# What Heinlein Book Should Be Made a Movie?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [January 5, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748 "2010-01-05T14:55:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/1 "2010-01-05T14:55:52Z")
Robert A. Heinlein arguably shaped the course of science fiction after his 1939 advent on the scene. He wrote either the first full treatment or the definitive treatment of things that became staples, from convoluted time-travel stories (“By His Bootstraps”) to the giant generations-long-trip starship (_Orphans of the Sky_) to Einsteinian time dilation and FTL communication (_Time for the Stars_ ). For purposes of this thread, I’m asserting that as a given, a view shared by a large part of the SF community; those wo wish to debate it should take their opinions to another thread.
AFAIK, only three Heinlein stories have been made into movies: “Destination Moon”, on which Heinlein consulted and for which he wrote the novella as a 'novelization" of the movie; _Starship Troopers_, about which one may hold varying opinions of Verhoeven’s work but which can be fairly said to have not been a faithful adaptation of the book; and _The Puppet Masters_, which was not a horrible film but which I felt suffered from the director or screenwriter’s decision to turn it into a _film noir_ – the novel, while rough and gritty, was significantly brighter in tone than the movie. (Any arguments about why these two movies are (a) bloody abortions every print of which should be burned or (b) masterpieces of cinematic art, need to go, you guessed it, into a new thread.)
So my challenge is this: Pick, from [Heinlein’s published works](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_A._Heinlein_bibliography), what you feel would be a good movie, at least as true to the book’s storyline as Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” movies were to Tolkien’s, and explain why it’s your choice.
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### Author:  [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2010, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/2 "2010-01-05T14:57:59Z")
Okay, I guess I’ll be the first to say Starship Troopers just to get that out of the way.
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### Author:  [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2010, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/3 "2010-01-05T15:00:42Z")
_The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress_, I think- great story, nothing too weird in it (besides the unusual “Line Marriage” thing that really wouldn’t detract from a cinematic adaption if it wasn’t there) and- ideally- a chance to bust out some retro-futuristic designs (I’m thinking something like _2001: A Space Odyssey_) to create a really compelling but also accessible science fiction film.
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### Author:  [@Textual\_Intercourse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Textual_Intercourse)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2010, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/4 "2010-01-05T15:07:35Z")
I took a level 3 English course in college on Science Fiction and did my final project on _Stranger in a Strange Land._ I thought it was a fantastic book and wouldn’t mind seeing a film adaptation.
As an aside, I thought it was unspeakably awesome that my college offered a course on Science Fiction. Did a lot of good reading in that class.
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2010, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/5 "2010-01-05T15:09:04Z")
Seconding _TMIAHM_. I also think _Glory Road_ would be a fun romp, properly done. Maybe if _John Carter of Mars_ hits it big…
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### Author:  [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/6 "2010-01-05T15:14:12Z")
I think **Stranger in a Strange Land** would be an _awful_ movie, unless someone of genius did it. There’s a huge amount of discussion in the book, and you want to try and present the ideas visually, without boring the watchers to death.
I’d like to see **The Puppet Masters** remade pretty much as it was written – the film that was made in the 1980s had its good points, but trying to make it a contemporary film pretty much spoiled it (although it wasn’t the only thing).
**Double Star** could be a great flick. The novel’s not too long, and the basic plot idea has been used enough that it won’t by itself confuse people, allowing them to concentrate on the alien setting and the maneuvering. On top of which, it’s not a very long book. They can do it justice in the time a normal movie runs. _Stranger_ or _Moon is a Harsh Mistress_ are long books, and would need cutting to make a not overlong movie. They might make good mini-series.
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### Author:  [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2010, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/7 "2010-01-05T15:29:31Z")
I’d love to see this one made! It would be a technical challenge-how do you show the passage of time (while the hero is in “coldsleep”?)
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### Author:  [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2010, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/8 "2010-01-05T15:40:07Z")
_Farnham’s Freehold_ should be doable, I think, but seems unlikely to be attempted.
_Podkayne of Mars_ might see some success, but has a juvenile lead.
_The Rolling Stones_ would have to use the other title _Space Family Stone_
_Red Planet_ also has juvenile leads, but is otherwise a good story.
_JOB: A Comedy of Justice_ would likely draw mobs of fundie protesters.
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### Author:  [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2010, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/9 "2010-01-05T15:40:55Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#):
>
> _The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress_, I think- great story, nothing too weird in it (besides the unusual “Line Marriage” thing that really wouldn’t detract from a cinematic adaption if it wasn’t there) and- ideally- a chance to bust out some retro-futuristic designs (I’m thinking something like _2001: A Space Odyssey_) to create a really compelling but also accessible science fiction film.
I think that the line marriage is an essential part of the story. It shows how the lunar society adjusted to the severe sex imbalance, and that imbalance affects all of lunar society.
And yes, Mistress would be great as a movie. There’s plenty of action scenes in it that would be a lot of fun to watch, for instance, throwing rocks at the Earth.
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### Author:  [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2010, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/10 "2010-01-05T15:44:10Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Red Planet also has juvenile leads, but is otherwise a good story.
There was a animated version of **Red Planet** , but they changed too much of the story – probably to make it “kid friendly”. It was OK as far as it went, but the subversive stuff they cut out was what really made it interesting.
