I was just talking about how Philip K Dick's novels seem to translate the best to the big screen, out of all sci-fi authors. It's really a crazy impressive body of work, from Total Recall to the Man in the High Castle, that's a disgustingly sick range.
for sure! A Scanner Darkly deserves a mention here. I tried to read the book a couple times but it's written from the perspective of a drug addled mind in a real stream of consciousness type narrative that I found super difficult to wrap my brain around. So I can't really speak to the quality of the adaptation, but it's an excellent movie!
The great thing is that the movie (or TV) adaptations of these books are finally actually worth watching, and some of them are worthy of artistic study in their own rights. You've already mentioned one such work -- Scanner Darkly brought a new way of making art to the big screen!
Great list! Your comments about Dune mirrors my own experience. I've read the book twice but can't say I really enjoyed the experience either time, which felt borderline blasphemous because it's considered a sacred sci-fi text. But the film took the best parts and elevated the story.
Thanks for the shout out, Ross. The Expanse is one that I really need to get back to. I started season 1 and really enjoyed it but life got in the way as usual and I never finished it. Everyone says it’s great so will make a point of picking it up again
Again, I think I started Altered Carbon and didn’t get very far so will give that one another shot too
Like yourself, I remember Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep being very different to Blade Runner. I also think there were random sequels to the book by K.W Jeter although I didn’t read any of them
I think knowing how to adapt is important rather than just dumping everything straight from written word to screen. Pick the right aspects and go from there
I really enjoyed Silo on Apple from earlier this year which is based on the Wool series by Hugh Howey. Worth checking out 👍🏼
I just finished the last novel in the expanse series and I've gotta say, I'm sad to be leaving that universe behind. They were a joy to read, and the show never disappointed either.
It's a real shame that the show runners for Altered Carbon never respected the source material enough to just tell the stories that Morgan wrote. Season 1 showed a hell of a lot of promise but I think the result of what they made for season 2 comes across as kinda half-baked.
I'll need to check out those sequels and Silo too. I saw a trailer for it a while ago and it definitely looked interesting.
I was just talking about how Philip K Dick's novels seem to translate the best to the big screen, out of all sci-fi authors. It's really a crazy impressive body of work, from Total Recall to the Man in the High Castle, that's a disgustingly sick range.
for sure! A Scanner Darkly deserves a mention here. I tried to read the book a couple times but it's written from the perspective of a drug addled mind in a real stream of consciousness type narrative that I found super difficult to wrap my brain around. So I can't really speak to the quality of the adaptation, but it's an excellent movie!
The great thing is that the movie (or TV) adaptations of these books are finally actually worth watching, and some of them are worthy of artistic study in their own rights. You've already mentioned one such work -- Scanner Darkly brought a new way of making art to the big screen!
Great list! Your comments about Dune mirrors my own experience. I've read the book twice but can't say I really enjoyed the experience either time, which felt borderline blasphemous because it's considered a sacred sci-fi text. But the film took the best parts and elevated the story.
Thanks Eric! There's no denying that it's a very clever and original exploration of a setting, but that, for me, doesn't always make an exciting read.
I'm glad I read it but I won't be reading the reast of the series.
The movie was a fantastic adaptation though, and I think it managed to convey everything the book does without getting too insular about it.
Thanks for the shout out, Ross. The Expanse is one that I really need to get back to. I started season 1 and really enjoyed it but life got in the way as usual and I never finished it. Everyone says it’s great so will make a point of picking it up again
Again, I think I started Altered Carbon and didn’t get very far so will give that one another shot too
Like yourself, I remember Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep being very different to Blade Runner. I also think there were random sequels to the book by K.W Jeter although I didn’t read any of them
I think knowing how to adapt is important rather than just dumping everything straight from written word to screen. Pick the right aspects and go from there
I really enjoyed Silo on Apple from earlier this year which is based on the Wool series by Hugh Howey. Worth checking out 👍🏼
You're welcome Dan!
I just finished the last novel in the expanse series and I've gotta say, I'm sad to be leaving that universe behind. They were a joy to read, and the show never disappointed either.
It's a real shame that the show runners for Altered Carbon never respected the source material enough to just tell the stories that Morgan wrote. Season 1 showed a hell of a lot of promise but I think the result of what they made for season 2 comes across as kinda half-baked.
I'll need to check out those sequels and Silo too. I saw a trailer for it a while ago and it definitely looked interesting.
This is a great list, Altered Carbon is one of my favorites! Thank you very much for the shout-out.