The podcasters Alt Shift X and Glidus have been wandering about the globe these past few months, and they sat down while passing through the Land of Enhantment to talk with Raya Golden about VOYAGING, her graphic novel adaptation of my novella “The Plague Star.”
It was a fun interview. I thought you folks might like a look.
VOYAGING is for sale at your favorite local bookstore, comic book shop, or online retailer. And Beastly Books, here in scenic Santa Fe, has autographed copies signed by both Raya and myself. Beastly also has copies of the source material on hand, featuring the further adventures of Haviland Tuf (and cats). We hope to have Raya adapt and illustrate some of those as well.
And maybe one day we’ll have a television series as well. Anything is possible. Indeed.
A few years back, Neil Gaiman and I did a joint event in New York City, when we were both in town.
It was a lot of fun, as events with Neil always are. We told some funny stories, talked about books and comics, about SANDMAN and WILD CARDS and days at cons… and touched on some serious topics too.
I would like to upload a video of the event if I could, but I am not sure one exists. If anyone was recording us, I have never seen the tape. But VARIETY had the best report of the session.
That was all back in 2022, but very little has changed since then. If anything, things have gotten worse. Everywhere you look, there are more screenwriters and producers eager to take great stories and “make them their own.” It does not seem to matter whether the source material was written by Stan Lee, Charles Dickens, Ian Fleming, Roald Dahl, Ursula K. Le Guin, J.R.R. Tolkien, Mark Twain, Raymond Chandler, Jane Austen, or… well, anyone. No matter how major a writer it is, no matter how great the book, there always seems to be someone on hand who thinks he can do better, eager to take the story and “improve” on it. “The book is the book, the film is the film,” they will tell you, as if they were saying something profound. Then they make the story their own.
They never make it better, though. Nine hundred ninety-nine times out of a thousand, they make it worse.
Once in a while, though, we do get a really good adaptation of a really good book, and when that happens , it deserves applause.
I can came across one of those instances recently, when I binged the new FX version of SHOGUN.
Must confess, I was dubious when I first heard they were making another version of the Clavell novel. It has been a long time, a long long LONG time, but I read the book when it first came out in the late 70s and was mightily impressed. (I really need to give it a reread one of these days, but there are so many books, so little time). And the 1980 miniseries starring Richard Chamberlain as the Anjin was a landmark of long form television, right up with with ROOTS; why do it over again, when that version was so good?
I am glad they did, though. The new SHOGUN is superb. Better than Chamberlain’s version, you ask? Hmmm, I don’t know. I have not watched the 1980 miniseries since, well, 1980. That one was great too. The fascinating thing is that while the old and new versions have some significant differences — the subtitles that make the Japanese dialogue intelligible to English speaking viewers being the biggest — they are both faithful to the Clavell novel in their own way. I think the author would have been pleased. Both old and new screenwriters did honor to the source material, and gave us terrific adaptations, resisting the impulse to “make it their own.”
But don’t take my word for it. Watch it yourself.
Acting, directing, set design, costume… it’s all splendid here. Along with the writing.
And if SHOGUN is a big enough hit, maybe the same team will adapt some of Clavell’s other novels.
Things are moving along nicely with our Dunk & Egg spinoff, HBO’s adaptation of my novella THE HEDGE KNIGHT.
Most of the auditions — not all, but most — are done, and we should be able to announce some more cast members shortly. We have our Tanselle, Steely Pate, Baelor Breakspear, the Laughing Storm, a couple of Fossoways, Aerion Brightflame (boo, hiss), Prince Maekar, and the rest. Lists are being built on Ashford Meadow. I am told they just had the first table read, and that it went great.
And our youngest star can’t wait to start. Here’s Dexter, turning to Egg.
THE HEDGE KNIGHT will be a lot shorter than GAME OF THRONES or HOUSE OF THE DRAGON, with a much different tone… but it’s still Westeros, so no one is truly safe Ira Parker and his team are doing a great job. I hope to visit the shoot come July, when I swing by Belfast on my way to the worldcon in Glasgow. The show will make its debut next year… and if it does well, THE SWORN SWORD and THE MYSTERY KNIGHT will follow. By which time I hope to have finished some more Dunk & Egg stories (yes, after I finish THE WINDS OF WINTER).
Oh, and we have our director as well: Owen Harris, a terrific British director whose credits include helming “San Junipero,” my all time favorite episode of BLACK MIRROR. Owen will direct three of our six episodes.
