Short story collections make unusual gifts for men, particularly those who are important in our lives: partners, sons, brothers,boyfriends, fathers, husbands or just dependable friends who always been there for us when we’ve needed a strong shoulder to lean on!

So which story authors are popular and selling well at the moment and which might make unusual gift ideas for our menfolk? With all the hype about the new Star Wars movie, science fiction and modern fantasy books are selling well, but did you know the author of Shannara also wrote short stories? Well, one short story to be precise!.



Why did the great author of Shannara stop at one short story? Well, Terry Brooks tells us himself that the one short story he managed to write was very challenging to finish. Proving the old adage right, he said that it was an intellectual challenge to neatly crop all his ideas and schemes into one concise package.


However, finish it he did – and the finished result from Legends 11, the story ‘Indomitable’, makes gripping and gritty reading for those most avid of science fiction fans – men who need an unusual gift bought for them which isn’t socks, slippers or the same after shave fragrance they have been using for years.




Instead, if seeking unusual gifts for men who like to read, wow the sci-fi man in your life with a scintillating collection of fantastical tales from surreal other worlds. Science fiction short story collections are great because they are usually exciting, slim and simple to order, pack and post! We are also saying something about our esteem for a man’s mind when we select a challenging or thought-provoking story for them to ponder.


Terry Brooks’ short story ‘Indomitable’ appears in a little-known but much raved-about collection of short science fiction cum fantasy stories called Legends. The second collection Legends 11 features much-loved authors such as Orson Scott Card, Neil Gaiman, Anne McCaffrey, George Martin and Diana Gabaldon. The esteemed authors offer up (for the delight of modern fantasy fanatics) such intriguing and mesmerising titles as The Happiest Dead Boy In The World, Dunk and Egg and The Sworn Sword.


Indeed, if seeking an unusual gift for a man in your life who has had to say a sad farewell to a sci-fi or fantasy hero he thought had been written out for ever, you may find a cheering surprise!


Some of the Legends stories have old heroes re-appearing for a come-back. These heroes include a squire in George R. R. Martin’s knighthood saga and Neil Gaiman’s Shadow, the character who was the protagonist in American God.


One of the editions of the first star-studded Legends collections boasted that master of surreal fantasy Stephen King. His horror-influenced fantastical tale from the Dark Tower series sets traps full of suspense throughout his hero’s quest. Terry Pratchett’s The Sea And Little Fishes is a fast-paced Discworld adventure full of old crones and quarrelling witches.


Presenting a curious mixture of neo-Arthurian quests, modern fantasy myths and the science-fiction influenced short novels, the Legends short story collections have generated much praise for providing a refreshing variety of fantastic short fiction all in one place, making refreshing literary gifts for guys who read.


Recommended as an unusual gift for men (or gifts for the hard to buy for - in general)who enjoy:

Stories of Myth and daring-do.
Short Fantasy Stories that are quick to read.
Selections of Stories, rather than one big volume to wade through.
New Stories From authors that readers thought they had exhausted.


Or, for an absolute newbie Star Wars Initiate, how about a complete directory of every creature and characters in Star Wars?