Transfer Orbit's 2025 Holiday Gift Guide

A whole bunch of neat books, toys, and other items to gift the nerdy person in your life

Image: Andrew Liptak

The annual holiday gift-buying season is upon us. As has become tradition here at Transfer Orbit, I've put together a special roundup of the various things that I think would make for a good gift this holiday season.

I recommend a lot of books throughout the year, but this list one goes a bit beyond those roundups: I've included books that fall on more of the special / deluxe edition end of the spectrum than your regular trade editions, and there's other items that 've found personally useful in the last year that I'd recommend for you or the nerd-inclined person in your life.

If you're looking for more ideas beyond what you find here, here are the lists from 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. I've also got some more specific recommendations under the Reviews tag, and if you're looking for ideas for books, hit up the Book List tag as well.

Here are my recommendations for the year:

Home

Calamity Ware "Things Could Be Worse" Travel Mug, $29

I've featured Calamity Ware's goods before: I have one of their coffee mugs and I love using it. The company has a whole range of drink and food wares, inspired by the classic Blue Willow China patterns with a bit of a speculative twist: there are monsters, castles, dinosaurs, robots, and all sorts of other creatures lurking around in the artwork.

The latest addition to our cupboards is this travel mug, which fits nicely into a car's cupholder and which holds a bit more than the classic coffee mug.

King Arthur Spice Measuring Spoons, $20

It’s always interesting when you see someone take a commonly-used item and look at it in a new way. Earlier this year, I picked up a set of measuring spoons from King Arthur Flour (headquartered here in Vermont!) The company unveiled a new set of baking tools in 2024, which they say have been redesigned by their bakers. I'm not entirely sure that narrow spoons like this are a real novel thing, but it's a neat change in design from your traditional rounder ones.

In the last year, I've found them to be great to use in the kitchen. They fit nicely through the narrow mouth of spice bottles, which I appreciate, and they're very sold: I've had others bend and just feel kind of flimsy. These are kitchen tools that don’t feel as though they’re going to fall apart after a couple of years, and I’ve already replaced several sets of the cheaper ones that I’d been using.

Reading

Use of Weapons (Folio Society Edition) by Iain M. Banks, $145

Over the last couple of years, The Folio Society has been repackaging Iain M. Banks' Culture novels, starting with Consider Phlebas and Player of Games.

The publishers has continued producing installments of the Culture series this year with the publication of the third book in the series, Use of Weapons. They've kept up with the same art style with artist Dániel Taylor. Like the other two books, it's a stunning edition, and I'm loving how this book looks alongside the others on the shelf.

I recently re-read Consider Phlebas, and I've been itching to read more of the series: friends and fellow readers have told me that Use of Weapons is one of the best books in the series, following a man called Cheradenine Zakalwe who's recruited into the Culture by a Special Circumstances agent named Diziet Sma to help with less advanced civilizations. It's high on my to-read list.

A Wizard of Earthsea: A Graphic Novel by Ursula K. Le Guin and Fred Fordham, $27

One of my favorite fantasy novels is Ursula K. Le Guin's A Wizard of Earthsea, a mindblowing coming-of-age tale of a boy named Sparrowhawk as he learns to become a wizard, and all the mistakes and trials that he encounters along the way. It's a phenomenal read, and earlier this year, Le Guin's estate released a graphic novel adaptation of it.

This is a beautiful take on the book: artist and writer Fred Fordham did a wonderful job capturing the look and feel of Earthsea through his artwork and words. It's a great way to re-experience the story and world.

Neuromancer (40th Anniversary Edition) by William Gibson, £100

Last year marked the 40th anniversary of the publication of William Gibson's seminal novel Neuromancer. I've had a handful of copies over the years, but I've always found the covers wanting, until I came across an exceptional edition published by UK publisher Gollancz.

This is a limited edition hardcover with a stunning cover designed by Daniel Brown and with 25 interior illustrations by Marco Luna. It comes with the usual other bells and whistles: bookmark ribbon, sprayed edges, as well as nice paper and binding.

There's a complication for buying this: it isn't available in a whole bunch of countries, including the United States. I ended up having a UK-based friend order and ship it for me.

This wasn't the only anniversary edition out there: The Folio Society also produced a nice-looking volume that retails for $130 and which comes with art by Anna Mill.

A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter J. Miller, $100

Another of The Folio Society's offerings this year is Walter J. Miller's classic post-apocalyptic novel A Canticle for Leibowitz. Set after a nuclear Armageddon, in what remains of the American southwest, it follows the monks in a monastery as they try and preserve what remains of humanity's knowledge.

