I recently came across an article that io9 posted late last year entitled “10 Science Fiction Novels That Will Definitely Never Be Movies”. One of the novels cited was the Hugo and Nebula award-winning novel, Among Others, by Jo Walton. Charlie Jane Anders wrote:
“But it’s almost impossible to imagine Among Others working as a movie, for the exact reasons that it works so well as a book – the blend of memoir, beguilingly strange fantasy and book criticism depends on Walton’s voice, and there’s almost no way to pull out the bones of the story without including all of the musings on classic 1970s novels and storytelling, and the responsible use of magical powers.”
In the comments Jo Walton chimes in:
“Among Others will never be a movie because I keep saying no whenever I get nibbles of interest from Hollywood — because I agree with you.”
If you have read Among Others you no doubt agree.
I do too.
Except for the fact that I believe something special could be done in regards to adapting this novel cinematically. By “Hollywood”?…well, no. But by one or more very special film makers?
I would like to see them try.
For those of you who have not read Among Others, there will be nothing to spoil the experience here. I read the novel for the first time in January 2011, just after its release. I turned around immediately after finishing and read it aloud to Mary. It was that good. Later in the year I read parts of it a third time. It was far and away my favorite read of the year. I will read it again.
Since the moment I read the post by Anders and the response by Walton this has been churning in my brain. And the recent announcement that the Sword and Laser Book Club has chosen Among Others for their June read (hence it is a perfect time for you to give it a try if you have not…hint, hint) pushed me to the brink. It would not surprise me if each and every one of you reach the conclusion (now or near the end) that there is no point to this post whatsoever. I say “au contraire”…the point is merely to dream.
The supposition is that Among Others is unfilmable, one large reason being that a major thread woven throughout the story is Jo Walton’s autobiographical inclusion of many of the science fiction and fantasy books that she read as a young person and how through that passion for books she recognized her need for companions with that shared interest [my interpretation]. How do you film reading? How does a passion for genre literature, or literature of any kind, translate to the screen? The answer on the face of it is that it doesn’t.
Other threads of Jo Walton’s story are the coming of age of her protagonist, Mori, and a storyline involving magic and the overlapping of the world of Faerie with our own. Those plot lines are highly filmable and when done well are a recipe for turning a standard film into a timeless classic. Choose the right actors and a writer/director who can emphasize the right emotional notes with just the right beat and you will have something special.
But what about the book parts? That is what excites me the most. I would love to see something creative done with that element of the story and see it woven into a top-notch coming of age/magical realism film. Were I a screenwriter or filmmaker rather than a social work administrator with a passion for SFF I could now paint a wonderful visual for you that would excite your imagination. As it is all I can do is describe what has been whirling through my head ever since reading this piece and Jo Walton’s response.
[Editor’s Note: I am not advocating that the filmmakers named below be the ones to tackle this project. What I am pointing out are elements that I like about these particular films that at the very least ignite within me the desire to see a group of bold, creative, risk-taking group of people collaborate with Walton to do something special.]
Given the overlap between our world and the Faerie realm that happens in Among Others, and the darker, more serious elements of Walton’s story, I immediately thought of Pan’s Labyrinth and how Guilermo de Toro was able to make a film with that idea that transcends any derogatory categorization of “fantasy” or “fairy tale” as merely kid’s movie fare. In large part this is an aesthetic that came to mind, as does Peter Jackson’s aesthetic in the film Heavenly Creatures. I keep using the word “special” because I think it is an apt word to describe these films and what I think a film version of Among Others could be. It is a word that, for me, doesn’t immediately feel like hyperbole.
When I began thinking about how the film could visually incorporate some of the science fiction and fantasy novels mentioned in Among Others, I also thought of the visuals of director Tarsem Singh in the 2006 film, The Fall. The protagonist’s world is somewhat drab and monochrome, but whenever he is telling a story to the young girl the visuals become bright and colorful and full of texture and warmth. Certainly Mori finds comfort and companionship and inspiration in the books that she reads and although I cannot completely visualize how that could occur on film, I think it would be interesting to see someone try in a way that visually portrays the passion that books can ignite. I don’t think it is impossible, rather I think that films like this are rarely made.
