SciFi Channel Specials: Children of Dune and Riverworld

[Mr. Anderson]

Ok, I was watching the SciFi channel last night and saw a couple previews of SciFi only shows that look like they might be very cool.

Children of Dune (http://www.scifi.com/dune/features/)

And something that if done right could be amazing - Riverworld (http://www.scifi.com/onair/scifipictures/riverworld/) based on the book series by Phillip Jose Farmer which I read many years ago.

Anyone ever read Riverworld?

D

[macktheknife]

I saw the Sci-Fi "Dune" mini-series two years ago, and it did the book much more justice than David Lynch's version. The story was very much in line with the book's, and Sci-Fi obviously spent a great deal of time making the whole series look good. Many of the same actors from "Dune" will be returning to "Children of Dune", so I'm sure it'll be great.

[WinterMute]

I read Riverworld a number of times years ago, I remember having to wait for the last book, I thought it was an excellent idea that outstayed it's welcome just a little.

I loved the tag line:

"You may not be mentioned, but you're here."

Farmer's other work was OK, but I preferred Niven and Fred Phoul (sp?) for the way-out stuff then, and rate Iain M. Banks, Wiliam Gibson and Bruce Sterling (amongst others) now.

It'll be interesting to see how they handle riverworld.

[MrMacMan]

Dune kicks but let me yell at sci-fi for another reason.

THEY KILLED THERE 2 TOP RATED SHOWS!

Farscape's reason: Because we can kill it.
Invisible Man - Its ratings droped 7%.

Dune kicks. Sci-Fi channel does not.

[DarkNovaMatter]

I really don't care for Sci-Fi's Dune spins- personally I prefer the books. Riverworld looks good and if I remember the commercial right its going to be directed by the guy that did The Crow?
Although I do agree with MrMacman- they are doing this- yet they killed off Farscape? this is getting a little rediculous. Also is that true about The invisible man? They only got rid of it for a 7% decrese in ratings? eeeeeeeeeek! I am starting to think there should be a Cult Sci-Fi channel from the normal one- where shows like Farscape, Invisible Man,etc. could reside and do 7 seasons or more. Only thing now is to wait for Farscape to show its last show and then I don't really know what would be on sci-fi that would be worth watching............

[iMook]

Usually, people do prefer the books to the onscreen interpretations, since there ARE certain limitations to movies/mini-series, such as length, limited number of soliloquys, no let-the-audience-read-the-char's-mind parts, etc.

But, Invisible Man WAS awesome, and Children of Dune looks very good. I'll be one of the millions that will tune into the premiere. :D

[Perci Mac]

Was there a dune messiah? They couldn't really do a good children of dune without doing dune messiah.