An Avatar Reading List Meme
28. Dec, 2009 
7 Comments
Prior to IO9s discussion of is Avatar based on Call Me Joe, I’d done a piece on the possibility that Avatar was based on Harry Harrison’s Deathworld (and I STILL think that Avatar is essentially a pastiche of Call Me Joe and Deathworld, just like Terminator combined two Ellison stories from The Outer Limits).
However, there are an awful lot of tropes/SF icons/old & much-loved-much used SF concepts wrapped into the film – both thematic and otherwise. I figured it might not be a bad idea to start collecting a list of stories that informed viewers “recognized” while watching the film.
Those of you who could either care less about where Cameron got his ideas or have no clue – consider this a reading list. Something along the lines of – If you liked Avatar, you’ll probably enjoy reading these stories as well.
Here’s my list, culled from my own watching and the various blog entries that have pointed out other possible connections. Please take this list, bold (or underline, italicize, etc) the ones you agree with, add your own to the bottom and pass it along.
Call Me Joe by Poul Anderson
Deathworld (trilogy) by Harry Harrison
Pern (series) by Anne McCaffrey
Slan by A. E. VanVogt
The Word For World Is Forest by Ursula Le Guin
City (Desertion tale) by Clifford Simak
Manya’s Gift by Timothy Zahn
Dances With Wolves by Michael Blake (non-SF)
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Haven’t seen the film, yet, but I will certainly will be using this as a reading list. Thanks!
Don’t forget MIDWORLD by Alan Dean Foster. Networked world trees.
Nyrath,
you are absolutely right! There was a story tickling at the back of my subconscious that dealt with the networks, but I just couldn’t pull it out and you’ve done so. Thanks!
Another possibility is the short story “Hunter, Come Home” by Richard McKenna. The world trees are sort of networked with a chemical consciousness. The people from the militant right-wing macho planet want to kill all the trees so they can raise Great Russels: huge carnivores required for their coming-of-age manhood rites. The scientists from the researcher planet decry the killing of the trees. And the trees have the last laugh.
You – and others – may want to peek at this for a few more possibilities.
http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2009/12/10-possible-sources-of-avatar-in.html
Just read an excellent short story that I think should be added to this list, Between the Thunder and the Sun by Chad Oliver. I found it in the 1958 collection, The Best From Fantasy and Science Fiction, Seventh Series, edited by Anthony Boucher. It was definitely in the spirit of the kind of story Avatar was trying to tell only did it so much better.