Retro Sci-Fi Vehicles: Concept vs. Reality

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I’ve written a little in the past about my affinity for the retro science-fiction theme, especially in artwork, that combines retro-looking styles with futuristic technology. It’s one of several reasons I’ve long been drawn to the work of Belgian illustrator and graphic artist, Laurent Durieux.

Here’s some of his stuff:

I mean, talk about traveling in style! Truth be told, a very young John Daly used to sketch vehicles that looked pretty similar to those at his classroom desk, when he was supposed to be paying attention to his elementary school teachers.

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Over the years, I’ve seen real life architecture built in the retro science-fiction motif, and have found it very impressive. But until very recently, American society hasn’t seen a whole lot in the arena of automobiles (at least beyond some very limited novelty releases) make its way into mainstream culture. I guess one could argue that the DMC DeLorean, popularized by the Back to the Future franchise, fits the bill. But even at the height of that particular vehicle’s popularity, it was very rarely spotted in the wild.

That’s changed thanks to Elon Musk… though I’m not sure “thanks” is the right word.

Pictured above, of course, is the Tesla Cybertruck. The model was released to the general public late last year, and today it’s not unusual for me to see one cruising through my town or elsewhere in Northern Colorado.

As I explained, someone like me should (in theory) appreciate the effort more than the average Joe. But frankly, I think the car looks god-awful. I’m not the only one who believes that, of course. Lots of people have been voicing this opinion over the last year. I suspect at least some of that sentiment comes from people’s feelings on Elon Musk himself, who’s become a very controversial figure.

I, myself, have conflicting views on the man. I recognize and appreciate his creative genius that has led to important inventions and innovations, while also believing that his routine personal amplification of dangerous lies and conspiracy theories has done non-trivial damage to our culture. But I’m quite confident that my personal thoughts on Musk have nothing to do with my assessment that the Cybertruck really is an ugly automobile.

I feel pretty much the same about the recently unveiled Tesla Cybercab, though I do think it looks better than the Cybertruck.

Maybe it’s not Musk’s fault. Maybe it’s just that this style of vehicles looks amazing in conceptual artwork, but doesn’t (and can’t) translate well to reality. Maybe there’s a reason car manufacturers other than Tesla have never really bothered.

But hey, I suppose beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If there’s a market for these types of vehicles, why not produce them?

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Have thoughts on this topic? Let me know them in an email or in the comment section below.

The Hullabaloo

I recorded two episodes of the Daly Express podcast this week. One was with victims advocate (and TikTok celebrity), Kimberly Corban. We talked about sexual abuse and awareness. Here is a preview clip:

The other episode was with American Enterprise Institute (AEI) Senior Fellow, Brent Orrell. We talked primarily about workforce issues. Here’s a preview of that one:

You can watch the full video versions on BernardGoldberg.com, or listen to the full audio podcasts on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Be Prepared for the Holidays

I’m often asked, “John, what’s the perfect gift for a beloved friend or family member?”

And I say, “I think we both know the answer. It’s a signed, personalized copy of one of my Sean Coleman Thrillers.”

Fortunately, they’re available through my website.

Random Thought

Obligatory Dog Shot

Got her sploot on.

Featured Vinyl

I consider Kenny Loggins the undisputed king of 1980s’ soundtracks, and I think his first movie song may just be his best: “I’m Alright” from Caddyshack. There are other Loggins tunes on this album, and Journey even makes an appearance with “Any Way You Want It.”

But aside from the music, I just love the poster art for the era’s screwball comedies. They so often captured the films’ characters and stars in a way that still photos couldn’t.

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading today’s Daly Grind.

Want to drop me a line? You can email me at johndalybooks@hotmail.com, and also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and now Threads! If you haven’t subscribed to this newsletter yet, please click on the “Subscribe now” button below. Doing so will get these posts emailed directly to you.

Also, if you’re not caught up on my Sean Coleman Thrillers, you can pick the entire series up at a great price on Amazon. And if you’re interested in signed, personalized copies of my books, you can order them directly from my website.

Take care. And I’ll talk to you soon!

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