Reimagining Ringworld for the Small Screen
Larry Niven’s 1970 science fiction epic, Ringworld, is a celebrated work that has garnered the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus awards. However, author Rajan Khanna believes the novel has significant drawbacks for contemporary readers.
I think that what this novel becomes is basically two thought experiments that get sandwiched together. The characters are there to help explain these parts of the thought experiments, but they don’t really—for me—become fully fledged, likable, relatable, or even interesting characters.
Adapting Ringworld for Television
Ringworld is being adapted for television by Akiva Goldsman, with Game of Thrones director Alan Taylor set to direct the pilot. Author Mercurio D. Rivera believes that with certain modifications to the source material, Ringworld could make for an excellent series.
I could see this being turned into something really fantastic. Because there’s no way they’re going to include some of the things that bothered us in the TV series—about the way that the female characters are treated. That’ll be fixed. And the setting will be phenomenal. They just need to come up with a better plot.
Challenges in Adapting Ringworld
One significant story element in Ringworld is the concept that a character, Teela Brown, has been genetically engineered to be psychically “lucky.” Geek’s Guide to the Galaxy host David Barr Kirtley believes this is a detail the show will likely need to alter.
I feel like the genetically engineered luck thing is just barely believable in prose form, and I think if you had actors talking about it, it would come across as completely ridiculous.
Another challenge for the show will be depicting Nessus, a two-headed, three-legged alien known as a “Puppeteer.” Author Abby Goldsmith suggests that instead of using CGI, the show should make Nessus an actual puppet, possibly created by the Henson workshop.
Highlights from the Geek’s Guide to the Galaxy Discussion
The complete interview with Rajan Khanna, Mercurio D. Rivera, and Abby Goldsmith can be heard in Episode 505 of Geek’s Guide to the Galaxy. Some key points from the discussion include:
- David Barr Kirtley’s fondness for the Known Space universe and stories like “Neutron Star” and “At the Core”
- Mercurio D. Rivera’s praise for the world-building in the early chapters of Ringworld
- Abby Goldsmith’s critique of the character Teela Brown and her supposed “luck”
- Rajan Khanna’s observations on the problematic portrayal of female characters in the novel
4 Comments
Can’t wait to see how they’ll handle the Puppeteers!
Julian L. Turner might just craft a ‘Ringworld’ that’ll have us all spinning with anticipation, or not.
Finally, ‘Ringworld’ steps into the spotlight; let’s see if the adaptation does justice to Niven’s universe!
Let’s hope they don’t turn the Ringworld into just another generic CGI spectacle!