> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.andrewliptak.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Transfer Orbit's 2021 Gift Guide - URL: https://www.andrewliptak.com/gift-guide-books-music-tech-2021/ - Published: 2021-12-06T17:48:23.000Z - Updated: 2021-12-06T18:45:19.000Z - Description: A bunch of ideas for things to buy your friends - Author: Andrew Liptak - Tags: Gift Guide Over the last couple of years, I've thrown together a gift guide for Transfer Orbit readers that I think would make for good gifts, either for like-minded readers, or yourself. This year's has a range of books, tech stuff, and clothes that I've come across. For the books, I've been selecting the higher-quality / gift / art type books, rather than books I've enjoyed. If you're looking for book ideas for gifts, you can take a look back through the [archives of the monthly book lists](https://www.andrewliptak.com/tag/book-list/) that I've published here. You can also take a look at the gift guides that I wrote up for [2019](https://www.andrewliptak.com/the-secret-commonwealth-bn-scifi-and-a-gift-guide/) and [2020](https://www.andrewliptak.com/2020-transfer-orbit-holiday-gift-guide/). \*Purchases made through Bookshop might result in a commission. Some things might be out of stock, but it's worth looking around at other outlets if you can't find one in one place or another. Thanks, supply chain issues. --- ## Books **[Folio Society's *Foundation* Trilogy](https://www.foliosociety.com/usa/the-foundation-trilogy.html?ref=andrewliptak.com)by Isaac Asimov — $200** Apple's big adaptation of Isaac Asimov's best-known series [wrapped up](https://www.andrewliptak.com/foundation-finale-the-leap-recap/) a couple of weeks ago, and while I enjoyed it, it's been a bit of a polarizing story for fans of the original novel. That original novel is widely available in bookstores, and while I'm partial to my trade omnibus edition with a wonderful cover of a spaceship, I'm also a fan of the Folio Society's re-released edition. The trilogy comes in three silver hardcovers, each coming with illustrations from Alex Wells and with an introduction from economist Paul Krugman. It's a handsome edition of the trilogy, and it sits nicely on the bookshelf along with my other Asimov novels. (Folio also had a [nice edition of *I, Robot*](https://www.theverge.com/2016/10/5/13160546/i-robot-folio-society-edition-illustrations-art-isaac-asimov?ref=andrewliptak.com), but it appears to be sold out.) ***[Leviathan Wakes](https://bookshop.org/books/leviathan-wakes-10th-anniversary-edition/9780316333429?ref=andrewliptak.com)* (10th anniversary edition) by James S.A. Corey — $40** I'm a big fan of James S.A. Corey's *The Expanse* series, and I have a hard time believing that [it's been a decade](https://www.andrewliptak.com/the-expanse-interview/) since the first installment, *Leviathan Wakes*, hit stores. To commemorate the milestone, Orbit has released a handsome special edition of the book, with a new, shiny cover, a nice map of the solar system as endpapers, and a new preface written by Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck. It's a good book to give that friend who's into science fiction who hasn't yet picked it up yet. ***[The Art and Soul of Dune](https://bookshop.org/a/6134/9781647221553?ref=andrewliptak.com)* by Tanya Lapointe — $50** Dune was probably my favorite film of the entire year: the breadth and depth of the world is stunning and immersive. A key part of that comes down to the work that the film's crew put into imagining it, and a key part of that turns out to be the concept art. That's all collected into a single volume by Tanya Lapointe, which provides an excellent window into the making of the film and how it went from idea to screen. I look forward to the second part when the film is eventually released into theaters. **[Folio Society's *Kafka on the Shore*](https://www.foliosociety.com/usa/kafka-on-the-shore.html?ref=andrewliptak.com) by Haruki Murakami — $115** Haruki Murakami is an author that I've wanted to pick up for ages, and The Folio Society has released a wonderful edition of his novel Kafka on the Shore. The book originally came out in 2002, and it follows the story of two characters: Kafka