These Awesome Sci-Fi Books Still Need Film Adaptations

Science fiction has always been an interesting part of the literature world. The first recognized science fiction novel is Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and since then the genre has grown by leaps and bounds. One of the more important developments in the history of science fiction was its place in the pulp novels of the early 20th century. This brought sci-fi to the common person, making the genre more popular and ushering in several voices to sci-fi that would change it forever. This growth in popularity would see sci-fi move into visual mediums like television and movies, capturing imaginations in entirely new ways.

Film sci-fi is often original, with stories made specifically for the screen, but there have also been many sci-fi adaptations. Many classic novels have been made into sci-fi movies — including Dune, which was once thought unfilmable — but there are still many great sci-fi novels out there that have never made the leap to the silver screen. These books would make for excellent movies, or in some cases, series of movies.

Updated on July 29, 2024, by Antonio Samson: There have been plenty of sci-fi novels that have been adapted onto the big screen to tell remarkable stories. However, there are still a plethora of Sci-Fi books that deserve the silver screen treatment. This article was updated to include more books and to meet CBR’s editorial and formatting standards.

Vision of Virtual Realities and Digital Dystopias

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Neal Stephenson’s Snow Crash is a foundational text in the cyberpunk genre, introducing a vision of a future dominated by digital realities and virtual worlds. The novel follows Hiro Protagonist, a hacker and pizza delivery driver, who navigates a virtual world called the Metaverse. Hiro uncovers a conspiracy involving a new drug called Snow Crash that affects both digital avatars and their real-world counterparts in this digital landscape. Stephenson’s work is notable for its imaginative world-building, blending dystopian elements with sharp social commentary.

The novel’s exploration of themes like digital identity, corporate control, and the convergence of physical and virtual realities has impacted the genre and technology culture. Despite the novel’s significant influence, a full-fledged film adaptation has never materialized, even though its rich narrative and visual potential make it a prime candidate for a visually and thematically compelling movie.

14 The Expanse Series Explores Humanity’s Future in Space

Epic Saga of Interplanetary Politics and Alien Threats

The Expanse series, authored by James S.A. Corey (a pen name for the writing duo Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck), is a sprawling space opera that delves into the political, social, and scientific challenges humanity faces as it colonizes the solar system. The series starts with Leviathan Wakes, where a disparate group of characters, including ship captain James Holden and detective Joe Miller, uncover a vast conspiracy involving an alien protomolecule that threatens humanity.

As the series progresses, it explores complex themes such as the fragility of peace, the nature of power, and the ethical implications of scientific discovery. The narrative is enriched by intricate character development, intense political intrigue, and vivid descriptions of space travel and extraterrestrial environments.

13 Childhood’s End Explores Humanity’s Evolution

Vision of Utopian Peace and the Loss of Human Identity

Arthur C. Clarke’s Childhood’s End is a seminal work in science fiction literature, renowned for its profound exploration of humanity’s potential and the transformative impact of extraterrestrial intervention. The novel begins with the peaceful invasion of Earth by the mysterious Overlords, who bring about an era of unprecedented peace and prosperity. However, this utopian existence comes at a cost: the gradual erosion of human individuality and cultural identity.

As the Overlords’ true purpose becomes clear, it is revealed that they are preparing humanity for a monumental evolutionary leap. Clarke’s narrative is both thought-provoking and poignant, delving into themes such as the nature of progress, the loss of innocence, and mankind’s ultimate destiny. The novel’s visionary ideas and philosophical depth make it an ideal candidate for a cinematic adaptation that could challenge and inspire audiences, offering a visually stunning and intellectually stimulating experience.

12 Foundation Series Builds A Grand Galactic Empire

Masterpiece of Psychohistory and Galactic Decline

Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series is a cornerstone of science fiction literature, renowned for its sweeping narrative and intricate depiction of a vast galactic empire. The series begins with Foundation, where mathematician Hari Seldon develops the science of psychohistory, a method of predicting the future on a large scale. Seldon foresees the impending fall of the Galactic Empire and establishes two Foundations at opposite ends of the galaxy to preserve knowledge and shorten the ensuing dark age.

