Favorite Book into Film, Not Yet Done? by Indigo

OTHER SCIENCE FICTION SERIES

Favorite Book into Film, Not Yet Done?

POSTED BY: INDIGO
UPDATED: Tuesday, September 4, 2007 07:39
SHORT URL:
VIEWED: 47325
PAGE 4 of 4

Friday, November 17, 2006 5:08 PM

Yep, Ringworld is the first that came to my mind too. I'm perplexed it hasn't been done, in fact. Thirty years ago it was a case of "wouldn't it be great, but you couldn't, how could you possibly do Nessus and Speaker and make them look right?" Nowadays they would be well within CGI state of the art (though it could be done well and could be done badly -- doing it well would involve actually thinking hard about alien skeletal structure, musculature, and so on. Start with Bonnie Dalzell's pictures and work from there...) Let's face it, Ringworld would be a special effects extravaganza with plot and character a distant second, but what a feast for the eyes it could be if done right.

And yes, a lot of the Known Space stories could make good movies. My Niven guilty pleasure is Protector; the biological premise is preposterous (I keep waiting for it to be retconned in the Ringworld sequels -- after all, the premise was stated by a space miner who'd been told it by an alien; the miner could've misunderstood, the alien could've lied) but it's a great story and could be a great movie... possibly two great movies.

Speaking of novels that could be several great movies... Stephenson's Baroque Cycle. Just the first few chapters of The Confusion (the part up through Cairo) could be the basis for a wonderful movie -- though, I admit, one with little or no SF/fantasy content.

What else? (I admit I haven't read this whole thread, so excuse any redundancy.) Practically any of the Discworld books, naturally, but even more so Good Omens; Terry Gilliam was going to do that one, and it would've been brilliant, but that project died, alas.

Any of the earlier Miles Vorkosigan books by Lois McMaster Bujold. The later ones are good, but I don't think they'd translate to film as well. You'd kind of have to start with The Warrior's Apprentice and go on from there, but the one I'd really look forward to as a movie is Brothers In Arms. Come to think of it, I know who might be a great choice to direct. Initials are J. W.

And for something completely different, Connie Willis's To Say Nothing of the Dog.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Friday, November 17, 2006 6:09 PM

TRAVELER

They actually did make a movie of the book I'm thinking about back in the sixties, but it was a poor adaptation. They actually left out the most important aspect of the story. The book is "The Spiral Road" by Jan de Hartog. The scenes he discribes in the book are so vivid. The people go through such unbelievable epiphanies. He reminds me of John Irving. I was so disappointed in the treatment of the story when that horrible movie came out. Hartog deserved so much more. But we have new authors, like Irving, who are having their day. Jan de Hartog has been passed up and forgotten.

Traveler

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, November 19, 2006 2:24 PM

BROWNCOATJIM

I'd like to see a book by Stephen King called "From a Buick 8" made into a movie. I had drifted away from Stephen king for a long time, but the title caught my eye (I am an unabashed motorhead), and this turned out to be just one hell of a dandy story. Strongly recommend it to anyone.

Simon: "Were there any Feds?"
mal: "No, no Feds, just an honest brawl between folk."

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, November 19, 2006 2:28 PM

GOMITHROUS

Okay I'm not going to read through ALL of these posts so I don't know if it's been said yet but I think The Legend of Drizzt books would make great movies. Drizzt is the shizznit!

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Friday, November 24, 2006 3:57 PM

CLJOHNSTON108

Oooh! I just remembered... There's a new sheriff in town, and his name's Scalzi, John Scalzi!
http://www.scalzi.com/books/

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Saturday, November 25, 2006 11:34 PM

SHAMELESS

Nooooo way I'm reading this whole thread...

