. You know, one of the best sci-fi shows ever produced for network television (besides BSG). As far as I’m concerned the first two seasons are a mandatory part of every respectable superhero-lovin’ geek’s dvd collection. Tim Kring weaves a story of normal people suddenly fostered with super powers, some of whom use their powers for good and some who become wickedly evil. Both sides find themselves locked in a battle to avoid impending Armageddon. It also has the honor of shining the light on the amazing talents of Zachary Quinto, Masi Oka, Hayden Panetierre, Milo Ventimiglia. With a cast as continually fabulous as Heroes the list goes on. There’s enough extra goodness packed into these DVD sets to keep a Heroes geek drooling for days.
  • 30 Rock: Season 2
    “The Second season of NBC’s previously unappreciated television comedy, 30 Rock quite literally does rock. Probably a few times actually. Former SNL player Tina Fey (you know might know her for her parody of Sarah Palin) plays Liz Lemon, the head writer for an NBC SNL-like sketch comedy who’s everyday challenges are hardly about what to write, but how to control her unruly staff and actors. Alec Baldwin stars as her corporate boss and constant source of sexual tension. While the cast is packed with a slew of talented, funny actors, Fey and Baldwin take center stage, as does scene-stealer Jack McBrayer, who plays Kenneth, a naive NBC Page who takes his job way too seriously. This 2-disc DVD contains all of second two’s 15 episodes, which saw special guests like Jerry Seinfeld and Jennifer Aniston, as well as a bunch of exclusive behind-the-scenes bonus features.If for some reason you’ve been neglecting your friends comments to watch this show, now is the time.”
  • The Office: Seasons 1 – 4 Collection
    This is a great deal for four seasons of the funniest show on television. Get to know Michael Scott (Steve Carell) and his fellow misfits at the Dunder-Mifflin branch in Scranton, PA, as they do anything but have a normal work day. Season Four finds the zany paper co employees run a charity race for rabies prevention, Jim tries to find the right moment to propose to Pam, Michael speaks at Jan’s deposition, Dwight tries to get over Angela, and in one of the funniest episodes of the series, Michael and Jan throw a disastrous dinner party. The hilarious deleted scenes alone — and there are lots of them — on these dvds should prompt any fan of the show to grab every season of the show.

BLU-RAY DVDs

TOP PICKIron Man

Blu-ray pick of the season or DVD for that matter has to be Iron Man. Iron Man not only was one of the best comic movies of 2008, it was quite possibly one of the best movies of 2008 period. Telling the story of Tony Stark, an arms dealer who dons a suit of armor in an effort to keep his weapon out of terrorist hands, the movie is fantastic and looks oh so pretty on Blu-ray. Plus, as a bonus, Blu-ray offers a special “Hall of Armor” feature that you can’t get anywhere else. Iron Man and comic fans alike need to pick up this Blu-ray edition.

