Every Place Has a Story

Vancouver in 2050

FacebookTwitterShare
Michael Kluckner's Vancouver 1996
Michael Kluckner’s Vancouver 1996

Fans of Michael Kluckner’s history books—Vanishing Vancouver, Vancouver the Way it Was, and several others of his beautifully illustrated history books, might find his latest release a big departure. 2050, A Post-apocalyptic Murder Mystery is a graphic novel, a fictional account of a Vancouver that has been ravished by disease, climate change and a benevolent dictator who keeps the population poor to reduce their carbon footprint and ultimately save the planet. You’ll recognize Orwell, Huxley, and a nod to Mayor Robertson, with “Pleasant Planet”—a drink that keeps the populace both happy and sterile.

Toshiko, 1944
Toshiko, 1944

Michael came up with the idea on a trip to Cuba a few years back. “What intrigued me, was the way that people were cobbling the old cars together and keeping them going,” he said. “They were fixing things rather than just throwing things away, and I couldn’t figure out whether this was the future or whether this was the past.”

From 2050
From 2050

Michael took out his sketch pad and drew buildings in old Havana that had collapsed into the street from lack of maintenance, but still provided homes for people. He drew people fishing from inner tubes, the horses and carriages that provided transportation, and the posters of Che Guevara telling people to keep faith in the revolution.

Vancouver Remembered, 2004
Vancouver Remembered, 2004

Following a war over water, a significantly reduced population due to flu (not real estate prices), and water levels that have risen to massive proportions, Vancouver 30 plus years into the future isn’t all that recognizable. Fortunately, some things have endured.

Toshiko, 1944
Toshiko, 1944

There’s the Marine building for instance. Other Vancouver landmarks are the Burrard Bridge (or rather the top of it), the Carnegie Community Centre, and Hastings Street.

2050
2050

It’s Michael’s second graphic novel, Toshiko—set in the Shuswap and Vancouver during the Second World War, came out last year.

© All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, all blog content copyright Eve Lazarus.

FacebookTwitterShare

3 comments on “Vancouver in 2050”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.