Anyways:
Some of the Pern books by Anne McCaffery.
His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman (actually, it's in production, but I wanted that to be a movie before it even got going, back when I was Lyra's age)
Brightly Burning by Mercedes Lackey
The Magic of Recluce and The Towers of Sunset by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
Ender's Game
Anything by Hemingway (hehehehehe)

RPG launcher bought in third world country illegally - $10
Landmines - $50 per
Attack/track dogs bred 1st class - $250-500 per
Highpowered assault rifles - $600 per
The look on your face when I show up on your doorstep with a bigfoot - ... Priceless

When watching Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in theaters:
In the Shrieking Shack, with Sirius Black (Quote #1) and Harry Potter (Quote #2):
"It's Jesus!"
"Harry Potter's the AntiChrist!"

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, November 26, 2006 12:46 AM

BABYWITHTHEPOWER

Quote:
Originally posted by seryn:
The other books i'd love to see done are American Gods by Neil Gaiman, I could see Matthew Fox from Lost as Shadow (as long as they didn't try to play on his looks), And some gruff grizzled blonde guy as mr Wednesday...

I knew someone on here would beat me to this one, but I definately second it. It would be great. I know they never really pinpointed his nationality it in the book, but it was implied that Shadow was at least partially black (mention that in prison a guard was asking) so though I like Matthew Fox, I could never accept him as Shadow in the movie. That being said, I think Leonard Roberts would be perfect for Shadow (didn't really know him before his role on 'Heroes') and for some reason the whole time I was reading the book I kept picturing Charles Dance (Benedict from The Last Action Hero) as Mr. Wednesday. As for who to direct, I'd have to go with Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind). He wouldn't get obsessed with big budgets and would, in my opinion, do the characters justice.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'll be in my bunk.
http://www.myspace.com/babywiththepower
http://members17.clubphoto.com/michael809717/guest-1.phtml

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, November 26, 2006 7:52 AM

SERYN

really? See all through the book the second time i read it (after the post up there) i was seeing him as slightly native american (or indian, or american indian or whatever)

which now i think of it, is kind of ridiculous seeing as

Select to view spoiler:

his dad is a norse god

But there you go.

so, all in all, Matthew Fox is out.

If we're going the

Select to view spoiler:

norse heritage

route, keeping the lost cast in jobs, can we have the guy who plays Sawyer? Not cause i think he's like an oscar winning actor or anything, but just cause i'd enjoy two hours of big screen him.

what?!?

EDIT: did i get any of that right? am i talking about another book? I'm loosing the ability to trust my own brain...

Isn't sanity really a one trick pony, anyway? I mean all you get is one trick, rational thinking! But when you're good and crazy...ooh hoo hoo hoo... the skys the limit!
http://www.myspace.com/seryndippyt

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, November 26, 2006 8:21 AM

JOSSISAGOD

Anything Star Wars:Young Jedi Knights or beyond. I'm uncertain about who to cast though.

Edit: Did I REALLY forget that I had already responded to this thread a few post up? oh, well.

Fe'nos Tol
JOSSIS(Most Definitely)AGOD

Self appointed Forsaken! Been on the list for a while now!

98% of teens have smoked pot, if you are one of the 2% that haven't, copy this into your signature.
"Look at me, I'm STUPID!" The Doctor.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, November 26, 2006 9:23 AM

BABYWITHTHEPOWER

Quote:
Originally posted by seryn:
EDIT: did i get any of that right? am i talking about another book? I'm loosing the ability to trust my own brain...

I'll have to read it again to be sure, which isn't a bad thing in my mind, I've read it like four times. I think you have the right book, but I can't remember all the details. I just remember that Neil was ver vague about his ethnicity, and I think he was on purpose. I think we need to call in Hell's Kitten for a ruling on this one.

Also, I assume you've seen Neverwhere. I couldn't have been happier with the casting. I wish the cinematography was a little richer, but the grittyness definately added something.

Quote:
Originally posted by jossisagod:
Anything Star Wars:Young Jedi Knights or beyond. I'm uncertain about who to cast though.

