Kicking off the new year here with some of the latest acquisitions.

Books

Two standout design books showed up end of 2024 and right after the new year, both published by Volume.

Fred Troller Design Special Edition – The first comprehensive survey of the work of a pioneering graphic designer who brought Swiss modernism to America in the 1960s, via influential projects for clients such as Geigy, American Airlines and IBM. (2024)

WipEout: Futurism Studio.Build Edition – A limited Studio.Build-branded edition of the definitive book on the WipEout videogame franchise, conceived by The Designers Republic alumnus Michael C Place. (2024)

Both are sold out, but if you’re interested in getting your hands on the WipEout book, you’re in luck. A mass market edition was published by Thames & Hudson.

Fun and Games

Picked up Space Privateer Command, a solo card game of space adventure, resource management and combat. It was created by illustrator Scott Vanden Bosch, whose work I’m a big fan of. The game is explained and sold here. And if you find yourself in need of a regular dose of illustrated space peeps and cyberpunk adverts, I highly recommend giving Scott a follow on your social media platform of choice.

Sticking with the space theme, I could not pass up the new LEGO Blacktron set that was just released— though I have no idea where I will display the thing once I put it together. And I recently got a neat little Soviet-era space souvenir that was easier to find a home for. It’s a wooden rocket, with cosmonauts standing in front of it and rendered in a manner that quite approriately blends and unifies the figures, with CCCP emblazoned across the front of their red suits. One is missing an arm, but maybe I can fix that.

Film

Received my limited edition box set for Nigel Kneale’s The Stone Tape. Released for the first time on Blu-ray. With some great art and special features.

“Broadcast by the BBC on Christmas Day 1972 to critical acclaim, The Stone Tape sees Kneale employing his trademark fusion of science fiction and supernatural horror to terrifying effect, and ranks among the legendary screenwriter’s best work.”

And just pre-ordered a special edition release of the 1990 cyberpunk slasher Hardware, that is coming soon from Umbrella Home Entertainment. Looking forward to seeing what kind of production art is included in the book.

Listening

"Newly Forgotten Technologies: Stories from AI-Free Futures" by Wesley Goatley

"Your Community Hub" by Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan