Next George R.R. Martin series in development: Wild Cards

[DrDeth]

@Johnny_Ecks

I’ve read the Wild Cards books from the beginning, and I’m skeptical about a TV series. The best and most tv friendly parts of the books are a kind of superhero noir, set in Jokertown (for the uninitiated, the bowery turned into a ghetto for those no longer human enough to pass after the virus). The special effects budget could get blown on a single street scene.
Also, one of the best aspects of the books is the fact the world depicted is wildly divergent from our own. Not only are the celebrities and politicians different, the middle east and parts of South America are ruled by powerful Aces, The US had an evangelical president, New York never gentrified, and so on.
I also like the fact that powers are depicted realistically- most super fights are ugly and short. The Turtle, who others have been talking about, for instance- in the books widely regarded as one of the most powerful beings on earth. Once lifted a battleship to demonstrate his power Protected by six inches of armor plate, airbags, fire suppression system, emergency oxygen supply, etc. Who takes him out? A woman who can manipulate blood sugar levels remotely.

I concur.

And then the whole series where one Ace could make people switch bodies was stupid- and I’ll be everything that will be a major part of the show (it’s so easy, no SfX).

But yeah, you wont have to ask for "No Book spoilers’ as they would be useless.

[Revtim]

These books were what I knew George R. R. Martin for before the Game Of Thrones series took off.

I loved those books when I read them like 20 years ago. It may have been the first adult superhero media I had ever read. I’ll certainly give the series a try.

[Johnny_Ace]

I have vague memories of having read the first couple of books in the series back when, and I remember the concept well, but the individual stories are lost among the hundreds of novels I’ve read since then. It’s interesting having my memory jogged by the mention of certain characters, though, specifically the Turtle.

(And in a slight derail, I never got the logic behind SciFi changing its name, and especially the new name itself. What suits thought that was a good idea?)

[kenobi_65]

@Johnny_Ace

(And in a slight derail, I never got the logic behind SciFi changing its name, and especially the new name itself. What suits thought that was a good idea?)

They felt that it was limiting their programming to traditional sci-fi elements (as they started to shift to programs like “Ghost Hunters”), and that it was more of a generic term than an ownable name.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/16/business/media/16adcol.html

[Chronos]

Quoth Johnny Ecks:

Also, one of the best aspects of the books is the fact the world depicted is wildly divergent from our own.

That’s funny; I was thinking that one of the worst aspects of the first book is that the world depicted is hardly divergent from our own at all. I mean, not only do the same people get elected President in every election, but Kennedy’s assassination, the Kent State Massacre, and Watergate still come along right on schedule? After decades of changes wrought by the virus? No way.

[Johnny_Ecks]

You are right Chronos. I guess what I was trying to say was that the events of later books build on earlier books, instead of pretending they never happened, as in most superhero fiction. For example, in the second book we meet an Islamic Ace trying to unite the Middle East under his rule; later we read that he has succeeded- totally changing the tenor of world affairs. No Gulf war, I believe.

[Loach]

@Johnny_Ecks

I’ve read the Wild Cards books from the beginning, and I’m skeptical about a TV series. The best and most tv friendly parts of the books are a kind of superhero noir, set in Jokertown (for the uninitiated, the bowery turned into a ghetto for those no longer human enough to pass after the virus). The special effects budget could get blown on a single street scene.
Also, one of the best aspects of the books is the fact the world depicted is wildly divergent from our own. Not only are the celebrities and politicians different, the middle east and parts of South America are ruled by powerful Aces, The US had an evangelical president, New York never gentrified, and so on.

And…

The Dodgers never left Brooklyn!

My father would love it.

[kenobi_65]

And, if memory serves, Cuba never had a Communist revolution in the Wild Cards universe, because that universe’s Fidel Castro had become a successful professional baseball player, rather than a revolutionary.

(IRL, Castro was an amateur player, and a big baseball fan, though stories that he had had a tryout with an MLB team appear to be false.)

[The_Other_Waldo_Pepper]

@kenobi_65

And, if memory serves, Cuba never had a Communist revolution in the Wild Cards universe, because that universe’s Fidel Castro had become a successful professional baseball player, rather than a revolutionary.

(IRL, Castro was an amateur player, and a big baseball fan, though stories that he had had a tryout with an MLB team appear to be false.)

Also, IIRC even the first book – spoilers ahoy, stop reading now! – has Perón getting overthrown by the superhuman who also saves Gandhi from assassination.

[Johnny_Ecks]

It’s later revealed that the reason for the change is that Castro is a Deuce with super elastic tendons. He didn’t know it himself until after he retired, but apparently it improved his pitching enough to take him to the majors.

[gonzoron]

I am beyond psyched about this. I’ve been wanting to see this series on the screen for over 20 years. With today’s effects technology, it should be gorgeous. I just dearly hope they keep the alt-history aspects and don’t just set it in the modern day.

[hogarth]

@Johnny_Ace

I have vague memories of having read the first couple of books in the series back when, and I remember the concept well, but the individual stories are lost among the hundreds of novels I’ve read since then.

Likewise for me.

@Johnny Ace

It’s interesting having my memory jogged by the mention of certain characters, though, specifically the Turtle.

I remember the Turtle, and the sex-powered guy (ugh), and I think there was a robot guy too. That’s about it.

[furryman]

@3trew

I want to see Demise as a background character who is constantly finding himself in some everyday annoying situation, sighing visibly, taking his sunglasses off, locking eyes with the person causing the problem, and walking away shaking his head as the body falls. No lines, no plot development, just a little instant karma every couple of episodes.

Also, Croyd scoring a bag of blue meth from Badger and Skinny Pete.

Yes, I know there is a reason I don’t get to be in charge of things.

LOL I was just thinking the romance between the female cop and the centaur would be a great episode. Definitely not PG material.

The series started out good became really depressing for awhile then got better again. Bet they focus on the depressing stuff.