Shelf to Screen
Ever argued that the book was better? Or wondered how a 1,000-page epic fits into a two-hour movie?
From the creators of the Talk'aran'rhiod podcast comes Shelf to Screen, a deep dive into the transition of sci-fi and fantasy stories from the page to the premiere. Join Joe, Jen, and Tom as they dissect the newest adaptations and the cult classics, exploring what was lost in translation and what found new life on screen.
With the effortless chemistry and sharp wit you’ve come to expect, the trio tackles everything from Arrakis to Westeros. Whether you’re a "book-first" purist or a cinema enthusiast, tune in for insightful analysis, hilarious takes, and a celebration of the stories that are too big for just one medium.
Grab your popcorn, keep your bookmarks, and subscribe to Shelf to Screen.
Episodes
39 episodes
Annihilation (part 2)
What happens when the laws of biology start to bend and the world you knew becomes a fractal nightmare? This week, we step into the Shimmer to dissect Alex Garland’s take on Annihilation. Why does everyone keep calling it a tunnel when it’s cle...
Annihilation (part 1)
Is the lighthouse hiding a cosmic secret or just a really tall tower? This week on Shelf to Screen, we venture into the humid swamps of Jeff Vandermeer’s masterpiece to see if the shimmer is worth the trip. We explore why the Southern Reach tri...
2001: A Space Odyssey (part 2)
Is 2001 A Space Odyssey a technical masterpiece or just Stanley Kubrick flexing for two and a half hours? We dive deep into the void to settle the debate between the silent film's interpretation and Arthur C. Clarke's explanatory prose.H...
2001: A Space Odyssey (part 1)
Ever wonder why a giant glowing baby is floating through deep space while a computer calmly tries to murder its crew? We dive deep into the enigmatic masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey, comparing Arthur C. Clarke’s clear-cut prose with Stanley K...
The Princess Bride (part 2)
Is true love really enough to survive a battle of wits against a Sicilian? We’re climbing the Cliffs of Insanity to figure out why the man in black is the ultimate cinematic hero—or is he just a very handsome pirate? Hear Joe argue ...
The Princess Bride (part 1)
Ever wondered why it took fourteen years for a cult classic to hit the big screen? We dive into the inconceivable truth behind William Goldman’s metafictional masterpiece and the billionaire who saved it! Hear Tom break down the biz...
The Lawnmower Man (part 2)
Step into a digital world where the grass is definitely not greener and the pixels are aggressively 1992. We continue our discussion deconstructing the infamous 'cult classic' that left Stephen King so furious he sued to have his name removed f...
The Lawnmower Man (part 1)
What happens when a 10-page short story about a lawn-eating satyr transforms into a CGI-heavy cyberpunk nightmare? This week, we dive into the bizarre world of virtual reality and 90s fashion! Hear Jen question why Stephen King had ...
The Odyssey (part 2)
What happens when the greatest hero of the Bronze Age is actually just a man drowning in his own guilt? This week, we continue our journey through Christopher Nolan’s gritty adaptation of The Odyssey. We dive deep into the island of the giants,...
The Odyssey (part 1)
Joe was practically vibrating in his seat during the screen-shaking IMAX sequences, and Tom is ready to explain exactly why that 70mm film stock makes all the difference. But what is it about Christopher Nolan’s take on the ancient Greek epic t...
The Prestige (part 2): Confessions of an Illusionist
This week, we are diving deep into the final act of the magic rivalry that redefined obsession. How far would you go to protect a secret? Would you live half a life, or perhaps, end one every single night? Hear Jen gasp at the revel...
The Prestige (part 1)
What if the greatest magic trick ever performed required a sacrifice so deep it blurred the line between science and madness? We dive into the fog of Victorian London to unravel Christopher Priest’s novel and Christopher Nolan’s cinematic maste...
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (part 2)
Why did Peter Jackson cut Prince Imrahil, and was the ghost army a lazy visual shortcut or a masterpiece of CGI? In this episode of Shelf to Screen, we dive into the second half of the epic conclusion to the Lord of the Rings trilogy. We explor...
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (part 1)
We’re descending into the final showdown of Middle-earth as we tackle the adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s massive epic. Did Peter Jackson focus on the wrong climax? From the digital wave of green cleaning fluid to the missing epilogue where Samw...
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (part 2)
Why do we think the most epic battle in cinematic history is actually a series of bad tactical decisions? This week we delve into the second chapter of the greatest fantasy epic ever told, but not everything is as golden as Galadriel’s hair. We...
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (part 1)
Why did three dead blue jays end up in Joe’s pond, and what does it have to do with the fate of Middle-earth? We are diving headfirst into The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, but things get weird before we even leave the Shire. From Peter Ja...
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (part 2)
Is Peter Jackson’s first foray into Middle Earth truly the gold standard for adaptations? This week on Shelf to Screen, we’re tackling the massive legacy of the Fellowship of the Ring. From the controversial removal of Tom Bombadil to the high-...
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (part 1)
Ever wondered what happened to Bingo Bulger-Baggins? This week we embark on an epic journey through middle earth and the chaotic production history of a cinematic masterpiece. We explore why a New Zealander turned a mythology into a commercial ...
The Hitchhiker's Guide to this Podcast
We dive into the absurdity of Douglas Adams’ universe to see if the 2005 film captures the magic of the guide. Hear Joe compare the breakneck comedy to 30 Rock! Hear Tom geek out in his literal bathrobe and 42 t-shirt because this is a top five...
Ready Player One: The Corporate Takeover of the OASIS
We dive into the glitchy transition of Ernest Cline’s 1980s gatekeeper manifesto. We analyze why Steven Spielberg turned a text-heavy treasure hunt into a $175 million monster truck rally! Is the book really just engagement bait for every 80s p...
Jurassic Park: The Hubris of Hammond
What happens when you turn a 400-page panic attack about human extinction into a heartwarming family vacation where the billionaire escapes the consequences of his actions? We dive deep into the DNA of Michael Crichton’s "techno-thriller" and S...
The Martian: Strict Rules for Survival
Can one man really science his way off a planet that is actively trying to kill him? We are diving deep into the red dust of The Martian by Andy Weir and its high-octane 2015 adaptation directed by Ridley Scott. We answer the burning question: ...
The Chronic-ills of Narnia: The Lyin’, the Which, and the War-robe
Today, we step through the wardrobe into the high-budget world of C.S. Lewis. Why did Disney turn a slim 200-page book into a massive CGI creature feature? We dive deep into the Christian allegory and the 5 million strands of fur that make up A...
Star-Bust: The Shining Review?
Explore the mysterious field between Wall and Stormhold as we tackle the wild transition of Neil Gaiman’s Stardust to the big screen. Why did a $70 million blockbuster transform a melancholic meditation on aging into a high-energy frenzy? ...
Total Recoil: Kick-Starting a Martian Revolution
Was Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Martian adventure just a high-stakes vacation or a lobotomized fever dream? This week on Shelf to Screen, we dive deep into the 1990 sci-fi adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s short story, "We Can Remember It for You Whol...
