Shelf to Screen

Explore the mysterious field between Wall and Stormhold as we tackle the wild transition of Neil Gaiman’s Stardust to the big screen. Why did a $70 million blockbuster transform a melancholic meditation on aging into a high-energy frenzy?  We examine the creative tension between a book written with a fountain pen and a Hollywood production that added an hour of extra action. Why did Michelle Pfeif...

Was Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Martian adventure just a high-stakes vacation or a lobotomized fever dream? This week on Shelf to Screen, we dive deep into the 1990 sci-fi adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s short story, "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale." We explore how Paul Verhoeven turned a cerebral 22-page existential crisis into a gore-filled blockbuster.  Hear Joe struggle to interpret...

What if the action movie you grew up loving was actually a giant middle finger to its source material? This week on Shelf to Screen, we dive deep into the bug-infested trenches of any 90s kid's favorite sci-fi satire: Starship Troopers. We compare Robert A. Heinlein’s pro-military novel with Paul Verhoeven’s blood-spattered critique of fascism.  Hear Joe demand to know where the power suit we...

We dive into the physics-defying finale that traded whimsical fairy tales for heavy metal album covers. Hear Tom roast the goat cavalry and the $250 million price tag on digital chaos! Hear Jen question where those massive wereworms went after their ten-second cameo! Hear Joe defend his hot take on why this might actually be the most accurate adaptation of the bunch despite the absurdity!  From th...

Is a hundred-million-dollar CGI dragon enough to save a story stretched thinner than a piece of lembas bread?  We are dissecting the gold-plated autopsy of this Middle-earth sequel to find out! Hear Jen vent about how the iconic barrel escape feels like it was choreographed by a toddler on a pixie stick bender! Hear Joe admit he cannot help but wonder why anyone would want to target Thorin when he...

In this episode of Shelf to Screen , Joe, Jen, and Tom dive into the controversial 2012 adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved classic, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey . How did a breezy 300-page children's book become a "kinetic war epic" stretched across three massive films? The gang dives into the production's "decades-long legal battle" and the late-stage decisi...

In this episode of Shelf To Screen Joe, Jen, and Tom review H.G. Wells seminal sci-fi novel The War of The Worlds and the 2005 Spielberg/Cruise adaptation of the same name. It's time to ride the lightning! We talk about adaptation choices, including some significant departures, and some surprising echoes! Tom really encourages reading, and his fellow Stuyvesant alum! Joe loves the quick pace,...

In this episode of Shelf To Screen Joe, Jen, and Tom review episode 6 of "A Knight of the Seven (Nine) Kingdoms" and compare it to the George R. R. Martin's novella "The Hedge Knight." We talk about adaptation choices for the whole story, including some significant changes in episode 6. Jen is pleased! Tom is not! Joe is happy with ambiguity! All that, plus hot takes and t...

In this episode of Shelf To Screen, Joe, Jen, and Tom review episode 5 of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" and compare it to the George R. R. Martin novella "The Hedge Knight." No book spoilers past the first five episodes, but we'll talk adaptation choices, including the inclusion of hungry hogs. Joe wishes flashbacks were halves! Jen gets claustrophobic! Tom gets in just...

In this episode of Shelf To Screen, Joe, Jen. And Tom review episode 4 of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" and compare it to the George R. R. Martin novella "The Hedge Knight." No book spoilers past the first four episodes, but we'll talk adaptation choices, including the important presence of flatulence. Tom was right, then wrong, then right again! Joe doesn't rememb...

In this episode of Shelf to Screen, Joe, Jen, and Tom review episode 3 of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" and compare it to the George R. R. Martin novella "The Hedge Knight." No book spoilers past the first three episodes, but we'll talk adaptation choices, including whether that kid knew what those song lyrics meant. Jen does a character roll call! Tom doesn't like...

In this episode of Shelf To Screen, Joe, Jen, and Tom review episode 2 of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" and compare it to the George R.R. Martin novella "The Hedge Knight." No book spoilers past the first two episodes, but we'll talk adaptation choices, including the size of that...puppet. Joe ponders the politics of kindness! Jen misremembers a quote! Tom still can&apo...

In this episode of Shelf to Screen, Joe, Jen, and Tom review episode 1 of "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms", and compare it to the George R. R. Martin novella "The Hedge Knight." No book spoilers past the first episode, but we'll talk adaptation choices, as well as compare it to other Game of Thrones adaptations. Tom wonders if there is another way to get females on the sho...

In our second episode of Shelf To Screen. Joe, Jen, and Tom welcome their old friend Brendan Johnston to discuss the 2024 film Dune: Part Two . We'll compare the film to the original novel, talk about style changes from part one, and what is coming next! Jen has some questions! Tom feels time go by faster! Joe feels the lack of creepy children! Brendan weighs in on the evils in pronunciation!...

In this debut episode of Shelf To Screen, Joe, Jen, and Tom talk the 2021 adaptation of Frank Herbert's "Dune!" We'll dive into the origins of the novel, we'll talk a bit about the path it took to in being adapted, and then we'll review the movie! Joe sets the stage with the help of Oregon! Jen sets the bar high with a message on time! Tom tries to assign blame approp...

After years of exploring the World of Dreams, Joe, Jen, and Tom are opening a new chapter. Introducing Shelf to Screen , the podcast that dissects the journey of sci-fi and fantasy stories from the library shelf to the silver screen. From the sands of Arrakis to the shores of Westeros, we’re diving deep into the adaptations that define the genre. We’ll explore what was lost in translation, what fo...