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An upcoming sci-fi series based on a hit book rewrites the rules of apocalyptic and dystopian TV shows, making it highly anticipated. One of the best books of 2015 was Seveneves by Neal Stephenson, and the book is in development with Legendary Television.
I read the novel shortly after it was released, and I’m eager to see the sci-fi book as a live-action adaptation. Seveneves explores how society attempts to survive and recover after the moon splits apart. Scientists all reach the same conclusion that the moon's large pieces will collide, causing tiny shards to rain down and destroy the world. The world comes together to find a solution that will keep humanity alive. Then, the book shows what the world looks like 5000 years in the future. Rather than falling neatly into one category, Seveneves’ story can fall into many science fiction subgenres, including post-apocalyptic, survivalist, and dystopian. No matter which way you look at it, Stephenson’s book is unique, and any faithful adaptation of the story will rewrite the rules of sci-fi TV. In an interview with Electric Literature, Stephenson stated that he doesn’t consider Seveneves dystopian sci-fi. He told the interviewer, “y book is way sadder and more depressing than any dystopian book because of the total wipe out of the population. But it’s happening as a result of a disaster. It’s not because somebody is mean.” Seveneves Features A 5000 Year Time Jump Two-Thirds Of The Way Through Time jumps are quite common in both science fiction literature and television shows, but their conventions look significantly different between the two media. A 5,000-year time jump is substantial in sci-fi books but not completely unusual. Many other novels feature equally large, if not larger, leaps in time. Books also allow greater flexibility in the structure of time jumps. They can pretty much happen at any time. On the other hand, television has stricter norms. Except for time-travel series like Doctor Who, sci-fi shows with time jumps generally move forward by decades or centuries. Very few are daring enough to leap so far into the future. Additionally, these time jumps typically occur between seasons or at the halfway mark of a season. The time jump in Seveneves will feel significant on screen, particularly because the worlds shown before and after the jump appear completely unrelated. What’s more, this jump occurs at the two-thirds point of the story rather than the halfway point. They haven’t confirmed whether Seveneves will have multiple seasons or be a limited series. If it’s the former, they could lean more into genre conventions by placing the 5000-year jump between seasons. However, the jump might feel jarring if the story spans a single season. Seveneves Is Two-Thirds Apocalyptic Thriller & One-Third Philosophical Sci-Fi In Seveneves, the time period isn't the only aspect that shifts dramatically. About two-thirds of the way through, the story undergoes a bold change in tone. The initial plan for survival and the experiences aboard the ark feel like one cohesive narrative. The writing is filled with suspense and an underlying feeling of dread, making it a apocalyptic, dystopian sci-fi thriller. After a gap of 5,000 years, the tone and style of the story feel entirely different. Dystopian sci-fi doesn't often show what happens after the ending. There isn't usually that glimpse of hope and truly rebuilding. However, Seveneves gives us just that. It's hard to pin down the exact subgenre of the third act, but the closest would be philosophical sci-fi with a dash of politics and ecology. It's less intense and horrifying. The writing conveys a sense of curiosity, paying close attention to the psychology and sociology of human beings on this future Earth. Many reviewers said that the last act feels like an entirely different book, and I agree. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, though. The author’s distinctive approach to storytelling makes his books weird and unique, and I mean that in a positive way. The oddities of Stephenson’s writing make his novels special. The creative team on the Seveneves TV show could theoretically make the story more cohesive across all three acts, at least in terms of tone and style. However, I think that would fundamentally change Stephenson’s story. I’m hopeful the series will, instead, stay true to the source material. Seveneves’ Unique Format Makes It The Most Exciting Upcoming Dystopian Sci-Fi Show The news that Seveneves will most likely be adapted into a TV show gives me hope for the future of television. Streamers have become too risk-averse, and it's becoming quite tiresome. We're seeing series that play it safe instead of stories that inspire, provoke, motivate, or caution. Shows often follow the same formula with the same plot devices. Ultimately, we need more TV shows that take risks. In the past, sci-fi has taken on that role, and it seems like the genre that will once again move us forward. Between cyberpunk's Neuromancer, space opera's Consider Phlebas, and dystopian/post-apocalyptic's Seveneves, we might have some revolutionary sci-fi on the horizon.
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