I'm psyched that they've started putting COLUMBO out on DVD. I LOVED the structure of the show - watch the celebrity guest star (Johnny Cash was on it once!) killer set up the "perfect" murder, then watch Columbo unravel it step by step.

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress

I will continue to nag on this topic until I get a clear answer.

Gus, from the ending of the third part of the interview with Tim that Allyson posted some time ago:

iF MAGAZINE: What’s next for you?

MINEAR: I’m doing another pass at MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS [an adaptation of the Robert Heinlein sci-fi novel]. It’s for producers David Hayman and Mike Medavoy. I did a pass of that last year, turned it in and they had some notes and they came to me this year and we talked about what the next pass would be. They were giving me their notes and what they were saying, “maybe you can do this, or do that,” and in my infinite wisdom said, “I have an idea, why don’t I do a whole new version. Why don’t I throw this out and start over.” They were like “you would do that?” And I’m like “yeah,” so that’s what I’m getting ready to do now.

iF MAGAZINE: Is it hard to adapt Heinlein?

MINEAR: Yes. Maybe HAVE SPACESUIT AND TRAVEL, which is really about that one guy, maybe that would be easier, but this is about a revolution. It’s big and it has a lot of really complex political ideas. It’s hard in that respect. How do you personalize this? There’s a lot of talking in the book – theoretical talking about Libertarian ideals and political structure and that sort of thing – how do you take that and make it immediate and dramatic and emotional? How do you say that stuff through scenes and action, as opposed to characters sitting around and having a conversation? That’s difficult. The other thing that is difficult is that there is also a certain amount of psychological pressure that I am trying to remove from myself when you’re adapting something like Heinlein. This book is so important to so many people and you don’t want to f*ck it up. So there’s that. You want to keep true to spirit of it, and you want to take this enormously long book, that takes place over a long period of time and try to do a version of it that will play for two hours on a movie screen. The other thing is to make sure the powers that be in Hollywood don’t force you to turn it into some Marxist screed on socialism, when Heinlein was a Libertarian and it’s about free-market capitalism. You want to try and not make it about an evil corporation. That’s the trick.

iF MAGAZINE: It’s just in the script-stage? No official greenlight yet?

MINEAR: Exactly. What they want to do is take it out to big name directors and they’ve named a couple of directors and it would be awesome if that happened. The people who optioned this book – Mike Medavoy and David Hayman – optioned it because they liked the book and the ideas are inspiring particularly the idea of retelling the American Revolution from this sci-fi point of view.

Well, lookie there. I must have blown right by that link, so thanks, Nilly! Oh, and look, you relinked, too, so I don't even have to go find it. Yay.

(Oh, OK, there are Parts II and III. I either missed that the first time around or didn't check back. I feel better now.)

Thanks, Nilly. I somehow missed that interview. You know, every time my income level goes up a notch, my understanding of Libertarian ideals becomes more clear...

But that is not what it is about. It is about misshapen Manny making a connection to Wyoh. It is about Mike being existentially bereft, and his being willing to make any change to reality to suit those people who "get" him.

The other thing is to make sure the powers that be in Hollywood don’t force you to turn it into some Marxist screed on socialism, when Heinlein was a Libertarian and it’s about free-market capitalism.

Umm right, because the powers that own and run the billion dollar corporations in Hollywood are dedicated Marxists who want the workers to take over the means of production. Tim has said stuff like this before. I've never objected to his political conservatism - in fact I emphasized to him, speaking as someone coming from a very different political place than he does that I thought libertarian ideology is an important part of MIAHM. But I am irritated when a conservative complains about liberal oppression at this historical moment. Mind you I'm sure there will be an attempt to cut the liberatarianism out of MIAHM - not out of ideological bias, but out of the desire of execs to have more sex, loud noises, and flashing lights. That is not liberal or conservative or intentionally political; it is a desire to make money, and a belief that complex ideas as part of world building don't make money.

t edited to remove intemperate phraseology

it is about misshapen Manny making a connection to Wyoh. It is about Mike being existentially bereft, and his being willing to make any change to reality to suit those people who "get" him.

Certainly Gus - it is a novel of ideas, not a propaganda piece. But take out the libertarianism and you lose what shapes the world the characters are reacting to, and a great deal of what makes the characters what they are.

Maybe HAVE SPACESUIT AND TRAVEL, which is really about that one guy, maybe that would be easier, but this is about a revolution.

I would live to see a feature or TV version of Have Spacesuit, Will Travel, btw.

Door into Summer, what what.

Amen, Gris.

I'm anticipating the reaction of Andi's cats to a Minnesota Winter. I fear they will be looking...

I have lots of doors.