Futurama the Novel

[on:]

With the show cancelled and a movie in question, Futurama could be a novel series.

The comics are just 26-28 pages and only come out four times a year.  That is good, but not enough new Futurama adventures for me.  Imagine a 300-400 page Futurama book featuring many adventures of the Planet Express Crew. Maybe Leela "the other" mystery can eventually be solved.

Futurama could be the next Red Dwarf or HHGTTG.  Star Trek and Star Wars have novel series so this idea isn't uncommon.

Benefits: Encourages more people to read.

If Matt and David could never do a movie, they could make a novel series and thus continue the series.  If the novel is very popular it could make it on the NY's Best Seller List for example, giving Futurama the recogition it truly deserves.  And if the novels do good, then maybe a movie can be made.  The Red Dwarf and HHGTTG books were best sellers, and got good reviews. And in 2005, both books will be made into movies. Futurama could perhaps do the same.

[Reply #1 on:]

That would be a good idea. The only problem is, one of the best parts about Futurama is the background jokes. Nerdy little jokes that normal people will completely miss and think nothing of, but nerds like us will see them and laugh. It's not a backround joke if it says, "Fry grabbed a can labeled 'Quantum Leek Soup' and tried to open it with a pocket knife." Or, "As the crew walked down the streets of New New York, they passed a sign that said 'Tasty Human Burgers' in Alien Language."

While it could be done, it just plain would not be as good as a visual episode.

[Reply #2 on:]

If you write the novel like that.

Here's my way:

Fry grabbed a can labeled, "Oh'Quantum Leek Soup'" he said with joy while trying to open it with a pocket knife."

As the crew walked down the streets of New New York, they notice an advertising sign.
"What does that sign say?", asked Fry. "It says,'Tasty Human Burgers'" replied Leela who was able to read the Alien Language.

For an added bonus the alien language can be printed on the page as well.  You know like when they break a paragraph in a novel to show what's on a message or something like that.  Red Dwarf did it when there was a scene that involved someone reading a letter.

[Reply #3 on:]

I like the idea, but it must be writen perfectly, maybe get most of the writers from the show to throw in their two cents, and create a book from there...

then a movie can follow the book maybe?

[Reply #4 on:]

i really wouldnt mind a novel. I think it would be a cloolsome idea. I always pictured Futurama as kind of a parody of sci-fi movies from the early and mid 20th century. And a move to a novel could really fun. I dont know if it could spawn a movie, but a series of 300+ page novels would make me happy.

[Reply #5 on:]

You know if they did make a Futurama novel, it would make those Futurama bookmarks done by Futurama fans more popular.
 

http://www.peelified.com/cgi-bin/Futurama/4-000793-1/

[Reply #6 on:]

i read buffy novels, and x-files novels, there's no reason why i wouldn't read a Futurama novel.

[Reply #7 on:]

A Futurama novel, yeah, I guess that could work. I'd certainly give it a read 

[Reply #8 on:]

I'd definitely give a Futurama novel a read if one was made, could be quite good.

[Reply #9 on:]

 

Originally posted by fryfanSpyOrama:
You know if they did make a Futurama novel, it would make those Futurama bookmarks done by Futurama fans more popular.
 

I'd certainly make use of those if a had a Futurama book.

[Reply #10 on:]

 

Originally posted by fryfanSpyOrama:
The comics are just 26-28 pages and only come out four times a year.  That is good, but not enough new Futurama adventures for me.

I agree: There's not enough new Futurama available - fanfiction not withstanding.

I'd read it, and the fanfiction. 

[Reply #11 on:]

Of course I would read it, what do think I am, stupid?

[Reply #12 on:]

That sounds like a good idea it could get into some of the bigger issues like the "other" and just having more Futurama would be good.

[Reply #13 on:]

Like Zeep said earlier, the golden part of Futurama are the subtle, dorky science jokes. If you wrote a book about explaining about "The Other," it'd be a brand, new story. It wouldn't be Futurama at all. I like reading a novel as much as the next guy, but in Futurama's case, a movie would be better. Never in any book ever written has there been a spontaneous song-and-dance number in the middle. I'm sure David and Matt will want to have a song in the movie. Also, slapstick comedy has never done well in books.

