Best example: Stephen King's INSOMNIA, a long, rambling, intransigent novel that unexpectedly comes to life at the halfway point. Against all odds, I found myself touched by the finale, and I imagined it to the tune of "Everywhere" from POWDER.

Most mystery books I read usually get scored in my head by Howard Shore, James Newton Howard or Thomas Newman, although I recently read "Moon Music" by Faye Kellerman, a straight detective yarn with supernatural touches that would be best handled by Elliot Goldenthal.

I am currently reading the John Dunning's Cliff Janeway novels, which could be given very literate scores by George Fenton.

Most of my reading ends up leaning more towards science-fiction, to which each contour of the story leads me in different directions. At the end of the book, I think about it and usually assign a composer to that book...

Also, I really love "Witness to the Truth," by Paul Lindsay, a former FBI agent. It's about a Detroit agent who's searching for a traitor in the ranks and a brutal seriel killer, who may have also kidnapped a fellow agent's daughter. At the same time he breaks in a new parter. (And you thought your day was busy! ) It's a gritty thriller, so I would say perhaps Hans Zimmer could best score it.

Also, "Night Hunter," by Michael Reaves, about a burned-out LA homicide detective working a case where the suspect may be a vampire. Like "Witness to the Truth," it's a gritty murder mystery with lots of sex and violence. If I was directing (and man I'd love that), I'd probably hire either Goldsmith or Zimmer. (Can you believe this author also wrote for the animated "Batman" series?)

Check out all three of these novels if you get the chance.

Also, the series of books "RiverWorld" by Philip Jose Farmer, would make an incredible mini-series. Plot; all of humanity is resurrected along the banks of a million mile river. What Farmer does is use real historical figures as his characters, like Richard Francis Burton, Mark Twain, Hermann Goring...etc. What you basically have is every single ethnical group that ever lived on Earth, thrown together in one place, with every musical influence represented.
I think it would be awesome to bring in different composers to score each installment of the miniseries. Of course James Newton Howard would score the bulk of it, all the battle scenes, there is not a single genre that he couldn't handle. But you could bring in Graeme Revell and use his vast knowledge of tribal music to compose for some of the tribes that are on the River. Jerry Goldsmith could score for the various Vikings in the story. John Williams would be great to score the scenes that take place on The Fabulous Riverboat, and the few scenes with cowboy legend Tom Mix. The last book in the series has a lot of spooky parts in it (trying not to give away the story) so I think Don Davis would do an excellent job with that.

Every time I look at one of your posts, the NP is always a Chris Young score -- but you're never recommending him for jobs!

To be honest, he's the FIRST person I think of these days for ANY kind of movie. I really want to see that guy get to STRETCH! And I'm sure you do too, you play his stuff enough!

I know Shadows is a project that has already been done, but it's a perfect example of what we are talking about.

Jeron

TEN LITTLE INDIANS (a.k.a. AND THEN THERE WERE NONE) by Agatha Christie. They done a film version of this four times and have yet to do it right. I'd like to say Henry Mancini, but that's unfortunately no longer possible. I'd pick Alan Silvestri next.

James, I also like Niven & Pournelle's Inferno, using historical characters and based on Dante's many levels of hell, Christopher Young would be my choice for this!

This man can write music about the sea.

I wish small would get more epic assignments like this one.

I have just recently began to really adore Chris Young's work, thanks to a recent trade where I obtained several of his scores that I didn't have. He is very, very versatile. I am still listening to his music over and over and studying him, so I am sure he will climb to the top five of my favorite composer list.

Timmer,

No, I have never heard of that movie, but you'll be darn sure I am going to run out and find it. Is it easily available? And the score, is that available? I would love to hear that score. I have been trying to come up with the perfect theme for Riverworld (since I read the series about every other year) and if its as good as Swashbuckler says then that might just be the one I'll use.

I'm glad to know other people appreciate the Greatest Science Fiction series ever written.