The corporate money-making machine that is “Hollywood” would not attempt to make said film. They would emphasize the elements of the story that have been done before, the coming of age and magic elements, and could potentially create a very good film, but it would not reflect the spirit of the book. There is more to it, even more than just the reading elements that I have mentioned. I could imagine viewers, having purchased the book after seeing the film, wondering aloud “what is all this stuff about science fiction and fantasy books? This wasn’t in the movie. I like the movie so much better than this!”. That may be one of the many things Jo Walton wants to avoid by not selling the film rights to her novel. I do not blame her. Among Others is precious to me as a reader. I cannot fathom how much more so it is to Jo Walton given its semi-autobiographical leanings and the fact that it is one of her creations, born out of hard work and dedication to her craft.
But the dreamer in me, the person who loves a good, creative visual as much as the imaginings that a good novel evokes in my head, would love to see someone, or a group of someones, take on the challenge of translating a love of reading onto film. It will not happen, but it doesn’t cost anything to day-dream about it for awhile.
Have you read Among Others? What are your thoughts about its film potential? What books do you cherish that you believe are unfilmable?
“Pan’s Labyrinth” impressed me a lot because of the serious treatment of a magical world. I agree that “Among Others” would need to give off a similar vibe to work as a movie. I wonder if it wouldn’t be possible to use cutaway dream-like scenes to depict one or two SF/F stories mentioned in the book and the way that they intertwine with Mori’s life–perhaps a short story imagined in small segments as the movie progresses. It would take artsy filmmakers to be able to pull it off just right.
I was certainly thinking of cut-away sequences of some kind when the idea first struck me to write about this. It is interesting how a couple of minor comments in an article can set your mind whirling.
I could see filmmakers arguing, perhaps correctly, that any move away from the main storyline to bring the books into the picture would interrupt the narrative flow…however I continue to like the idea of it being a challenge that someone really creative could overcome.
When I see lists of “unfilmable” SF books, I always want to add China Mieville’s ‘The City and the City’ – surely that one’s eminently unfilmable, because the very look of the world is dependent on individual characters’ perceptual choices. I’m not sure how a film maker could visually represent half of a city wilfully un-seeing the other half.
Great article, as always! 🙂
That is another great example Tom of one that is probably conventionally unfilmable but that I would love to see someone tackle, at least in a treatment, as a challenge of what might be able to be done in a perfect storm of movie-making circumstances.
My first thought was something along the lines of Heavenly Creatures, too. I think it could be filmed, but it would definitely need the right director/actors, and hopefully Walton’s involvement! My other thought was incorporating animated illustrations to convey some of Mori’s readings, like the segment in the last Harry Potter that relates Beedle the Bard’s tales. I don’t know if that would actually work at all. It would probably require a different illustration style for each novel mentioned, and a lot or coordination and cooperation from multiple authors and author estates, but it’s just what came to mind!
Oh yes, would need to be 100% with Walton’s involvement and again she probably has rightfully said ‘no way’.
I too had animated sequences come to mind as I chewed on this over the weekend. I was actually thinking of Mirrormask as well as a form of animated/CG/live action angle that could be taken with this. I love the different animation style for each novel idea. That could make the film into quite the visual feast.
I have a feeling if Jo Walton was reading this right now she might be turning over in her figurative grave, lol! If anything this post may be just one more confirmation to her that she made the right choice.
I am a fan of film and books, and honestly, I am tired of adaptations from books. We can never sit long enough or afford its split into parts for multiple release dates. I long for more original screenplays. that said, we will very likely be seeing Ender’s Game opening weekend.
a book about the power of books will naturally move its audience (readers) most effectively if it is in a book. The medium punctuates the story being told.
Much depends on what you are wanting to do with the film. Adaptations/”based upon”s have rarely felt the pressure for being true to detail (plot or otherwise), some could care less to get the spirit of the book. And yet some beautiful work has been created. True, it can hurt the reader’s experience or vice versa. Natalya just finished reading Howl’s Moving Castle and that gorgeous film instantly dimmed. Miyazaki was trying to make a point using the skeleton of DWJ’s imagination, and it is good. but we’ve read the book now.
I always look to see how much the author is involved in the making of the film.
I haven’t read Among Others yet (I swear I will), but I like your choices on direction for particular aspects. There are some really good options for dark and whimsy and carrying off the autobiographical. I think there are some very talented filmmakers whose imaginations are formidable, and they can surprise and delight us. Could they do something like ‘Chopsticks’ or DiTerlizzi’s ‘Wondla’–a multi-modal experience of text and illustration and film. That could be awesome! Have different directors do different ‘imagination’ parts?!
