# What sci-fi story would you like to see made into a movie? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 6, 2005, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-story-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-a-movie/334418 "2005-12-06T22:09:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-story-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-a-movie/334418/61 "2005-12-07T18:16:16Z")
> [@](#): > > Quote: > Originally Posted by CalMeacham > I’m sure there are plenty of classic short stories from the 1940s and 1950s that would make great flicks, now that we’ve got the capability. Early Heinlein, Clarke, Asimov, or Brown, Sheckley, Tenn, or others would be great stuff. > > True, but the science and technology in most such stories seems rather dated now, unless you want to give them the Brazil or Sky Captain treatment. I’ll debate that – it depends on the story. It’s true that they didn’t properly appreciate how much microprocessors and computers would invade our lives, but the physics and chemistry involved is still the same. As I’ve mentioned before, you could do Heinlein’s “Gentlemen, be Seated” with hardly a change. I’d like to see **Puppet Masters** done right for once. Despite being early 1950s, that wouldn’t need a big change, either. Or **Double Star** , or. heck, why go on? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-story-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-a-movie/334418/62 "2005-12-07T18:24:13Z")
You know, it’s a long time since we’ve seen a good near-future hard-SF within-the-Solar-System space travel movie. How about a film of one of Alan Steele’s novels? Say, _Orbital Decay, Clarke County Space,_ or _Lunar Descent._ No ETs or BEMs, but plenty of quirky characters and good old human-to-human conflict. Labor-management conflict, in particular – and we haven’t seen any SF screen treatment of that since that one episode of _Babylon 5._ In the same vein, Ben Bova’s _Red Planet_ – a very **realistic** story about the first expedition to Mars – might be a good film. There’s also Kim Stanley Robinson’s Mars trilogy ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars\_trilogy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_trilogy)), but, I dunno, there might be too much politics and philosophy in it, and Robinson is not that good at weaving a tight, what’s-gonna-happen-next narrative. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-story-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-a-movie/334418/63 "2005-12-07T18:27:55Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > As I’ve mentioned before, you could do Heinlein’s “Gentlemen, be Seated” with hardly a change. I’d like to see **Puppet Masters** done right for once. Despite being early 1950s, that wouldn’t need a big change, either.Agreed. But, you couldn’t make full-length feature out of “Gentlemen, Be Seated.” > [@CalMeacham](#): > > Or **Double Star** , or. heck, why go on? The plot of _Double Star_ depends on the existence of intelligent life on Mars. And you couldn’t move it out of our Solar System without changing the story entirely. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-story-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-a-movie/334418/64 "2005-12-07T18:49:13Z")
**Brain Glutton** , you’re being picky. I brought up Gentlemen as an example, and as for > [@](#): > > The plot of Double Star depends on the existence of intelligent life on Mars. And you couldn’t move it out of our Solar System without changing the story entirely. why not? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-story-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-a-movie/334418/65 "2005-12-07T18:49:25Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > The plot of _Double Star_ depends on the existence of intelligent life on Mars. And you couldn’t move it out of our Solar System without changing the story entirely. Easily fixed. Just have a race of aliens colonize Mars. Or have an embassy there or something. Minor problem, really. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-story-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-a-movie/334418/66 "2005-12-07T19:00:17Z")
> [@Wendell Wagner](#): > > I don’t know what you mean when you say that “a lot of the greatest stories have already been made into movies.” Not that many of the great science fiction stories have been made into films, and most of those that have were thoroughly messed up. I think it’s considerably more difficult to make a great story into a great film that you think. What did you think of the recent _Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy_? ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-story-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-a-movie/334418/67 "2005-12-07T19:18:50Z")
Some comments about Ender’s Game: I would love to see it made into a movie. But I firmly believe it would have to be entirely computer generated. First of all, you wouldn’t just need one phenomenal child actor, you’d need a whole cast of them. That’s major child labor/wages/tutoring issues right there, not to mention how many truly qualified child actors there are that can fit the bill. Second of all, the challenge of the effects in the school (going from gravity to zero-G by passing through a door, or the weapons that freeze the suits, for example) would be very expensive since these effects have to be a major part of the movie. Third of all, we’re talking some serious violence done to children in that story. If they made the kids older (like they did in Children of Dune) it would take away from the impact of the story. Not to mention the aging and weight gain of Graf, and the aging of Ender, and the asteroid that Ender went to to train with whatshisname the great general. And so on. So please pray for a computer-generated version that remains true to the books rather than a watered down, radically altered, hollywood-ized version. ---
**Author:** ![Just1Lurk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c0e974/32.png) [@Just1Lurk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just1Lurk)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-story-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-a-movie/334418/68 "2005-12-07T19:26:34Z")
I second _Ringworld_. How about _The Caves of Steel_? And for mini-series, I’d like to see _The Mote in God’s Eye_. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-story-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-a-movie/334418/69 "2005-12-07T19:31:34Z")
> [@Jonathan Chance](#): > > Argh. I can’t believe we’ve missed this one: > > PERN > > McCaffrey’s Pern would have great visuals and a good plot. The dialog from the first couple of books would have to be revamped quite a bit (stilted beyond belief!) but I think it could be done. Well, [they tried…](http://pern.srellim.org/dc1999/atlantis.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Papermache\_Prince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f05b48/32.png) [@Papermache\_Prince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Papermache_Prince)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-story-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-a-movie/334418/70 "2005-12-07T19:34:46Z")