Another great series of books. *hangs head in shame for forgetting about it*. It's too bad Jewel Staite has already done Kaylee because I think she'd be a perfect Jaina Solo. For anyone that hasn't read the series she's a Jedi with a knack for machinery. She built a working TIE Fighter out of scrap and added a sublight engine to it, all by the time she was 15. Jacen Solo is a little tougher, though I think Joseph Gordon-Levitt (10 things I hate about you, 3rd Rock From the Sun) could pull it off. If he was younger I'd say Heath Ledger for Zekk. Tell me he doesn't look perfect in this pic (sans the long hair):

As for Tenel Ka, you'd need someone who is powerful, both in body and mind, beautiful and believable in all the transitions Tenel Ka makes throughout the series. This is by far, in my opinion, the hardest character to cast. Had the movie been made back in 1988, I'd say Joanne Whalley (Sorsha from the movie Willow) would have been perfect. But as this is not the case, I'd have to say I'd like to see Lucasfilm take their normal stance and cast an unknown and bring a new actress with all those qualities into the lime light.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'll be in my bunk.
http://www.myspace.com/babywiththepower
http://members17.clubphoto.com/michael809717/guest-1.phtml

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, November 26, 2006 9:29 AM

CYBERSNARK

Quote:
Originally posted by babywiththepower:
As for Tenel Ka, you'd need someone who is powerful, both in body and mind, beautiful and believable in all the transitions Tenel Ka makes throughout the series. This is by far, in my opinion, the hardest character to cast. Had the movie been made back in 1988, I'd say Joanne Whalley (Sorsha from the movie Willow) would have been perfect. But as this is not the case, I'd have to say I'd like to see Lucasfilm take their normal stance and cast an unknown and bring a new actress with all those qualities into the lime light.

How would Summer look with red hair?

Her face might be too expressive though. Tenel Ka's best humour is completely deadpan.

-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, November 26, 2006 9:42 AM

SERYN

Quote:
Originally posted by babywiththepower:
Also, I assume you've seen Neverwhere. I couldn't have been happier with the casting. I wish the cinematography was a little richer, but the grittyness definately added something.

the thing with neverwhere was it was filmed on a certain type of stock, with the creator intending to do something in post prod. to make it look glossier. I can't remember what, but the article (and old issue of SFX) mentioned a series where it was done that looked great, and won all sorts of admiration for its style.

Had this been done it would have looked similar to many of the other shows we have now = possibly Firefly i think, glossy and interestingly lit, but in a warm dark way.
But like you say, the grittyness added something - who wants a nice glossy show about the tube? Just wouldn't fit.

Plus - they're most of the way through making a movie of Stardust - i was kind of excited (probably my least favorite of his books) until i read that Sienna Miller was in it.

Blah.

Isn't sanity really a one trick pony, anyway? I mean all you get is one trick, rational thinking! But when you're good and crazy...ooh hoo hoo hoo... the skys the limit!
http://www.myspace.com/seryndippyt

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, November 26, 2006 10:50 AM

NEWOLDBROWNCOAT

another one:
A Star Trek fan novel called How Much For Just The Planet? by a guy named John M Ford.
Classic Trek, the original cast ( 'course you'd have to replace Scotty and Bones...) The crew and the Klingons compete over a planet that has lots of dilithium ore, inhabited by a bunch of comedians and stage actors who want to be left alone. Lots of slapstick and physical comedy, people dangling off the sides of buildings, a giant cream-pie fight at the end, lots of harmless action and adventure.
Funny stuff...

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, November 26, 2006 10:53 AM

BLUEEYEDBRIGADIER

Let's see....favourite book(s) into film that has NOT been done yet, eh? Hmm...I would go with the following:

1) "In Death" series by J.D. Robb - I am truly surprised no studio or network has tried touching these books yet. They're entertaining, but not deep or insanely complex. Lots of action, with romance and mystery thrown in. Could honestly argue that Joss could work magic with these, in that we got mucho strong female characters, lots of twisted romance, crazy-detailed backstory for the setting (2059 NYC) and lots of material for working on Big Ideas about social behaviour.

2) Neal Stephenson's "Baroque Cycle" of books would be really cool as a mini-series or a long series of movies. Cuz their freaking jam-packed with goodness and characters and history and science. Edutainment at its finest;). Maybe get someone like Guillermo del Toro to work them.

3) Patrick Robinson's "Admiral Morgan" series - I know that's not what the books are really referred to as, but because of their changing themes, the character of Arnold Morgan is the only major constant. That and I think they would great movies. Can't really think of a director for these, since I think the really talented directors for military films are deceased.