  • Wanted (Limited Edition Collector’s Gift Set)
    In the action-packed Wanted, James McAvoy and Angelina Jolie are part of The Fraternity, an order of Assassins whose motto is “Kill One, Save a Thousand.” This limited edition collector’s set includes a digital copy of the film; a collectible packaging pierced with a bullet, creating a shattering effect to the outer case; a gift set’s photo book of assassins; collectible postcards, and acrylic frame motion 3-D film cell.
  • The Dark Knight Blu-ray
    Do I really need to spell out why you want this for Christmas? Of course this is one of the best movies of the year, and of course it’s going to look and especially sound great on the $4000 HD set up you’re getting for Christmas (hey, we can all dream right?) The biggest problem is going to be waiting the two weeks between the day it’s released and the day you unwrap it. Even those of us with more modest HD systems will be looking forward to this one. Ohhhhhh, man I can’t wait for this one.
  • Transformers (Two-Disc Special Edition + BD Live) [Blu-ray]
    What better movie to start your Blu-ray collection than Michael Bay’s gigantic, combustable robot party, Transformers? The movie follows a high school kid and his unlikely ownership of the location of what’s pretty much the most important object in the universe. This leads to his being attacked by an army of evil bots trying to obtain the item as well as being protected by a bunch of good robots who are trying to get to it first. The movie stars Shia Labeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Jon Voight, Anthony Anderson, and John Turturro.
  • Planet of the Apes 40th Anniversary Collection
    Get your fill of those damn dirty apes in this massive 5-disc anniversary edition of the 1968 classic The Planet of the Apes, starring Charlton Heston as a human astronaut who crashes far into the future on a planet ruled by intelligent talking apes who rule over enslaved humans. Comes with several tracks of audio and text commentary and extra bonus features in HD.
  • Band of Brothers Blu-Ray edition
    Easily one of the best World War II stories to be filmed ever, Band of Brothers takes the viewer through the complete campaign of Easy Company, from their airborne drop into Normandy, to the end of the war in Germany. There are so many great performances that you’ll be amazed. I mean, this proves that David Schwimmer can act for crying out loud! And now we get the whole thing in crystal clear Blu-ray. I watch it every time it’s on TV, but I’ll gladly watch it again and again.
  • Casablanca (Ultimate Collector’s Edition)
    One of the greatest and undated films of all time receives the treatment of a life time. If this Blu-Ray package only contained the film no one would be bitching. But Warner Brothers, like Paramount did with “The Godfather,” provide boatloads of features that include; a 48 page book, 10 reproduction posters, and hours of special features. Oh yea, it all comes wrapped inside a beautiful package.
  • The Third Man
    The Criterion Collection is known for its excellence in transferring great films and offering them the highest technical quality possible. On Dec. 16 Criterion will enter the world of BLU when the give special treatment to the 1949 class “The Third Man.” if the movie, dealing with an American man who comes to Vienna to visit his friend who is now dead, doesn’t get you worked up the overloaded special feature and picture quality will.
  • Burn After Reading
    Anything that the Coen brothers seem to do now seems to be something out of this world. Their material usually contains both beauty and chaos while at the same time going against the norm. The Blu-Ray disc due out Dec. 21 should bind the chaos and beauty together to create a beautiful disc that’s sure to contain some insightful and hilarious features.

VIDEO GAMES

TOP PICKWorld of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King (PC)
If you had told me four years ago that I’d still be playing WoW, I would’ve thought you didn’t know me very well. But because of the improvements Blizzard constantly makes, I’ve seen no reason to stop. Wrath is by far the best WoW content yet. Plenty of new types of quests break-up the monotony of the old “kill 10 of those guys” quests. Even better, many of the main storyline quests include events with voice acting and even cut scenes. The fact that I actually read most of the quest descriptions now is a testament to how much better the storytelling is in this expansion. The addition of the incredibly fun and powerful Death Knight class guarantees that I’ll be playing through Wrath at least one more time, and I can’t wait.