According to the IMDB, there was a 1964 [tv movie of _The Caves of Steel_](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057927/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnx0dD0xfGZiPXV8cG49MHxrdz0xfHE9Y2F2ZXMgb2Ygc3RlZWx8ZnQ9MXxteD0yMHxsbT01MDB8Y289MXxodG1sPTF8bm09MQ__;fc=1;ft=20). Has anyone seen this? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-story-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-a-movie/334418/71 "2005-12-07T19:45:43Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > why not? I once read a _Boy’s Life_ cartoon adaptation of _Between Planets,_ with the melieu shifted from interplanetary to interstellar, and fictional extra-Solar planets substituted for Mars and Venus. It just didn’t satisfy. The story was too different. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-story-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-a-movie/334418/72 "2005-12-07T19:51:30Z")
> [@The Controvert](#): > > What did you think of the recent _Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy_? 😕 “Recent”? There was a BBC TV miniseries adaptation of _Hitchhiker’s Guide_ in 1981 – [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081874/](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081874/). Since then, the story has never been adapted for the big or small screen. Never, do you hear me?! [_sob_] **NEVER!** ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-story-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-a-movie/334418/73 "2005-12-07T20:00:10Z")
The Retief stories by Keith Laumer - Look here, Mr. Oh-Doomy-Gloom,” Ambassador Straphanger cut in. “I’ve been thinking it over, and I’ve decided that my staff and I will just nip back over to our ship for the night—” “His Arrokanze will pe eggpecting you at the fête in the Bapal Kardens in one hour’s time,” the Hoogan bored on. “His Arrokanze tislikes intenzely to be kept waitink.” Retief is in the Intergalactic Diplomatic Service, and always straightens out the ambassadors and potentates that leave’s them in the traps they set for him. The Med Ship stories by Murray Leinster The Interstellar Patrol stories by Christopher Anvil The Hub Universe stories by James H. Schmitz The Tank Lords stories by David Drake - Do you remember Hammer’s Slammer’? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-story-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-a-movie/334418/74 "2005-12-07T20:04:09Z")
> [@](#): > > I once read a Boy’s Life cartoon adaptation of Between Planets, with the melieu shifted from interplanetary to interstellar, and fictional extra-Solar planets substituted for Mars and Venus. It just didn’t satisfy. The story was too different. Different Folks… The recent War of the Worlds adaptation explicitly didn’t make them Martians. Robert Sheckley’s short story “The Humors”, set on Earth, Mars, and Venus got turned into a novel by him set on three worlds outside our solar system. It’s done all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-story-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-a-movie/334418/75 "2005-12-07T20:08:42Z")
Oh, so many good ones listed already. Niven’s “Flashcrowd” is a fascinating look at how society is changed by the introduction of transporter booths. Specifically, when a big news event gets people’s attention and suddenly a significant percentage of the US population teleports to the location to “see for themselves”. Basically rubbernecking gone real, real bad. I think this could be a good independent movie, since it is has almost no special effects needs. Plus the total lack of “sci fi action”. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-story-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-a-movie/334418/76 "2005-12-07T20:29:16Z")
The Berserker stories by Fred Saberhagen Some of Abraham Merritt’s stories. Heaven knows screen writer’s have stolen enough of his material without giving him any credit. This guy literaly had a cult spring up on his work’s of fiction. I would love to see the Fu-Manchu books by Sax Rhomer all make it to screen, but done in a style like it’s written. Do it like the movie release of “The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen” Absolutely nothing like the Peter Sellers material. I beleive all the Dr. Nikoli books by Guy Boothby would make a series of great movies done in the same style I gave previously for the Fu-Mancu stories. Dr. Nikoli is a mystic and scientist with power over death. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-story-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-a-movie/334418/77 "2005-12-07T20:45:30Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > The recent War of the Worlds adaptation explicitly didn’t make them Martians. 😕 **What** “recent War of the Worlds adaptation”? (See post #72.) ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-story-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-a-movie/334418/78 "2005-12-07T21:13:20Z")
They could make a couple seasons of hour-long TV episodes using all of Asimov’s positronic robot stories. Once the series catches on (assuming it does), you’d be able to spend the money on multi-part versions of _The Caves of Steel, The Naked Sun, The Robots of Dawn_ and maybe even _Robots and Empire._ Then you do a spin-off with non-Asimov (but strictly Asimov-inspired) R. Daneel Olivaw episodes (as he’s setting up the Galactic Empire from behind the scenes). Elijah Baley and R. Giskard Reventlov would show up all the time in flashbacks. 🆒 Heck, I’d love to see a TV show run with the concept behind robot troubleshooters Powell and Donovan. He only did 4 stories with them (I think), but they were great fun, and modern writers should be able to do a lot with the idea. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-story-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-a-movie/334418/79 "2005-12-07T21:30:05Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > “Am I in reality now, or still in a virtual-reality simulation?” or “What’s really going on behind the scenery?” Between _The Thirteenth Floor, eXistenz, Dark City_ and _The Matrix_,\* the concept has pretty much been hammered into the ground. But the way that Dick does it is so much better than any of those. That said, I’d like to see Valis made into a movie. The best thing about it is you could set it in modern times and not lose anything, if anything it may be even more poignent. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2005, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-story-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-a-movie/334418/80 "2005-12-07T23:37:38Z")
How about Ben Bova’s Mars? That would be a pretty cool movie. -XT [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-story-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-a-movie/334418.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sci-fi-story-would-you-like-to-see-made-into-a-movie/334418.md?page=5)