The novel takes place in a future 2016 where humankind has colonized every habitable planet and moon in the Solar System. To cope with the difficult life away from Earth, colonists rely on the illegal hallucinogen Can-D, secretly distributed by corporate head Leo Bulero. New tensions arise with the rumor that merchant explorer Palmer Eldritch has returned from an expedition in possession of a new alien hallucinogen to compete with Can-D.
Either make it follow the novel closely or make it a truly creative take where it’s set in a completely different setting but follows the spirit and the themes of the novel.
I would argue the The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch in particular has a lot of potential for a full re-interpretation structured as commentary on our current reality. The synopsis does read like a pulp scifi novel, but there is a lot to it and the Can-D psychedelic (very cool description of how it works in the novel) and “difficult life away from Earth” motifs can be adapted for modern challenges. I don’t think the novel was meant to be interpreted literally, the outline is more of a foundation for other questions/points.
A well made adaption of John Brunner’s The Sheep Look Up. The Shockwave Rider would probably be a better fit for modern issues, but I think The Sheep Look Up would be more unique. Stand on Zanzibar would also be a good target but I feel the over-population concept (as described in 70s western media) hasn’t aged that well. You stand the risk of making a campy movie like Soylent Green (I like it, but it’s more a 70s scifi experience for me). That being said, I would probably be fine with any good adaptation of Brunner’s famous works.
A proper adaption of Isaac Asimov’s The Gods Themselves. Asimov was often criticized for not including aliens in his novels/series. Well he did include aliens in this one and they are nothing like your typical scifi movie. It’s not as well written as Solaris (perhaps the most intense depiction of alien life that I’ve experienced in any media), but it’s pretty damn good. The Gods Themselves is probably the easiest one to adapt into a movie since the high level plot is pretty straightforward. The lunar parts would look great and then there is the alien world and society…
All of these would probably not pass the mass market adaption requirement. And I am not cool with “fanfic for the mass market” type adaptions. Make your own creative take, but make it crazy, make it live up to the main magic of the novels.
Anderson’s books are perfect for filming. You’ve got an established history, fantastic characters like van Rijn and Flandry, plus scores of well researched planets with credible aliens.
Joanna Russ’s “Picnic On Paradise” could be done on a low budget.
Roger Zelazny, Philip Jose Farmer, Judith Merrill…
Nicolas Van Rijn is a fat Dutchman who runs a Galaxy wide food and beverage corporation. Imagine Harry Mudd if he was actually as smart as he thinks he is. Van Rijn is trapped on a planet where the natives look like winged leopards and all the native plants are poison to humans. He’s got to talk his way through a war.
An adaption of Philip K. Dick’s The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch, but with no “streaming production” bullshit.
Synopsis:
Either make it follow the novel closely or make it a truly creative take where it’s set in a completely different setting but follows the spirit and the themes of the novel.
I would argue the The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch in particular has a lot of potential for a full re-interpretation structured as commentary on our current reality. The synopsis does read like a pulp scifi novel, but there is a lot to it and the Can-D psychedelic (very cool description of how it works in the novel) and “difficult life away from Earth” motifs can be adapted for modern challenges. I don’t think the novel was meant to be interpreted literally, the outline is more of a foundation for other questions/points.
A well made adaption of John Brunner’s The Sheep Look Up. The Shockwave Rider would probably be a better fit for modern issues, but I think The Sheep Look Up would be more unique. Stand on Zanzibar would also be a good target but I feel the over-population concept (as described in 70s western media) hasn’t aged that well. You stand the risk of making a campy movie like Soylent Green (I like it, but it’s more a 70s scifi experience for me). That being said, I would probably be fine with any good adaptation of Brunner’s famous works.
A proper adaption of Isaac Asimov’s The Gods Themselves. Asimov was often criticized for not including aliens in his novels/series. Well he did include aliens in this one and they are nothing like your typical scifi movie. It’s not as well written as Solaris (perhaps the most intense depiction of alien life that I’ve experienced in any media), but it’s pretty damn good. The Gods Themselves is probably the easiest one to adapt into a movie since the high level plot is pretty straightforward. The lunar parts would look great and then there is the alien world and society…
All of these would probably not pass the mass market adaption requirement. And I am not cool with “fanfic for the mass market” type adaptions. Make your own creative take, but make it crazy, make it live up to the main magic of the novels.
No Poul Anderson??
Anderson’s books are perfect for filming. You’ve got an established history, fantastic characters like van Rijn and Flandry, plus scores of well researched planets with credible aliens.
Joanna Russ’s “Picnic On Paradise” could be done on a low budget.
Roger Zelazny, Philip Jose Farmer, Judith Merrill…
I would go with works by Jose Farmer and Roger Zelazny. The shortlist just reflects my personal favourites.
I actually haven’t read anything by Poul Anderson, although I am aware of his contributions. :)
War Of The Wingmen is a pretty good start.
Nicolas Van Rijn is a fat Dutchman who runs a Galaxy wide food and beverage corporation. Imagine Harry Mudd if he was actually as smart as he thinks he is. Van Rijn is trapped on a planet where the natives look like winged leopards and all the native plants are poison to humans. He’s got to talk his way through a war.