[Reply #14 on:]

i totally agree with you Zeep and Nibblonian

[Reply #15 on:]

Red Dwarf started off as a novel series, then a TV show and will be made into a movie next year.  I've never seen the TV show, but it is my understanding that many of the storylines are based from the novels.  I feel it could work the other way.  Futurama has the similar type of humor and I could see it being written like the Red Dwarf novels.

[Reply #16 on:]

I think a Futurama book series would be great!  But I can see it more in the lines of those 'Choose Your Own Adventure" books. 

[Reply #17 on:]

 

Originally posted by fryfanSpyOrama:
Red Dwarf started off as a novel series, then a TV show and will be made into a movie next year.  I've never seen the TV show, but it is my understanding that many of the storylines are based from the novels.

Red Dwarf was originally a TV series which first aired in 1988, 4 spin-off novels have since been written. Of these, Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers and Better Than Life were new stories while The Last Human and Backwards were each based on several episodes from the show.

[Reply #18 on:]

It would be cool, but would it be an adullt-like novel, or could kids read it, too?

[Reply #19 on:]

hmmmm, interesting, no wait the other thing, tedious! although fanfics are pretty nuch novels if they are HUUUUUGE, [think background oises  ] i would want one

[Reply #20 on:]

I would hard to have a song in the book but they could get most of the comedy into the book.  Sure the visual background gags would not be there but the rest would. 

[Reply #21 on:]

Time to drag out my list of arguements other people have already used...

Futurama, relfecting it's comic strip roots (I'm talking about Life in Hell), works best in a visual medium. The type of jokes it has, both verbal and visual, benefit greatly from both the delivery of the actors and the small touches of the animators. It's just works better like this.

It is my belief would be missing that extra element that makes the show special. I'm all for excercising the imagination, but a novel would slow down the rapidfire humour of the show significantly. Yes, sometims the slow-burn jokes are the best ones, but with Futurama it was always *snap!* *snap!* *snap!* from one joke to the next, resulting in jokes of varying quality, but also building up a cascade of humour, that, if not leaving you laughing, at least giving you a silly smile.

So er, I'd give novels a miss.

[Reply #22 on:]

The show is too visual and snappy in its dialogue.  That doesn't translate into a novel. 

Original scripts could work, since that's still sticking to the writing and form of a television episode (even if the visuals and voices are sadly lost).  But a novel?  Just can't see it working.

As for Star Wars, Star Trek, etc, the thing is those are more "serious" sci-fi.  They thrive on continuing storylines and cliffhangers.  Yeah, Futurama had some brilliantly done continuing stuff, but it also mixed things around with episodes about Bender's latest adventure and other less serious storylines.  To remove those storylines is to lose an important piece of the Futurama spirit.  And to put them in novel form is to turn people off.

The show should go out with a movie or three.

[Reply #23 on:]

One of the most important part of Futurama's gags are the sound effects. Think of a novel where you had to imagine that horrible electronic sound the hypno-toad makes. It would never work! How about those whirling tornadoes on Mars in "Where the Buggalo Roam?" Only in the minds of Matt Groening (sp?), David Cohen, and Billy West can a sound so hideous come to exist!

[Reply #24 on:]

I would read it, but I read those Halo novels, so I have so standards or taste in books.

[Reply #25 on:]

   

Originally posted by Prof. Wernstrum:
 Red Dwarf was originally a TV series which first aired in 1988, 4 spin-off novels have since been written. Of these, Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers and Better Than Life were new stories while The Last Human and Backwards were each based on several episodes from the show.

In that case, it proofs that a sci-fi comedy TV show can be a successful novel series.

   

Originally posted by Woodbot 2.0:
It would be cool, but would it be an adullt-like novel, or could kids read it, too?

I picture it being the same standard as the show.  Bender would have to say, "Bite my shiny metal ass" in the novel to give it that Futurama flavor.


Also, people say they would miss the sound effects, but there are no sound effects when we read fanfics and we like them anyway.

