7 More Great Sci-Fi Books That Still Need A Movie or TV Adaptation

Many iconic science fiction films and TV shows actually started as books. It’s a common practice for studios to adapt stories with existing fans, minimizing the risk before investing large sums of money. For example, the complex world created by Frank Herbert in his novel Dune inspired the popular movies, and even had an impact on Star Wars. The film Blade Runner was based on the book Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, and 2001: A Space Odyssey originated from Arthur C. Clarke’s short story, The Sentinel.

We’ve only scratched the surface of great science fiction stories that haven’t been adapted for the screen. After previously highlighting seven fantastic unadapted books, here are seven more exceptional reads with strong cinematic potential that would make amazing movies or TV shows.

7) Helliconia Trilogy by Brian W. Aldiss

Brian W. Aldiss’s Helliconia trilogy, a grand and sweeping science fiction series, was published between 1982 and 1985 and won a Locus Award. Its epic scope drew comparisons to Frank Herbert’s Dune. The story unfolds on Helliconia, a planet circling two suns, and follows the evolution and decline of civilizations over a vast period – a “Great Year” lasting 1,800 Earth years. As the planet experiences extreme, centuries-long winters and summers, humans and the Phagors – a minotaur-like race – struggle to survive, all while being observed by a satellite from Earth. Helliconia has since become a significant influence on the hard science fiction genre. While exploring similar ideas of climate, evolution, and natural cycles as Dune, it’s known for its more scientifically grounded approach.

The Helliconia trilogy, with its sprawling story and many characters, would be a significant financial undertaking for a film studio. However, the popularity of ambitious, high-quality TV shows like Game of Thrones and the German series Dark suggests that television might be the ideal way to bring Aldiss’s complex work to life.

6) Little Fuzzy by H. Beam Piper

H. Beam Piper’s 1962 novel, a Hugo Award nominee, is a delightful and surprisingly thoughtful first-contact story. It follows Jack Holloway, a prospector who discovers the Fuzzies – small, golden-furred humanoids – on the planet Zarathustra. When the powerful Zarathustra Company learns the Fuzzies might be intelligent, threatening their claim to the planet, they try to cover it up. This leads to a dramatic showdown in court.

Published decades ago, the science fiction novel Little Fuzzy feels surprisingly modern, exploring issues of corporate power and what it means to be intelligent – themes that resonate today with the rise of AI and large corporations. The story centers around adorable creatures called Fuzzies, who would undoubtedly be a hit with audiences. Many believe George Lucas was inspired by them when designing the Ewoks in Star Wars. With its compelling plot that culminates in a dramatic courtroom scene, Little Fuzzy is perfectly suited for a movie adaptation. A film could stand out by using practical effects like costumes or puppets to bring the Fuzzies to life, or equally effectively, by using motion capture technology to create convincing digital creatures. Its broad appeal makes Little Fuzzy a story that sci-fi fans of all kinds will enjoy.

5) The Forever War by Joe Haldeman

Hollywood has been trying to adapt The Forever War for years, but a live-action version hasn’t happened yet. Ridley Scott first obtained the rights in 2008, and Channing Tatum was once considered for a role, but the project stalled. The award-winning novel – it won both the Hugo and Nebula awards – follows William Mandella, a physics student who is drafted into a war against aliens. Because of the effects of time travel, Mandella ages very slowly while centuries pass on Earth. Each time he comes home, everything has changed, and he feels like an outsider. The book is often seen as a commentary on the Vietnam War, and its themes have become even more relevant over time. Author William Gibson considers it one of the best war stories ever written.

Garth Ennis and Joe Haldeman’s The Forever War would make a fantastic limited series. The story’s unique structure, following the soldier Mandella through different battles, is perfect for an episodic format. Each episode could showcase a different period in human history and the challenges of that time. And with today’s special effects, the exciting battles with powered armor could look incredible.

4) The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin

Ursula K. Le Guin’s novel The Dispossessed, published in 1974, would be a fantastic choice for a film or TV series. This award-winning story skillfully combines elements of utopian and dystopian science fiction, with a touch of fantasy. It’s a thought-provoking tale filled with political maneuvering, romance, and philosophical questions, exploring the strengths and weaknesses of both anarchist and capitalist systems. The story centers on Shevek, a physicist who journeys between his home on the anarchist moon Anarres and the capitalist planet Urras, hoping to share a groundbreaking scientific discovery but finding flaws in both worlds.

