It’s getting ever closer to Christmas, and you know what that means: time to figure out what the heck to give everyone in your family. And if, like me, you’re a science fiction fan, it might be on your mind to try and convince those special people in your family that hey, they should be reading science fiction, too!

It’s not an easy task. A lot of people are simply averse to the science fiction genre, whether it’s because of the association with nerd-dom or an aversion to space and lasers. Which is a shame, because science fiction is so vast and diverse that people can find any number of wonderful stories in it. With that in mind, here’s a gift guide to help you introduce science fiction novels into the people close to you:

For the Thorn Birds Lover In Your Life

Does your mom swoon over tragic romances? Lovers torn about by time, fate and circumstance, only to come together at the last moment? Then let her give The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger a try. The Time Traveler’s Wife centers around Henry DeTamble and his wife, Claire. Henry suffers from a genetic disorder which causes him to be frequently “displaced in time.” As a result, the adult Henry gets to know Claire when she was a child, and she grows up knowing who her husband will be before he does. This is a moving, tragic story–with time travel. Your mom will love it. And if she’s skeptical about reading a book with the words “Time Traveler” in the title, tell her not to worry–she will cry at the end.

Other Suggestions: Rollback by Robert J. Sawyer and The End of Eternity by Isaac Asimov

For the History Channel Obsessed

All of us have an uncle/stepfather/brother-in-law or whatever who is absolutely obsessed with the History Channel–especially the military histories. These are the people in your life who can not only rattle off detailed accounts of battles you’ve never heard of, they can tell you which side was armed with what weapons. Of course, they never read any fiction unless Tom Clancy’s name is attached to it, right? Well, you can fix that with James Hogan’s The Proteus Operation. The Proteus Operation tells the story of a group of special agents who are called up on a special mission by President John F. Kennedy: to go back in time and stop the Nazis from winning World War II. It’s not only a gripping historical thriller, but also a cool little primer on the Many Worlds Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics that will have them drooling for more.

Other Suggestions: The Guns of the South by Harry Turtledove and Island in the Sea of Time by S.M. Stirling

For the Thriller Fan

For your friends who just can’t get enough conspiracy/political/spy thrillers, you can’t go wrong introducing them to sci-fi by getting them a copy of The Android’s Dream by John Scalzi. This extraordinarily accessible sci-fi thriller follows war veteran and State Department operative Harry Creek as he attempts to track down a genetically engineered sheep that needs to survive in order to prevent an interstellar war. It’s funny, action packed, and intense. Not only that, it features all sorts of fun conspiracies, factional maneuvering and plot-twists at a breathtaking, but readable pace. For any good thriller fan, this is a must-read.

Other Suggestions: Friday by Robert Heinlein and The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester

For Your Sneering English Major Roommate

You remember your sneering English major roommate from college, right? The one who dismissed your sci-fi reading habits as “trash” and “incapable of literary insight”? Well, he’s grown up a little, and so have you, so why not mend some bridges by handing him a copy of Walter M. Miller, Jr.’s classic A Canticle For Leibowitz? This gorgeous, lyrical post-apocalyptic masterpiece follows a monastic order through the centuries after the “Flame Deluge” (read: nuclear war) leaves the world in ruins and the Catholic Church the only repository for knowledge. There’s loads of symbolism, allusion, and allegory, not to mention cycles of time and mysterious relationships. This is a brooding, pessimistic piece that even an English major can get behind.

Other Suggestions: Arslan by M.J. Engh and Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein

For Mystery Lovers

If, like me, you have friends who incessantly read murder mysteries, you can’t go wrong introducing them to the world of sci-fi mysteries with The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester. The Demolished Man takes place in a future where law enforcement is dominated by detectives who can read your mind–where someone has managed to commit the first murder in almost a century. Of course, the psychic detective knows who did it from the get-go. But what the murderer manages to keep hidden is the method and motive for the crime. This is a gripping, intense mystery that at times resembles a chess match between the criminal and the detective as much as it does a traditional mystery. A fantastic story that’s a little dated but still a worthwhile read.

Other Suggestions: Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov and Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan

For the Fantasy Lover

If, like me, you’re a long-time geek, you no doubt have that friend who just always reads fantasy. Always. If it’s got a dragon and a dude with a sword on the cover, he’s in. Well, it’s time to wean that guy off of the sword and sorcery and into some spaceships and laser guns, isn’t it? One of the best books to start with, then, would be Santiago: A Myth of the Far Future by Mike Resnick. Told in a hybrid of wild west tall tale and Homeric scope, it would be an injustice to try and summarize the plot, so just trust me on this one.

Other Suggestions: Glory Road by Robert Heinlein and The Worthing Saga by Orson Scott Card