Re: (Tears) A Fall of Moondust by Arthur C. Clarke

On Sun, 11 Aug 2024 17:51:42 -0000 (UTC), Christian Weisgerber
<naddy@mips.inka.de> wrote:

On 2024-08-11, James Nicoll <jdnicoll@panix.com> wrote:
>

A Fall of Moondust by Arthur C. Clarke
https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/alive

>
| Oddly, although A Fall of Moondust seems perfectly suited to
| dramatization, the only adaptation of which I am aware is the
| 1981 BBC 1 radio play.
>
Indeed, when I read it I was very surprised that it hadn't been
made into one of those 1970s disaster movies.

I suppose it could be done, but it wouldn't be easy. You basically
have a small number of people who will live or die together. No "who
will survive" tension. And they were rescued: no Charismatic Hero
running about in the vehicle saving everyone because there would be
nothing for him (or her) to do.

OTOH, I never found them impressive, although I did buy a DVD of /Two
Minute Warning/ and enjoy watching it. I think it's because of the
shooter's dilemma at the end: so many targets, so little time.

Which, come to think of it, is rather more topical currently (lone
shooter, crowd, VIP, snipers) than it was for a while. Just as /Pink
Floyd The Wall/ (British fascist riots) and /Under Paris/ (shark
munches Olympic swimmers in the Seine) are.
--
"Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,
Who evil spoke of everyone but God,
Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"