Ursula K. Le Guin’s novel jumps between different time periods, making it perfect for a TV series. Alternatively, at just over 300 pages, it could work well as a single movie. The book’s striking difference between the worlds of Anarres and Urras would look incredible on screen, and its political ideas still feel relevant today. Fortunately, a screen adaptation may be coming soon – 1212 Entertainment and Anonymous Content announced plans in 2021, and Le Guin’s son is involved in the project.

3) Titan Trilogy by John Varley

I’m a huge fan of the Titan books – Titan, Wizard, and Demon – and I can’t believe no one’s made a visual adaptation yet! The first one came out way back in 1979, and the story is just begging for a movie or series. It’s about a spaceship crew that stumbles upon this massive, ring-shaped space station orbiting Saturn. But it’s not just a station – it’s a living being named Gaea, and she’s completely obsessed with classic Hollywood films. She basically treats all the people living inside her like characters in her own twisted movie, and it’s absolutely mind-blowing!

Titan is a compelling and intricate story that explores thought-provoking questions about artificial intelligence and the concept of godhood. Its imaginative world offers stunning visuals – a massive, self-contained space station spanning 1,300 kilometers, complete with its own ecosystem, and populated by unique beings like the musical Titanides (creatures resembling centaurs), intelligent airships, and other fantastical lifeforms. The story’s satirical take on Hollywood could make for a fantastic three-part film, similar in scope to classics like Star Wars, Dune, and Lord of the Rings. Though the original trilogy won a Locus Award and has a dedicated fanbase, a big-budget adaptation would introduce Varley’s extraordinary universe to a much broader audience.

2) The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein

Robert Heinlein’s award-winning novel, a science fiction staple from the 1960s, deserves a film adaptation. It’s the story of a lunar colony, used by Earth as a dumping ground for criminals, deciding to fight for its independence. Set in 2075, the story follows Mannie, a computer technician, along with revolutionary Wyoh, philosopher Professor de la Paz, and Mike – a remarkably intelligent, self-aware computer – as they plan a revolt for July 4th, 2076. Think of it as a space-based American Revolution with a focus on individual liberty, and featuring one of the most compelling AI characters in science fiction history.

Robert Heinlein’s novel, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, has repeatedly attracted interest from film and TV studios, but so far, no one has been able to successfully adapt it. It’s unfortunate, as the book’s themes of revolution, its political ideas, and well-developed characters would lend themselves well to a limited series. The story features unique family dynamics and exciting action sequences in low gravity – both of which would be visually stunning. Plus, Heinlein coined the phrase “There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch” (TANSTAAFL), and his writing continues to impact our culture.

1) The Chrysalids by John Wyndham

Okay, if I could wave a magic wand and get any book adapted into a movie right now, it would be John Wyndham’s The Chrysalids. It’s a classic from 1955, and the premise is just amazing. It’s set in Canada after some kind of nuclear fallout, and this really strict religious group is obsessed with keeping everyone “genetically pure.” The story follows a kid named David who realizes he and some other children have telepathy – they can read minds! But in this society, that makes them dangerous “Blasphemies,” so they have to hide their powers to avoid being persecuted, or worse. Honestly, it’s a story begging for a visual treatment.

I absolutely adore The Chrysalids. It feels incredibly relevant even today, dealing with themes of prejudice and fanaticism. People often draw comparisons to The Handmaid’s Tale, and Margaret Atwood herself has said Wyndham influenced her! It’s been adapted for radio and the stage, which were wonderful, but I’ve always dreamed of seeing it as a film or series. The world Wyndham creates – that post-apocalyptic landscape called “the Fringes” and the creatures living there – would be visually stunning. But honestly, what really stays with me are the children and their struggle; you can’t help but root for them, and the ending is just… perfect. David Mitchell even called it one of the most insightful post-apocalypse novels ever, and it’s taught in schools, which speaks volumes. I think it could be amazing as either a limited series or a movie, but it needs a director who truly understands the characters and the important social messages at its heart.

Tell us which of these books you’d love to see turned into a movie or show! Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion in the ComicBook Forum.

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2025-12-25 16:43