Which Books to Movies would be awesome?

[vega2K]

I searched but could not find other threads on this subject. This thread might die early but what the heck - I mean come on - some of you must also read besides just watch Blu-rays right? . I thought it would be interesting to see what Books people think would make or have made great movies and why. If nothing else, this is a great vehicle to get Book recommendations. I'll start with some of my favorites:

Book: Altered Carbon
Author: Richard K. Morgan
Status: Optioned for a movie but no further info.
Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altered_Carbon
Reasons: Great SiFi premise and murder mystery. Characters came to life and the story is very unique. Takes place 600 years in the future when peoples minds/personalities can be stored and uploaded to other bodies. Think of Blade Runner but a hundred times more interesting.

Book: Pillars of the Earth
Author: Ken Follet
Status: Being made in to TV mini-series to be released in 2010
Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pillars_of_the_Earth
Reasons: One of the best epics I have ever read. Takes place in 12th century England and the events unfold around the building of a Cathedral. Murder, Mystery, Love, Revenge, Evil, you name it, it has it.

Book: World without End
Author: Ken Follet
Status: Recent 2007 book release
Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Without_End_(novel)
Reasons: Sequel to Pillars of the Earth. One of the second best epics I have ever read. Takes place in 14th century England and revolves around the descendants of the first novel . Murder, Mystery, Love, Revenge, Evil, you name it, it has it all as well.

Book: Night Fall
Author: Nelson Demille
Status: 2004 book release
Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Fall
Reasons: Great Suspense/Thriller revolving around the true story of the mysterious 1996 crash of TWA Flight 800 in New York. Was there a cover-up? Could it have been avoided? Great entertainment value.

Book: Aztec
Author: Gary Jennings
Status: Older book 1980 release.
Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aztec_(book)
Reasons: Transports you to the 16th century and the life style of the Aztec empire and then their downfall brought about by the Spaniards. Great characters, especially the main character - Dark Cloud. Epic, Sex, Human Sacrifice. The story is like Apocalypto but 1000 times more Epic and follows the Aztec character Dark Cloud from birth to death. Note: I have read that Ron Howard is or will be filming a movie based on the conquest of the Aztecs by the Spainish, which is the same subject matter!

In addition: I have read various books on the Inca and Mayan civilizations and would love to see any movie which deals with their peak and not their conquest. I would like to have it focus on these people's great intellect and life-style. We have seen the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans but have never seen the Mayas or the Incas and how incredibly complex these people were in Architecture, Sciences, Social/Economics, etc.