It's the ten-year anniversary of everything from ten years ago

[sovay]

I had no idea that Robert Macfarlane had been working on a radio adaptation of Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising (1973) until asakiyume sent me his announcement. I was given my first copy of that book for my eleventh birthday. I made my second friend in college by chanting all three verses of the Sign-Seeker's rhyme in unison. I have two out of three of the editions whose covers are included in Macfarlane's Twitter thread. I find that the first thing I want from the production is the incidental music by Johnny Flynn, but Toby Jones as the Walker makes as much sense as anyone outside my head, especially in light of By Our Selves (2015). I am assuming Harriet Walter as the wren-boned Lady, but then again she was such a definitive Brutus, I am slightly wondering what it would do to the story if she were Merriman. Outside of a couple of random roles, I don't think I know Paul Rhys at all. I never think of the novel in dramatic form because Cooper's prose is as vivid as stained glass—a curved, many-petalled blossom blazed there, each petal a different shade of the colours of flame—but since I trust Macfarlane with its bones, apparently this year I will be spending the solstice and its succeeding twelve days trying to listen to the BBC. I will have so many emotions if they go on with the series and get to The Grey King (1975). I wonder if Macfarlane could be persuaded to work with Greer Gilman's Moonwise (1991).

Comments

[asakiyume]

I want the incidental music by Johnny Flynn too, omg.

That book is for me the apex of midwinter stories. Such a sense of layers of magic, the chill and the fire--SO EVOCATIVE.

[sovay]

I want the incidental music by Johnny Flynn too, omg.

Will chip in money toward its international availability. Just send postal address.

That book is for me the apex of midwinter stories. Such a sense of layers of magic, the chill and the fire--SO EVOCATIVE.

The candles of winter!

I have a bunch of solstice stories all sintered together in my head, but Cooper left an enduring imprint. I had the chance to meet her once in person at an event at the Cambridge Public Library. She signed my copy of The Grey King. I was glad to be able to tell her how much of her work I think of as the seasons come round.

[asakiyume]

I was glad to be able to tell her how much of her work I think of as the seasons come round. --that is wonderful. And at Cambridge Public Library! Nice.

[thisbluespirit]

apparently this year I will be spending the solstice and its succeeding twelve days trying to listen to the BBC.

Well, personally, I think that sounds like an excellent way to spend it! XD

[sovay]

Well, personally, I think that sounds like an excellent way to spend it!

I managed their Good Omens in 2014 and it was great!

[pameladean]

Harriet Walter should totally be Merriman. I would love to see that. The project in general, even if she is not Merriman, is very intriguing to me too.

P.

[ethelmay]

Then we could say she and her uncle were both wizard actors! (Okay, we can already say that.)

[sovay]

Then we could say she and her uncle were both wizard actors! (Okay, we can already say that.)

Yes, but this way it'll be even more fun.

[sovay]

Harriet Walter should totally be Merriman. I would love to see that.

Fingers crossed!

The project in general, even if she is not Merriman, is very intriguing to me too.

Macfarlane has the right feel for the material. I don't know what he's like as a dramatist, but I know he's written lyrics and libretti and they have been good.

[minoanmiss]

*makes small squeaky noises of delight*

[sovay]

*makes small squeaky noises of delight*

I am so hoping.

[ashlyme]

I meant to tell you about this! I didn't know it was Macfarlane! *runs around gibbering*

[sovay]

I meant to tell you about this! I didn't know it was Macfarlane!

If he can write for radio (I'm not skeptical that he can, I just don't know that he has), he's going to knock it out of the park! I discovered him with The Old Ways and the title alone made me think of Cooper.

[ashlyme]

My instinct is that he'll be good. I've still not read Ness.

[viggorlijah]

ahhhhhhhaiiiiee! I have put a note on my calendar as the podcast of it isn't available yet - they should have a trailer so you can hit subscribe as soon as you hear about it and then not miss out, but oh I am so excited, what an awesome yuletide treat. I think it'll make an amazing radio play because it has so much music and dialogue in the book.

[sovay]

I have put a note on my calendar as the podcast of it isn't available yet - they should have a trailer so you can hit subscribe as soon as you hear about it and then not miss out

Oh, how handy!

I think it'll make an amazing radio play because it has so much music and dialogue in the book.

Seriously, if they were just doing a song cycle, I'd want to hear it. But there are lines I don't even have to call up to have in mind.

[rydra_wong]

Also directed and co-adapted by Simon McBurney of the mighty Complicite! Whose Leontes is burnt into my memory.

[sovay]

Also directed and co-adapted by Simon McBurney of the mighty Complicite!

I had immediate positive feelings toward his name and am still trying to figure out why, since I only seem to have seen him in bit parts.

[edit] Whose Leontes is burnt into my memory.

I meant to ask, McBurney's Leontes in particular, or the Leontes of their production? (I carry a couple of flash-framed Leontes myself, oddly.)

[rydra_wong]

McBurney's Leontes, and specifically his line read on "O, she's warm" (and Kathryn Hunter as Paulina, IIRC).

[genarti]

I never think of the novel in dramatic form because Cooper's prose is as vivid as stained glass

I fully agree, and audio-only narratives in particular only somewhat and occasionally work for my not-particularly-audio-focused brain -- but I cannot wait for this. The thought of an adaptation done with care and skill by someone who really, really cares about the book(s) and doing justice to it (or them) is a wonderful one.

[sovay]

The thought of an adaptation done with care and skill by someone who really, really cares about the book(s) and doing justice to it (or them) is a wonderful one.

Agreed. I want to hear it just to hear what it's like! And I am not, ironically in light of spatch's artistic profession, an easily audio drama person, either.

[edit] sotto voce Do you think he'll fix the ending?