If you missed seeing our adaptation of Howard Waldrop’s classic short NIGHT OF THE COOTERS when it was out on the film festival circuit, I’m pleased to say that you have another chance. This year’s Balticon will be featuring a program of short films, and COOTERS will be one of the movies they are showing.
Balticon will be held over Memorial Day weekend (May 27-31), in Baltimore, Maryland.
Meantime, our second Waldrop short, Steven Paul Judd’s adaptation of MARY-MARGARET ROAD-GRADER, has just been accepted for the deadCenter Film Festival in Oklahoma City.
MARY-MARGARET is on submission to half a dozen other film festivals, around the country and the world. Watch this space for details as to when and where it will be showing.
THE UGLY CHICKENS is coming soon as well, and after that, FRIENDS FOREVER. Dates and details to come.
Howard Waldrop was one of the great ones. We’ve tried to do justice to his genius with these short films… but no one can match H’ard itself. Come see the shorts, if you have a chance. And read the stories.
Last month I zipped down to the Isleta Resort south of Albuquerque for an afternoon, to deliver the keynote speech for the 75th anniversary luncheon of the New Mexico Press Women, and to receive their Courageous Communicator Award.
That was a singular honor, and one that really set me to thinking. Our world needs courageous communicators more than ever in these dark divided days, when so many people would rather silence those they disagree with than engage them in debate and discussion. I deplore that… but had I really done enough, myself, to be recognized for courageous speech?
I am not sure I have, truth be told. Yes, I’ve spoken up from time to time, on issues both large and small… but not always. It is always easier to remain silent, to stay on the sidelines and let the storms wash over you. The more I pondered, the more convinced I became that I need to do more. That we all need to do more.
I started by delivering a 45 minute keynote address, on the subject of free speech and censorship. Which, I am happy to say, was very well received (I was not entirely sure it would be).
After the luncheon plates had been cleared away and the speeches delivered, retiring NMPW president Sherri Burr handed out the awards, including the Courageous Communicator.
The text on the trophy reads, “New Mexico Press Women On the Occasion of its 75th Anniversary Bestows its COURAGEOUS COMMUNICATOR AWARD on March 15-16, 2024 to George R.R. Martin for building new worlds and creating strong, yet nuanced, women characters in his books and television shows.”
My thanks to Sherri, and to all the members of the NMWP.
I was saddened to read that Melanie, the singer/ songwriter whose career took off after a memorable performance at Woodstock, died on January 23, at the age of 76. Her real name was Melanie Safka.
I was not at Woodstock, alas (though Parris was), but I started hearing Melanie on the radio soon thereafter. Never met her, never attended a concert, but I always loved her music. She had a lovely voice, and wrote some wonderful songs with roots in both rock and folk. “Candles in the Rain,” “The Nickle Song,” the lively funny sexy “Brand New Key” (her only number one hit, I believe) and many many more.
VARIETY broke the story a couple of days ago, so this will be old news to many of you, but…
We have our hedge knight.
And he has his squire.
Peter Claffey will play Dunk. He’s a former professional rugby player turned actor. And he’s tall. Ok, maybe not quite as tall as Ser Duncan the Tall, but still plenty tall, and with the magic of television…
His readings were terrific. I think you’re going to love him.
As Egg, we’ve cast Dexter Sol Ansell. Most recently seen in the HUNGER GAMES prequel, but he’s got an amazing amount of experience for his age. I am told he cannot wait to shave his head. (Love that sort of commitment).
His auditions were wonderful as well.
Peter and Dexter. They should make one hell of a pair.
Many more parts to cast, of course, but we’re seeing some great candidates. More news soon, I hope.
THIS MESSAGE HAS BE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE MINIONS OF FEVRE RIVER
Long before the Wall fell, the Targaryens reigned with fire and blood.
From the conflict between Rhaenyra and Alicent to Daemon burning the Crabfeeder army,
explore the reign of the Targaryen Empire in Westeros with the official House of the
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Featuring over 75 original illustrations and thick paper, this coloring book offers you a way to
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Interested in getting your colored pencils honed sooner? Download two coloring pages today
and create your own watch party decorations for the June 16 premiere of Season Two!
All must choose.
THIS MESSAGE HAS BE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE MINIONS OF FEVRE RIVER
pleased
thoughtful
excited
geeky
accomplished
contemplative
sad
hopeful