4) Arthur C. Clarke's "Childhood's End - it's been tossed out, but damn it! This needs to be filmed! Probably would have to change bits to modernize it (US vs. Soviet interstellar vehicle race? Uh...tad too 60s for now).

5) "Starship Troopers" by Robert A. Heinlein - while I enjoyed the movie, I can't really support it as a book-to-film adaptation of any success. Verhoven went to wonky with a number of the themes Heinlein used in the book. While it's biased, I think Heinlein and this book in particular really suit Joss' sensabilities when he is willing to work with ideas developed by others. Lots of themes for Our Fearful Leader to experiment with.

6) W.E.B. Grifin's "The Corps" series - brilliant novels looking at a specific group of Marines during the lead-up to WWII, the war itself and the Korean War. Very much like Mament's "The Unit," in that we get lots of action, but with tons of kitchen sink and character moments to balance things out. Mamet himself I think could wonders for this, if only doing the adapting work. Eastwood could direct possibly.

7) Stephen Coonts' "Jake Grafton" series - the first story got made into a film but I don't think it was the best piece of cinematography ever. That and they changed the ending to be more "dramatic." Still, first couple of books deal with Vietnam, so there could be parallels drawn to Iraq if someone wanted to go all Altman-like.

8) Joe Buff's "Challenger" series (personal name for books) - action film with science-fiction undertone (2011 setting during Third World War with limited nuclear exchanges), lots of character exploration and thriller aspects. Plus, it's a big non-preachy warning against nuclear warfare

9) Joshua Neuman's "The Big Book of Jewish Conspiracies" - if you think "Borat" was hiliarious in its lambasting of anti-Semetic behaviour, then this would beat the living tar out of that film! Some tweaking to make the stories form a linked narrative, but the sheer brillance of Neuman's comedic pokes at famous anti-Semitc conspiracies is undescribably amusing.

10) Michael A. Stackpole's "X-Wing" series - yeah, it's Star Wars-related...but it's a lot less directly linked to the core storyline of the Sexology That Lucas Built. Some cameos by the OT big guns, but it's mostly Wedge and the Rogues (Luke and Wedge's squadron during "The Empire Strikes Back") flying, dying and crying. That and we explore the after-effects of ROTJ on both the galaxy at large and the people living on the affected planets.

Literature has shown us some of humanity's greatest achievements; history, some of our greatest failures -- Alun Lewis

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, November 26, 2006 11:51 AM

REGINAROADIE

I don't know if this has been mentioned yet, but one book that I read a while back made me think "There is no way that this book could be faithfully adapted." That book was UP THE LINE by Robert Silverberg. I only heard about it on the DVD commentary track for BACK TO THE FUTURE PART II, when I think Neil Canton mentions it as one of the influences on the trilogy.

Basically, this book is the time travel story to end all time travel stories. It's about a guy who decides to become a tour guide for a travel company that sends people to different eras in human history. And of course, someone fucks something up in the past, and while it doesn't change the future irrevocably, it sets off this big chase through time and becomes a real mind fuck. And the story ends with the main character banished to the dawn of man and his employers not killing him, but making sure that he never existed in the first place.

And this book will never be made into a movie for two big reasons. 1) The majority of the book takes place in different periods of the Byzantine Era, thus making the budget ginormous since it's not one historical peroid but several. And 2) The book deals specifically with enough paradoxes and doubles and triples to make BACK TO THE FUTURE 2 look like DEJA VU, which is probably the most simplistic time travel movie I've seen yet.

**************************************************
"We have five million Cybermen. How many are you?"
"Four"
You would destroy the Cybermen with four Daleks?"
"We would destroy the Cybermen with ONE Dalek. You are superior in only one respect."
"What is that?"
"You are better at dying."

Trash talk between a Cyberman and a Dalek. It doesn't get any better than that.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, November 26, 2006 12:10 PM

NEWOLDBROWNCOAT

Quote:
Originally posted by reginaroadie:
"There is no way that this book could be faithfully adapted." That book was UP THE LINE by Robert Silverberg.