Tamura, a teenager running away from prophecy, and Nakata, who can speak with cats and who has a strange affliction. Their stories eventually overlap. This volume features some stunning artwork by Daniel Liévano, and was translated by Philip Gabriel. **[*The Golden Compass* Illustrated Edition](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/670566/his-dark-materials-the-golden-compass-illustrated-edition-by-philip-pullman-illustrated-by-chris-wormell/?ref=andrewliptak.com) by Philip Pullman — $40** Philip Pullman's *The Golden Compass* has long remained one of my favorite fantasy novels, and Knopf released a special illustrated edition earlier this summer. It's a beautiful, oversized hardcover, complete with tons of woodcut illustrations from Chris Wormell. It's a beautiful volume that repackages the story alongside some wonderful artwork. I hope that we'll get new editions of *The Amber Spyglass* and *The Subtle Knife* as well. **[*Lord of the Rings* Illustrated Edition](https://bookshop.org/books/the-lord-of-the-rings-illustrated-edition/9780358653035?ref=andrewliptak.com), J.R.R. Tolkien — $75** You can never have enough copies of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. I've got three that I own: a trilogy of mass markets whose cover art I adore (I thought I'd discarded them and was heartbroken, only to rediscover them not too long ago), a trade paperback omnibus, and a trio of illustrated hardcovers. Now, there's a new omnibus edition of the entire trilogy: *The Lord of the Rings* Illustrated Edition, which is an extremely handsome edition. The book features a nice gray, red, and gold dust jacket and a small pull-out of the classic map of Middle Earth. The pages have red edging with the ring's text, and inside, you're treated to a ton of illustrations by Tolkien himself (for the first time, I think?). Tolkien's art has a particular quality to it, and seeing how he viewed Middle-earth alongside his text is a neat thing to behold. ***[Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien](https://bookshop.org/books/pictures-by-j-r-r-tolkien/9780358653042?ref=andrewliptak.com)* by Christopher and J.R.R. Tolkien** Speaking of Tolkien's illustrations, Mariner Books is releasing a separate volume of Tolkien's artwork. The book was originally published decades ago, but hasn't been reprinted until now. It features 40 illustrations from all over Tolkien's Middle-earth, each of which accompanied by some commentary about where they've been published or used in the past. It's a beautiful little volume. --- ## Tech & other stuff **[Apple's Airpod Max wireless headphones](https://www.apple.com/airpods-max/?ref=andrewliptak.com) — $550** Up front, these are pretty expensive for wireless headphones (and you can find some sales going on now, [like over at Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/New-Apple-AirPods-Max-Silver/dp/B08PZD76NP/ref=asc%5Fdf%5FB08PZD76NP/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=475826509394&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10316462175098794641&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9003059&hvtargid=pla-1101390540853&psc=1&ref=andrewliptak.com), which knocks a good amount off). BUT: I ended up picking up a pair of these because Apple allowed me to pay in installments through my phone, and I've loved wearing them. The sound is really great, they connect nicely to my computer/iPad/iPhone (sometimes a little too aggressively, but that's a Apple ecosystem thing), and the noise cancelation thing has been a revelation to me, especially when I'm trying to focus on writing something and need to tune out the background noise in the house. **[NovelKeys's Galactic Empire Keycaps](https://novelkeys.com/collections/keycaps/products/x-wing?ref=andrewliptak.com) — $250** I am not a keyboard person. I've got my wireless Magic Keyboard that I use for my Mac, and Apple's foldable keyboard for my iPad. I've never really gotten the appeal for a custom one, but thanks to Shane C., I think I'm coveting one: NovelKey's *Star Wars*\-themed set of keycaps. Currently available is the Galactic Empire-styled ones, which look very cool (Although I'm partial to the [X-Wing version](https://novelkeys.com/collections/keycaps/products/x-wing?ref=andrewliptak.com) that's