# The book(s) you'd most like to see as a mini-series **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 12, 2003, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-book-s-youd-most-like-to-see-as-a-mini-series/218591 "2003-12-12T14:42:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-book-s-youd-most-like-to-see-as-a-mini-series/218591/1 "2003-12-12T14:42:41Z")
And I don’t mean the wimpy four hour versions we see nowadays, like the horrible travesty that was _Mists of Avalon_ on TNT. I mean the lush, far-reaching epics of yesteryear, when networks really cared how a book was treated on the small screen, like _Shogun_, _The Thorn Birds_, and even _The Stand_. I have two. I want to see Colleen McCullough’s _Masters of Rome_ series. They could do one a year, starting with _The First Man of Rome_ and ending with _The October Horse_. Dealing with Sulla’s bisexuality would be tricky, but the battle against the Germans with Gauis Marius, or the final battle between Caesar and Pompey? Wonderful! My second choice is _Outlander_ by Diana Gabaldon. A romantic time-travel? But trust me, throw in a tall, red-headed Scottish warrior poet dressed in full kilt regalia and the women will melt. They could even do one a year of that series, only she’s not done writing it yet. I can see Alex Kingston as Claire, but I don’t know who can pull off Jamie. Frank/Jack would be easy, because they could be played by the same man. And I could see Alicia Keyes as Brianna. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-book-s-youd-most-like-to-see-as-a-mini-series/218591/2 "2003-12-12T14:50:12Z")
I’d like to see a good mini-series of the Norwegian classic trilogy “Kristin Lavransdatter”. It’s set in the Middle Ages & is quite wonderful (be sure to get the translation by Tiina Nunnally) - lots of action, passion etc. Too much for film, I think, tho Liv Ulman tried. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-book-s-youd-most-like-to-see-as-a-mini-series/218591/3 "2003-12-12T15:38:33Z")
I want to see a good Henry VIII mini-series. God, the story has everything: lust, intrigue, murder, deciet, and oodles of drama. I’d love to see Wynona Ryder play Anne Boleyn. They could base it off of Margaret George’s _Autobiography of Henry VIII._ That book has a few problems and errors, but it would be a good start. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-book-s-youd-most-like-to-see-as-a-mini-series/218591/4 "2003-12-12T16:18:29Z")
Roger Zelazny’s first five _Chronicles of Amber_. ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-book-s-youd-most-like-to-see-as-a-mini-series/218591/5 "2003-12-12T16:24:29Z")
**ivylass** , we must be reading off of the same sheet of music. As soon as I saw the title of the thread, I said _Masters of Rome_. Of course, it would have to be an entire series rather than a mini-series. There’s enough material in those books to keep it going for years. ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-book-s-youd-most-like-to-see-as-a-mini-series/218591/6 "2003-12-12T16:31:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lissa \* > \*\*I want to see a good Henry VIII mini-series. God, the story has everything: lust, intrigue, murder, deciet, and oodles of drama. > > I’d love to see Wynona Ryder play Anne Boleyn. > > They could base it off of Margaret George’s _Autobiography of Henry VIII._ That book has a few problems and errors, but it would be a good start. \*\* Saw one recently starring Ray Winston. Think it was on ITV ---
**Author:** ![Balle\_M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/13edae/32.png) [@Balle\_M](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balle_M)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-book-s-youd-most-like-to-see-as-a-mini-series/218591/7 "2003-12-12T19:02:50Z")
I can think of 2 offhand. _Starship Troopers_ - Preferrably closer to the book than the big-screen abortion. Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Mars series - Swashbuckling on the Red Planet. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-book-s-youd-most-like-to-see-as-a-mini-series/218591/8 "2003-12-12T19:13:12Z")
Haryy Turtledove’s _World War_ series would make a great epic miniseries. ---
**Author:** ![Zanshin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e274bd/32.png) [@Zanshin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zanshin)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-book-s-youd-most-like-to-see-as-a-mini-series/218591/9 "2003-12-12T19:53:48Z")
I’ll second ‘Starship Troopers’. Seeing Heinlein’s original ideas as a miniseries would be unbelievably cool. Jack Whyte’s Camulod series would have to be one hell of a long miniseries but I think it’d be a better translation to the screen than half of the crap that’s on these days. I’ll also add in Neal Stephenson’s ‘Cryptonomicon’. If that could be turned into a miniseries that is able to carry the wit and intelligence of the book, I’d sit through every minute of it. ---