  • Braid (Xbox 360″”downloadable via Xbox Live Arcade)
    Although at first it looks like any number of classic platformers in the Super Mario Bros. vein, it soon reveals itself as a deceptively deep game. On the most basic level, you use time manipulation to solve puzzles; but each level builds upon this simple premise to create some devilishly difficult yet satisfying puzzles. The music, beautifully painted backgrounds, and oddly touching story all add up to a unique experience.
  • Fable II (Xbox 360)
    This is the game that Fable was supposed to be””it improves upon its predecessor in almost every way. Most importantly, the main storyline is vastly improved, characters are considerably more developed, and both combat is much more satisfying. Both the social and economic systems received major overhauls as well. The gorgeous sunsets are just the cherry on top of this delightful and engrossing game.
  • Gears of War 2 (Xbox 360)
    As was the case with Fable II, Gears 2 is better than the original across the board. It has better graphics, level design, and pacing than its predecessor; but the most surprising improvement is to the story. It’s not going to win a Pulitzer, but it has a real story this time with some actual character development. The multiplayer aspects are also greatly improved, including fixes to most of the technical and balance problems afflicting Gears 1.
  • God of War: Chains of Olympus (PSP)
    The first thing you’ll notice about this game is how it looks””it literally looks like a PS2 game. But what’s even more impressive is that the developers were able to create a handheld game that retains not just the look but the epic scale of the originals. And even though the PSP is short one thumb stick, the combat is still every bit as fun and deep as it was on the PS2.
  • Left 4 Dead (PC, Xbox 360)
    If you like co-op games, you have to play Left 4 Dead, in which you and three of your friends help each other survive the zombie apocalypse. The attention to detail is impressive and adds to the tense, creepy atmosphere. Best of all, no two games are the same because of the revolutionary A.I. Director, which changes the action each time you play.
  • Little Big Planet (PS3)
    Part platformer and part level creator, there really isn’t anything quite like Little Big Planet. The look of the game is astounding, with crisp and highly-detailed textures and painfully adorable characters. The level creation tools are fairly intuitive, and you can even create levels cooperatively with a friend. The ability to download player-created levels gives this game serious legs””you’ll be playing it for months.
  • Robocalypse (Nintendo DS)
    While we’re all waiting for Starcraft II to arrive, what does a RTS gaming geek do to pass the time? Surprisingly, the answer may to pick up Robocalypse for the Nintendo DS. Killer robots with the brain-scans from World War II soldiers are on the rampage, and it’s up to you to stop them with a robot army of your own. Fun gameplay, great graphics, excellent sound, multiplayer options, and plenty of humor make this title worth a look.
  • Mirror’s Edge
    EA’s Mirror’s Edge offers a fresh spin on an old genre. Part adventure and part first person,the game follows Faith, a woman on the run in a futurist world run by a totalitarian government. Shot in first person throughout the entire game, Edge give gamers a chance to run in first person, a visually interesting gaming experience. A must have for a gamer who is not afraid to try something new.
  • Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe
    Mortal Kombat and The DC universe come face to face in the latest video game from Midway. MKVSDU gives gamers and fanboys alike the chance to pits Mortal Kombat fighters one on one against some of DC’s heroes and villains. Ever wonder if Sub Zero could take on Batman? Or if Sonya Blaze can take down the Joker? Well, with this game you no longer need to. Definitely a game worth checking out.
  • Final Fantasy IV (Nintendo DS)
    Here is one I don’t actually own yet, but I’m hoping I find under my own Christmas tree. I’m recommending it on the strength of last years remake of Final Fantasy III. You get the same classic story, but now told with cute little 3D characters, plus new content exclusive to this version. Sure, this is like the 20th time they’ve released FFIV, but at least you get something radically different on this one.

