The ThriftBooks Blog

By Ashly Moore Sheldon • November 26, 2023

Choosing the perfect gifts for the diverse mix of people we know can be tricky. That's the idea behind our mini gift guides with tailored recommendations for the unique set of characters in your life. Here are our recommendations for the Star Wars fans in your life.

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By Ashly Moore Sheldon • September 14, 2023

In 2020, 27 years after its original publication, Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower finally took its rightful place on the New York Times Best Seller list. Now, in celebration of its thirty year anniversary, we explore Butler's life and legacy and offer a recommended reading list for fans of the author, who passed away in 2006.

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By Ashly Moore Sheldon • February 26, 2023

In the almost five decades since the first Star Wars movie, the franchise has exploded. The ever-growing body of literature adds richness to this complex world. But the sheer volume can be overwhelming. Here are some of our favorite Star Wars reads and where they fit into the timeline of movies and shows.

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By Ashly Moore Sheldon • November 24, 2022

Sci-fi and fantasy may not be the first genre that comes to mind when considering yuletide entertainment. But for a lot of us, it's a perfect fit. Think about it! These stories combine magic, adventure, and the wonder of the unknown. That sounds just like the holidays to us!

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By William Shelton • August 23, 2022

In 1926 the launch of Amazing Stories introduced a new genre of science fiction in the form of a pulp magazine. Writers like Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, and even Stephen King began their careers in magazines like these. Let's take a brief look at some of the trend-setting pulp science fiction magazines which are well remembered, and highly valued, today.

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By Ashly Moore Sheldon • July 22, 2021

Any book has the ability to transport us to new and different experiences, but science-fiction and fantasy is unique in that it imagines entirely new worlds and possibilities to explore. For many of us, this genre represents the ultimate escape from reality.

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By William Shelton • March 12, 2021

The genre of science fiction writing has two great pillars representing the wonder and promise of future worlds, and the intricate technology as yet unimagined, except by their questing minds. Frank Herbert and Robert Heinlein were contemporaries who saw sci-fi through these different lenses.

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By Ashly Moore Sheldon • February 19, 2020

For Black History month we're bringing you a series featuring great black writers from four genres. This week, we feature Science Fiction/Fantasy, also known as Speculative Fiction. Here are nine authors who are blowing our minds.

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By Ashly Moore Sheldon • December 20, 2019

Here's our fourth installment for the best books of the past decade. Each week for five weeks, we are presenting top ten lists of the best books of the past decade in two different genres. A total of ten lists of ten: 10 x 10 equals 100! This week's lists are SciFi/Fantasy and Thriller/Mystery. Here are our picks for the top ten of each.

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By Ashly Moore Sheldon • November 27, 2019

The holidays can be so hectic, but the wintry weather just makes us want to hunker down with a good book. As we head into hibernation season, we crave captivating reads that make us want to call in sick to work. (Not that we're suggesting you do that!) Here's a list of ten yummy unputdownable books with affordable price tags.

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