Geeks are some of the most passionate people on the planet. They love what they love – be it video games, Star Wars, Doctor Who, anime, comic books, Lord of the Rings, and fantasy books – with unadulterated glee. If you’re intimated by geekdom but want to buy a jaw-dropping gift for the geek in your life, fear not; The Force is strong with this gift list:
Robot coasters
As we drink and await the cyborg invasion we’ve been promised time and again in Terminator films, these adorable mixed media robot coasters – handmade by Vancouver artist Megan Bennett – will keep our pints from leaving nasty moisture circles (‘cause moisture circles are almost as bad as cyborgs). $10 at Arts off Main and FiveCornersCreative.com.
Swordplay
Swordplay is in essential element of numerous fantasy and sci-fi stories. Geeks love dressing up as sword-wielding warriors for Fan Expo and conventions; why not give the geeks in your life some swordplay skills to go with the cosplay? Vancouver’s Academie Duello offers regular workshops and classes in all manners of swordplay (including rapier, longsword and sidesword). They’ve even got a Knight Camp for youth ages 8-14. From $60 at Academie Duello and AcademieDuello.com.
Exit Canada
Gaming is a major part of geekdom, whether we’re talking video games, cards, or role-playing. But Exit Canada – which bills itself as “the ultimate real-life gaming experience” – blurs the world between fantasy and reality. Groups of players (anywhere from 2 to 10) are locked into a theme room – a lost ship, ancient Egypt, a prison, a creepy laboratory – and have to work together to escape. From $23 per person; book at E-Exit.ca.
LEGO Star Wars Sandcrawler
Star Wars fans are currently nerdgasming over the newly released teaser trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens – but it’s going to be a long wait until December 2015, when the film finally drops into theatres. Help the Star Wars fans in your life get through the year ahead with this absolutely epic, 3296-piece Lego Sandcrawler set. Includes 7 minifigures: Luke Skywalker, Uncle Owen, C-3PO and 4 Jawas, plus R2-D2, R2 unit, an R1-series Droid, Gonk Droid, R5-D4 and a Treadwell Droid. $349 at Toys R Us.
As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride
The Princess Bride made us believe in mawwiage, inconceivable truths, and the revenge journey of Inigo Montoya – and now actor Cary Elwes, who played Westley, makes us fall in love with The Princess Bride all over again with his new book, a first-person account of the making of the cult classic film. The book is filled with never-before-told stories, exclusive photographs, and interviews with cast and creators. From $19 at Chapters-Indigo Books and other booksellers.