GRAPHIC NOVELS

TOP PICKAbsolute Watchmen

The hardcover Absolute Watchmen, which collects Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ twelve-issue series, makes the perfect gift for fans of the series and newcomers alike with its heightened coloring, supplemental material from the writer and artist and a protective slip-case. The retail price tag is a bit expensive at $75, but Absolute Watchmen will make a handsome addition to anyone’s bookshelf.

  • The Joker
    By Brian Azzarello
    Written by 100 Bullets scribe, Brian Azzerello, and rendered in grotesque and beautiful detail by penciler Lee Bermejo, inker Mick Gray and colorist Patricia Mulvihill, this dark, disturbing original graphic novel takes readers on a wild rollercoaster ride into the shattered mind of Batman’s most dangerous nemesis. Part psychological character study, part unflinching crime thriller, this is the book for anyone looking for more of the scarred portrayal of the character that defined this summer’s hit film, The Dark Knight. A word to the wise, though… it may take you deeper than you wanted to go. The perfect Christmas gift for the kids!
  • Jesus Hates Zombies: Yea, Though I Walk, Vol. 1
    By Stephen Lindsay and Steve Cobb
    This story finds Jesus and his faithful Zombie sidekick Laz stuck in the middle of a large city with no idea where to go. Enter the Archangel Gabriel, sent by “Dad” to point Jesus in the right direction. Inter-cut with Jesus Hates Zombies is Lincoln Hates Werewolves. It’s 1862. The nation is wracked by Civil War. The great forests of the Union are also full of lycanthropes, summoned up by a mysterious figure in a dark cloak. Honest Abe knows about both problems. Saving the nation from secessionitis is his day job; saving innocents from werewolves and fighting that cloaked figure keeps him up all night.
  • Scud: The Whole Shebang Limited Edition (Scud: The Disposable Assassin)
    By Rob Schrab, Dan Harmon, Mondy Carter, Jack Grey
    Available in both paperback and limited edition hardcover, this long awaited 786 page uber-tome collects the complete saga of Rob Schrab’s signature character, a robotic assassin hellbent on deterring his own demise. Included are all 20 issues of the original series, the 4 issue finale Schrab created in 2007, the Drywall: Unzipped one-shot, and Black Octopus: Sexy Genius short story. Not to be missed by anyone with a taste for the bizarre, the frenetic, or just plain fun.
  • Local
    By Brian Wood and Ryan Kelly
    This is hands down the best Indie series of the last few years, and now the series has been collected in one beautifully designed hardcover. Brian Wood takes the reader through twelve years and twelve cities in one woman’s life, and we see how she grows and changes. The art by Ryan Kelly looks great on the oversized pages and is worth picking up purely on the strength of his work. And given the number of pages, this is one of the more affordable hardcover collections. If you like personal, heartfelt stories, this is for you.
  • The Starman Omnibus, Vol. 1
    By James Robinson (Author), Tony Harris (Illustrator)
    There’s a reason this book is a modern classic, and if you’ve never read the series before, you can find out why by picking this up. James Robinson and Tony Harris look at one of the legacy characters of the DC universe and weave a tale of family and tradition that transcends its humble capes and cowls beginning. The best thing about this is seeing Harris’ work improve from issue to issue. Top notch production on the book as well. I can’t wait for volume 2 to hit next year.
  • Freakangels Volume 1 TP
    What do you do when you’re one of twelve born at the exact same moment and you believe that you are the cause of the end of the world? That’s the question that the Freakangels must face. In this work by Warren Ellis and Paul Duffield’s, you watch the Freakangels fight to protect the “˜normals’ from the surroundings the Freakangels may have created. This collection is the first chunk of a new webcomic, only now in print form. I’ve been following the story online, and the story of a group of psychics protecting a town in a post-apocalyptic England has been very fun to read, but the real standout is Duffield’s art, which does a great job of establishing the characters and helping the reader keep everyone straight. If you haven’t been following the series online, the print collection is a good way to catch up.
  • The Walking Dead, Vol. 8: Made to Suffer (v. 8)
    Walking Dead continues to be one of the best comics being published today, and Volume 8 of the series is a good example of why. If you’re a fan of zombie movies, or horror in general, you have to be reading this series. Robert Kirkman continues to surprise the reader with the twists and turns that he puts his characters through. The end of this volume is a hell of a gut punch and sets up the next big story of the series, and I can’t wait for Volume 9 to come out early next year. The art by Charlie Adard is just as great as ever, and this, or any other volume in the series, will make a great gift for you zombie loving relative.
  • The Boys Vol. 3: Good for the Soul
    In Garth Ennis’s The Boys we find a world much like other comic universes, one where superheros and villains are commonplace and normal folk are often just pawns caught in the crossfire. Enter the Boys, a CIA-sanctioned group of powerful misfits whose job is to keep the ‘supes’ in line and when necessary, take them out of the game entirely. With story-arcs that read much more like super-charged mob dramas this series really keeps the edge on the knife and never lets it get dull.

BOOKS

TOP PICKThe Tales of Beedle the Bard

By J.K. Rowling
This limited Collector’s Edition collection of fairy tales by J.K. Rowling is a must-have for the serious Harry Potter fan. With only 100,000 copies available, the book comes in an oversized hardcover casing disguised as a wizarding textbook from the Hogwarts library decorated with skulls, gemstones, and ribbons, just like the author’s handmade original. Inside, enclosed in a velvet bag embroidered with the author’s signature is the book of five fairy tales referred to in the seventh and final Harry Potter, along with 10 new illustrations by Rowling not available anywhere else. If the price is too steep for the average book-lover, then grab the Standard Hardcover Edition for only $7.14.

  • Watching the Watchmen: The Definitive Companion to the Ultimate Graphic Novel
    By Dave Gibbons, Chip Kidd, and Mike Essl
    This massive hardcover lays bare the process behind the creation of the legendary graphic novel Watchmen as told by its award-winning artist, Dave Gibbons. Contained within 256 pages are an assortment of never before seen unpublished pages, original character designs, thumbnails, sketches, posters, covers, and rare portfolio art. This is a must-have for any Watchmen fan, or fan of comics in general.
  • The DC Vault: A Museum-in-a-Book with Rare Collectibles from the DC Universe
    by Martin Pasko
    The DC Vault is literally a museum in a book. With each chapter representing a decade from the famous company, The DC Vault offers interesting historical tidbits about the company and even reprints some of various important items that paved the way for the creation of Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. For the ultimate comics fan, Marvel’s version — The Marvel Vault — is also available.
  • Dungeons and Dragons 4th Edition
    This edition has been strong enough to get me to role play for the first time in a while, and for that, I’m really glad it exists. What you get here is more of a streamlined game that keeps all the classic D&D feel, without a wide range of confounding rules. An effort has been made on Wizards of the Coasts part to make the game feel more like an MMORPG, which means combat is easy for beginners. Of course, your enjoyment may vary, but me and my party are having a blast with this, and I think you will too.
  • Sookie Stackhouse Boxed Set (Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood)
    By Charlaine Harris
    If you love the hit HBO series True Blood, then find out where it all began with this collection of The Southern Vampire Mysteries, the books that first introduced us to telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse and her bottled-blood drinking vampire boyfriend Bill as they solve mysterious involving the supernatural beings in and around Louisiana.
  • The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
    This is a massive update from the original printing of this ultimate encyclopedia. This 3-volume illustrated slipcased hardcover edition now includes information from the three Star Wars prequels and the original trilogy, as well as details pulled from the expanded universe, including the novels, comics, cartoons, and video games. This is 10 pounds of paper every Star Wars fan should own.

