Neal Stephenson Discusses Why His Novels Haven't Been Made Into Movies

[lebarosky]

Snow Crash would make a great thriller the essential McGuffin plot of the Sumerian metalanguage would be great. You have a good villain (The Ainu Giant) and a good heroine. You have a good protagonist: the hacker guy. The essential story is no longer than, say, the English Patient, which was made into a fine movie.

[andrewhime]

No comment on the Diamond Age mini-series?

[FractalBolt]

I agree with what he says about mini series as the only form of visual media that can possibly compete with novels. As of right now the only TV series I'm hooked into is AMC's "Breaking Bad", and the complexity of the plot plus the character developmnet of, at least, the two main characters, is amazing.

I have always liked good mini series over movies. I haven't read the Game of Thrones books, but I am told wonders about the TV series.

[totoaklan]

@FractalBolt you have been told wrong about the tv series. it simply failed to convey the depth and breadth of martin's "a song of ice and fire." i found it intolerable after two episodes. if you want tawdry, just watch the old flash gordon series.

[videotropia]

@FractalBolt IMO the best sci fi and fantasy for the screen have been the serial movies like LOR and Star Wars (admittedly they are few)

[parkarboy73]

@videotropia You compare Star War to Neal Stephenson and Tolken. That's very insulting.

[videotropia]

@parkarboy73 Tolkien > Lucas. I wasn't comparing Star Wars to Stephenson, either. If you have a preference for 'mini series' over movies, well, movies are sometimes parts of a series. Digital distribution is breaking down the barrier between TV and 'The Movies'. They are made the same way after all.

[bricemaieralt]

Good movies are the gateway to great books.

[accd1d]

I think snowcrash could work as a movie.

[Gbral]

Your books will render you immortal. They are perfect how they are. No movies needed. No disappointment wanted.

Glad to see, that you like Game of Thrones too! :)