I read it about a millenium ago while I was a teenager. While I agree with everything you've said aboui it, it is also so porno that it's practically a sci-fi stroke book.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, November 26, 2006 2:03 PM

SIRI

Oh, this is a really fun idea!

Two of my top picks would be "Ender's Game" and "The Dark Materials" already discussed. I would hate to see Dark Materials "meddled with" too much, tho.

Some other choices that I didn't see are:

"Alamut" and "Dagger Cross" by Judith Tarr - 2 book set - fantasy/historical fiction set in times of the crusades in Jerusalum. Magical and believable - she does a great job of blending reality.

Almost anything by Morgan Llywelyn - Two of my favorites historical fiction - "Here Be Dragons" and sequels set in Wales during time of English Conquest; "Brian Boru" story of the last of Irish Kings come to mind.

Starhawks "Fifth Sacred Thing" futuristic also magical, ecological collapse, authoritarian state, good vs. evil.

"Well, they have guns."

Siri

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, November 26, 2006 4:03 PM

ASORTAFAIRYTALE

I would love to see one or any of Tamora Pierce's series made into movies. Especially the Song of the Lioness series. I enjoyed all of her books, and I really think that they would make very shiny movies as well.

---------
Love keeps her in the air when she outta fall down, tells you she's hurting before she keels. Makes her a home.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, November 26, 2006 4:45 PM

MAZAEN

Jean M Auels Shelter's of Stone is a really unique book about a girl who is raised with prehistoric humans. This book based on historical facts.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, November 26, 2006 6:16 PM

BABYWITHTHEPOWER

Another one I failed to mention (mainly because I can't remember their titles) is a fantasy retellng of the American Civil War, with elves, magic, the works. The two warring countries even had the same flags as the Union and Confederate armies. I'll have to get the titles of these pooks and post them here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'll be in my bunk.
http://www.myspace.com/babywiththepower
http://members17.clubphoto.com/michael809717/guest-1.phtml

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, November 26, 2006 7:59 PM

SINGATE

Quote:
Originally posted by LittleAlbatross29:
I have to ask off subject of the movies - were you happy with the Ending of The Dark Tower ? It is one of my most beloved stories & would love to hear your opinion.

Bryce
*************************************

Perhaps the most non-Hollywood ending I have ever seen/read. I would be amazed if this were made into a movie and the ending wasn't changed. I agree with another poster who was a bit disappointed with the portrayal of the Crimson King and the way he was dispatched. Also, if you have read any of King's other works he weaves bits of the Dark Tower into almost every story. If I remember it correctly(from Insomnia) there were supposed to be other things in the Tower but they were strangely absent at the conclusion of the series.

Back on topic. I would like to see Michael Moorcock's Elric series put on film. The conclusion of the story is another non-Hollywood type ending.

_________________________________________________

We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far.

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, November 27, 2006 2:07 AM

JOSSISAGOD

Quote:
Originally posted by babywiththepower:

Quote:
Originally posted by jossisagod:
Anything Star Wars:Young Jedi Knights or beyond. I'm uncertain about who to cast though.

Another great series of books. *hangs head in shame for forgetting about it*. It's too bad Jewel Staite has already done Kaylee because I think she'd be a perfect Jaina Solo. For anyone that hasn't read the series she's a Jedi with a knack for machinery. She built a working TIE Fighter out of scrap and added a sublight engine to it, all by the time she was 15.

I'm not sure, but the way I read it Jaina fixed up a crashed TIE from The Battle of Yavin(mostly in one piece, with damage to the Radiation/Solar collection panel.) Did I read that wrong? It wouldn't be the first time!

For Jaina, I'm stuck in a tie(pun intended) between Lacey Chabert and Jewel. from to cover art Lacey looks more the part, but jewel played a machanically inclined young adult.
And, yeah, dye his hair a little darker and heath would almost be Zekk.

Fe'nos Tol
JOSSIS(Most Definitely)AGOD

Self appointed Forsaken! Been on the list for a while now!

