# The Why isn't this Book a Movie Already Thread? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 21, 2017, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686 "2017-03-21T14:23:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/121 "2017-03-27T01:30:59Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Good choice. > > Production Hell: > [Good Omens - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Omens) Gawd, I hope the Amazon thing follows through, I love that book! Interesting (and brilliant!) choices on the narrator I mentioned above, Cate Blanchett is genius! Is it weird that I re-read the passage in my head with Cate, Bill, Dame Judyand ironically enough, Billy Connolly? ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/122 "2017-03-27T02:23:33Z")
“The Tomb”, by F. Paul Wilson Asimov’s “Foundation” series. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/123 "2017-03-27T11:16:14Z")
> [@swampspruce](#): > > Gawd, I hope the Amazon thing follows through, I love that book! On the plus side, **[American Gods](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Gods_(TV_series))** is finally due to launch next month IIRC so sometimes these things do happen. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/124 "2017-03-27T14:03:22Z")
Looks like good casting choices, overall! Not sure about Cristin Chenowith as Easter, though. ---
**Author:** ![Thuringwethil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@Thuringwethil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thuringwethil)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/125 "2017-03-27T15:44:52Z")
> [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > Second _Neuromancer_. > > Also, _The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress._ Both of these, please! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/126 "2017-03-27T15:53:36Z")
I think Heinlein’s [_Time For The Stars_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_for_the_Stars) would be a great film-much easier to grok than his more political works. ---
**Author:** ![Thuringwethil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@Thuringwethil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thuringwethil)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/127 "2017-03-27T15:53:56Z")
_The Guns of the South_ by Harry Turtledove. Or any of his alternative history series. ---
**Author:** ![ruh-roh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ruh-roh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruh-roh)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/128 "2017-03-27T16:32:06Z")
A lot of good ideas here, though mostly focused on sci-fi. Personally, I would never wish for a book I have read and enjoyed to be made into a movie. They always (for reasons good/necessary/mostly bad) manage to screw up the story I think I read. I walk away from the theater mostly disappointed thinking “No, that’s now how it was supposed to be”. Plenty of books I haven’t read for them to make good movies out of. Then I will be non the wiser about how they twisted the story. ---
**Author:** ![MacLir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@MacLir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacLir)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/129 "2017-03-27T16:47:58Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Funny thing is people would complain they were knocking off tribbles with the flat cats. Other way around, actually. David Gerrold wrote The Trouble With Tribbles, and only recalled the flatcat story from Rolling Stones afterward. He realized that was where he got the idea, having read it earlier. Heinlein had no problems with it. In fact, they became friends. ---
**Author:** ![MacLir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@MacLir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacLir)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/130 "2017-03-27T16:50:50Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > Another Pournelle/Niven vehicle: _Footfall._ > > TBH, I’d mostly watch it for the CGI. And also, I’d secretly enjoy watching certain sectors of culture go batshit over the launch of the _Michael_. “God was knocking, and he wanted in bad” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MacLir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@MacLir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacLir)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/131 "2017-03-27T17:05:35Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > The Vorkosigan Saga. Or Bujold’s The Curse of Chalion. > > StG The top of my personal list is “Falling Free”, which is part of the Vorkosigan universe, from before Miles’ time. CGI has matured to the point of being able to pull it off. And use the Tom Smith song about it as the theme music. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Corner\_Case](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/corner_case/32/234_2.png) [@Corner\_Case](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corner_Case)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/132 "2017-03-27T19:07:40Z")
I second H. P. Lovecraft. If the production would skip trying for shock value and look for suspense and dread. I would like to see Dean Koontz’s “Odd Thomas” series made into moview. There was one [movie](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1767354/?ref_=nv_sr_1) and it was good. Unfortunately it also starred the too soon departed Anton Yelchin. I would also like to see Jack L. Chalker’s “Well World” series made into movies, but I could see it treated more properly as a mini-series. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Spayed\_PI](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Sam\_Spayed\_PI](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Spayed_PI)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/133 "2017-03-27T19:15:52Z")
[https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/82306.Flood](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/82306.Flood) Flood, by Andrew Vachss: I never could figure out why it wasn’t immediately snapped up by Hollywood. Multicultural group of friends. Kick-ass female martial artist. Revenge plot. There’s even a smart dog. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/134 "2017-03-27T21:17:19Z")
I know there was an anime version of The Lensman series, but it didn’t really have much to do with the actual books. After the success of Star Wars I’m surprised no one’s thought of this. ---
**Author:** ![Hocus\_Pocus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/41988e/32.png) [@Hocus\_Pocus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hocus_Pocus)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2017, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/135 "2017-03-28T01:14:36Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > I’d add Eric Flints’ “1632” series, probably better as a min-series/series, but West Virginians in 1632 Germany, with Richelieu, Wallenstein, and Gustavus Aldophus could be something good. Supposed to be an English company working on it. I’d like to see that book come to life on film! I’d also like to see W.E.B. Griffin’s _Badge of Honor_ series become tv or film movies. Just keep junior away from the projects! ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2017, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/136 "2017-03-28T15:21:01Z")
There have been a lot of great suggestions and as a bonus I now have a pretty good list of books to keep me occupied during the summer! I just finished one of David Egger’s books- [Your Fathers, Where Are They? And the Prophets, Do They Live Forever?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_Fathers,_Where_Are_They%3F_And_the_Prophets,_Do_They_Live_Forever%3F) which would make a really good psychological thriller. ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2017, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/137 "2017-03-28T16:33:21Z")
_The Coldfire Trilogy_ by CS Friedman. This series is fantastic despite falling off a bit in the last book. Angela Bassett as _Ciana_, Jason Isaacs for _Gerald Tarrant_ (that snarky magnificent bastard). Casting _Vryce_ is hard for me, physical imposing, weather-beaten, but still kind and caring. Even though the world is kind of steampunk/magical most of the effects could be done practically. Plus, it has a LOT of moral ambiguity for a story that’s nearly thirty years old now. Armor - John Steakley. Would be a DREAM for me, power-armored disposable soldiers versus nine-foot antlike monsters on an impossible desert planet. It’s like Pork Chop Hill, Shane and Unforgiven all got together and had a baby. A beautiful twisted baby. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2017, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/138 "2017-03-28T16:38:22Z")
> [@MacLir](#): > > Other way around, actually. > > David Gerrold wrote The Trouble With Tribbles, and only recalled the flatcat story from Rolling Stones afterward. He realized that was where he got the idea, having read it earlier. Heinlein had no problems with it. > > In fact, they became friends. Yes, we were selling tribbles at our booth at a Con, and Gerrold came by and told us we had to stop selling them. So I quickly changed the cards to "Martian flat cat’. When Gerrold came by with a Con staffer in tow, he read the sign, his face got red and he stalked off. The staffer thought it was hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2017, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/139 "2017-03-28T16:39:22Z")
> [@Thuringwethil](#): > > _The Guns of the South_ by Harry Turtledove. Or any of his alternative history series. One of his worst actually. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2017, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686/140 "2017-03-28T16:55:32Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Yes, we were selling tribbles at our booth at a Con, and Gerrold came by and told us we had to stop selling them. So I quickly changed the cards to "Martian flat cat’. When Gerrold came by with a Con staffer in tow, he read the sign, his face got red and he stalked off. The staffer thought it was hilarious. Riight. You don’t think the man who owns the rights to their name and likeness might be a bit upset because of all the dealers that were ripping him off? By the way, how much did you pay the Heinlein estate for the right to sell “flat cats”? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-why-isnt-this-book-a-movie-already-thread/782686.md?page=8)