[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0216502/](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0216502/)
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### Author:  [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/11 "2010-01-05T15:48:38Z")
[Tunnel in the Sky](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunnel_in_the_Sky)
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### Author:  [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2010, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/12 "2010-01-05T15:59:20Z")
All of my choices have already been picked.
I agree that _Stranger_, as interpreted by anyone who would be likely to do it, would be dreadful. Kubrick might have been able to pull it off.
_Moon is a Harsh Mistress_ would be, perhaps, the easiest to do right. _Puppet Masters_ - would you do the published version, or the uncut version? The uncut version of \*Stranger \*didn’t really add much, as it was only cut for length. _Puppet Masters_ was cut for content, and the full version is not only eye-opening, but markedly different in tone than the published version.
The juveniles have real potential - they aren’t classics for nothing, after all. How about _Between Planets_? The personal growth undergone by the main character would provide a strong story line. Even the relatively weak _Starman Jones_ could be a fun romp, although I would insist they leave in the astrogating by slide rule and binary entry of numbers into the computer!
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### Author:  [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2010, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/13 "2010-01-05T16:12:38Z")
Another enthusiastic vote for _The Moon is a Harsh Mistress_. I think the line-marriage stuff could be jettisoned without too much trouble.
_Starship Troopers_, if it actually showed powered armor in use, could be awesome as a movie. Might be more likely to be made now that _Avatar_ is such a hit.
I’ve always liked _Glory Road_ and would love to see it made into a movie. Also _Time for the Stars_ or _Have Spacesuit, Will Travel_, both of which could be made into good Gen-X space adventures. Likewise _Friday_ as a futuristic espionage thriller. I liked the early Nineties version of _Puppet Masters_ well enough, but a version truer to the original book would just kick ass.
I never really cared for _Stranger_, I have to admit. Probably better just to leave it on Hollywood’s shelf.
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### Author:  [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2010, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/14 "2010-01-05T16:19:31Z")
Friday would work as a movie, I would think.
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### Author:  [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2010, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/15 "2010-01-05T16:45:41Z")
I would love to see the adventures of Lazarus Long done in an epic, multi film series.
Methusaleh’s Children
Time Enough For Love
To Sail Beyond the Sunset.
I’d love to see Nathan Fillion play LL, but I’ve always pictured him somehow as looking like (pre-bald) Robert Urich. Don’t know why.
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### Author:  [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2010, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/16 "2010-01-05T16:49:09Z")
Between Planets would make a great movie, if we could somehow get past the whole bit about Venus and Mars being habitable…
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### Author:  [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2010, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/17 "2010-01-05T17:24:51Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#):
>
> Another enthusiastic vote for _The Moon is a Harsh Mistress_. I think the line-marriage stuff could be jettisoned without too much trouble.
>
> _Starship Troopers_, if it actually showed powered armor in use, could be awesome as a movie. Might be more likely to be made now that _Avatar_ is such a hit.
>
> I’ve always liked _Glory Road_ and would love to see it made into a movie. Also _Time for the Stars_ or _Have Spacesuit, Will Travel_, both of which could be made into good Gen-X space adventures. Likewise _Friday_ as a futuristic espionage thriller. I liked the early Nineties version of _Puppet Masters_ well enough, but a version truer to the original book would just kick ass.
>
> I never really cared for _Stranger_, I have to admit. Probably better just to leave it on Hollywood’s shelf.
\*The Moon is a Harsh Mistress \*is my first choice.
[_The Rolling Stones_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rolling_Stones_(novel)) would be fun though people would think the flat cats were a ripoff of Tribbles.
I would love to see a well done, power armored _Starship Troopers_. I actually enjoyed the movie that had little to do with the book, but now I would like to see a movie based on the book.
I think [_Citizen of the Galaxy_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen_of_the_Galaxy) could be great. It does not suffer from the retro view of the solar systems alien life that is so key to so many of RAH’s stories. It could translate well.
I would love to see [_Have Space Suit—Will Travel_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Have_Space_Suit%E2%80%94Will_Travel) or [_Starman Jones_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starman_Jones) but I think much of the stories would be tough to translate to today. What I would really enjoy is the entire series of juveniles done as true to the books as possible but I doubt they would build an audience.
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### Author:  [@slime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slime)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2010, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/18 "2010-01-05T17:35:37Z")
Just posting another vote for _Glory Road_. I will usually read this book at least once if not twice a year. My wife still can’t understand how I can read the same book that often.
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### Author:  [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2010, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/19 "2010-01-05T17:39:31Z")
Another vote for **The Door Into Summer**. It’s not especially lengthy, so it could be adapted better into a movie than his other works. The story is coherent and pretty easy to follow despite the use of time travel. There’s intrigue, some action, shiny robots, and romance (even if it is a little squicky). The story doesn’t rely heavily on the protagonist’s internal thoughts or on abstract political meanderings; most every plot-critical element can be portrayed visually or verbally.
I would love to see **Job: A Comedy Of Justice** , but I’m not sure how well it would translate to a movie. Plus there’s the heavy deconstruction of Christianity, which most people wouldn’t take well to. (It amazes me how _Dogma_ ever got past the protestors.)
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### Author:  [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2010, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heinlein-book-should-be-made-a-movie/523748/20 "2010-01-05T17:39:58Z")
> [@ralph124c](#):
>
> I’d love to see this one made! It would be a technical challenge-how do you show the passage of time (while the hero is in “coldsleep”?)
Door into Summer.
This. My favorite Heinlein novel.
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