  • The Complete Making of Indiana Jones: The Definitive Story Behind All Four Films
    By J.W. Rinzler
    This oversized paperback edition is a detailed look at the making of all four films of the Indiana Jones series, including the latest Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and includes with tons of full-color behind-the-scenes photos, concept art, and set design, as well as exclusive on-set interviews with the entire cast and crew and never-seen-before artwork.
  • The Graveyard Book
    By Neil Gaiman
    Gaiman’s latest offering tells the tale of Bod, a little boy who’s raised by the ghostly inhabitants of a graveyard who must hide from the killer who murdered his family when he was an infant. Believe it or not, this is a children’s book, and an excellent one at that. Gaiman knows how to tell a creepy children’s story.
  • Up Till Now: The Autobiography
    By William Shatner
    In this autobiography, Star Trek veteran William Shatner mainly covers the struggling years of his early acting career and how his three short seasons on the classic scifi television series as Captain James T. Kirk changed his life forever. If you love The Shat, like we love The Shat, you have to read his life … story … in his … own … words.
  • More Information Than You Require
    By John Hodgman
    In this follow-up to John “I’m A PC” Hodgman’s 2005 hobo tome The Areas of My Expertise, the writer continues his “Compendium of Complete World Knowledge” series that’s jammed packed with all the useless, yet humorous knowledge you could ever need or want. Hodgman explores the Past and the Future, and satirically tackles subjects like Presidential elections and how to be a famous minor TV star.
  • Wishful Drinking
    By Carrie Fisher
    Finally Princess Leia herself spills the beans and unloosens the buns in this tell-all about her dysfunctional childhood as the daughter of celebrities, her drug-filled teenage years, and of course, her iconic role in the original Star Wars trilogy.

ELECTRONICS & GADGETS

TOP PICKSony BDP-S350 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player

With Blu-Ray players now hovering around the $200-$250 range, movie geeks are running out of excuses to hop on board. When paired with a decent HD television and stereo system, the Blu-Ray experience brings the movies home like nothing else can. As an added bonus, most Blu-Ray players provide picture upsampling for your legacy DVDs, making them look the best they can be.

  • Darth Vader Toaster [pre-order]
    Can breakfast get any cooler than this? Just put two slices of bread in this black toaster and ding! out comes your Vader’s iconic helmeted image singed into your food. Seriously, this is Darth Vader on toast!
  • Samsung PN50A550 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV
    This 1080p 50-inch HD flatscreen television has advanced features like a FilterBright to protect against glare; 1,000,000:1 dynamic-contrast ratio; and an advanced video-game action mode.
  • Apple iPod touch 32 GB
    This latest iPod has a 3.5-inch widescreen multi-touch display and can hold 7,000 songs, 10,000 photos, or 40 hours of video and can handle up to 36 hours of music playback or 6 hours of video playback when fully charged. Also comes in 8 GB and 16 GB
  • Flip Video MinoHD Camcorder
    This slim tiny handheld video camcorder, which weighs only 3.3 ounces, has 60 minutes of one-touch high-definition recording with digital zoom and playback time with 4 GB of built-in memory. Once you’re finished recording, the device’s “Flip-out USB arm” plugs right into your computer where built-in FlipShare software allows you to save and edit your videos, and much more.

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MUSIC

TOP PICKIndiana Jones: The Soundtracks Collection.

If you’re a fan of the Indiana Jones films and their legendary scores by composer John Williams, then there’s ultimate musical box set for you [and me].

