The Evolution of Science Fiction discussion

What is the best sci-fi book to film adaptation?

I just watched Starship Troopers last night, and while quite entertaining, I couldn't help wondering how far the movie diverged from the book.

The movie diverged greatly from the book. I have read that there are Heinlein fans particularly miffed, feeling that the movie is a corruption, a cheapening of the novel. I liked the book. I can't get into the movie - it seemed just like so much CGI Hollywood fluff.

This morning started reading Arthur Clarke's 2001: A Space Odyssey. In the forward, Clarke tells about his collaboration with Stanley Kubrick in writing the novel. He wrote it with the express intention of turning it into a movie. So far, I have reached the part about the discovery of the monolith by the man-apes. Shortly I'll know how good the film adaptation is.

Buck wrote: " Shortly I'll know how good the film adaptation is."

You will be pleasantly surprised, other than the destination, which was modified in the film and thus in future books, the story sticks very much to the book, of course, this might have something to do with the fact that Kubrick was involved in the story.

Blade Runner although not a faithful adaptation of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? I do think the film is better.

A Scanner Darkly is the one book that stayed very true to its source material and imo delivered a perfect movie. So far its the only Philip K Dick story that has been true to its source material. I only like bladerunner for about a third of the movie, where its similar to the book.

Id also argue Who Goes There? was by far a better movie 1951 and 1982 remakes than the short story.

I would agree about the first two movies, "The Thing from Outerspace" and "John Carpenter's The Thing", but the one from a the 2000's was pretty close to the book and a little more interesting, although they still step out trying to make a movie.

Now, if you want to talk "I Am Legend", I would go with "The Omega Man" as the best of those movies.

I thought the PBS version of The Lathe of Heaven was very good, especially considering the budget. I recently watched it & listened to the book.

"The Last Man on Earth" was the best movie based on I Am Legend starring Vincent Price in 1963, I think. "The Omega Man" with Charelton Heston at least had the courtesy to change the name & say 'based on' the book. I spit on the latest POS starring Will Smith. Talk about horrible CGI & completely missing the point! Yuck. Even "Starship Troopers" wasn't that bad, although it was fairly horrible.

I agree with Alexander on "Blade Runner" - the movie was better - although a little depends on which cut. I can't keep them straight, but I like the uncertain one. I really like Harrison Ford & Rutger Hauer, too.

Buck, I got to see 2001: A Space Odyssey at the World's Fair in San Antonio when it first came out. My father, who passed down his love of SF, & I saw the LONG version - over 3 hours, close to 4, I think. We had an intermission at the end of the regular showing. It was on the biggest screen I'd ever seen & I was 7 or 8. The weirdest thing was I wasn't bored at all. Wonderful movie.

A Clockwork Orange was excellent, but based on the US version of the book which didn't have the last chapter, so missed the point of the book. Still, for that version & all, it's one of the best.

"A Boy & His Dog" was good. I can't recall if "Dr. Strangelove" was a novelization of the movie or what, but it is a fantastic movie.

1984 was both a good book and movie, if a little depressing. If you can find the movie, it mostly stuck to the book, and was well done for a 1980's movie, the 1950's version is pretty good too, but needed some of the effects available in 84 to complete the movie.

Jim wrote: "1984 was both a good book and movie, if a little depressing. If you can find the movie, it mostly stuck to the book, and was well done for a 1980's movie, the 1950's version is pretty good too, bu..."

1984 is one of my all time favorite books. I saw the movie (Richard Burton and John Hurt) years ago. I felt the move fell short. I only vaguely recall seeing the earlier movie also, in the 70's probably.

Stalker (1979) directed by Andrei Tarkovsky, with its screenplay written by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky, based on the novel The Roadside Picnic.

Maria wrote: "Stalker (1979) directed by Andrei Tarkovsky, with its screenplay written by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky, based on the novel The Roadside Picnic."

Stalker is a really good film and adaptation of Roadside Picnic. Tarkovsky's Solaris is also excellent, based on the book of the same name by Stanislaw Lem.

Buck wrote: "This morning started reading Arthur Clarke's 2001: A Space Odyssey. In the forward, Clarke tells about his collaboration with Stanley Kubrick in writing the novel. He wrote it with the express in..."

I may be remembering this wrongly, but I think 2001 was based on a Clarke short story, not the novel. I'm pretty sure the novel came after or at the same time as the film, so it should be pretty close to the same because Clarke and Kubrick worked together on it.

Not sure how good it will be but Stories of Your Life and Others will be released soon.

http://www.tor.com/2016/08/08/first-l...