'"Repent, Harlequin!", Said the Ticktockman"

[Jan]

Just found on JMS' Facebook page:

Since this has apparently leaked onto several film-oriented websites, I should probably confirm the information and preclude distortion: I have optioned, and adapted into screenplay form, Harlan Ellison's "Repent Harlequin, Said the Ticktockman." It's out to producers, studios and directors now. We hope to find a director who has always wanted to make this story into a movie. More as, if and when it develops.

I should mention that Harlan has never allowed anyone else before to option or adapt Harlequin for the screen, and the draft has his personal seal of approval.

I've been asked in email which sites had the information. The two main ones are trackingb.com and itsonthegrid.com. (The latter is the more accurate, at least it spells my name right.) So I figured better to get in front of it than let it sneak up behind me or get distorted.

Can't wait to see this one. JMS and Harlan in conbination - woo-hoo!

Jan

[SmileOfTheShadow]

Wow that's great news. Sounds like this was done on spec?

[babylonlurker]

Can't wait to see this one. JMS and Harlan in conbination - woo-hoo!

Jan

I look forward to see hear more . Harlan and JMS - it just has to be interesting.

[Jan]

Wow that's great news. Sounds like this was done on spec?

Not to the extent that JMS just wrote a script and sent it out (Changeling); more the way that the company optioned the movie rights and commissioned a script for B5 several years ago. I think that the question now is whether JMS and Harlan can find somebody who wants to make it/back it/distribute it within the time allotted by the option and who will respect the material.

Thankfully, JMS has a much higher profile among the movers and shakers than he did pre-Changeling

Jan

[Whyruss]

Wow - this could turn out great!

[SmileOfTheShadow]

What's the easiest place to find this story? Does Harlan allow his stuff on Kindle or is he fighting technology?

[Jan]

What's the easiest place to find this story? Does Harlan allow his stuff on Kindle or is he fighting technology?

Granted that he doesn't have any use for e-versions, I've never gotten the impression that he'd refuse a contract if it were presented to him. I know it's been reprinted many times but I think it was in "The Essential Ellison" that I re-read it.

Jan

[JasonDavis]

What's the easiest place to find this story?

The E-reads edition of Paingod and Other Delusions is probably your most readily available option at the moment.

There's a paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Paingod-Other-...8929939&sr=8-1

and a Kindle edition: http://www.amazon.com/Paingod-and-Ot...8929939&sr=8-2

In the near future, the story will be appearing in volume one of Harlan 101: Encountering Ellison, edited by yours truly.

[Belbo]

ScriptShadow review

I somehow managed to miss this at the time, but the spec script was reviewed on ScriptShadow back in March

Repent, Harlequin! Said the Ticktockman

Vague spoilers, I guess, but nothing you couldn't have guessed from the short story.

I can't say I'm surprised that they caught the V For Vendetta similarities (Moore has openly acknowleged the influence), though it'll be depressing if that's the reason no-one picks it up.

[Jan]

Thanks for finding that, Belbo.

Jan

[DeMonk]

The E-reads edition of Paingod and Other Delusions is probably your most readily available option at the moment.

There's a paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Paingod-Other-...8929939&sr=8-1

and a Kindle edition: http://www.amazon.com/Paingod-and-Ot...8929939&sr=8-2

In the near future, the story will be appearing in volume one of Harlan 101: Encountering Ellison, edited by yours truly.

Just as most english stuff it is "geographically restricted". I checked at borders.com, amazon, fictionwise... No way I can legally buy the e-book.
What a lousy system!

[babylonlurker]

Just as most english stuff it is "geographically restricted". I checked at borders.com, amazon, fictionwise... No way I can legally buy the e-book.
What a lousy system!

I tried on amazon.co.uk as well, and sure enough, available "only in UK"

SO - what's the idea of having a Kindle outside US/UK if you can not buy the English language books anyway ? Are they deliberately trying to create piracy ?

This is getting very annoying .

[Jan]

I have a feeling it may have something to do with international copyright issues. Have you contacted Amazon/Borders, etc. to ask?

Jan

[DeMonk]

No use: nobody has bought the rights for continental Europe so it is simply not available to us. It happens with a LOT of books.

No one wants to buy those rights because it's assumed that there are not a lot of possible customers for english books, so not a great margin for profit.

We can buy hard copies in the US or UK, but not e-books, which is a pity as I don't see very well and being able to adjust the letter size is a great joy.

It's frustrating and infuriating.

[SmileOfTheShadow]

Read it last night. What a cool story. It's hard to pull off dark and whimsical at the same time, but he did. I don't recommend speed reading Harlan's work either.