As the series progresses, it delves into the political, social, and economic struggles that the Foundations face as they strive to fulfill Seldon’s vision. The saga spans centuries, chronicling the rise and fall of empires, the machinations of powerful individuals, and the relentless march of history. Asimov’s masterful storytelling and the series’ complex, interwoven plots make it an ideal candidate for a film adaptation that could rival other epic sci-fi franchises in scope and depth, offering audiences a grand and intellectually stimulating cinematic experience.

11 Gateway Explores the Risks and Rewards of Space Exploration

Tale of High-Stakes Space Missions and Psychological Drama

Frederik Pohl’s Gateway is a compelling exploration of human ambition, the unknown perils of space, and the psychological toll of pioneering exploration. The novel is set in a space station built by a long-vanished alien race called the Heechee. This station, dubbed Gateway, contains numerous alien spacecraft programmed for one-way missions to uncharted regions of the galaxy. Humans who embark on these missions do so, hoping to discover valuable alien technology, but they risk their lives on each voyage.

The protagonist, Robinette Broadhead, is a lottery winner who uses his newfound wealth to buy passage to Gateway, driven by the desire to escape his impoverished life on Earth. Throughout the novel, Broadhead grapples with the fear and uncertainty of space exploration and the trauma and survivor’s guilt that come with his experiences. Pohl’s narrative is a rich tapestry of adventure, suspense, and psychological drama, making Gateway an ideal candidate for a film that can capture the grandeur and existential challenges of humanity’s quest to explore the cosmos.

10 Neuromancer Started The Cyberpunk Trend

Pioneering Cyberpunk Narrative of AI and Virtual Reality

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William Gibson penned what is considered the first cyberpunk story in 1984: Neuromancer. Neuromancer would create an entirely new genre of science fiction, one that would go on to influence gaming, manga, and many other types of art.

Neuromancer follows hacker Henry Dorsett Case, a low-level hustler who gets pulled into a caper involving a powerful artificial intelligence. Usually, formative sci-fi stories like this get some kind of film adaptation, and Neuromancer has been optioned several times, but it has never actually been brought to the silver screen. Luckily for fans of the novel, Apple TV recently licensed a television adaptation of the series, opening up the opportunity for a new generation of science fiction fans to appreciate its story.

9 The Thrawn Ascendancy Trilogy Gives The Origin Of A Fan Favorite Star Wars Villain

Prequel to Thrawn’s Rise and Political Intrigue in the Chiss Empire

Star Wars has a rich history of great novels, the vast majority of which haven’t ever been adapted. Star Wars is interesting in the world of sci-fi, because, in a lot of ways, it’s more science fantasy than science fiction. However, some Star Wars novels are more sci-fi than others, such as The Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy. These three books — Chaos Rising, Lesser Evil, and Greater Good — take place before Grand Admiral Thrawn joins the Empire and is still a member of the Chiss Ascendancy, a group of planets controlled by his people. Thrawn becomes entangled in a scheme by enemies of the Ascendancy to destroy it, all while his actions to save his people earn him the scorn of the brass of the Chiss Expansionary Defense Fleet, making his job even harder.

The Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy is much more about warfare and political intrigue than it is about Force-using warriors to fight it out. While the Force is a part of the story (Chiss uses what they call the Sight to help navigate their starships through hyperspace), it’s not very important to the overall narrative. Timothy Zahn is a master of these types of stories, with his ship-to-ship battle scenes a highlight of any story he writes. On top of that, he’s able to create intriguing characters and alien societies. He’s the closest thing that Star Wars has to a hard sci-fi author and with Thrawn’s importance to Star Wars, it would be great to get his origin films on the big screen.

8 The Forge Of God And Anvil Of Stars Tells A Story Of Alien Invasion And Vengeance

Tale of Earth’s Destruction and Humanity’s Fight Back

Alien invasion stories are nothing new in science fiction. Many stories have revolved around aliens coming to Earth and humans defeating them. Alien invasion movies have been around for nearly as long as there have been sci-fi movies, and they usually end with some kind of hopeful ending, with humanity fighting against tremendous odds and winning. However, there are plenty of novels that don’t fit that formula, and they need to be seen more on the big screen. The Forge Of God and its sequel, Anvil Of Stars, see the Earth invaded by a secret alien force, while another group of strange spider robots do what they can to preserve humanity and the Earth. As these robots battle the invading aliens in space, Earth is destroyed when neutronium and antineutronium are dropped into Earth’s core.

