Mind-Blowing Sci-Fi Books That MUST Be Turned Into Epic TV Series

Summary

Many science fiction books have successfully been adapted into popular TV series, showcasing how the medium suits the genre more than film.

TV adaptations often capture more detail, nuance, and depth than movies, making them ideal for bringing sci-fi novels to life.

Several sci-fi books, such as

Nineteen Eighty-Four

, J

ohn Dies At The End

, and

The Girl With All the Gifts

, have great potential for TV adaptations due to their compelling content and relevance.

Some of the most beloved and widely-watched television series in recent years have drawn inspiration from science fiction literature. With examples like The Man in the High Castle, based on Philip K. Dick's novel, The Handmaid's Tale, adapted from Margaret Atwood's novel, and The Expanse, derived from James S. A. Corey's series of novels, it is evident that transforming sci-fi books into TV shows can yield incredibly successful results, often surpassing the potential of film.

The realm of sci-fi literature offers an abundance of untapped potential, with numerous books yet to be brought to the screen. Additionally, there have been adaptations that have fallen short of capturing the essence that made the original books captivating, or simply enough time has passed to justify a fresh take. Movies, in particular, often struggle to encompass the intricacies, subtleties, and profound depth found within novels, thus making TV adaptations a more suitable medium. The following 10 sci-fi books possess the qualities that could potentially translate into exceptional TV adaptations.

10 Nineteen Eighty-Four

As well as a number of films, George Orwell's seminal classic was previously adapted for television by the BBC in 1954, only five years after the novel's publication. The adaptation stirred up significant controversy, allegedly resulting in the death of a viewer due to its "shocking content" (per The Telegraph). Following the norms of 1954 television, it took the form of a live broadcast of a stage play. Given the heavy reliance on inner monologue in Nineteen Eighty-Four, capturing its essence outside of literature proves particularly challenging. However, its content remains as relevant today as ever before, calling for a long-awaited update. It is time for a new adaptation to emerge.

9 John Dies At The End

Jason Pargin, writing under the pseudonym David Wong, authored John Dies at the End as a web serial. He later became the Editor of Cracked.com and an unexpected sensation on TikTok. The story was eventually published as a paperback in 2007, and its success led to the creation of three sequels: This Book Is Full of Spiders, What the Hell Did I Just Read, and If This Book Exists, You're in the Wrong Universe. In 2012, a film adaptation received mixed reviews. However, due to the story's sporadic and episodic nature, particularly when considering the material provided by the sequels, it would be much better suited for television.

8 The Time Machine Did It

John Swartzwelder holds the distinction of being the most prolific writer (and perhaps the most eccentric) on The Simpsons, contributing 59 episodes to the show's first fifteen seasons. In addition to his work on the show, Swartzwelder has penned a series of comedic sci-fi novels featuring the character Detective Frank Burly. To date, 11 novels have been published, accompanied by two short stories. The inaugural novel in the series, titled The Time Machine Did It, was released in 2004. Drawing inspiration from classic detective serials, the book resembles a time-traveling version of The Naked Gun, as it follows Frank Drebin, who finds himself transported back to the 1940s and spends much of the story endeavoring to return to the present.

7 The Girl With All the Gifts

M. R. Carey's The Girl with All the Gifts stands out for its unique approach, as it was written alongside its film adaptation. Although the film is criminally underrated and introduces fresh concepts in the realm of zombie movies, the book delves deeper into emotions and empathy, elements that are unfortunately overlooked. Transforming this captivating story into a television series provides an opportunity to recapture these qualities and further expand the narrative world by incorporating the prequel novel, The Boy on the Bridge. With a young female protagonist and a mutated Cordyceps infection that transforms individuals into "hungries," The Girl with All the Gifts could become the UK's response to the acclaimed video game, The Last of Us.

6 Rendezvous With Rama

An adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke's Rendezvous with Rama has long been trapped in Development Hell, making it one of the most notorious projects in the industry. Since the early noughties, it has been Morgan Freeman's passion endeavor, with his production company tirelessly endeavoring to bring the story to the big screen. Despite the involvement of acclaimed directors like David Fincher and Denis Villeneuve throughout the years, the project's progress remains stagnant. However, there is a glimmer of hope in the form of Villeneuve potentially tackling another iconic science fiction adaptation after Dune: Part Two (which is a possibility). Alternatively, television may provide the ideal platform for Rendezvous with Rama, especially considering the numerous films that have drawn significant inspiration from the book.

5 A Clockwork Orange

Stanley Kubrick's 1971 adaptation of Anthony Burgess' A Clockwork Orange is widely regarded as a cinematic masterpiece. However, it famously deviated from the book's original intention by excluding the final chapter, thereby subverting its meaning. The absence of this crucial section prevented the audience from witnessing Alex's growth and personal development driven by his intrinsic moral compass––a key element that communicates the book's underlying message: the inherent goodness of humanity and the fallacy of imposing artificial morality. While the idea of a remake may be met with skepticism, there is considerable potential for a television companion piece that faithfully captures the essence of the original text, while also charting its own independent path. This adaptation could even be envisioned as a distinct sequel, set within the same fictional universe, but explored through the lens of Burgess, rather than Kubrick.

4 World War Z

3 Last And First Men

:

Despite the financial success of Brad Pitt's film adaptation of Max Brooks' meticulously researched novel, the decision to make a movie instead of a TV series was questionable. The movie deviates significantly from the book, only sharing the title, zombies, the concept of Israel constructing a wall, and a single line of dialogue. In the novel, a journalist compiles an oral history of the zombie outbreak that occurred two decades earlier. It is an anthology that explores various perspectives, ranging from a foolishly live-streaming celebrity in their safe-house to an astronaut who can only witness the chaos from above Earth. The captivating storytelling format of the novel would have been better suited to a television adaptation rather than the resulting film.

Last and First Men by Olaf Stapledon serves as a fictitious historical account, painting a vivid picture of a future yet to unfold. Within its pages, it unveils a multitude of civilizations and explores the dynamic evolution of humanity as societies rise and eventually decline. The fragmented narrative style, which offers a limited perspective, may explain the absence of any film or TV adaptations, with the exception of a loosely connected Icelandic multimedia art film in 2020. However, this remarkable masterpiece is ideally suited as source material for an anthology series. Each captivating episode could delve into one of the 18 distinct human species featured, leaving ample room to venture beyond the book's covered time periods.

2 The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen

1 The Chrysalids

If there's one lesson we can learn from Watchmen, it's that Alan Moore's creative genius flourishes on the small screen rather than in theaters. Despite his probable disdain for another adaptation of his comic book series after the disastrous 2003 film, there is ample material to draw from the four volumes (and two spin-offs) available. To avoid any unfavorable comparisons to the movie, which was based on Volume I, a captivating television show could kick off with Volume II, where beloved characters find themselves entangled in the gripping narrative of H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds. Imagining a series that showcases the thrilling showdown between iconic figures like Mina Harker, Mycroft Holmes, and Dr. Jekyll pitted against a Martian invasion is truly enticing.

Surprisingly, there has never been an endeavor to bring John Wyndham's 1955 sci-fi novel to the big screen. The renowned author, known for his works such as The Day of the Triffids and The Midwich Cuckoos (also known as The Village of the Damned), is often praised for his masterpiece, The Chrysalids. This early example of young adult fiction tells the story of David, a child living in a post-apocalyptic world (presumably destroyed by war), where mutations are abundant but suppressed by a fundamentalist society driven by fear. Together with a group of telepathic children, David embarks on a perilous journey through the barren wasteland in search of a safe haven.