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Save on dozens of gorgeous books during Target’s buy 1, get 1 half off sale

Leatherbound box sets, graphic novels, D&D adventures, and more are eligible

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Alice Jovanée
Alice Jovanée (she/her) is a commerce writer, and she has been writing about gaming and tech since 2005. Prior to Polygon, she worked at publications such as The Verge.

Target is currently hosting a buy 1, get 1 half off sale on some essential reading that you may want to check out. Through Oct. 26, Target Circle members can buy one book and save 50% on another that’s equal or lesser in value. While this deal is technically a members-only affair, joining Target Circle is free, and a membership nets you access to exclusive discounts like this one in addition to free two-day shipping on most items.

This sale features many of the usual suspects that we love to shine a spotlight on, including The Lord of the Rings Deluxe Illustrated Box Set, The Complete Calvin and Hobbes Box Set, The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia, The Deck of Many Things, and more. Thousands of other products are included in this sale, but who has time to look at them all? We’ve whittled the list to a small handful of must-buy books, which we’ve highlighted below.


Box Sets & Deluxe Editions

$249

The three-volume, leatherbound set of hardcover books features over 50 paintings and drawings by artist Alan Lee, in addition to removable art cards and a pair of fold-out maps drawn by J.R.R. Tolkien himself.

A handsome box set of the complete Calvin and Hobbes catoons, in an orange box, with four books with dark spinesA handsome box set of the complete Calvin and Hobbes catoons, in an orange box, with four books with dark spines
$68

The story of a boy with a vivid imagination and his best friend (a stuffed tiger, naturally) defined many a childhood. This four-volume paperback box set — also sold as three hardcover books — features every Calvin and Hobbes cartoon that appeared in syndication from 1985 until Bill Watterson’s retirement in 1996. Use the on-page coupon to save $41.66 on the hardcover version at Amazon.

$47

The single-volume hardcover includes 30 color illustrations, maps, and sketches (all produced by the author) sprinkled throughout its 1,248 pages. Inside, you’ll also find a pair of removable fold-out maps of Frodo’s journey and of Middle-earth produced by J.R.R. Tolkien’s son, Christopher.

$40

Published after Tolkien’s death, The Silmarillion offers an extensive prologue to The Lord of the Rings. This illustrated edition features a number of paintings, maps, and drawings by J.R.R. Tolkien to supplement the text.

$38

The book which introduced many of us to the world of Middle-Earth and the writing of J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit Illustrated Edition collects Bilbo’s journey into a single 432-page hardcover volume supplemented by over 50 evocative illustrations by the author himself.

$34

A box set that compresses the entirety of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit into four pocket-sized volumes measuring less than 6-inches square. A perfect companion for all of your unexpected journeys.

Dune 6-book Box Set

$62$10843% off
$62

In addition to the original Dune trilogy, this paperback box set also includes God Emperor of Dune, Heretics of Dune, and Chapterhouse: Dune

$46

A decadent, five-volume box set of the Song of Ice and Fire series from author George R.R. Martin. Each book is bound in rich leather, making them excellent collector’s items for any fan of A Game of Thrones.

Graphic Novels & Manga

Chainsaw Man Box Set

$56$10044% off
$56

The wild, devil-hunting manga that inspired the anime, the first 11 volumes of Chainsaw Man are bundled together in this gorgeous box set which includes an exclusive, double-sided full-color poster.

$2

Junji Ito’s three-part, cosmic-horror manga is collected in this 648-page hardcover volume, which features unique color illustrations on the inside cover.

$25

The manga that inspired the acclaimed anime series Attack on Titan, the Season 1 Box Set features four paperback volumes that mirror the first 13 episodes of the series.

$33

The Adventure Zone graphic novels are a fantastic visual take on the stellar adventures that play out in the podcast of the same name by the McElroy family. The graphic novels feel like a remix that take what made the improvised saga so great and adapt it to the pages. [Disclosure: Justin McElroy and Griffin McElroy are co-founders of Polygon.]

$30

Published as a prologue to the Blade Runner 2049 film, the three-volume Blade Runner 2029 graphic novel series published by Titan Comics and illustrated by Andres Guinaldo offers a deep-dive into Ridley Scott’s acclaimed universe.

$88

A complete, eight-volume hardcover box set includes every entry in the Batman: One Bad Day standalone series as well as a special edition of Batman: The Killing Joke.

Franchise deep dives

Book cover for The Legend of Zelda EncyclopediaBook cover for The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia
$21

If you want to become an expert of everything Zelda, let this official encyclopedia on the franchise be your guide to Hyrule’s creatures, weapons, items, and more. Just note that the Switch era titles (Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom) aren’t included.

Book cover for The Legend of Zelda: Art & ArtifactsBook cover for The Legend of Zelda: Art & Artifacts
$19

Art & Artifacts features a collection of illustrations and concept art from The Legend of Zelda franchise.

Book cover for The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule HistoriaBook cover for The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia
$23

Hyrule Historia chronicles the development and creative process of The Legend of Zelda franchise across its various mediums.

$25

Not a concept art companion to the films, The Art of The Lord of the Rings is a 240-page compilation featuring over 180 maps, inscriptions, and other illustrations produced by J.R.R. Tolkien with commentary from two of the world’s leading scholars on his work.

Dungeons & Dragons

$77

The Deck of Many Things is a hardcover book and deck of 66 cards to help GMs craft an array of randomly crafted adventures.

$62

A visual guide to the history of Dungeons & Dragons, the Art & Arcana box set contains paintings, sketches, and illustrations dating back to its inception in 1974.

$31

A collection of 13 stand-alone heists that encourage creative solutions, Keys From the Golden Vault is designed for characters level one to 11.

$26

Journeys Through the Radiant Citadel features 13 standalone adventures with a variety of themes ideal for players new to Dungeons & Dragons.

$28

Lore & Legends is an illustrated guide to the fifth edition of Dungeons & Dragons explored through interviews, artwork, artifacts, and commentary from its creators.

Phandelver and Below book coverPhandelver and Below book cover
$30

Phandelver and Below offers eight chapters of approachable encounters, making it an excellent option for novice DMs, and is an expanded retelling of an adventure introduced in the 2014 Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set.

Cookbooks

$35

A supplement to the original D&D cookbook Heroes’ Feast, Flavors of the Multiverse introduces more than 75 new recipes from the Forgotten Realms, like Talyth, Goldenstars, and Steak of the Deep.

$18

Published in partnership with ConcernedApe and Ryan Novak, The Official Stardew Valley Cookbook includes over 50 seasonal dishes pulled directly from the poster child for cozy gaming.

$24

Dungeons & Dragons Heroes’ Feast collects 80 recipes inspired by the classic TTRPG, including Iron Rations, Elven Bread, and Amphail Braised Beef.

$22

A collection of 80 recipes inspired by the cuisines and histories of the lands of Westeros and beyond, The Official Game of Thrones Cookbook is presented as an in-world manuscript from a Citadel Maester.