I know Christmas is on everyone's mind!  Picking the right gifts for the people who mean the most to us is always very hard, and it's especially hard to find the right gifts for avid readers.  You wouldn't want to buy them a book they already have, a book they hate, or a poorer quality copy of a book they already own.  Wat do?

Step outside the box.  You don't have to always buy books for people who love to read books.  Instead, there's a plethora of gifts to give that people of this sort would enjoy simply because they relate to their passion.  Being somewhat of a horror novel junkie myself, I thought I could best help my readers by giving some insight into the kinds of books these people would want to receive.  These gifts ought to be a great success, and the person you give them to probably won't have them already.  Enjoy. <3

1.) Arkham Horror Board Game - Akham Horror is a game of Lovecraftian horror and the Cthulhu Mythos that goes in a different direction from other board games in that players cooperate to defeat or evade monsters, collect clues, and seal gates to stop the monsters.  However, if you take too long to seal the gates and stop the encroachment of the Old Ones, they will awaken and draw you into an impossible final battle! *le gasp*  The point of the game isn't to win every time; it's to experience the world of Lovecraft's horror stories through the unlimited replayability of the game.  Originally published in 1987, it has recently been reinvented with new artwork and design, including a new playing board, counters, cards, and playing pieces.  Not only can you get infinitely different results every time you play, but this game also has an incredible amount of expansions that take you on all new, equally challenging and replayable adventures!  This gift is a must for anyone who enjoys the work of H.P. Lovecraft, but it can also be fun for people who have yet to encounter his twisted cosmic world.

2.) Edgar Allan Poe Boxed Glass Candle - This is an interesting item that pays homage to the great Edgar Allan Poe with its dark, bold scent.  The recipient of this unique gift can now read The Raven by candlelight as the scents of cardamom, absinthe, and cinnamon fill the air, drawing them deeper into Poe's world.  It comes in a book cloth covered box with a foil stamped label, and it will make the perfect gift for any horror fan.  And for the non-horror fans in your life, this candle comes in other interesting scents, like Jane Austen and Charles Dickens.

3.) Masters of Horror DVD Box Set - Masters of Horror is a series brought to us by Showtime that brings together the greatest horror writer/directors of our age, including Don Coscarelli, the man behind Phantasm and the well-known adaptation of Joe R. Lansdale's Bubba Ho-Tep, to create a collection of truly amazing one-hour short horror films.  The best part about this is that many of these directors chose to do adaptations of classic horror stories for the series.  This collection includes film imaginings of stories by of Ambrose Bierce, H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe, Joe R. Lansdale, and several others, sure to be enjoyed by anyone who loves to read their stories.

4.) Weird Tales Magazine Cover Poster - Fans of classic pulp horror story authors like Lovecraft and Bierce will love this one!  This 11 x 17 poster is a replica of an actual image that appeared on the cover of Weird Tales Magazine, the pulp horror magazine first published in 1924 that has become something of an icon to horror readers everywhere.  This particular poster features Seabury Quinn's name prominently noted at the top right with accompanying art in the classic 1920s/30s style that appeared on many pulp magazines of the day. This type of poster is actually available in several styles, including one on which Lovecraft and Quinn's names appear together, which can be found here.