Film Version of New Sun?

Hello everyone, I have been reading through the Urth lists on occasion for some list for quite some time now. However, I did not notice until tonight that it was not all dead. That in mind, I decided to write posing a query for you all. With the success of The Lord of the Rings, many fantasy and science fiction literary works are seeing new life on the big screen. Gene Wolfe, although a critically acclaimed author by all means, is completely unknown by anyone outside the box. I myself would not know GW if I had not accidently found a complete hardcover edition of the Book of the New Sun (The one with a close up on Severian in a twilight local with frizzy hair and a six-pack of abs featured on the cover) in my brother's box of old books. I have read the New Sun series three times now, and I constantly feel like it could easily, if done right, be the next big thing. There are just so many scenes beautifully articulated in the book that could be displayed with greater ease in visual format. The Duel on the Sanguinary Fields, Vodalus' feast, Severian's adventure in the House Absolute, the confrontation with the alzabo, the fight at baldander's castle, and the whole battle in the north screams the word "epic". Perhaps a movie format would not do the series justice, but I can think of a Television mini-series easily accomplishing that. In that way, you could still have all the hidden items littered throughout, maintain the first-person narrative, and because of the former, have watchable through repeated viewings. Bad idea? Probably I know, but hey, it would at least Mr. Wolfe some more success that is due to him.

From: Christopher Hettinger <telpeurion at hotmail.com> Reply-To: Telpeurion at Gamersadvanced.com,The Urth Mailing List <urth at lists.urth.net> To: <urth at urth.net> Subject: (urth) Film Version of New Sun? Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2007 00:07:17 -0700 Hello everyone, I have been reading through the Urth lists on occasion for some list for quite some time now. However, I did not notice until tonight that it was not all dead. That in mind, I decided to write posing a query for you all. With the success of The Lord of the Rings, many fantasy and science fiction literary works are seeing new life on the big screen. Gene Wolfe, although a critically acclaimed author by all means, is completely unknown by anyone outside the box. I myself would not know GW if I had not accidently found a complete hardcover edition of the Book of the New Sun (The one with a close up on Severian in a twilight local with frizzy hair and a six-pack of abs featured on the cover) in my brother's box of old books. I have read the New Sun series three times now, and I constantly feel like it could easily, if done right, be the next big thing. There are just so many scenes beautifully articulated in the book that could be displayed with greater ease in visual format. The Duel on the Sanguinary Fields, Vodalus' feast, Severian's adventure in the House Absolute, the confrontation with the alzabo, the fight at baldander's castle, and the whole battle in the north screams the word "epic". Perhaps a movie format would not do the series justice, but I can think of a Television mini-series easily accomplishing that. In that way, you could still have all the hidden items littered throughout, maintain the first-person narrative, and because of the former, have watchable through repeated viewings. Bad idea? Probably I know, but hey, it would at least Mr. Wolfe some more success that is due to him. My wife and I have had a similar idea for twenty plus years. The difficulty is in the execution.

I would not favor a BotNS film, for I suspect it would get all the images right but miss the point of the book.

From: Christopher Hettinger <telpeurion at hotmail.com> Subject: (urth) Film Version of New Sun? To: <urth at urth.net> Message-ID: <BAY143-W1720A3AC66FE655F1158F1C8120 at phx.gbl> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Hello everyone, I have been reading through the Urth lists on occasion for some list for quite some time now. However, I did not notice until tonight that it was not all dead. That in mind, I decided to write posing a query for you all. With the success of The Lord of the Rings, many fantasy and science fiction literary works are seeing new life on the big screen. Gene Wolfe, although a critically acclaimed author by all means, is completely unknown by anyone outside the box. I myself would not know GW if I had not accidently found a complete hardcover edition of the Book of the New Sun (The one with a close up on Severian in a twilight local with frizzy hair and a six-pack of abs featured on the cover) in my brother's box of old books. I have read the New Sun series three times now, and I constantly feel like it could easily, if done right, be the next big thing. There are just so many scenes beautifully articulated in the book that could be displayed with greater ease in visual format. The Duel on the Sanguinary Fields, Vodalus' feast, Severian's adventure in the House Absolute, the confrontation with the alzabo, the fight at baldander's castle, and the whole battle in the north screams the word "epic". Perhaps a movie format would not do the series justice, but I can think of a Television mini-series easily accomplishing that. In th at way, you could still have all the hidden items littered throughout, maintain the first-person narrative, and because of the former, have watchable through repeated viewings. Bad idea? Probably I know, but hey, it would at least Mr. Wolfe some more success that is due to him. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well, as much as I'd love to see it on the silver screen, I just don't see how any director could possibly show Erebus or Abaia. I still don't understand the scene in the Claw of the Conciliator where the giant water-thing pops out of the water... how would the general populous feel about it? It would be sacrilege to leave any of it out. Patrick

I'll support a BotNS movie when someone can give me a list of which scenes from the Book of the New Sun can be cut without doing grievous harm to the plot. Well, no. Not even then. Rostrum

I'll support a BotNS movie when they sign Johnny Depp as Edward Scissorhands as Severian. And, um, Steve Buscemi as Gurloes, Albus Dumbledore as Malrubius, and Sarah Silverman as Thecla. And Wallace Shawn with the late Andre the Giant as, well, you know. OK, maybe not. -ranjit (Any suggestions for Agia/Agilus? I'm sure we've done this before, but what the heck...)

Joan/John Cusack. Adam

Extended TV miniseries. .

I would so love to see a not-for-kids animated version, as I feel that animation is almost the only way to convey the feel of a story like this (similar to how I feel about the rumored Neil Gaiman Sandman film- think Miazaki!). Did anyone see the TV miniseries of Ghormenghast? That was a wonderful (and fairly long) telling of the first 2 books of the cycle. I don't think Mervyn Peake was all that great a writer, those books were all about conveying loads of tone and atmosphere, and I thought the movie did it pretty well. Maybe a TV miniseries would be the best way to convey Sev's story, as layered and atmospheric as it is. I don't think there's a big enough fan base to support a cinematic film, but I'd never heard of Bridge to Tarabethia before, either, so who knows? -Scott K

In regards to an animated version of The Book of the New Sun, I'd love to see one of the Japanese studios take it on. Satoshi Kon, from what I know of him, might do a good job with The Book of the New Sun. I'd actually prefer a 26-episode series to a feature film, if only because that could provide more room for detail. I don't think Miyazaki would necessarily be my top choice for Severian's story, but I understand that his company, Studio Ghibli, recently did a film of LeGuin's Earthsea books, though the film can't come out in the US until 2009 (http://www.ursulakleguin.com/GedoSenkiResponse.html). Wolfe devotees might also enjoy Miyazaki's Howl's Moving Castle, which is based off a book by a Diana Wynne Jones, who Wolfe apparently really likes. As for Bridge to Terabithia, I never read it, but it was very popular when I was growing up. Several of my friends, when they saw a poster for the movie, reminisced about how "It was my favorite book going up." I gather it has a larger following than one might think. -Matt