on a massively influential series of SF

[Lunan]

"on a massively influential series of SF novels"

i really feel this qute deserves its own thread, alot to discuss otherwise in the update but this is a MASSIVE statement

the canidates so far metioned:
Foundation - Asimov
Rama - A.C.Clarke
Dragonriders of Pern - McCaffrey
Crystal Singer - McCaffrey
Ringworld - Niven
Honor Harrington - Weber
John Carter of Mars
E.E. Smith's Lensman
Star King by Jack Vance
The Dying Earth
Ender's Game/Shadow - Orson Card
Lazarus Long - Heinlein
The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen R. Donaldson

so let us talk, i have no doubt that other series could be added and that some of those sugested could be rejected
1 thing as he specifically says "series" standalone novels like The Moon is a Harsh Mistress or Stranger in a Strange Land are not on the list

[Radhil]

Just a thought, and I don't mean to shoot anyone down on this, but Thomas Covenant I had thought was always a fantasy type of novel. Also, I know the Pern world has some definite sci-fi elements but having read a few also very firmly a fantasy type of deal.

SciFi means many things, but I think Joe would make the distinction between science fiction and fantasy.

Just sayin'.

[Jan]

Also, I know the Pern world has some definite sci-fi elements but having read a few also very firmly a fantasy type of deal.

Actually, Pern is firmly Science Fiction. It's established in detail that the dragons were genetically created by the settlers as a way to combat the menace of Thread. It's less obvious in the earlier books but Pern is definitely SF, not fantasy.

Me, I want the Vorkosigan books.

Jan

[Lunan]

Actually, Pern is firmly Science Fiction. It's established in detail that the dragons were genetically created by the settlers as a way to combat the menace of Thread. It's less obvious in the earlier books but Pern is definitely SF, not fantasy.

Me, I want the Vorkosigan books.

Jan

personally i want it to be Crystal Singer, for those books could only be done by Joe or Joss Whedon, there is such a depth to the chars in the story and the background world that i can't think of ANYONE else who i would be happy giving Killashandra life

and jan if one only reads Dragonsflight then it is easy to see why one consders it fantasy, even though the opening prolog "Rukbat in the sagitarian sector of space was a golden g type star, it had..." (you think i have read that often huh?)

ok Moreta, Dragonsong, Dragonsinger, The Smallest Dragonboy also can feel fantasyish
but if your going in order Dragon Quest and The White Dragon give the lie to the fantasy side

(And Anne McCaffrey belongs in any talk of scifi that includes Heinlein and Asimov as she was arguably just as major an influence and writer as they were)

while the Acorna books are in no way what joe was talking about i have always thought those would make an amazing animated maxi-series

[Radhil]

*shrug* I've read All The Weyrs of Pern, which of all things has a largely sentient computer and if I'm not mistaken also "ends" the series somewhat. Also I forget the title (and admittedly most of the content) but one that was some kind of prequel/establisher, telling of the first settlers, the discovery of Thread, and yes, the engineering of the Dragons.

It still ranks as fantasy in my head. Maybe my head's broke. It's happened before.

EDIT - Or my head just see dwagons, and assumes there must be a bard or three nearby for comic relief. I dunno.

[Lunan]

*shrug* I've read All The Weyrs of Pern, which of all things has a largely sentient computer and if I'm not mistaken also "ends" the series somewhat. Also I forget the title (and admittedly most of the content) but one that was some kind of prequel/establisher, telling of the first settlers, the discovery of Thread, and yes, the engineering of the Dragons.

It still ranks as fantasy in my head. Maybe my head's broke. It's happened before.

EDIT - Or my head just see dwagons, and assumes there must be a bard or three nearby for comic relief. I dunno.

the title your looking for is Dagonsdawn, a good story
and yes all the weyrs was an "ending" of sorts and i do have to admit most of the books there after did go um downhill but i'm not complaining anne has over 30 amazing books and a score of just good fun ones

and yes The Dragonriders of Pern is one of the extremly few SCIFI series i can think of to include gragon on the "mythical" type

[iamsheridan]

"on a massively influential series of SF novels"

the canidates so far metioned:
Foundation - Asimov
Rama - A.C.Clarke
Dragonriders of Pern - McCaffrey
Crystal Singer - McCaffrey
Ringworld - Niven
Honor Harrington - Weber
John Carter of Mars
E.E. Smith's Lensman
Star King by Jack Vance
The Dying Earth
Ender's Game/Shadow - Orson Card
Lazarus Long - Heinlein
The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen R. Donaldson

I would like to add:

Planet of Adventure - Jack Vance
Star King - Jack Vance
null-A - A.E. Van Vogt
And hasn't C.J. Cherryh written one or more series?

