Asimov's Foundation

[kafka]

Apparently, New Line has been given the go ahead for a Foundation Trilogy film. Would you consider doing a Traveller tie-in to a movie series or is Mongoose too small to chase that? Cindy Rice has been doing all sorts of laising with the game industry and film industries...how does it all work?

 

[Gruffty the Hiver]

Loads of money, a licence and a contract........

 

[EDG]

As I pointed out elsewhere, Traveller's already borrowed several key concepts from Foundation anyway. Hell, just set a game around the start of the Long Night and you're done. So it wouldn't be hard to do.

 

[kafka]

As I pointed out elsewhere, Traveller's already borrowed several key concepts from Foundation anyway. Hell, just set a game around the start of the Long Night and you're done. So it wouldn't be hard to do.

What's happening...I find myself agreeing with you more and more... Save, I would not set in the start of the Long Night but during the fall of the ROM and commencement of the Long Night if I were forced to find Traveller parallels.

Would it really take a ton of money? I could understand large royalities being paid over to New Line and the Asimov estate but some of the stuff would come free as they are developing it for the film eg. images, artwork, etc. [Note to self:] I really have to read Matt's book... I am Mongoose...

 

[Colin]

And if your game is like the books, nothing will ever happen.

 

[kafka]

And if your game is like the books, nothing will ever happen.

Not a fan, I take it...

I am not sure, I think the Foundation universe provides lots of room for adventure set against the backdrop of a mighty galactic empire in decline. Similarly, the Long Night with the bubbling of Pocket Empires erupting in the vacuum of the ROM decline and fall. A quasi neo-medievalism set in against the rationality of science like candles flicking in a storm.

 

[captainjack23]

[Note to self:] I really have to read Matt's book... I am Mongoose...

To brand myself as a lickspittle toady, I'll just suggest that yes, you should. Its very interesting from a number of viewpoints, not least of which is gaining some insight into MGP and its goals and culture.

 

[captainjack23]

Save, I would not set in the start of the Long Night but during the fall of the ROM and commencement of the Long Night if I were forced to find Traveller parallels.

Take GURPS interstellar wars, file off the title and flense away the GURPS, move the earth closer to the galactic rim (basically by writing "galactic rim" on Sol subsector), rename Terra to Terminus, and Voila ! The script almost writes itself. Except for having Keanu Reeves playing Harry Seldon and having a big wire-foo fight martial arts fight with Bel Riose (Will Smith) in the super imperial MechaTransforming BattleThronestation Optiumus Trantor......

 

[GypsyComet]

:?

The cycle certainly looked more and more like Pulp as Asimov kept writing. Seldon is quite the action hero in his youth, then turns around and perfects the science that will save CAW... okay, no acronym... Civilization As We Know It in his advancing years. A well-rounded hero the likes of which make Heinlein and Doc Savage jealous.

And apparently Cap *wasn't* the person I dimly remember promising to give up puns for Lent.

 

[captainjack23]

:mrgreen:

 

[EDG]

Not a fan, I take it...

I've read the original trilogy and I don't really recall much interesting happening in them either... (wouldn't call myself a "fan", but I didn't dislike them either).

 

[captainjack23]

:?

The cycle certainly looked more and more like Pulp as Asimov kept writing. Seldon is quite the action hero in his youth, then turns around and perfects the science that will save CAW... okay, no acronym... Civilization As We Know It in his advancing years. A well-rounded hero the likes of which make Heinlein and Doc Savage jealous.

I much preferred the earlier trilogy with Hari (and others) as purer thinking heros, rather than a two-fisted action hero. But, literature and tastes change for authors as much as readers.

 

[Colin]

Lots happens, but it all happens off screen. The main characters spend most of their time simply talking, rather than doing anything.

 

[captainjack23]

Lots happens, but it all happens off screen. The main characters spend most of their time simply talking, rather than doing anything.

Indeed. It is short on car chases, and burning ships spilling bodies into the icy cold of space.....

 

[Colin]

It been about 2 decades since I last read it, but I recall it being short of everything except for exposition. A thinking man's book is fine, but the main characters should actually do something, rather than drift.

But, to each their own. It's all subjective, correct?

 

[captainjack23]

But, to each their own. It's all subjective, correct?

No. Absolutely not. How long have you been on the internet ? :wink:

 

[Colin]

Long enough to resign as a moderator of a Traveller board.

 

[captainjack23]

Long enough to resign as a moderator of a Traveller board.

:lol: Three snaps in a circle !!!! :lol:

 

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

It been about 2 decades since I last read it, but I recall it being short of everything except for exposition. A thinking man's book is fine, but the main characters should actually do something, rather than drift.

But, to each their own. It's all subjective, correct?

Asimov and Clarke both use that style a lot. Asimov in particular NEVER describes a space battle. One of his characters always described it for us. It is is a style that isn't used much any more.

The IDEA of a galaxy sized empire that falls back into barbarism was NEW back when Asimov wrote his trilogy. The idea that Earth had been forgotten was also a new idea at that time. Now of course, it is very blaise. Sort of like watching the original Halloween. Now it looks very quaint and just like all the other slasher films, but in reality, it was the FIRST slasher film and all the others copied from it.

 

[BP]

It been about 2 decades since I last read it, but I recall it being short of everything except for exposition. A thinking man's book is fine, but the main characters should actually do something, rather than drift.

I remember reading these books over 30 years ago (and a probably 3-4 times since) and there are a *lot* of bit characters and just the first 3 books cover quite a span of years if I recall correctly - so I assume a movie script would have to be adapted (ala I Robot - which was a good rewrite IMHO).

I believe in these first books there is some action - with the young Hari Seldon (sp) being a 'twister' (sorta Akido style/street fighting) - and space battles are at least mentioned (thought not elaborated).

At least they have a plot (even if its 50~60 years old)! Towards the end of his life Asimov tied quite a number of his books together - over 20 as I recall, though most are long since out of print (thanks IRS) - pre-Foundation,the robot books and the Foundation series. With the amount of material,Hollywood should be able to pull some good flicks together...

[btw: Dr. Asimov wrote a large number of non-fiction educational books - they are a little dated, but make good youth and layman reading - he was endowed with quite a number of honorary degrees I believe.]