This edition looks spectacular: it features an introduction by noted critic Michael Dirda, and interior art by Elliot Lang, including 12 full-color illustrations, 3 part-title illustrations, and 30 illuminated drop-caps at the beginning of each chapter.

Frankenstein (Deluxe Edition) by Mary Shelley, $40

One of my favorite films of the year so far has been Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein, and while I had a copy of the novel, I was never a huge fan of the cover art, so I've been hunting for a new edition that. I ended up settling on Union Square & Co.'s 2023 edition of the novel. It features the 1818 text, as well as some great artwork by John Coulthart and a snazzy plastic dustjacket.

As a bonus, it includes two other notable works connected to Frankenstein: John Polidori's The Vampyre and Lord Byron's "The Darkness", both of which were created during that fated evening party that the trio held in 1816, when they suggested that they all tell one another ghost stories, ultimately leading to Frankenstein's conception and publication.

I've complained before about how some of these "deluxe" editions are essentially a repackaged version of the original trade edition, but in this case, the type, paper, binding, and whole package is great and I loved reading this edition this fall.

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith Deluxe Edition by Matthew Stover, $60

You know that saying that the book is better than the movie? That's not usually the case with movie novelizations, but when it came to writing the novelization for Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, Matthew Stover was cooking with something. It's an extraordinary read.

The novel elevates the film in so many ways, and to commemorate this year's 20th anniversary of the film, Random House Worlds has re-released it in deluxe edition form. Not only is the packaging on point: a great new cover, see-through dust jacket, and metallic red sprayed edges, they got Stover to go back in and annotate the text, adding a new depth and insights into the story. It's a great way to reexperience the story.

The American Revolution: An Intimate History by Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns, $80

I'd be remiss if I didn't include some sort of regular history book here. Ken Burns and his collaborators recently released their latest big documentaries on PBS, The American Revolution, which explores the conflict over the course of 12 hours in great detail. The 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence comes in 2026, so it's a good time to read up on the story of the nation's founding.

Like his other documentaries, Burns has teamed up with historian Geoffrey C. Ward to produce a companion book, The American Revolution: An Intimate History. Like the documentary, it's a fascinating look at the conflict, providing a great overview of the war's origins, how it played out, and what the impact was. I loved reading along with the series as I watched: it's loaded with lots of artwork and maps, and it makes for a great fixture on one's coffee table.

I'd also recommend their other companion books for The Civil War, Jazz, The War, The Vietnam War, and The National Parks.

Toys & Games

Brick-Built Star Wars Logo, $60

There's a business case study to be written about how Lego has gone from beloved toy company to one that has shifted a lot of focus to the adult collectable market, with kits that are increasing in complexity, detail, and price. I've been puzzled by some of the kits that they've released in recent years, like this one of the Marvel logo: something to build, stick on a shelf, and let is sit.

But that seems to be a big part of the collector's market: building elaborate display pieces (which I have to say, I've done myself, with a handful of sets). All of that said, I think this year's Star Wars logo kit is something that I'd happy pick up and build and display somewhere.

Split Fiction, $50

I picked this game up on the recommendation of a bunch of people earlier this year, and was immediately delighted with the premise: two authors (Mio, science fiction and Zoe, fantasy) arrive at a tech company to try out an experimental device that will allow them to experience their stories. Mio tries to back out and ends up getting stuck in Zoe's simulation bubble, causing the machine to glitch and sending the two polar-opposite characters crashing into their own worlds, where they'll now have to escape.

My son and I played this through and it's a lot of fun as we raced through science fiction and fantasy levels. I have a lot of fond memories of playing games like Breath of the Wild and Halo with him when he was younger, and this game is entirely cooperative. It made for a nice bonding experience, one that I'm glad we were able to share. Plus, it's about authors fighting against giant tech companies trying to profit off of their IP. It's like it was made for me.

Wearables & Accessories

2046 Print Shop's Black Hole 2.0 shirt, $32

A couple of years ago, I picked up one of 2046 Print Shop's shirts, Starship, and I've loved it. It's held up wonderfully in that time without fading or ripping, and I adore the design. For my birthday, my wife bought me their black hole graphic shirt, and I've been enjoying having that in the rotation.

The company is something of a design studio and apparel shop that focuses on a whole range space and science-themed shirts, often with a great, minimalist design. They've subtly nerdy and are a nice departure from shirts with branded logos, weird memes, or dumb in-jokes. They have a bunch of others that I've got my eye on, such as gravitational waves, interstellar, orbit, and more. They also sell a monthly subscription, where you can get a new shirt each month.

Aftermath's "Destroy AI" shirt (white/black), $30

I love the look of this shirt from the cooperatively-run gaming website Aftermath. It's got a simple message: Destroy AI, with some very cool artwork from Kim Hu.

