Page to Screen Adaptations Some Day #Wyrd&Wonder

The Wyrd and Wonder challenge is running through this month. Today we are talking about any Page to Screen adaptation / dramatization that we would really like to see get made. I thought I’d have a go at this for the SFF genre, and I think many of these may already be in the works.

The Bitterbynde Trilogy by Cecilia Dart Thornton

Thornton is not very well-known. But she has been likened to Tolkien in some ways, like her writing style, complex world-building, and her description of ache stemming from disassociation with Other worlds. In Bitterbynde, the Fae are closing their gates to the mortal world, and one human girl gets trapped in the process. She loses her memory, and becomes the ill-made mute. How she retraces her identity and opens the gates again is a painful process, but also beautiful to watch it unfold. All 3 books can be combined into one movie.

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

Considering the number of screen adaptations made about Dracula, this book should be a welcome addition. Following the trail of the cruel Count Vlad Dracul through the Ottoman Empire and Hungary / Transylvania, across the diaries of mad men, monks and historians is a thrilling adventure. The tale is told from the POV of a teenage girl whose mother may have been killed by Dracula.

Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier

Remember the old folk tale of the girl whose brothers were turned into ducklings/geese by the evil sorcerer-stepmother, The Six Swans? Marillier turned it into a poignant Celtic tale, where the natives and invaders collide. Culture-building, old magic, beautiful prose— and a hero and heroine of the strong, silent variety—what’s not to love? Watching a screen adaptation would be like reliving all those mermaid and Selkie movies. Can we also get a Celtic background score (preferably by Enya)?

Eon & Eona by Alison Goodman

Eon or Eona is a crippled girl who disguises herself as a boy and is chosen as one of the last ‘dragoneyes’ (gifted and rare individuals who can channel the energy of the dragon to do magic). Trapped in political intrigue, she must choose between three very dangerous powers. These are: Ido, an ambitious dragoneye, the Emperor who has made her his truth source, and the dragons themselves, who had been betrayed by the dragoneyes. If you put in special effects like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, or even the less spell-binding The Last Airbender, it could make for a great movie.

Patricia McKillip – Everything

I consider McKillip to be the Grand Old Lady of fantasy fiction, especially the more cozy fantasy fiction set-ups. I am yet to read her entire book backlist, but whatever I have read, I have never been disappointed. Even her “lesser” books are better than the “best” books of many other SFF authors. It would be so great to have a series where each episode would delve into one of her books. I’m thinking of The Riddle-Master of Hed, The Forgotten Beasts of Eld, The Changeling Sea, The Winter Rose, and Ombria in Shadow.

Serpent Garden by Judith Riley

Serpent Garden is about a Flemish painter’s daughter in medieval Europe. She somehow ends up painting miniature portraits for the Tudors and spying for Cardinal Wolsey. Hijinks ensue, and art becomes a tool of political intrigue. This book gives a fine history of painting techniques and whatnots in those yester years. Slow but with a steady build-up of events, this could make such a wonderful historical movie.

Malazan Book of the Fallen Series by Steven Erikson

I’ve heard FANTASTIC things about the Malazan series, but given the breadth and length of the books, never read this. The blurb tells me that the Malazan Empire is in turmoil and the imprisoned Crippled God plots to escape. This has all the Game of Thrones vibes going for it! I am eager to know if / when this one will be turned into a screen adaptation.

The Savage Damsel and the Dwarf by Gerald Morris

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve recommended The Savage Damsel and the Dwarf before. The odd impish Roger from has a dry sort of wit and knowing-ness that always has the last word. His humor is sadly Not Appreciated by the Savage Lady (his journey companion), and the evil knights who attack them. But for the reader, it is all sorts of fun. In fact, all of Morris’s The Squire’s Tales series are excellent comic takes on the Arthurian Knights. These books would make an excellent anime / animation series, a lot like the Asterix bunch.

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Tor Books has a wonderful list of (Almost) Every Adaptation in the Works Right Now. It’s a 2019 post, but it’s well-stocked and most fascinating. I also talked about my favorite TV shows HERE, many of which are of SFF Page to Screen adaptations.

Do you have any SFF screen adaptation recs in mind? Always happy to add them on to my list!