98% of teens have smoked pot, if you are one of the 2% that haven't, copy this into your signature.
"Look at me, I'm STUPID!" The Doctor.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, November 27, 2006 3:08 AM

BABYWITHTHEPOWER

No, you're right. I meant to say 'rebuilt' not 'built'.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'll be in my bunk.
http://www.myspace.com/babywiththepower
http://members17.clubphoto.com/michael809717/guest-1.phtml

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, November 27, 2006 4:27 AM

ARBAS

Elric of Melnibone - Michael Moorcock
The Hawkmoon Trilogy - Michael Moorcock

Druss the Legend - David Gemmel

Bloodstone - Karl Edward Wagner
Darkness Weaves - Karl Edward Wagner

Several of the Games Workshop 40k novels would make a good film as well.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Tuesday, November 28, 2006 7:53 PM

FORGE

Another that I think would be a great movie would be "The Immortals" by Tracy Hickman

This book is nothing like the rest of his work(which I really enjoy). It takes place about 4 years from now. The government creates a virus to kill AIDS called VCIDS; however it becomes worse than the disease it was ment to kill. It was written in 96 and has been out of print for years, but is being re-released by Margret Weiss' company. This has been one of my favorite books.

This is just another sign of your tragic space dementia, all paranoid and crotchety...breaks the heart.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Thursday, December 28, 2006 2:17 PM

the movie is not the Series. Only the facts have been changed, to irritate the innocent; the names of the actors and characters remain the same

Quote:
Originally posted by aussay:
Theres a series of books by Jasper Fforde about a character named Wednesday Next.

The day after, actually: Thursday Next. It's a British pun; Americans would say "next Thursday".

Quote:
She's a literay detective in a parrallel universe where literature crimes are a big racket. Its really funny and a good read and would make great movies.

My opinions:

The series has dropped off. Only the first novel, "the Eyre Affaire", was wonderful. The year it came out, I gave a copy to everyone on my Christmas list (as I did with Firefly). The rest are good, but I hesitate to recommend them to someone who hasn't read the first one, in case (as with Firefly) my opinion of the series is influenced by how much I love the characters.

The wonderful thing about it is the language. While I agree with your first two points, I doubt that translating the books into the visual would add anything, and I fear it would subtract much.

I recommend his website http://www.jasperfforde.com/. Among over thirty links are: "Book Upgrade Centre", "Special Features", & "Readers Parodies". Another is to a bookseller who has signed copies available. If you don't need signed (or, as I usually type it, "singed") copies, you can get recent hardbacks, and all paperbacks, from Amazon.com, by going through Haken's link on the home page of this site.

For a taste of his language, Czech out this excerpt from the "Book Signings & Talks" page:

Quote:
FUTURE ENGAGEMENTS

March 2031: Asteroid belt and Saturn (technology permitting) More details TBA.
October 2042: 81-year-old Fforde talks to other members of old people's home: "I used to be a novelist, no really, I did. Is it lunchtime?" More details TBA.
July 2175: Semi-lifelike cloned Ffordesque replicant to tour Gamma Quadrant in the Cygnus Cluster. More details TBA.
Setember 3431: Much improved Fforde cloned back to life to face execution for sedition; all works consigned to erasure.
Janfebry 8910: Last evidence of Fforde's books vanish forever with the removal of the 'Formerly Thursday Street' plaque from what is now W23-61 Rd in the conurbation known as EuroWest-79.
12972: Visiting archeologists from Thraal-7 discover incomplete copy of Well of Lost Plots from excavation in landfill. Deciphering takes seven hundred years and a further four hundred years of academic scrutiny before being accepted as historical fact.

His last two books were in the Nursery Crime series, not Thursday. But the upcoming (July 2007 * ) "First Among Sequels" will be the next Next.

* Only J K Rowling, & sometimes Stephen King, get prescheduled release days; others get release months, if they're lucky.
* A prescheduled release means two things:
a) the publisher is still selling shed loads of his books
b) he must deliver the manuscript (ie he must stop rewriting) by a certain date

For those lucky enough to live in one of the cities on his next book tour, I urge you to go listen to him; he's one of the most entertaining speakers I've ever heard.

