I don't think Cryptonomicon would translate to TV very well. While there are some action sequences, way too much of the plot relies on philosophy, science, math, etc. It's hard to show that stuff on a screen without resorting to lame tricks like voice-overs.

Snowcrash is a lot more visual (it was actually originally intended to be a graphic novel).

That kind of stuff is kind of hot on TV right now--think of Sherlock from the BBC. Lots of crazy graphics overlaying the shot, with narration or voice over. I feel like producers have figured out how to do shows about super geniuses and their weird way of perceiving the world.

I mean, you'd have to cut down some verbose stuff, sure. But you could also expand some stuff, or turn narration into visual action.

I don't think that all that much of Cryptonomicon does. Obviously, half the scenes with Lawrence tend to, but the Imitation Game seemed to do a decent job of portraying someone for whom math was about as important - and the rest of Cryptonomicon is fascinating. World War II! Modern business shenanigans! Family drama! And with Bitcoin and ICOs making headlines in major newspapers, the time has never been better for this.

(Nice username, relevant to the discussion.)

Or the Baroque Cycle which pretty much has everything.... the version that is on Audible is half way to a dramatisation (different actors for for some parts) and is quite splendid and would provide enough material for many many shows...

Yes, if Cryptonomicon does well, then the Baroque Cycle could be the prequel series.

I love Cryptonomicon but I don't think it would be adaptable in any way that bears more than a superficial similarity to the book. Though actually I feel the same way about Snow Crash, so we'll see.

As far as adaptability of Stephenson goes, I could see Zodiac, or maybe REAMDE, that would work in a way that resembles the books. Maaaybe Seveneves, though you have to deal with the significant separation between Part 2 and Part 3.

The rest of his books, including Cryptonomicon and Snow Crash, are too intertwined with "theoretical" concepts to make much sense in an adaptation. I mean, yes: you can have a show or movie about a pizza deliverer/hacker named Hiro Protagonist who swordfights in the metaverse; or Jack and Eliza's Adventures in Enlightenment Europe; or whatever. But the real underpinnings of the story aren't going to make it in and that's what makes Stephenson's books interesting.

> though you have to deal with the significant separation between Part 2 and Part 3.

I don't think that'd be too hard to do. You just have to add some sort of ritualistic ceremony or somesuch occurring at the beginning of Part 3 where "the story of the Seven is told".

You'd have a faceless narrator for the seasons of the show that cover parts 1 and 2, and then, once you reach the end of part 2 (at the end of a season, natch), you reveal the narrator as some sort of hierarch who's been telling the whole story up until now, and jump into the beginning of the next season from there, narratorless, possibly with flashbacks to the narrator telling bits of the post-Epic history as they become relevant.

What I really want is an Anathem TV show though.

That's true regarding Seveneves. And hey, once you get a season out of part 3, there's no reason you couldn't continue from there with new stories. It's a perfect introduction of a new setting.

Episode 7: A bowl of Cap’n Crunch.

Episode 9: Sex and furniture.

Episode 2: The Glockenspiel Player.

They both have great characters though. Can't wait to see who plays YT.