I've accumulated a ton of shirts over the years, and I'm finding that I'm starting to gravitate towards ones that look different and go beyond the stock logo on a pocket or in the center, something that uses the entire surface as a canvas, and this really does it for me. I picked mine up earlier this year, and I love wearing it. The colors are great, and it's super comfortable.

Automatic Noodle Torso Cover, $25

One of my favorite reads of the year so far is Annalee Newitz's novella Automatic Noodle, a fun little adventure about a group of robots making their way in a dystopian San Francisco as they deal with the realities of building a business and dealing with online trolls.

To complement the book, Newitz launched a store that mirrors its in-universe counterpart that sells merch for the store, Automatic Noodle. I had to pick up one of the shirts, which features their logo. It's super comfortable, and I love the minimalist and quirky logo.

Black Series Shoretrooper helmet, $110

One of my favorite trooper designs from Star Wars is the Imperial Shoretrooper, which first popped up in Rogue One which has since made appearances in The Mandalorian and Andor.

Hasbro has added the helmet to its Black Series lineup, and it looks great: a solid wearable for a costume (although I imagine it would need some slight modifications to be eligible for 501st Legion membership)or just great display piece for one’s nerd cave.

Lochby Sidekick, $29

Back in 2020, I came across a neat company called Lochby, run by a US Army veteran named Chris Elfering, who designed some waxed canvas accessories for writers. I ended up picking up their Field Journal and Tool Roll, and I can honestly say that I've probably used them every day since and I've been impressed with how well they've held up in those five years.

The company's released a handful of other items since, but earlier his year, they released something that I had a real need of: a wallet. I fell in love with this the moment I got it.

It's about the size of my phone and is made from the same waxed canvas as my other two items. It all folds together neatly and compactly and I've got plenty of space for my cards and cash, but what clinched it for me is that the spine has a slot for a pen and there's a tiny corner slot that's the perfect size for an AirTag. I reviewed mine earlier this year, and since then, the company has released a second version, which has some minor improvements.

Szanto Desert Sands Watch, $245

I featured the Szanto Heritage Aviator watch back in 2021 for this list, and last Christmas, my wife gifted me a new one from the company: their Desert Sands Chronograph 4551.

When I bought that first one, it was a toss-up between it and this one, I'm glad that I've added this to my collection. I love look and feel of the black case, and the typeface (particularly the prominent 12 and 6), as well as the sturdy leather strap. I've been wearing it regularly in the last year, and it's something that fits nicely with my work wardrobe.

Writing

Blackwing 602 pencils, 12 count, $32

For years, I've used pens almost exclusively, but earlier this year, one of my coworkers turned me onto Blackwing. The company has a neat story: it was a coveted writing instrument that had vanished when the company making them went out of business. In 2008, a new company, California Cedar Products Company, acquired the brand name and set about recreating it, which is what this new product is.

The ones that I picked up are a limited edition from their Volumes collection, #746: The Golden Gate Bridge Pencil. I've found that I love writing with them: the graphite flows smoothly across the paper (much better than the Dixon Ticonderoga pencils that I grew up using.) Unfortunately, they start off a little long to stick into the tool roll I use for pens to start, but after a little while, they eventually do fit neatly.

As a bit of a bonus, I picked up a Mobius & Ruppert Brass Round pencil sharpener, which I've got tucked away in my bag and which sharpens these pencils to a very nice point.

Lochby A5 Notepad (4 pack), $34

Years ago, I picked up Lochby's Field Journal, and it's one of those items that I use pretty regularly in my writing and work lives. It's a durable and excellent journal that holds a bunch of the company's notepads.

Those notepads are excellent: ink doesn't stain through them and as I've been writing notes and other things longhand, I've found that these are outstanding notebooks for the task: my pens glide easily across them, and I've got no trouble filling them up with my scribbling.

Rhodia N° 16 Notebook, $8

Also on the notebook front, I was gifted one of these notebooks last year, and I've put it to use. Because I'm left-handed, I tend to have trouble with notebooks that are spiral-bound on the left side, so I prefer the top-bound pads such as this one. The paper here is excellent, and it's a good size to stick into a pocket or my bag for writing notes from meetings or jotting down thoughts on the go.

Talking Out of Turn Jotter Pen, $3

While I've come to enjoy using fountain pens, I've also been on the hunt for some good, cheaper pens. I found those in the form of Talking Out of Turn's Jotter Pens, which I've found I like far more than your typical Pilot or Bic alternatives. They have some excellent ink that's super reliable and smooth, and they come in a wild range of colors (I picked up a navy blue and olive green).