Speaking of which, another is James Elroy (X rated), whose "the Cold Six Thousand" would make an excellent source for a film. Two of his other novels, "LA Confidential" and "the Black Dahlia", were adapted as movies.

Keep the Shiny Side Up . . .

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Thursday, December 28, 2006 2:57 PM

the movie is not the Series. Only the facts have been changed, to irritate the innocent; the names of the actors and characters remain the same

Quote:
Originally posted by BlackoutNights:
Quote:
Originally posted by Gavida:
Lucifer's Hammer - Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle

I absolutely loved Lucifer's Hammer. Such great visuals and such a great story. I was frankly surprised when all those meteor movies hit the theaters [Armegeddon and that other one I forget the name of] and Hollywood completely missed LH.

Deep Impact, but who's counting. Well, I am, for one. And the first travesty to hit the big screen after Lucifer's Hammer (1977) was Meteor (1979). Even though it starred Sean Connery, it sucked, and I knew it meant that Lucifer's Hammer wouldn't be made into a movie for a long time.

That turned out to be twenty years, and now Armageddon (and that other, more forgettable, one) have probably pushed it back another twenty (on the Gripping hand, a third of that has already gone by).

Keep the Shiny Side Up . . .

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Thursday, December 28, 2006 3:02 PM

NVGHOSTRIDER

The Dark Knight Returns- Frank Miller
Dare Devil: Man without Fear- Frank Miller (I know parts of it were in the sucky movie starring Ben Assface)
Without Remorse- Tom Clancy
John Clarks story is the most exciting and saddest of them all. That and he's a bad ass.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Thursday, December 28, 2006 3:50 PM

the movie is not the Series. Only the facts have been changed, to irritate the innocent; the names of the actors and characters remain the same

Quote:
Originally posted by seryn:
Oh! I'd love to see the Thursday Next as a film, I used to hang around in the Fforum on Jaspers website, and it was a constant source of discussion.

Problem is, it could be done, and it would be funny and cool, but whole chunks of the book are so book-centric that it would loose most of what made it unique, I mean, how would you film the scene in Mycrofts shed with the bookworms eating the words and crapping out capital letters and apostrophes? on the page its so funny I had to stop reading the books on public transport, but I couldn't think of any way to translate it to a visual medium.

Thought I'd taken the time to read through this thread, but must have missed this one. My post earlier today rather belabours your point.

Quote:
And Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrel, I started writing a screenplay for that I wanted to see it done that much.

Work on it 'til it's beautiful, then shop it. It's sad but, Susannah Clarke suffers from a medical condition that makes it impossible for her to work long hours. She isn't likely to do a spec screenplay. She has written but the one novel (and I'm certain her publisher wants another), plus eight shorter pieces that have been collected in "the Ladies of Grace Adieu & Other Stories". For a review, I direct your attention to the Washington Post's Book World, on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Ladies-Grace-Adieu-Other-Stories/dp/1596912510/s
r=1-1/qid=1167355706/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-4601595-7417263?ie=UTF8&s=books
If that link doesn't work for you, try this one: http://SusannaClarke.notlong.com

Quote:
Possibly Jim Cary,(if he pulled another Truman Show and really restrained himself) as either Norrel or The gentleman with thistle down hair.

Alas, I fear that the GwtTDH would bring out the Lemony Snicket in Carrey.

I admire your taste, and ambition, and wish you the very best of luck with your writing, and life in general in the new year.

Keep the Shiny Side Up . . .

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Thursday, December 28, 2006 4:08 PM

the movie is not the Series. Only the facts have been changed, to irritate the innocent; the names of the actors and characters remain the same

Quote:
Originally posted by kayleesthegreatest:
Angles and demons by dan brown

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0808151/

Keep the Shiny Side Up . . .

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Thursday, December 28, 2006 4:11 PM

the movie is not the Series. Only the facts have been changed, to irritate the innocent; the names of the actors and characters remain the same

Checked my old email address to see that somebody had replied to one of my old posts. Now half the day's gone.

