The Blacklist believes these books should be adapted and we agree

The annual Black List was released yesterday, bringing attention to some of Hollywood’s most talked-about scripts yet to be produced. Several interesting sci-fi, fantasy, and horror concepts were represented, and today, the Black List unveiled a new initiative: the Adaptation List, via Deadlinewhich brings together novels published since 2005 that literary agents and editors agree would make ideal source material for films and television shows.

Once again, many genre titles are included – here are our 10 favorites! (You can read the full list here) Even if they are never exploited for adaptation, these are all solid options to add to your future reading list.

Chain Gang Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

“Loretta Thurwar and Hamara ‘Hurricane Staxxx’ Stacker are the stars of Chain-Gang All-Stars, the cornerstone of CAPE, or Criminal Action Penal Entertainment, a highly popular and controversial profit-making program in the increasingly dominant industry. of private prisons in the United States. . It is the return of the gladiators and the prisoners compete for the ultimate prize: their freedom. In CAPE, prisoners travel as Links in Chain-Gangs, competing in deathmatches before packed arenas with protesters right at the gates. Thurwar and Staxxx, both teammates and lovers, are fan favorites. And if all goes well, Thurwar will be free in just a few matches, a fact she carries as heavily as her lethal hammer. As he prepares to leave his fellow Links, Thurwar considers how he could help preserve his humanity by challenging these so-called games. But CAPE’s corporate owners will stop at nothing to protect their status quo, and the obstacles they place in Thurwar’s path have devastating consequences.”

The fifth season by N. K. Jemison

“This is how the world ends… for the last time. It begins with the great red crack that runs through the heart of the world’s only continent, spewing ash that blocks the sun. It begins with death, with a murdered son and a missing daughter. It begins with betrayal and long latent wounds that emerge and fester. This is the Stillness, a land long familiar with catastrophes, where the power of the earth is wielded as a weapon. And where there is no mercy.”

Note: Hugo winner broken earth trilogy, which begins with The fifth seasonhas had adaptation interest in the recent past, but so far… we’re still waiting.

the historian by Elizabeth Kostova

“Surprisingly suspenseful and beautifully written, The Historian is the story of a young woman plunged into a labyrinth where the secrets of her family’s past connect with an inconceivable evil: the dark reign of Vlad the Impaler in the 15th century and a pact that defies time that may have kept his horrible work alive through the centuries. The search for the truth becomes an adventure of monumental proportions, taking us from dusty monasteries and libraries to the capitals of Eastern Europe, in a narrative feat so rich, so hypnotic and so exciting that it has captivated readers all over the world. world”.

Note: Vampires are in fashion on television and in movies right now. Who will grab this one?

Klara and the sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

“This is the story of Klara, an Artificial Friend with outstanding observation qualities, who, from her place in the store, carefully observes the behavior of those who come in to browse and those who pass by on the street. She hopes that a client will soon choose her.”

Note: Thanks, Adaptation List, but this one is already in the works! In 2023, Taika Waititi was reported to direct a film version; Filming began last year with a cast that includes Jenna Ortega (as the robot) and Amy Adams.

mexican gothic by Silvia Moreno García

“After receiving a frantic letter from her newlywed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious fate, Noemí Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She’s not sure what she’ll find: her cousin’s husband, a handsome Englishman, is a stranger and Noemí knows little about the region. Noemí is also an unlikely rescuer: she’s a glamorous debutante, and her elegant dresses and perfect red lipstick are more suited to cocktail parties than amateur investigation. But she’s also tough and smart, with an indomitable will, and she’s not afraid: not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both threatening and seductive; not from her father, the elderly patriarch who seems fascinated by Naomi; and not even the house itself, which begins to invade Noemí’s dreams with visions of blood and doom.

His only ally in this inhospitable abode is the youngest son of the family. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help Noemí, but he could also be hiding dark knowledge about his family’s past. Because there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. The family’s once colossal wealth and decaying mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemí digs deeper, she uncovers stories of violence and madness. And Noemí, hypnotized by the terrifying but seductive world of High Place, will soon find it impossible to leave this enigmatic house behind.”

