New A2G Episodes: Tartt, LeGuin, Chiang, and More
Jonas Madden-Connor and I have been posting new episodes of our literary adaptation podcast Apples to Giraffes every other Thursday for a couple months now, and our back catalog is growing steadily! Here are a few of our recent deep dives into the art of adaptation:
This week we’re talking about The Hunter, a 1962 novel by Richard Stark AKA Donald Westlake. This one’s been adapted previously, so we discuss the two movies and a graphic novel. We also play a game!
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
Jonas and François revisit one of the classics of the sci-fi genre, Ursula K. Le Guin’s unadapted (and perhaps unadaptable?) The Left Hand of Darkness. This gender-bending classic of science fiction that won both the Hugo and Nebula awards when it came out (a feat only Dune had done previously)! Never adapted to film, and perhaps with good reason?
Jonas and François take on not one, not two, but THREE stories from Ted Chiang! This contemporary sci-fi author might just be the best of the best, crafting sparkling, gem-like short stories that are always thought-provoking and powerful. We tackle a selection of three stories: “Story of Your Life” (the basis for the film Arrival), “The Merchant and the Alchemist’s Gate,” and “Hell is the Absence of God.”
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
A perennial favorite answer to the question “What novel would you most want to see turned into a film?” has got to be The Secret History by Donna Tartt. This never-adapted, much-loved literary sensation is coming up on its 30th anniversary! How would we adapt this book? And do we think it should even be adapted in this day and age? Tune in to find out!
Next up, we are gonna be tackling A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan on July 21st. Want to get a head start on your reading for upcoming episodes? Below you will find a list of what’s on our “to be read” pile:
BONUS: For our episode on The Secret History by Donna Tartt, I whipped up these “Cast Party” images pitting my picks (on the left) versus Jonas’ picks (on the right) for the central players in the book! Who cast it better? You can always follow Apples to Giraffes on Twitter and Instagram to let us know!