Keep the Shiny Side Up . . .

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Thursday, December 28, 2006 4:29 PM

TENTHCREWMEMBER

Could you please just make it stranger? Stranger. Odder. Could be weirder. More bizarre. How about uncanny?

I have two book series, both by the same author, both IDEAL for movie series!

Award winning Author: John DeChancie

Books: Star Rigger, Red Limit Freeway, and Paradox Alley
Would make a FANTASTIC movie trilogy.

Books: Castle Perilous (and all the Castle books that follow...)
A great sci-fi fantasy adventure series that would spawn several movies, and possibly spinoffs!

Just my 2 platinum worth!

If you are not familiar with the author or his works, I HIGHLY recommend everything he has written. And yeah, he's my favorite author. Period.

BWAH!

TCM

http://www.cafepress.com/10thcrew

*Download my Firefly Games for FREE at
http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=13&t=12622
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In or near Ohio? Join us!
http://p097.ezboard.com/bohiofireflyfans
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/firefly-ohio

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Thursday, December 28, 2006 4:38 PM

DUG

Here's one that I'm betting no one else has read, at least in the USA:
Stewart Farrar's "Omega"

Yes, pagans. That Stewart Farrar. The book is about zombies, witches and politics. It's ratehr good in a World War Z way, and is being re-released in February. I always thought that it would make a good movie.

Need your clock cleaned? home.windstream.net/clockdug

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Friday, December 29, 2006 5:47 PM

NOTYOLANDA

I'm so lucky that I live by Greensboro NC, Card's home town. He does book signings at a local bookstore and the Ender question always comes up. It has taken a lot of time because he wants it done right. With children Ender's age not famous teens. He is combining it with Bean's story, Ender's Shadow.

Please! Nobody died last time!

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Friday, December 29, 2006 8:34 PM

EMPIREX

THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE by Audrey Niffenegger: Original, romantic, funny, sad, and COMPLETELY confusing... With all the jumping into the past and future and then all the doppleganger Henrys... I don't know how they'd keep the audience from losing their minds! The book is easier to follow because of the strong narration, but an entire movie can't be narrated. That would just be annoying. Unless they got Morgan Freeman to do it.
Just kidding.

The other ones would be Anne Rice's trilogy: THE WITCHING HOUR, LASHER, and TALTOS. I read on her website a year ago that NBC had greenlighted a miniseries for it and they were going to film it on location in New Orleans, but since Katrina... who knows if it will get the go ahead now. We can always hope.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Saturday, December 30, 2006 9:38 AM

KAYLEESTHEGREATEST

my favorite book turned into a movie is the lord of the rings or i robot but the book i want to see turned into a movie is starwars hardcontact

Someday the verse will spit in your soup but at least they gave you soup.
one day
one plan
one mission
one army of browncoats
june 23rd serenity day

-Our mission as browncoats is to make us known.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Tuesday, September 4, 2007 7:39 AM

WYTCHCROFT

-unashamed vump-

There is a great rule of thumb
that an excellent book makes a lousy movie and vice versa
(examples Great Gatsby, Friends of Eddie Coyle) - yet who can resist...

my two-scents worth:
(choices won't last the time it takes me to light my next cigarette but -)

1. Charlotte Sometimes by Penelope Farmer,
a children's book - my favourite book. go find, read, at once!

2. Ticket that exploded / Nova Express - by william Burroughs

3. The Books Of Magic - graphic novels by neil gaiman and worth every penny he should sue jk rowling for.
(oh and tv series of alan moore's promethea)

4. The Jerry Cornellius quartet - by michael moorcok (there was one crappy attempt in the 70s)
- or Gloriana.

5. Poppy Brite's series of Chef novels. Prime, Soul Food etc.

and lastly cf remake/reimagine thread elsewhere - The Stainless Steel Rat books -
at once and pronto.
This site has skewed my thinking here t'ward sci-fi
so a quick shout out to phil dick and gene wolf while we're about it.

some kind of a furnace

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

YOUR OPTIONS

SHARE THREAD

NEW POSTS TODAY

USER

POST DATE