sadly sold out). [**NS-18 patch**](https://shop.blueorigin.com/collections/accessories/products/ns-18-patch?ref=andrewliptak.com) **— $7** The space industry has a love affair for mission patches: every mission that goes up into space gets one, and that includes the various "missions" that Blue Origin has been launching up into space. Following William Shatner's [trip back in October](https://www.andrewliptak.com/william-shatner-blue-origin-private-spaceflight/), Blue Origin has released a patch with a neat logo featuring the spacecraft, the mission number and the names of the passengers. This feels like a really neat stocking-stuffer for a space enthusiast. ***[Seven Days Walking](https://ludovicoeinaudi.com/disco/seven-days-walking-day-1/?ref=andrewliptak.com)* by Ludovico Einaudi — $16 (each, but you can buy a bundle lf all seven on iTunes)** If you're looking for a gift for a music fan, or someone looking for something beautiful to listen to, I'd recommend Ludovico Einaudi's 2019 seven-part classical album, *Seven Days Walking*. I've long been a fan of his work: it's moody, subtle, and uplifting, and it was inspired by a series of walks that he took over the course of a year in the Alps. I bought it earlier this year, and I've been throwing it on while I've been reading or traveling, and it's restful, relaxing, and engrossing music. [**Shinola Detroit's Guardian Travel Alarm Clock**](https://www.shinola.com/home/clocks/filter/clock-type:alarm-clock.html?ref=andrewliptak.com) **— $125** I've recently been adjusting my bedside table: I bought a lamp to read by at night (turning the light on would wake the kids, and closing the door would leave the bedroom too cold), and along with that, I ended up discovering a neat little alarm clock from a company called Shinola. It's small enough to take with me on the road when I get back to traveling, and I love the sleek, minimal design. --- ## Wearables **[Author Metal AF shirts](https://voidmerch.threadless.com/collections/writers-are-metal-af?ref=andrewliptak.com) — $22-40** This was a fun discovery earlier this year: someone went and made shirts with author names spelled out like they're classic metal bands. I'm personally coveting an [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://voidmerch.threadless.com/designs/ursula-k-leguin-writers-are-metal/masc/t-shirt/extra-soft?color=black&ref=andrewliptak.com) and [Octavia Butler](https://voidmerch.threadless.com/designs/octavia-e-butler-writers-are-metal-af/masc/t-shirt/extra-soft?color=black&ref=andrewliptak.com) one. **[RITOS shirt](https://shop.startrek.com/products/star-trek-lower-decks-ritos-adult-short-sleeve-t-shirt?variant=39604688224355&ref=andrewliptak.com) — $24 (Discount code MERRY will get you 25% off as well.)** This year's season of *Star Trek: Lower Decks* has been a delight: I've enjoyed watching the antics of the crew of the USS Cerritos, and during one random moment, Captain Carol Freeman was off-duty and wearing a crew shirt that spelled out RITOS, an abbreviation on the ship's name, and apparently a fixture in the world of starfleet (USS Discovery's crew members had one as well — DISCO). While watching, I remember thinking that it would be a neat shirt to get, and lo and behold, Paramount ended up releasing one. **[Menkiddooc Nature Preserve](https://shop.legionm.com/products/the-emperors-blades-menkiddoc-nature-preserve-tee?ref=andrewliptak.com) — $25** I've written a bit about Brian Staveley's novels over the years, and his latest is a [great entry in his world](https://www.andrewliptak.com/brian-staveley-empires-ruin-fantasy-interview/). Legion M [optioned](https://deadline.com/2019/12/the-emperors-blades-legion-m-acquires-brian-staveley-novels-weta-workshop-on-board-1202810371/?ref=andrewliptak.com) his Chronicles of the Unhewen Throne trilogy for an animated show, and they've released some merch to tie in with the books, including a neat shirt that ties in with this latest book. I've had a Kettral Athletic Dept. shirt for ages, but this strikes me as something I'd add to my wardrobe. --- You can also pick up a membership for Transfer Orbit, for yourself or for a friend! You can find details [here](https://www.andrewliptak.com/membership/).