Science fiction literature has always been a fertile ground for cinema. Moreover, the film adaptation of science fiction began almost with the advent of cinema. Already the first science fiction film, A Trip to the Moon, released in 1902, became a parody of plots from the novels of Jules Verne and HG Wells.
Currently, almost all high-rated sci-fi series are created on the basis of literary works, because with an interesting plot, high-quality dialogues, charismatic characters and, of course, an original fantastic idea borrowed from a writer appreciated by numerous readers, it is much easier build a production process.
Today we will talk about series that will give you pleasure twice - first on the screen, and then in the form of a book (most often more than one).
"Space"
In a colonized solar system, a Ceres-born police detective in the Asteroid Belt goes in search of a missing young woman. Meanwhile, the crew of a freighter becomes involved in a tragic incident that threatens to destabilize the fragile peace between Earth, an independent Mars, and the Asteroid Belt. On Earth, the head of the UN is trying by all means to prevent the unleashing of a war between Earth and Mars ... The fate of these heroes is connected with a conspiracy that threatens humanity.
The Space series is based on novels and short stories by Daniel Abraham and Ty Frank, writing under the pseudonym James Corey. To date, eight novels, three short stories and four novellas have been published.
Good news for those who want to know how it all ends: the final book is scheduled for release in 2020. The fourth (and apparently not the last) season of the highly rated Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes series premiered on December 13, 2019.
"Years"
The British science fiction series Years (originally Years and Years) is often compared to Black Mirror. They really have a common theme - the near (and dangerous) future, only the Years sometimes seem even more realistic and reliable: Donald Trump is re-elected for a second term, the military conflict in Eastern Europe, and transhumanists are no longer in fashion, but transhumanists.
In the first and so far the only season, it is difficult to enjoy exactly fantastic assumptions (implanted implants and breathing identification are rather a tribute to the present), so for an additional portion of sci-fi we send to the book.
The series is based on the original script, but one cannot fail to note the similarity with the recent novel by Jeannette Winterson "". In post-Brexit Britain, transgender doctor Ray Shelley falls in love (against common sense) with the famous professor Victor Stein, who studies artificial intelligence in an underground city laboratory. Meanwhile, Ron Lord, divorced and living with his mom, plans to make money by launching a new generation of sex dolls for single men.
According to the righteous preacher Claire, sex robots are devilish creatures ... but soon her opinion will change. And in the novel there is a place for the world's first programmer Ada Lovelace.
Only such a description will save you from spoilers. You can reveal the main thing: the book takes topics similar to the series (gender politics, Donald Trump's America, Brexit) and expands them with an even more relevant agenda: can robots surpass humanity? Victor Stein and Ron Lord answer in the affirmative.
"Altered Carbon"
In the distant future, thanks to alien technology, it became possible to "overload" the human consciousness from one body to another ... Of course, this is very convenient if you want to live forever. That's just death in this world has not disappeared.
Someone is trying to kill billionaire Bancroft, and to investigate the case, the victim herself hires a controversial detective - former military commando and terrorist Takeshi Kovacs.
With such a plot, a story filled with cyberpunk romance, violence, ethical issues and, according to some critics, logical absurdities begins.
The most expensive Netflix series based on , does not follow the plot outline of the writer for long, setting off on an independent voyage. Despite the fact that it has already been renewed for the second season, it will not be possible to quickly read the Morgan trilogy and find out the finale of the adventures of the super-soldier Kovacs - the series began to develop in parallel with the plot of the book. You can watch the show and read the novel in any order.
"The Handmaid's Tale"
In the brutal reality of The Handmaid's Tale, humanity has problems with childbearing: very few women are able to give birth. The government, consisting of religious radicals, removes fertile citizens from society and distributes them among the families of high-ranking officials as slaves. In a small, very limited hell, they have to spend their whole lives.
Oddly enough, the series, which survived into its fourth season and received various awards, is based on the same name written over 30 years ago. A novel about radical religious fundamentalism, in which women are forbidden to use money, work and own personal property, explores the ways in which any absolute power oppresses the individual.
"Dark"
The first Netflix original series filmed in Germany. In a small German town, lost in the forests near an operating nuclear power plant, children disappear, families break up, harsh residents keep secrets, and some even travel through time. It's hard to talk about the series without spoilers, but it will definitely appeal to those who like viscous and intricate plots.
"Darkness" is based on the original script, but the authors were clearly inspired by several books little known in Russia. Suffice it to say that these books contain themes that are common to the series, and the atmosphere will appeal to anyone who is waiting for the premiere of the third season.
For example, the collection of short stories"Jun Aivide Lindqvist, author of Let Me In, is similar to the Darkness series in its intricacies of interpersonal issues, mood, and emotional aftertaste.
It is also worth mentioning the bookΒ» Bradley Dowden, Professor of Philosophy at California State University. He studies the "grandfather paradox" in which you travel back in time and kill your grandfather, thus preventing your own birth. Dowden also explores issues of critical thinking, offering rules by which one can create and revise arguments, and not just unconditionally accept or criticize them.
has already become the basis for the Pines series, but the books are more interesting and larger than the TV show. The ideas embedded in them are enough for the "Darkness". In fairness, we note that the themes of isolation from the outside world, bursting out of personal secrets, and temporary breaks that appear in the plot are nothing new. You can easily find The Pines' roots in a host of other works of art, from Silent Hill to Stephen King's 11.22.63/XNUMX/XNUMX (another time travel book that inspired the series).
Prospective projects
In the near future, several more series with a strong literary basis should appear. Streaming service Amazon Prime ordered the filming of "Peripherals" for cyberpunk mastodon William Gibson. At the heart of the plot, the brother of the main character lives on a disability pension, moonlighting as a beta tester for a new computer game. One day he asks his sister to replace him at the session. The girl finds herself in a new reality and gets acquainted with technology that subtly changes human society.
In addition to Dan Simmons, who disappeared in the production hell of Hyperion, another fundamentally significant project is showing signs of life - βΒ» by Isaac Asimov in preparation for release on Apple TV+. One of the best sci-fi series, set over millennia, follows generations of scientists trying to preserve the collective wisdom of the human race in the face of the impending collapse of civilization.
Screen adaptation projectΒ» Frank Herbert from the director of the films "Arrival" and "Blade Runner 2049" Denis Villeneuve is interesting in itself. But for today's selection, we will consider only its serial component. The plot of the series "Dune: Sisterhood" will be a mysterious female Bene Gesserit order, whose members have incredible abilities to control the body and mind. The fate of the series largely depends on the box office success of the film, which will be released in the fall of 2020.
As you can see, the demand for quality science fiction in movies and on TV is unabated. Rather, on the contrary, requests have only grown. The βexpansion of the MCUβ through books is welcomed and is gaining momentum - just remember that the Star Wars expanded universe includes dozens of novels (but it remains a mystery why the plots of the books did not form the basis of the new Disney trilogy).
Source: habr.com