Looking at the 10 from the article: I think ‘The Left Hand of Darkness’ is presently “unfilmable” because culturally we are not ready for it.
I agree in the sense that I don’t “need” books, especially favorite books, to be adapted to films. They are perfect as they are. And honestly if I’ve already read them I am more than likely opposed to them being made. Which is why I am so glad I read LOTR for the first time AFTER having seen the movies. However it is that example that flips me to the other side of why I do, in some circumstances, like book adaptations. One feeds into and off of the other giving you and even bigger experience from the two. That is what happens with me with the LOTR films and books, but then again that may be just a fluke.
Still, a book with some of the “standard” ideas of coming of age, like Among Others, that also has this incredible book passion in it is something I would like to see in the hands of a creative filmmaker and I think that is all really about me a)LOVING the visual medium and b) being less than impressed, far too often, with screenplays. Or at least with what gets edited into a film.
I too would prefer more worthwhile original films, like Pan’s Labyrinth. If there were more like that and less dreck I would be 100% against book adaptations. But at least with a book you know the story has some meat to it and it is up to the studio to either translate that skillfully or screw it up. And if they screw it up you can at least go get the story told to you in the novel. When a film with HUGE potential that is not an adaptation is screwed up, all you are left with is the unsatisfying feeling of what could have been and nothing to comfort, if that makes any sense.
Okay, in thinking more about your post and book adaptations vs. original films, I got to thinking that what excites me about this idea–filming something creatively that showcases SFF books and a love of reading–and the movie “Paris, Je Taime” came to mind. A writer could create a framing story, even something as simple as a kid going to the library, and you could get multiple writers/directors to film shorts based off of both classic and contemporary books that they like. They would have to be interpretations of those books rather than adaptations, given the time constraints. I think it would be fascinating. And/or each story could focus on a reader and a book they love and somehow work those themes into the short film. Hmmm….
yes, ‘Paris, Je Taime’ came to mind for me as well. the lesser ‘I love New York’ included one story interspersed throughout, like a thread.
can you imagine someone threading together these multiple worlds! can animate some, old school b-movie others…
It would be incredible, if financed properly and if the people picked to do it were of the right creative bent
This book has such a strong narrative voice, it feels like one that would require a voice-over in a movie (which could be awful, but has been very cool in some movies, so could work). You could easily visually film with Mori constantly surrounded by/carrying piles of books. A voice-over element would make it possible to name all those books as well. I’d see it in a kind of poetic way. Start each scene/day/segment (however it’s structured) with a poetry-like recitation of book titles, authors, maybe characters or place names. Since she reads three or four books a day (we should all be so fast!) there’d be easily enough material per day just in titles to create something sounding like poetry.
Hmm. Definitely raising some interesting thoughts for me!
I actually think filmmakers might have more trouble with the main plot threads, and especially the depiction of magic. Since a major element is magic not *looking* like magic, it could be difficult to carry into a movie setting.
Yes, most voice-overs in films are….ugh! Very seldom does it work effectively because of the years of overuse and abuse.
You could certainly make sure the books played a prominent part visually, but I’m not sure their import/impact would be as felt in a traditional film narrative without them being given some sort of special treatment. Then again it may be that I’m just stuck on visualizing something unique.
Thinking about what you wrote about each day, the voice over could work and emphasize that if done in a diary/daily journal sort of way.
I’m trying to think of films in which characters are showing “doing” magic and I’m coming up blank. I think here, to keep it serious and not silly, it would be more about showing the effects of magic vs. the magic itself.
I don’t know about book to movie, but this is a very interesting post, with very interesting comments too.
I have wanted to read this book ever since I ran into some reviews at one of your earlier reading events, and I will some day. You have spurred my motivation even more with this post. My only experience with Jo Walton was Farthing and the rest of that trilogy, and I loved it. Well I loved book 1 and book 3, and book 2 was needed to bridge the two.
If you enjoy her writing you really must read Among Others! And also pop over to Tor.com and search by her name and read any (or preferably ALL) of her many wonderful posts.
I have read some of them there (she talked about Red Planet in one) and the ones I read were good. Thanks for reminding me, I will go back and look for more.
I went back to her site a long time ago and looked at the full list she compiled. It was fun to see which I had read and which I hadn’t. Here is a Pinterest link with the books on it:
http://pinterest.com/tinyampersand/the-books-of-among-others/
Oh, that is a great list. Huge. Makes me even more determined to get a copy and read it.