Templeton’s Monsters by Lauren Groff

“’The day I returned to Templeton in misfortune, the corpse of a fifty-foot-tall monster appeared in Glimmerglass Lake.’ This is how it begins Templeton’s Monstersa novel spanning two centuries: part contemporary story of a girl’s search for her father, part historical novel, and part ghost story. In the wake of a disastrous love affair with her older, married Stanford archeology professor, the brilliant Wilhelmina Cooper returns to the doorstep of her hippie-turned-born-again-Christian mother in Templeton, New York, a town of fairy tale that their ancestors founded. which is located on the shores of Lake Glimmerglass.

Upon arrival, a prehistoric monster appears in the lake causing a feeding frenzy in the quiet town, and Willie discovers that he has a mysterious father that his mother kept a secret his entire life. Beautiful, brooding Willie is told that the key to her biological father’s identity lies somewhere in her family’s history, so she dives into researching his twisted family tree and finds more than she bargains for. waited like a chorus of voices from the city’s past. —some sinister, all fascinating—arise around him to tell their side of the story. In the end, dark secrets come to light, past and present blur, and old mysteries are finally solved.”

The night circus by Erin Morganstern

“The circus arrives without warning. There are no ads preceding it. It is simply there, when it was not there yesterday. Inside the black and white striped canvas tents you will live an absolutely unique experience full of impressive amazement. It’s called Le Cirque des Rêves and it’s only open at night. But behind the scenes, a fierce competition unfolds: a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to both of them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing. Despite the high stakes, Celia and Marco soon fall headlong in love, setting off a domino effect of dangerous consequences and leaving the lives of everyone, from the artists to the clients, at stake.

night movie by Marisha Pessl

“On a humid October night, beautiful young Ashley Cordova is found dead in an abandoned warehouse in lower Manhattan. Although his death is considered a suicide, veteran investigative journalist Scott McGrath suspects otherwise. While investigating the strange circumstances surrounding Ashley’s life and death, McGrath comes face to face with her father’s legacy: the legendary and reclusive cult horror film director Stanislas Cordova, a man who has not been seen in public for a long time. more than thirty years.

For McGrath, another death linked to this seemingly cursed family dynasty seems more than just a coincidence. Although much has been written about Cordova’s dark and disturbing films, very little is known about the man himself. Driven by revenge, curiosity and the need to know the truth, McGrath, with the help of two strangers, delves deeper and deeper into the disturbing and hypnotic world of Cordova. The last time he nearly exposed the director, McGrath lost his marriage and his career. This time, I might lose even more.”

Sky full of elephants by Bait Campbell

“One day, a catastrophic event occurs: all white people in America walk to the nearest body of water. One year later, Charlie Brunton is a black man living in a whole new world. Having served time in prison for a wrongful conviction, he is now a professor of electrical and solar energy systems at Howard University when he receives a call from someone he wasn’t even sure existed: his daughter Sidney, a young woman. nineteen years left behind. by his white mother and his adoptive family.

Traumatized by the event and terrified by the outside world, Sidney has spent a year isolated in Wisconsin. Desperate for help, she turns to the father she never knew, a man she has always resented. Sidney and Charlie meet for the first time as they embark on a journey through a truly “post-racial” America in search of answers. But neither of them are prepared for this new world and how they see themselves in it. Heading south toward what is now called the Kingdom of Alabama, everything Charlie and Sidney thought they knew about themselves and the world will be turned upside down.”

We ride on sticks by Quan Barry

“In the town of Danvers, Massachusetts, site of the original witch trials of 1692, the 1989 Danvers Falcons will do anything to reach the state finals, even if it means harnessing some devilishly dark powers. Against a backdrop of irresistible ’80s iconography, Quan Barry deftly weaves the individual and collective progress of this enchanted team as they make their way through an unforgettable season. Led by Captain Abby Putnam (a descendant of infamous Salem accuser Ann Putnam) and her co-captain Jen Fiorenza (whose bleached blonde ‘Claw’ sees and knows all), the Falcons prove to be astute, original and bold. . , flaunting society’s stale notions of femininity.”

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