Metaverse Pioneer Neal Stephenson's Sci-Fi Novel "Seveneves" Slated for TV Series Adaptation

Recently, there has been a surge in science fiction content. Alongside the recently aired "Dark Matter", the ongoing production of the second season of "3 Body Problem", and the previously mentioned adaptation of "Neuromancer", there's exciting news about Neal Stephenson's other classic sci-fi novel "Seveneves" being adapted into a TV series. Stephenson, who predicted the metaverse in his book "Snow Crash," continues to influence modern sci-fi adaptations.

The adaptation of "Seveneves" is being handled by Legendary Television, known for their work on "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters," "Night Sky," and "Lost in Space." Their parent company, Legendary Entertainment, also co-produced the sci-fi epic "Dune". Allison Friedman, the confirmed producer for the project, has a great track record in sci-fi productions and will likely deliver a high-quality sci-fi experience.

However, the announcement has received mixed reactions from fans, and as someone who is only a casual reader, I'm personally excited—primarily because the original text is quite a challenging read.

Despite its considerable reading challenge, "Seveneves" remains beloved by many readers.". (Source: Amazon)

What is "Seveneves" About?

"Seveneves" begins with the moon suddenly splitting into seven large pieces due to unknown reasons. These fragments, attracted by Earth's gravity, are set to fall to Earth in two years, burning up in the atmosphere as a meteor shower that will last for five thousand years, inevitably leading to the destruction of human civilization on Earth.

Fortunately, and unfortunately, a group of people are stationed on the International Space Station at this critical time. They become the last hope for humanity's survival, as nations on Earth rally to provide them with the resources and equipment needed to sustain human civilization in space over the next two years.

When Earth faces a fiery meteor shower, there will be only two years left to live. (Source: Ideogram Collaboration)

The reason "Seveneves" is a challenging read is its serious approach right from the start, as it explains how the moon's fragments are attracted by Earth's gravity and details the scientific plans needed for humans to colonize space. Its hard sci-fi nature, detailed scientific research, and profound discussions on population bottlenecks and the continuation of civilization earned it a nomination for the 2016 Hugo Award for Best Novel. It has also been praised by influential readers like Bill Gates and Barack Obama.

What's the Status of "Snow Crash," Also Rumored to Be Adapted?

Reading "Seveneves" can feel a bit like going through a physics textbook. However, the charm of hard sci-fi lies in this: it's not just fantasy but a realistic simulation of the future based on current science.

For example, Neal Stephenson's seminal work "Snow Crash," which predicted the advent of the metaverse, and other works like "Cryptonomicon" and "The Diamond Age" are considered to have foreseen trends in cryptocurrencies, nanotechnology, and AI. "Snow Crash," involving VR, was initially set to be adapted by Amazon in 2017, but after a change of plans, HBO Max announced their adaptation project in 2019. However, five years later, there's still no further news about the "Snow Crash" adaptation, even as another cyberpunk classic, "Neuromancer," has already cast Callum Turner as its lead.

Neal Stephenson's "Cryptonomicon" and "The Diamond Age" are also considered to have accurately predicted technological trends. (Source: Goodreads)

I'm hopeful that the "Seveneves" project will progress smoothly to satisfy its broad readership, including casual readers like myself. If this meticulously realistic sci-fi novel is successfully adapted into a visual medium, it could also serve as a blueprint for a similar apocalypse: If the world is doomed, and only a small group can survive, would you help them to continue human civilization?