Top Five Novels I’d Like to See Filmed. Resurrected Post.

For every film made based on a novel there are a hundred books optioned but not green-lit. For every book optioned but not filmed there a hundred thousand not optioned. Many of the latter two categories read as pretty cinematic to me. So here is a list of novels I’d like to see turned into films. Or a series of films. Or a television mini-series. Or a television ongoing series. Whatever. This doesn’t include books I know to be optioned or have heard rumors to that effect.

 

 

The High Crusade by Poul Anderson. Knights and Aliens! I want to see armored horses trotting aboard an alien spaceship. Crusade is a slim novel. Not much need to cut material. In fact the film could expand on some the conquest only glossed over in the book.

Perdido Street Station by China Miéville. True I usually find myself rooting for Miéville’s antagonists. But the man can write visually evocative imagery. I’d love to see New Crobuzon on the big screen. See if the special effects crew could pull off an ambulatory cactus without making it appear risible. This is dense material, much would have to be trimmed. I’d like to see the results, though.

 

The Harold Shea stories by L. Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt. A terrific scaffold upon which to hang one or more action comedies. The jokes might need some updating for a modern audience. Or the producers could cater to a niche audience of fogies like me. I’d be fine with that. Maybe a television show, campy and tongue-in-cheek like Hercules and Xena.

The Garrett Files by Glen Cook. This one could have legs. Detective shows have a successful track record on television. Why not one with elves, dwarves, and ogres? Yes, the books are derivative, blending bits of Nero Wolfe, Travis McGee, and Philip Marlowe. But if you’re going to borrow, borrow from the best. And we know those characters translate to screen well. So why not Garrett?

Janissaries by Jerry Pournelle, because if a movie is what’s required to get the last novel completed, then Action!

What is your list?