First off, congratulations to noothergods. For his suggesting the funny Looking for Group comic, he has earned a book of his choice off of our stacks. Contact us soon to let us know which you want.
Secondly, I’m going to eat a little crow here. I’ve gone on record before disparaging the whole Pride and Prejudice and Zombies trend in fantasy literature. However, it turns out some of those books have gotten really good reviews. I think I may be a bit of a stick in the mud when it comes to the classics. So, to turn over a new leaf, I’d like to point your attention to the review Rebecca did of Peter and the Starcatchers, a prequel to the classic Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie. While she had some disparaging words for the effort, it got me to considering for which treasured child’s book would I like to have a prequel or sequel written.
I’m having a hard time deciding, and I think it’s largely because it would depend so much on the right author. Neil Gaiman would be too dark to do a sequel to Swiss Family Robinson, but I might trust him with The Secret Garden.
So, dear readers, which book’s universe would you most like to see expanded, and which author would you trust with the task? Let us know, and we’ll enter you in a drawing for the book of your choice from our stacks.
Oooh, Neil doing The Secret Garden? I bet it’d be fabulous; he’d probably do it creepy like Coraline, and I’d love it. Then again, he can do whimsical too–see Stardust…
Unfortunately, I’m now too caught up in trying to imagine this hypothetical book that I can’t think of any other ideas at the moment…
I’d like to see Peter S Beagle do Alice in Wonderland.
Hmmmm This is interesting! I loved The Chronicles of Narnia as a child. But when I reread it with my students I can obviously see that the world building that seemed so vast as a child, is, in reality, not very deeply developed. I think George R.R. Martin, would bring an adult sensibility to the various realms and ruling houses that inhabit the world of Narnia. At the very least it would make for an interesting read! :-)
Martin doing Narnia? There would be cute talking animals getting bludgeoned everywhere….could be fun.
I’ve always wanted to see Roald Dahl’s work expanded into adult and novel length versions.
Not really a children’s classic, but I would sell my soul to have a talented writer novelize the Tank Girl comics.
it’s tough cuz the most beloved ones are partially so beloved because they are complete. I don’t want anyone messing with Alexander’s Prydain series, for instance. That said, it’d be interesting to see:
a Mieville story set in the worlds of The Phantom Tollbooth, Oz, or Gormenghast
Neil Gaiman doing a Borrowers story
Scott Westerfeld doing the Tripods prequel
Jeff VanderMeer The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet. Oh, wait
Kate DiCamillo doing more stories with the Edward Eager or E. Nesbit kids
Greywulph — If you live in the U.S., you win a book from our stacks! Please contact me (Kat) with your choice.