"With Childhood’s End, Syfy Bets Big on Sci-Fi Classics" Topic

"This past week Syfy premiered Childhood's End, a six-hour adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke's classic first contact novel. The show is part of an ambitious new slate of book-to-TV adaptations being overseen by Bill McGoldrick, Syfy's new head of original programming. And while Hollywood is known for misguided rewrites of sci-fi classics, McGoldrick was determined to create a faithful adaptation of Clarke's novel.

"We all just wanted to honor the book," McGoldrick says in Episode 181 of the Geek's Guide to the Galaxy podcast. "And really give him the recognition that he was just so prescient, because all of the themes and all of the things he was writing about are so valid today."

For years Syfy has tried to broaden their appeal beyond science fiction fans, populating the channel with ghost hunters, pro wrestlers, and low-budget creature features like Sharknado and Mansquito. And while that did pull in new viewers, it also alienated sci-fi fans. McGoldrick was brought in with a clear mandate: lure the fans back with smart, ambitious shows. Adapting classic books is part of that plan.

"We want to honor that core fan base that is passionate about the material," says McGoldrick. "We're really trying to focus on that core audience, and I think the way to do that is to respect the stuff they really liked in the first place."…"
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Amicalement
Armand

There was about a year when I was a teenager where all my science-fiction was Clarke, Stanislaw Lem, Asimov, and Heinlein. Pretty heady stuff, hope they can pull this off. If SyFy can become an HBO for science-fiction, that'd be awesome.

Huh… why is it that they chose to be faithful to such a dull and miserable book as "Childhood's End"? There is so much better source material out there.

Cause they can't make any worse?

Glad I'm not the only one who was less than happy about "Childhood End". At least is didn't end up in some old man's bathroom waiting for "Something wonderfull" to happen.

Was it any good? I meant to watch it, set a reminder on the phone, ckeared the TV scedule with my wife, and at the last minute decided I was having too much fun with the kids to bother turning on the TV.

I thought both Childhood's End and the Expanse were well done. They were certainly a huge improvement over what SyFY has been showing over the last few years. If they are going in a new direction form tripe like Sharknado and WWE, then I'm not going to gripe.

I thought Childhood's End was well done, but I found the ending very depressing. Trying to avoid spoilers here (but the book is over 50 years old, statute of limitations must have expired…), but all the talk about transcendence and the like I found to be a bit hollow arguments IMHO. I had the book on order from Amazon, decided to cancel and pick up Bear's Darwin's Radio instead…

The Expanse however was good. Will be watching!

Damon.

I'm not a Clarke fan in general, so I'm probably biased. Here, however, are some adaptations I wish I could suggest to SyFy:

+ "Higher Education" (Charles Sheffield and Jerry Pournelle)
+ The "Retief" series (Keith Laumer, et. al)
+ The "Hammer's Slammers" series (David Drake, et. al)
+ "This Corner of the Universe" series (Britt Ringel)
+ A faithful adaptation of "Starship Troopers" (Robert A. Heinlein)
+ An actual well-done "War of the Worlds" set in the original Victorian timeline, with good acting talent, directing, and production values
+ The "Chanur" series (C.J. Cherryh, who also lives here in my hometown; maybe I could talk her into it)
+ The "Little Fuzzy" series (H. Beam Piper)

Plus, I'd love to see some of the '30s serials rebooted, a la "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" and "The Rocketeer". Keep the aesthetic but update it to modern production values.

Same thing for some really good VSF/steampunk stuff. I imagine that they could have all sorts of fun with that.

Little Fuzzy would make a fortune just on Fuzzy dolls.

At the Mountains of Madness

Ringworld

Deathworld

Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon done correctly

1632

I'll agree with Javelin and Skippy. there are simpler SF stories that would translate to TV better. Remember Le Guin's 'Lathe of Heaven' adaption? Not pretty.

Childhoods End was written at a time when media, knowledge and communications were far different. At its time this was cutting edge philosophy, it wasn't just a story with protagonists, problems to be solved etc, it was a commentary on where we were going. It was taking a long view. As such it helped lay the ground for all the SF that followed asking questions of what we are, where we go as a race. But, for TV, it must be said, it's a wee bit boring.

Take RAH's Stranger in a Strange Land. (Declaration – I still worship at his altar) It's a great book, but the only way to make it fit TV paradigms and not send most fundamentalist religious types into a wave of hatred would be to expand the action and a gloss over, remove or completely flip the man & god religion angle.

Starship troopers. Awesome book. But so much of it is about why we do what we do, the action is an afterthought and only there to help ask the questions surrounding 'why do we fight'. Turning that into a TV series would be a huge undertaking and probably quite boring unless they added lots of spurious scenes / conversations which the book never noted.

Of course, if you really want a bizarro TV series, there's always Olaf Stapledon's 'First & Last men'. :)

Remember Le Guin's 'Lathe of Heaven' adaption?

Which one?

Just spoke with a friend who saw it and quite like it. He has never read any of Clarke's stuff, and found the story interesting. Though I am a big fan of Clarke and loved the book, I didn't watch it, as I gave up on Syfy some time ago. Sounds like I made a mistake on this one.

I have only seen the first episode so far (Christmas and all) and it was a very good adaptation. Looking forward to watching the rest of it. I thought the book would not make for good TV but I have been wrong so far.

ON a separate note – "The Expanse" has some good writing and acting as well, unlike the summer shows syfy had on.

I didn't watch it, as I gave up on Syfy some time ago. Sounds like I made a mistake on this one.

They'll probably show it again. They rerun all their miniseries a few times. Then it will be out on DVD.