The survivors are settled on a terraformed Mars, and Anvil Of Stars deals with them hunting down the alien invaders that destroyed the Earth, with help from their alien benefactors. Those two books take a common trope and turn it on its head. Sci-fi movies don’t often show the Earth destroyed or putting humanity on the backfoot, and these two classic novels would make for some great movies.

7 Stranger In A Strange Land Is A Robert Heinlein Classic

Exploration of Martian Culture and Human Societal Change

Robert Heinlein is a titan of the mid-20th century American sci-fi scene. Heinlein is known to many as the writer of Starship Troopers, which was adapted into a sci-fi war satire that didn’t exactly adapt the novel.Starship Troopers isn’t usually numbered among the best sci-fi movies, but Heinlein’s bibliography reveals an author who is among the best in sci-fi history. It would be nice for moviegoers to actually get a taste of what Heinlein’s stories are all about, something they haven’t yet gotten. A great Heinlein book to adapt would be Stranger In A Strange Land.

Stranger In A Strange Land is a book that sees a human raised by Martians found on a lost ship sent to the red planet before WWIII, come back to Earth, and eventually start a church. The story has been lauded for years and shows how different all of Heinlein’s works are. His stories range from militaristic fare like Starship Troopers to books like Stranger In A Strange Land to more progressive fare like The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress and Friday. Stranger In A Strange Land is a classic, and while it doesn’t fit into the more stereotypical big-budget sci-fi spectacle, it’s an interesting enough story to make a great movie, more of an Arrival-type of than Dune.

6 The Geodesica Duology Takes Readers To A Future Ruled By AI

Story of Rebellion and Cosmic Mysteries

Hard science fiction films don’t have as large an audience as the bigger blockbuster sci-fi spectacles. Hard sci-fi usually focuses a lot more on science than fiction, and many novels and movies of this type can be rather dry. That’s not a problem that the Geodesica duology has. While it’s a hard sci-fi story, it’s also a compelling narrative full of rich characters and high drama. The duology begins in the 24th century. Humanity has spread to the stars, with the far-flung planets of the Arc Systems beginning to chafe under the rule of the Exarchs, AIs that run the universe. In the years before the first book starts, an alien artifact is found and destroys an entire star system, causing it to be quarantined.

Years later, another artifact is found, with the Exarchs and humans alike trying to discover its secrets. Geodesica: Ascent and Descent aren’t as well-known as some other sci-fi classics, but would definitely make for some unique films. There is a lot of lore to present and epic battles in the first book, while the second focuses on the Arc Systems rebellion while several characters travel in the titular Geodesica. The Geodesica duology would make for sci-fi movies that are unlike any other out there.

5 The Martian Chronicles Could Birth Multiple Movies

Anthology of Mars Colonization and Human Imagination

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The post-WWII years in the US were a boom time for sci-fi. Many of the greats got their start in the sci-fi anthologies of the day, and the shift to the Space Race between the US and USSR brought a renewed interest in the genre. Author Ray Bradbury is among the greats of this time, most well-known for Fahrenheit 451. That classic tale has gotten several adaptations, and many of Bradbury’s other books and short stories have gotten film adaptations, but one is noticeably absent: The Martian Chronicles, a book of short stories about humanity’s colonization of Mars. It did get a 1980 miniseries on TV, but none of its stories have ever been made into feature-length films.

The Martian Chronicles has a little something for everyone — horror, dystopian fiction, post-apocalyptic fiction, and more — to create a series of short stories that will stick with readers for a lifetime. It’s a relatively short book, but Bradbury is able to create worlds in each story. An entire series of movies could be made from The Martian Chronicles, but that’s probably also why it’s never been adapted.

4 The Forever War Is A Complicated But Powerful War Story

Reflection on Time, War, and the Effects of Relativistic Travel

War movies are a fruitful genre, and sci-fi films have often taken advantage of this, telling stories of wars in the stars. There are an amazing number of great sci-fi war novels, but few of them have anything on The Forever War. The book tells the story of the war against the Taurans, but there’s a unique twist to the whole thing. Because of the nature of space travel in the book, using stellar phenomena called collapsars to catapult ships to superluminal speeds and the time dilation from traveling at relativistic speeds, they return to Earth years after every battle, future shock affecting them every time. The book follows William Mandella through centuries, each battle taking the soldiers further and further from their time.

