Okay, this might not be completely retro (although romance novels have been around a looong time, and so many of those book covers are admired by enthusiasts of pop culture cheese like myself) Well, I just think that these personalized romance novels are an interesting gift idea that might provide a solution for those who are always looking for something a bit different.

Oh, yeah! Nothing but corn as far as your eyes can see! You’re on the interstate, in the backseat of your parents station wagon. You’re bored, and hungry, and hot, and your bladder’s full. When suddenly, rising out of the cornfield, a bright yellow sign with beautiful red letters announces to the weary traveler that an oasis lies just beyond the next hill. Stuckey’s offered more than just temporary relief — air conditioning and bathrooms — there were games, and souvenirs, and activity books, and snacks, and tapes, and fun t-shirts — something for everyone!

The word “robot” first appeared in czech writer Karel Čapek’s 1921 science fiction story R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots). It reportedly was coined by Karel’s brother, Josef Čapek, a painter, based off the Czech word for “forced labor”. Years later the word was popularized by the great science fiction writer Isaac Asimov around 1950 with his Three Laws of Robotics. I personally am a huge fan of Asimov’s robot stories, 1950s retro robots, as well as a fan of today’s hobby robots.

Earlier in the 20th century, many science fiction writers assumed we’d at least have robots living with us by the 21st century doing our chores for us and secretly plotting to take over the world. Well, we do live with a great deal of automated devices now but, for most of us, still nothing as sophisticated as a walking, talking computerized person.

I’m speaking in general terms here, you know, the average household. However, if you have gobs of extra money to spend you might already have a walking, talking robot in your home like Sony’s humanoid robots and here or Japan’s Repliee which causes a double-take as it looks human.

Newer models have been made to look even more human, but are realistic-looking robots what we really want? After the initial fascination subsides, I think it would ultimately elicit an uncomfortable feeling. Why not let them remain boxy or sleek with chrome and bright colorful lights?