Regards

[NotSoWize]

"on a massively influential series of SF novels"

i really feel this qute deserves its own thread, alot to discuss otherwise in the update but this is a MASSIVE statement

the canidates so far metioned:
Foundation - Asimov
Rama - A.C.Clarke
Dragonriders of Pern - McCaffrey
Crystal Singer - McCaffrey
Ringworld - Niven
Honor Harrington - Weber
John Carter of Mars
E.E. Smith's Lensman
Star King by Jack Vance
The Dying Earth
Ender's Game/Shadow - Orson Card
Lazarus Long - Heinlein
The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen R. Donaldson

so let us talk, i have no doubt that other series could be added and that some of those sugested could be rejected
1 thing as he specifically says "series" standalone novels like The Moon is a Harsh Mistress or Stranger in a Strange Land are not on the list

I actually also mentioned Roger Zelazney's Amber series. I would say Foundation, Ringworld, Ender, and Lensman pretty well fit the "massively influential" description. I know that a script for Ender's Game (I think written by Orson Scott Card) has been floating around for a while, but I suppose that the studio might be looking for a fresh start.

The others are either stand alone volumes, fantasy, or Science/Fantasy that feels more like fantasy than SF (actually, I guess that Amber probably feels like a fantasy as well, so I'll cull it from the list.) I would also add Gene Wolfe's Dying Sun books to the list, but I'm not sure that even JMS would take that challenge on.

I think it will turn out to be either Foundation or Lensman

[Donald]

Foundation would be awesome. Pern, not so much. I'd still watch it, though, just because it's JMS.

[Lunan]

the more i think about it the more i really like the idea of lazarus long but in all honesty it would be better done as a series of short tales(which is what those stories are mainly) like TLT not a movie

I just CAN"T see foundation being done as a movie, not without mangeling it so much it no longer resembles the books (like i robot or starship troopers) and i think Joe has enough respect not only for classic scifi but to the community that he wouldn't be willing to do that (i hope)

i really feel Dragonriders and Ender's Game/Shadow (Orson Card said that after the last harry potter movie someone* was working with him on it, i think he said a director and i he did say he was working on a screenplay but it does make sense to bring in someone who has worked in tv/movies before to smooth out his draft and work with him) are the best possible
both have pros and cons mainly being that both of them have been killed by the author MANY times (infact every time someone has tryed to make it) because of too many changes to thier world
visually Pern is harder because it woul dhave to be almost all CG where Ender's does not need all that much CG (compared to pern anyway)
Pros: both are EXTREMLY well known and not JUST to the scifi read community alot of schools (middle/high) have both Ender's Game and Dragonflight as parts of thier english programs (at least alot in NY, NJ, Conn, Mass, Fla, and Ohio that i know about)

now for marketing Pern has ALOT more you can do for side marketing which studios do look at these days, action figures stuffed dragons etc

[DeanHFox]

Some other possibilities...

A few more "series" that have been around for quite awhile come to mind:

Perry Rhodan series...
Berserker series (Fred Saberhagen and others)...
Bolo series (Keith Laumer)...

(and, just for the fun of it)...The Tom Swift books.
(hey, they were Sci-Fi back when I read 'em!)

[Dr Maturin]

How about -- no...this can only be done with a picture:

Influential...

[Lunan]

How about -- no...this can only be done with a picture:

Influential...

only if someone shoots john travolta for horrid acting first

[Radhil]

How about -- no...this can only be done with a picture:

Influential...

Holy Jesus H Tapdancing Christ. Are you trying to give me a heart attack?

I actually read that book. I didn't feel clean for about a month afterwards.

[colonyearth]

Actually, Pern is firmly Science Fiction. It's established in detail that the dragons were genetically created by the settlers as a way to combat the menace of Thread. It's less obvious in the earlier books but Pern is definitely SF, not fantasy.

Me, I want the Vorkosigan books.

Jan

Ah Jan, you still have my heart! Of course, the Bujold series about that lovable and devilish Miles Vorkosigan!!! Foundation's too hard, Ender...well it's already in the works (and I still don't see at all how it can be done on any sized screen, whether Card has penned the script or not -- which he has). The Vorkosigan series already reads like a film or television...God! I love Bujold! It's ready made and Bujold is one the best SF and F writers around, she never ceases to amaze me and thrill me! Her Vorkosigan Universe is fun, exciting, funny, dramatic and full of characters that grow so much as time passes (hm...sounds familiar) ...oh well....GO MILES!!!