The Forever War takes hard sci-fi concepts, using the science of light speed as a key part of its narrative and Haldeman’s time in Vietnam, to tell a unique sci-fi war story. Multiple attempts have been made to adapt the book, but all of them have fallen through, with Hollywood luminaries like Ridley Scott trying to get a film made. The Forever War can be a bit complicated, but what it says about the nature of war makes it a powerful tale that would make for an exciting movie.

3 Ringworld Could Become An Entire Movie Franchise

Vision of a Gigantic Space Structure and its Exploratory Adventures

The Halo series of video games are blockbusters, spawning multiple novels, comics, and a TV series on Paramount+. However, it’s not the first sci-fi story to include a massive inhabitable ring in space. Back in 1970, author Larry Niven put out Ringworld. This book takes place on a massive ring structure in space, as Louis Wu is recruited to explore the massive construct. Trapped on Ringworld when its defense systems shoot down their ship, the expedition encounters primitive human tribes and advanced technology unlike anything they’ve ever dreamed of. The book ends with the expedition escaping but Wu promising to return.

Ringworld was a massive hit when it was published and spawned multiple sequels. Ringworld has been rather fruitful in influencing sci-fi, with Halo and its resulting universe being the most well-known example, but it’s never even been optioned for adaptation. Franchises are a huge part of Hollywood and Ringworld not only has its own sequels but opens up Niven’s Known Worlds universe of stories. It would make for an excellent movie, one that has huge potential.

2 The Conquerors Trilogy Shows Both Sides Of An Interstellar War

Dual Perspectives on War and Politics Between Alien Empires

Timothy Zahn has created many amazing sci-fi novels, but the ones that lend themselves best to adaptation are The Conquerors trilogy. These three books — Conqueror’s Pride, Conqueror’s Heritage, and Conqueror’s Legacy — tell the story of the Commonwealth’s war against the newly discovered alien species: the Zhirrzh. When Commander Pheylan Cavanagh of the Commonwealth is taken to prison, his family mounts a highly illegal mission to rescue him in Conqueror’s Pride. Conqueror’s Heritage shifts perspective to the Zhirrzh side of things, focusing on Thrr-Gilag, one of Phyelan’s interrogators, as he is caught up in the political machinations of war. Finally, Conqueror’s Legacy brings the two sides of the story together, as a plot by a different alien species threatens an apocalyptic conclusion for both sides.

The Conquerors trilogy is brilliant, and there’s no other way about it. The first two books build two narratives about two species that have conquered empires battling each other, digging into the political and cultural situations within each empire. The trilogy is full of epic battles, deft characterization, and twists and turns that will surprise readers as they work through it. These could be big-budget extravaganzas that also make audiences think and are just what sci-fi cinema needs.

1 The Hyperion Cantos Build An Intricate Tale Of Death And Rebirth

Complex Interstellar Journey Through Time and Myth

Sci-fi films are going through a resurgence, but there’s yet to be a franchise that can topple Star Wars from its perch as the top sci-fi franchise. There are many great sci-fi novel series out there that could at least challenge Star Wars, although they may not do as well with young audiences. The Hyperion Cantos is great example of a mature sci-fi series that deals with the nature of humanity, religion, and politics. The first book in the series, Hyperion, takes a page from The Canterbury Tales as a group of pilgrims make their way to the planet Hyperion, each telling their stories of why they’re on the journey. The next book, The Fall Of Hyperion, sees the pilgrims make their way to their destination, as the interstellar Hegemony has a crisis centered on the planet. Endymion and The Rise Of Endymion pick up centuries later, as a new interstellar government known as the Pax goes through its own rebellions focused on the planet Hyperion.

The Hyperion Cantos is a series filled with mysteries, and its centuries of story are linked together by the cybernetic monster called the Shrike. The truth about Hyperion unfolds brilliantly, and although it’s a complicated series of tales, it’s an amazing series. It may take more than four movies to complete the series, but it would definitely be worth it.