Books for Every Geek’s Coffee Table

The World of Ice & Fire: The Untold History of Westeros and the Game of Thrones, by George R.R. Martin, Elio M. Garcia, and Linda Antonsson
There are two kinds of fans: those who are content with only what is handed to them on the screen or between two covers, and those who constantly want to know more. This book is for the latter breed, the hardcore enthusiasts who not only know the names of all the background characters in Tywin Lannister’s court, but what House they hail from, what other lords they serve, and possibly what they ate for breakfast. The World of Ice & Fire is an exhaustive compendium of the people and places of George R.R. Martin’s enthralling fantasy series, and, by extension, the HBO series. Featuring full-color maps, artwork, and comprehensive family trees, it covers the lore and legends of the Seven Kingdoms, much of which Martin wrote exclusively for this book.

Battlestar Galactica Vault, by Paul Ruditis (Barnes & Noble exclusive edition)
Before he journeyed to the moors of Outlander, Ronald D. Moore took us to the stars with the rag-tag fleet of ships carrying the last remnants of humanity, the survivors of a machine genocide. Somehow, this remake of a fondly-remembered (but, let’s admit it, rather campy) 1970s TV series became one of the best shows in the history of television, using its futuristic setting as a forum to comment on present issues of terrorism, racism, and political power. This beautiful book, a Barnes & Noble exclusive edition, tracks the franchise from its inception in the ’70s, through a failed reboot attempt by director Bryan Singer, the development and ultimate success of Moore’s series, and even the gone-too-soon spin-off Caprica. Throughout, you’ll find detailed ship schematics, concept art, rare on-set photos, and even a number of physical goodies packed into an envelope in the front of the book.

The Art of the Simon & Kirby Studio, by Joe Simon, Jack Kirby, and Mark Evanier
In the 1940s, Joe Simon and Jack Kirby were young artists who dreamed of taking the medium of comic books beyond the trashy pulps of the day. Today, they are legends, and its hard to imagine our superhero-studded pop culture landscape would be the same without their creations. They invented not only heroes like Captain America, but an entire genre: romance comics. This book collects photographs of original Simon & Kirby artwork, selected from Simon’s private archive by Mark Evanier, the foremost authority on the duo’s career. It offers a glimpse of two titans of the field working in their prime.

Star Wars Art: Posters
Before Star Wars was the biggest movie of all time, it was just a poster, hanging on the wall in local movie theaters across the country. Like all movie posters, it was tasked with getting people excited to see a film based only on a single image. That original work of art certainly played its role in defining Star Wars for a generation, and the tradition continued throughout the subsequent sequels, various reissues, and the prequel trilogy. Now, this book collects the best from four decades of posters, covering both trilogies, The Clone Wars TV series, and limited edition artwork, with an introduction by legendary poster artist Drew Struzan (Indiana Jones, Back to the Future, Star Wars: Episode I).

The Star Wars: Deluxe Edition, by J.W. Rinzler
Come to think of it, before Star Wars was Star Wars, it was really The Star Wars—an original script treatment by George Lucas that included the barest sketches of what would eventually become that familiar galaxy far, far away. The characters were different (the hero is Annikin Starkiller, and Han Solo is a seven-foot-tall reptile), and the plot unrecognizable (Darth Vader appears only briefly), but the magic was already there. Now, you can imagine the saga that might have been with this deluxe compendium of The Star Wars, the official eight-issue comic book adaptation of the original script from Dark Horse Comics, collected in three foil-stamped hardcover volumes in a cloth-covered slipcase and including a gallery of original cover art.

William Shakespeare’s Star Wars Trilogy: The Royal Box Set, by Ian Doescher
“Alas, poor Obi-Wan. I knew him, Han Solo.” No, it’s not a line from Star Wars, but it is a line that would be right at home in William Shakespeare’s version of the trilogy, or at least, the one penned by humorist Ian Doescher. This boxed set collects all three volumes: William Shakespeare’s Star Wars, The Empire Striketh Back, and The Jedi Doth Return. You won’t believe how well the series translates into rhyming couplets. And really, with its classic good vs. evil structure, iconic characters, and themes of tragedy, morality, and destiny, the original trilogy is practically modern Shakespeare already, right?

75 Years of Marvel Comics: From the Golden Age to the Silver Screen, by Roy Thomas
Spider-Man, the Hulk, Thor, the X-Men: today’s biggest screen stars all share a common origin—the pages of Marvel comics. Moreover, the roster of artists who helped build the studio over the decades includes many names that are almost as famous, from Stan Lee, to Jack Kirby, to Steve Ditko, to John Romita. In celebration of Marvel’s 75th anniversary, this 700-page book follows the company from its origins in 1939, through its 1960s heyday, and into the modern era, where Marvel is much more than just a publisher, but an entire media empire. Including more than 2,000 full-color images and biographies of more than 300 of the artists who helped define the comic book industry, this is an essential text for anyone who has ever uttered the words, “make mine Marvel!”

D.C. Comics: A Visual History, by Daniel Wallace, Alan Cowsill, Alex Irvine, and Matthew K. Manning
Not to be outdone, D.C. Comics has a volume commemorating its own storied history, which dates back to 1934. This newly updated book tracks the company’s legacy month by month, charting all of the major developments, from name changes (what was first National Allied Publications became Detective Comics, and finally, D.C.), to the launch of now-iconic heroes. This edition includes 16 new pages covering the period from 2010 to 2014, and featuring a new slipcase design.

Marvel: The Expanding Universe Wall Chart, by Michael Mallory
They aren’t kidding with this thing—you’re going to need a really big coffee table if you want to take it in all at once. Expanding to more than 12 feet, with a nest of flaps that fold out into even more real estate, this book-poster hybrid tracks the history of the Marvel mythos through the Golden Age, Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, X-Men, and Other-Worldly universes, profiling every important character along the way. Don’t try to read this one on the train.
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