Stephen Kiernan's "The Curiosity"

{[['']]}

Stephen Kiernan's new novel is The Curiosity.

Here the author dreamcasts a big-screen adaptation of the book:

I have spent months casting The Curiosity in my imagination, ever since 20th Century Fox purchased the film rights to the novel.

Do I have any say in who is cast? No. Do I know anything about how a movie is made? No. Do either of these facts prevent me from picking the actors I want? Of course not.

Erastus Carthage is a brilliant cell scientist, ambitious and narcissistic, with major unresolved father issues. Who else but Ben Kingsley? Not the Gandhi version of him, but the character in Searching for Bobby Fisher – smart and merciless.

Kate Philo is a scientist with a conscience, which gets her into trouble but also makes her the novel’s moral centerpiece. She is clueless about her attractiveness, is fascinated by facts, and risks everything to protect a man she loves. Did you ever see Rachel McAdams’ audition tape for The Notebook? Huge talent, even when she’s just listening.

David Gerber is a former NASA operations guru, math savant and Deadhead. His intelligence appears effortless, but in fact he pulls frequent all-nighters. Give me Elijah Wood, with long hair.

Graham Billings is a soft-spoken lab rat who helps solve the book’s biggest scientific problem. The role simply must go to Clark Gregg, who was memorable as the mild Agent Coulson in the Iron Man and Avengers movies.

As for Jeremiah Rice, the judge from 1906 revived in today’s chaotic world? The reserved but charismatic leading man?

I simply don’t know. Who would you suggest?

Learn more about the book and author at Stephen Kiernan's website and blog.

--Marshal Zeringue