In the past several years, studios have rushed to bring sci-fi and fantasy book series to the small screen, from Game of Thrones to The Witcher to Foundation. But there are many more stories that deserve to get adapted. We're taking a look at seven of the best fantasy and science fiction books that haven't yet been made into television shows, but should be.
1. The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein (1966)
With a title like that, how could any network or streaming platform pass this book by?
The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress is a 1966 look at what could happen in 2075. The moon is occupied by undesirables living in underground cities where men outnumber women. Escape back to Earth is pointless, even for those who are discharged or born on the moon. The story really gets interesting when computer technician Manuel, or Mannie, makes a connection with the self-aware supercomputer HOLMES IV, which controls the entire infrastructure.
Mannie and HOLMES IV become a formidable duo and lead a rebellion against Earth's control. Now tell me, how would that not make an excellent TV show?
2. Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson (2006-present)
Fantasy titan Brandon Sanderson began publishing his Mistborn books back in 2006. The first official trilogy follows a street urchin named Vin who discovers that she is a Mistborn, someone who has access to the full suite of magical abilities sometimes available to people in this world. Together, she and a rag-tag group of freedom fighters take down the seemingly immortal emperor who's been ruling the land with an iron fist for generations. And things only get more complicated from there.
Sanderson has gone on to write other Mistborn books that jump far ahead in time, and is still working on more. At minimum, the first trilogy would make a great TV show. It has appealing characters, a unique magic system, and tons of plot twists.
Sanderson has written a lot of popular series, including The Stormlight Archive, but Mistborn seems like the easier place for a studio to start.
3. Farseer trilogy by Robin Hobb (1995-1997)
For those who love the King Arthur legend, they will find something to love in the Farseer trilogy, a character-driven story that focuses on the main character, FitzChivalry Farseer, or Fitz, as he seeks stability for his kingdom. The trilogy, actually written by Margaret Astrid Lindholm Ogden (Robin Hobb is a pen name), is an elegant and thrilling narrative, perfectly structured for a multi-season television show.
The trilogy does not shy away from complex themes, exploring Fitz's relationships, his decision-making and the weight of his responsibilities. Fitz is a man who wears many hats; he's an illegitimate prince who becomes an assassin as well as a telepath who can bond with animals.
Like the Arthurian legend, Farseer will tug at the heartstrings with a bittersweet conclusion. I can easily see audiences talking about a TV show show, if done well, for years to come.
4. Eragon by Christopher Paolini (2002-2011)
Eragon is an underrated fantasy series that went nearly forgotten thanks to the less-than-stellar film adaptation from 2006. While the film had a wonderful cast, it did not do the first book any justice.
Luckily, Disney+ seems to have gotten the memo, as a television series appears to be in the works. Eragon is book one of four in The Inheritance Cycle, which tells the story of a farm boy, Eragon, who winds up raising a dragon in secret, now destined to become one of the few Dragon Riders left in the world.
Throughout the four books, the story jumps between him and his cousin Roran as they become involved in a war between the rebels and the Empire led by King Galbatorix. The series relies heavily on themes of magic, love, and family, and has thrilled readers for years.
Extremely addictive and captivating, the dragons in Eragon could easily give the dragons from Game of Thrones a run for their money. While dragons might seem like a been-there-done-that aspect of fantasy, Eragon deserves the chance to prove the naysayers wrong.
5. Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson (1999-2011)
This may be the hardest series to adapt of any on the list. The Malazan books explore the powerful Malazan Empire through the eyes of people within it as well as those resisting its expansion. Throughout the series, we meet characters who are human, alien, undead and immortal. The conflict of each book is pretty much wrapped up by the end, with some characters carrying over into the next volume and some remaining behind. Some of the books tie all the disparate stories together, including the tenth and final one.
Book series don't come much more sprawling than Malazan Book of the Fallen. It would be a challege for a studio to adapt, but a challenge worth taking on.
6. At the Mountains of Madness by H. P. Lovecraft (1936)
One simply cannot think of science fiction and fantasy literature without thinking of H.P. Lovecraft. Though problematic, his creation of the Cthulhu Mythos literally changed the game for science fiction forever.
I was not easy to choose just one of Lovecraft's work to be adapted for TV, but I picked At the Mountains of Madness. A 2021 film of the same name was loosely based on the book, but I believe it's time to see it become a successful TV show.
Combining science fiction with horror, the story follows an expedition to Antarctica where, lo and behold, ancient ruins are discovered, alongside prehistoric remains of what we later learn are visitors from outer space. Explorers are killed, and readers uncover secrets about conflict from beyond the stars. If a show were to be made, it really needs to stick to the first-person perspective of William Dyer, a narrator who keeps the suspense and intrigue building.
I believe At the Mountains of Madness will appeal to sci-fi horror fans who are looking for something new but classic to watch. I'm open to suggestions as to who should be cast as Dyer.
7. Star Wars Galaxy's Edge: A Crash of Fate by Zoraida Córdova (2019)
Opinions on Disney's Star Wars Galaxy's Edge theme park vary, and the failure of the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel didn't help matters. While Disney+ is in no short supply of Star Wars films and television shows, fans of the franchise are always looking for something new to watch.
Which is why we included Star Wars Galaxy's Edge: A Crash of Fate to our list. Written by Zoraida Córdova, the story focuses on two characters, Izzy the smuggler and Jules the farmer, who reunite and fall in love after years apart. Yes, this is a love story, and this is exactly what we need, not just in science fiction shows but Star Wars shows in general.
While Han Solo and Princess Leia will always be our favorite Star Wars couple, and Dedra and Syril stole our hearts in Andor, another couple is beneficial for versatility. The story provides more depth for Batuu, while moving at an ideal pace, and is sure to please both Star Wars and science fiction fans.
For your consideration
The Poet and The Magician by Jennifer Renson (aka me) is a character-driven story that takes place in a fantasy world suffering through the collapse of a reigning monarchy. As the title suggests, a poet and magician unexpectedly meet while escaping their pasts.
But what happens when their pasts come back to haunt them just as a romance begins to blossom? What makes this story ideal for a television show is that it's over 500 pages long, enabling the show to dive into the characters, their relationship, the world about them, and side characters that contribute to their arc.
The Genesis Sphere by Ben Chiappetta is a near-future crime thriller about a crime analyst, Alex Matthias, who assists the New Washington Police Department in solving homicides. It's set in a world where resurrection is commonplace and death is no longer the end. Alex races against time to stop a religious terrorist group before they can bring about Armageddon.
What would make this book stand out on TV is that it's full of likable characters, with a fluid story that will keep viewers engaged ahead of every plot twist. Not to mention that there's a sequel that continues Alex's story on Mars.
Which science fiction or fantasy books would you like to see made into a TV show?
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