[Reply #26 on:]

Many fanfics are actually written in a more literary, less theatrical fashion...or at least were in the days when I wrote fanfics...and Futurama fans seem to not dislike them.  To stretch from short stories about Futurama to complete books about it wouldn't take too large of a stretch of the imagination.

The problem (as this dead horse has been beaten) is that Futurama isn't really about the thoughts and feelings of its characters, and those are the things that commonly come to light in standard omniscience story-form.  Futurama is more about the actions and interactions of the characters, and these elements are well-suited to the objective or third-person non-omniscient viewpoint common in scripts and teleplays.

[Reply #27 on:]

Putting Futurama in a medium like a novel would water it down. Your best hope at a long drawn out futurama story would be a movie or min-series.

[Reply #28 on:]

instead of a normal novel, what about a graphic novel? A comic book that lasts like 150 pages. You get your novel, and your visual gags. Everybody wins!

(except for the people who want to hear the characters voices, they lose.

[Reply #29 on:]

Agreed, graphic novel all the way!...

[Reply #30 on:]

That's probably the best idea yet, Venus. I still wish I could hear voices like B. Arther (sp?) playing Femputer in Amazon Women in the Mood.

[Reply #31 on:]

Hate to be the bugger here, but I don't think a novel would work.  Futurama is a visual thing and would not convert into reading very easily. Sure, fan fics are great, and if written well, do the job as much as fan made items can, but it's not the same show quality. A novel cold work, but I'm sure we'd all rather watch it on tv.  Just look at the comics, they're fun to read, but no where near as great as the actual show.

But if there were a novel, of course I'd read it.   

[Reply #32 on:]

That sounds awesome! If they did come out it would also be kind of cool if there were illustrations here and there. Not like a picture book but maybe few enough that it keeps the novel idea. Like once a chapter or something.

[Reply #33 on:]

I would love reading a Futurama novel. I'm gonna start a Tomb Raider novel as we speak. Just what would novel #1 be about? The first one kinda has to make some impresion of some sort as to if their should be more or not. It would be very cool.

[Reply #34 on:]

There would obviously be draw backs with a novel and optimum thing would be a resurrection of Futurama.  The question is whether it would be good at all and a graphic novel sounds like a good idea.  True it is still not the cadillac but it will give us our fix. 

[Reply #35 on:]

 

Originally posted by Prof. Wernstrum:
 Red Dwarf was originally a TV series which first aired in 1988, 4 spin-off novels have since been written. Of these, Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers and Better Than Life were new stories while The Last Human and Backwards were each based on several episodes from the show.

Really?  I always thought that Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers and Better Than Life were published before the show...besides Better Than Life was clearly partly based on the episode also called Better Than Life.

[Reply #36 on:]

Red Dwarf was originally a book, however, it became so popular as a tv show that they went straight to tv with many of the later stories, and then the books were add ons to those tv episodes (allowing you to know what the charachters were really thinking and feeling).

I think that this idea could also work for futurama although i would like to see new stories, as well as add ons to the tv episodes.

[Reply #37 on:]

a graphic novel??? I'll take 8!

anything with futurama slapped on it would probably be bought by me...
ESPECIALLY a graphic novel... i'm drooling just thinking about it..

[Reply #38 on:]

   

Originally posted by Roddney:
Red Dwarf was originally a book, however, it became so popular as a tv show that they went straight to tv with many of the later stories.

Nope, definitely a TV series first http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/novels_fs.html   "Even during the rehearsals for Red Dwarf's first series, Rob Grant and Doug Naylor had begun discussing the possibility of a Red Dwarf novel..." The books didn't come too long after the show but it was definitely on TV first - the first episode aired in Feb 1988, while the first book was published in 1989. I can imagine how the close proximity of the releases may cause foreign viewers to believe that the books came first though, as the books may well have reached various countries before the series.

Edit: Bloody link goes to the wrong page. If you're interested in reading the full article, go to where it says "Launch Scouter" and scroll down to "Novels".

[Reply #39 on:]

I think any new franchise based on Futurama is a good idea. If they did a book properly, as no doubt they will, i think it could be a huge sucess and as was mentioned at the begining maybe grab some people's attention, especially if it did act as a catalyst for the production of a film.
What the worst that could happen?