I loved the book, especially for how unique it is in the genre. I can’t see a way that this could be done without just seeming like a lot of name-dropping and inside nods, or else stripping it of its love-of-the-art heart. Maybe I just lack cinematic imagination.
I don’t think it is a lack of imagination on your part, I think you hit on many of the issues of why this probably is an unfilmable book if one wants to stay faithful to it on any level.
It’s an interesting article and I must admit that I think it would probably be difficult to translate this book into film. I suppose you would need lots of flashbacks. You tend to think these days that anything is possible with film but that’s not necessarily the case. Will have to go away and ponder on this some more!
Lynn 😀
It may be just wishful thinking on my part, but I do believe much more is possible than what we see on the big screen. Studios don’t want to take risks, and I don’t entirely blame them, they are running a business after all.
But given some of the high quality short films that crop up online from time to time it is evident that much can be done if done with passion and ingenuity.
You’re right and I think this would be a risky one to take on to a certain extent – not to mention such a lot of people love the book and it’s always difficult to please fans of the book! I think with this particular story I definitely let my own imagination wander and flit off in all directions – it would be interesting to see how a filmmaker would translate the story.
Lynn 😀
It is often impossible to please fans! As I well know. I didn’t get around to doing my Stardust book vs. film post, but I pretty nearly despise the film. There are parts I like, but by and large I don’t enjoy the adaptation.
A pragmatic concern that comes to mind is: If you incorporate filmed snippets or scenes from the many books Mori mentions, then you not only have to option the rights to Jo’s novel, you have to license and pay for the rights to film those scenes from all those other authors’ works. Besides the expense, it would be a long nightmare of paperwork and negotiation.
That is possible, Bruce, but she mentions many classics that I believe are in the public domain so there wouldn’t be any fees at all. Of course that would limit which books were picked. I’m too lazy to do it, but it would be interesting to take the list Jo Walton created that lists all the books she mentions and see which are in the public domain and which are not. Good point though!
I can’t weigh in on the discussion since I haven’t read the book. but I will say you’ve convinced me to read the book. Then I might have an opinion.
Wonderful! If I’ve done that then I consider this post a success.
I agree with TBM–you’ve convinced me to read the book, too, by virtue of mentioning Pan’s Labyrinth in the same article. I’m going to check out its RL also to see if it’s appropriate for teens.
Oh, I’m super-excited to hear that! I’m not sure you’ll get a Pan’s Labyrinth vibe from it, but I would love to hear your take on the story.
There is one scene in particular that is brief but troubling. I’d be a little cautious about having my teen read it. If you want to know (it isn’t really a spoiler), send me an email and I’ll tell you about it.
I’m up for it
Oh this was such a wonderful book. I never would have thought about it being filmed and I shudder to think what Hollywood would do but I think if it was someone who loved books as much as the author then I wouldn’t be so worried. Oh and Pan’s Labyrinth – loved that too. That movie had me in tears at the end though.
It really was, Iliana. I’ve been enjoying reading some of the comments on the current group read of it over on the Sword and Laser Goodreads forum.
Yes, Hollywood would strip this one down to something too much like a Harry Potter spinoff probably. Which is why I understand Walton’s reluctance to allow it to even get off the ground.
Yes, Pan’s is a heart-tugger.
Interesting post. I read Among Others due to your praises of the book, and I am very glad I did. This is one book that will not leave my bookshelves even during the book purging I do every so often (the last one just happened which created 4 full large boxes of books to giveaway).
The comments were interesting too. I love to read the inner workings of other people’s minds. I do not have much to add to the conversation as I poorly lack cinematic knowledge to even start to dream up a possibility for this book. Even if I did have said knowledge, I simply don’t think Among Others would find justice on the big screen. The beauty and magic of the book is greatly due to Mori’s passion for reading and how she drew off that passion to help her through life. This book is better left for people to know and savor through the print medium. Still, it was fun reading all the clever ideas and thoughts – in your post and comments – about how this book may have a chance on screen.
Leslie — if you read this comment, do go and read this book ASAP. you will not regret the time spent.
I am glad you read it and enjoyed it as well. And I too will be holding on to my beloved hard cover copy. I’ll read this one again at some point.
I enjoyed the comments here as well. My purpose was not to say the book was filmable, but just to talk about cool ideas the book would inspire and I think it did just that. No one would make the kind of movie that would have to be made to do this justice, as you point out. Fun to dream though.