**Author:** ![Atreyu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@Atreyu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atreyu)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-book-s-youd-most-like-to-see-as-a-mini-series/218591/10 "2003-12-12T20:07:38Z")
I agree that Neal Stephenson’s _Cryptonomicon_ would make a damn fine miniseries. My suggestions: _Hyperion_ and _The Fall of Hyperion_ by Dan Simmons. Each book would have be done as a separate miniseries, multiple parts each. _The Silmarillion_ by Tolkien. It may be blasphemy to the ears of some, but I actually like this book more than _The Lord of the Rings_. It would have to be a LOOONG miniseries, though, but if Peter Jackson does it, I’ll watch every minute. Might work best as a limited run series, with 22 episodes or so for a few seasons. _The Neverending Story_ by Michael Ende. And get it **right** this time. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-book-s-youd-most-like-to-see-as-a-mini-series/218591/11 "2003-12-12T20:14:01Z")
_Earth_ by David Brin. It’s got great visuals and would translate well, I think. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-book-s-youd-most-like-to-see-as-a-mini-series/218591/12 "2003-12-12T22:31:37Z")
I’ve been waiting almost 20 years for a film adaptation of _The Talisman_ by Stephen King & Peter Straub. At first, Steven Spielberg picked up the film rights, then he got bored with it, then got interested again, then bored again; then Mick Garris (director of _The Stand_ and _The Shining_ for TV) was slated to make it into yet another King-miniseries-of-the-week for ABC, but that project fell through too. The latest news has music video director [Vadim Perelman](http://www.liljas-library.com/talisman.html) to develop the novel as a feature film – with any luck, it might actually make it to the screen at last. It will probably suck, but I don’t care – I just want to see the damn thing!!! ---
**Author:** ![quixotic78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/3ab097/32.png) [@quixotic78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quixotic78)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-book-s-youd-most-like-to-see-as-a-mini-series/218591/13 "2003-12-12T22:33:21Z")
_A Song of Ice and Fire_, currently still being written by George R. R. Martin. When I’m a trillionaire, and after I’ve solved all of the world’s problems, I’m going to throw billions of dollars at this project and make it the best series ever. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-book-s-youd-most-like-to-see-as-a-mini-series/218591/14 "2003-12-12T22:33:36Z")
_The Dark is Rising_, by Susan Cooper. If it was done well, it would be riveting. ---
**Author:** ![Merhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Merhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merhouse)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-book-s-youd-most-like-to-see-as-a-mini-series/218591/15 "2003-12-12T22:51:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jonathan Chance \* > \*\*_Earth_ by David Brin. It’s got great visuals and would translate well, I think. \*\* Funny you should mention this – I got about halfway through and had to put it down. It was too much work (for me) to read, but I agree 100% – it would make an **awesome** movie – I’d love to see the movie and maybe **then** I could read the book, even though generally I like reading the book first. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-book-s-youd-most-like-to-see-as-a-mini-series/218591/16 "2003-12-12T23:08:39Z")
You guys are giving me good ideas on what books to read next! What is _Cryptomicon_ about? ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2003, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-book-s-youd-most-like-to-see-as-a-mini-series/218591/17 "2003-12-12T23:58:45Z")
How about [Atlas Shrugged\*? A mini-series adaptation was the last thing Ayn Rand was working on before she died. ---
**Author:** ![Gorgon\_Heap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f475e1/32.png) [@Gorgon\_Heap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgon_Heap)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-book-s-youd-most-like-to-see-as-a-mini-series/218591/18 "2003-12-13T00:16:19Z")
I agree with **Little Nemo** … er my memory is bad. That’s with the aliens, yes, **Nemo**? I believe so. That would be incredible. [emphatic cough] However, it would also be expensive. Therefore, I’d say I’d love to see a miniseries (no matter how outdated) of Tom Clancy’s _Red Storm Rising_. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-book-s-youd-most-like-to-see-as-a-mini-series/218591/19 "2003-12-13T00:54:09Z")
The Discworld, of course. Particularly _Guards! Guards!_ through _Jingo_. Jerry Doyle and Timothy Dalton were born to play Vimes and Vetinari. It’ll never happen, and we’re poorer for it. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2003, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-book-s-youd-most-like-to-see-as-a-mini-series/218591/20 "2003-12-13T01:16:44Z")
John Varley’s Gaea trilogy - _Titan, Demon, Wizard_. A second vote for the _Hyperion_ saga. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-book-s-youd-most-like-to-see-as-a-mini-series/218591.md?page=2)