Pellinor fans!!! discussion

the problem is, no one has ever heard of the books of pellinor. i think we need to maybe buy the books for our real life friends for their birthdays or something, and then get them to join goodreads!

Making Pellinor more visible: the thing is to find out if anyone has made a bid to adapt the books for films or TV or even radio. Even if this were only to be realised several years down the line that's always a surefire way to raise the series' profile and popularity. Does anyone know if that's a possibility? Can you find that out online?

I've looked everywhere like crazy, and even asked Alison Croggon herself and she said as far as she knows, there are no plans for any type of movie or TV show being made out of TBoP.

Elizabeth wrote: "Ha,that would be great! To be honest though, I kinda don't want them to make a Pellinor movie. I don't think Hollywood would give them enough justice. I speak as one whose favorite books have gotte..."

Which favourite books in particular?

I can think of so many books like that, Inkheart, Eragon, The lord of the Rings (I liked the movies but I keep saying stuff like, that didn't happen in the books or why didn't they put this part in?) but the worst was defintely the version of Pride and Prejudice that Keira Knightley starred in (admittedly I'm NOT a K.K. fan so that may have had something to do with it)

Never got into Eragon as a book so can't judge. I was warned against the film of Inkheart so haven't seen it, but I got the idea that the production was similar to The Golden Compass film. This last was beautifully done, lots of attention to sets, costumes, props and so on, but the philosophical guts had been ripped out of it and there was way too much fussy CGI in the battle in the North.

I sort of agree with you about The Lord of the Rings but overall I thought it was successful, especially the extended version. I disliked the occasional modern dialogue ("Let's get us some orcs!" declares Strider as the end of 'The Fellowship' film) and the nods to Star Wars (as in Legolas' fight against the oliphaunt in the final film), but I liked the beefing up of the female roles (sorry, that's not the best metaphor, but you know what I mean), the close and loving attention to details, and the resolution of the fate of Saruman in the extended version. I especially liked the humanising of many of the characters often lacking in Tolkien's text.

As for KK, Keira Knightley is Keira Knightley, whatever role she plays. She's not even very sexy, I think, more like a shop window mannequin or a pretty clothes-horse than an actor I can believe in.

So, yes, one would shudder to think what Hollywood would do with Pellinor: change Maerad's hair-colour? have an African-American actor play the Arab-like Saliman? over-use CGI so the human story gets lost?

Oh, I can't believe I forgot Avalon High! or how about the Princess diaries? (okay, so I thought the movie was better but it was nothing like the book)

Yeah, sleazy is a good word for them! (which I don't get, because none of her other books are like that)

If you do let me know, I'll kick in a couple of dollars :)

The problem with making films out of books is that if they do make a lot of money they make a second and with the second they take more liberty with the story. I mean look at the chronicles of Narnia....the first one was very true to the book, the second one, slightly less so, but not too bad and then the third one....don't even get me started on that!
But then if the film doesn't make a lot of money they just bin the whole project, like with Eragon and The Golden Compass.

(Sorry for rant, I'm new to the group and couldn't help getting involved.)

Glad to hear your opinion! And you're right although I hadn't thought of it myself.

It is rare that films of successful books don't take liberties with adaptions. The Lord of the Rings triology by and large stayed true to the spirit of Tolkien's writings because the writers and director made it a labour of love, not because they wanted to make a lot of money (though this they did of course), but they made changes, many of which were right for filmic and dramatic reasons. The Harry Potter films stayed true to the spirit of the books (even when taking liberties) because Rowling insisted on having more influence than most authors dream of as part of her agreement to the films being made. Most authors aren't as well served by the films of their books.

I doubt that any films about Pellinor will be faithful because Croggan wouldn't have Rowling's clout or Tolkien's loyal fanbase. Becky mentioned the Narnia films and The Golden Compass, and I've heard dreadful reports of the adaptation of Ursula Le Guin's The Earthsea Quartet for film and particularly TV.

The made for tv movie of Earthsea is really good but I've yet to read the book, so I don't know how close it is.

I've only really ever found two books that have been made successfully into films that have been really true to the books themselves. This was because the writers were majorly involved! I think that authors should take a more active role when their books are adapted for film.

if you had to pick one person to be from the Pellinor books, with every aspect of the character, who would you be?
I know this has been done to death in places but i think it's quite fun to read peoples answers

Adrianja wrote: "So....um...I feel like this group is dying... Anything you guys want to do?"

Some of the best fantasy I've read recently features really resourceful girls, young women really, who transcend their traditional role/s and make it big in a world dominated by men. I'm thinking not just of Maerad but particularly of Lyra in His Dark Materials, and there are others.

Is it worth having a thread about if others find that true and whether that makes them a more convincing and satisfying read? Is it a feature that is particularly common to women authors? and can and do women authors write convincingly of male protagonists?

(Sorry, a lot of questions there, but hope you get the gist of my meaning.)

"Kickass Authors and Kickass Females?"

Sorry I haven't been very active, I'm a University student and a whole pile of work landed on my lap last week. I had two language exams and two dealines all within 7 days of each other :/. But I'm back now!!

Becky wrote: ""Kickass Authors and Kickass Females?"

Sorry I haven't been very active, I'm a University student and a whole pile of work landed on my lap last week. I had two language exams and two dealines all..."

Welcome back! And Kickass... sounds good!

Thanks, it was the first thing that came into my head :)

i've got an idea of something that might be fun.....whats your favourite part of each book? e.g. my fave part of the riddle is Maerad's journey through the northern land.
could be quite good if people then had to explain why? just an idea.

Recently started reading Trudi Canavan's Black Magician books, and realised that, together with Alison Croggon and Garth Nix, she had created a self-contained fantasy world which felt European while also being from Australia.

Would be good to have a discussion with other Pellinorites who have also read Nix's Old Kingdom series and Canavan's Kyralia novels about similarities and differences between the books as well as whether they shared an Oz perspective of fantasy. Anyone interested?

yes! I have read all of those! three of my favourite series

Becky wrote: "yes! I have read all of those! three of my favourite series"

Great! So could we have a new thread e.g. 'Pellinor and Oz'?

Its created!