  • Metallica – Death Magnetic
    After their previous highly disappointing album St. Anger, Metallica is back with a fury on their latest effort Death Magnetic, a thrash metal masterpiece complete with requisite ripping lengthy solos from lead guitarist Kirk Hammett (welcome back, Kirk!). This is the rock album of the year, regardless of what the crappy Grammy Awards might decide. \m/\m/
  • E.S. Posthumus – Cartographer
    Seven years in the making, this 2-disc album is the sophomore effort from the underground group that produced the theme song to the hit TV series Cold Case as well as provides music for countless movie trailers and commercials. Mixing the genres of rock, orchestral, synth and choral, E.S. Posthumus creates a soundscape that should please anyone who is a fan of sweeping film scores or the exotic sounds of Cirque du Soleil. Perfect music to game to, to write to, or just to relax to.
  • Emily Wells – The Symphonies: Dreams Memories & Parties
    Wells’ most recent album, two years in the making, is a fresh, don’t-miss fusion of classical strings and rap. Album is also available direct from the artist ($12) or on iTunes ($9.90)
  • The Dark Knight Soundtrack
    Composed by Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard, this is the official soundtrack to the biggest movie of the year and contains 14 tracks of original music as well as expanded or reworked versions of the music from its film precedessor Batman Begins.

TOYS & COLLECTIBLES

TOP PICKStar Wars Interactive R2D2 Astromech Droid Robot

Get this cutie for only $89.99 (down from $169.99). Just say, “Hey, R2” and this little robot is ready with over 40 voice commands — tell me you’ve never wanted your very own R2 (I have!!!). This little droid moves on his own, has a front beam for light, and an extendable arm that can hold your beverage! He can also go into “Game” mode, where he’s plays games, spins, dances and plays music, and can even guards your room with his sentry alarm.

  • Donnie Darko: Frank the Bunny 12″ Talking Figure
    He’s a one-foot tall dead-bunny-man-thing and he knows when the world is going to end. What severely disturbed goth/emo film-geek wouldn’t want this amazingly creepy redition of Frank the Bunny gracing the shelves of their inner-sanctum? You know, the He comes complete with seven unforgettable phrases including “Why are you wearing that stupid man suit?” and “Don’t worry… you got away with it.”
  • Star Wars 3.75″ New Millennium Falcon
    This replica of the ship that made the Kessel run in less than twelve parsecs features electronic lights, sounds, phrases, and various moving parts; has light-up headlights, cockpit, and hyperdrive Dejarik table; an area to treat wounded passengers in the medical bay; and comes with 7 projectiles, mini-fighter vehicle, and Han Solo and Chewbacca action figures (and instructions on how to put it all together!).
  • Labyrinth: Jareth and Hoggle
    This 2-pack comes with a newly costumed 7-inch Jareth, the Goblin King personified by David Bowie in the 1986 fantasy film. With the Jareth figure, which also has a new head sculpture, is the grumpy dwarf (created by the Jim Henson creature shop) Hoggle, a new creation for this NECA line.
  • Search and Protect Eve Action Figure and Cube and Stack Wall-E Action Figure
    These two posable figures (each sold separately) let you have your very own lovable adorable robots from Pixar’s hit summer movie Wall-E. Search and Protect Eve has eyes that change expression and a button on her back opens her storage compartment where you can house a light bulb and the all-important plant in a boot. Eve also has a snap in Laser Blaster arm and comes with an “exploding” boulder. Cube and Stack Wall-E does just that — place trash inside his special compartment and watch it pop out as a trash cube! You can either use the two trash cubes that comes with this figure or even use playing dough to make your own trash cube.

If you’re ordering through Amazon, here’s their ordering deadlines for delivery on or before Christmas Eve (12/24):

December 17th – Last day for Free Super Saver Shipping*
December 18th – Standard Shipping

December 21st – Two-Day Shipping (Free with Prime), Last full day to order two-day
December 22nd – Two-Day Shipping (Free with Prime), order as late as 3pm PDT [varies by item]; One-Day Shipping ($3.99 per item with Prime) Last full day to order to order one-day
December 23rd – One-Day Shipping ($3.99 per item with Prime), order as late as 3pm PDT [varies by item]

*FREE on orders of $25 or more

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.

The Geek Holiday Gift Guide 2008 was lovingly created by the dedicated, hard-working staff at Geeks of Doom based on their own “Wish Lists.” We hope you’ll benefit greatly from this compilation. Happy Holidays from all us here at Geeks of Doom!

1 Comment »

  1. Good list! I can just print this out and distribute (with a few things crossed off already). Way to make it easy for me!

    Comment by Erin — December 17, 2008 @ 5:09 pm

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