Science Fiction Novels That Should Be Movies

Posted March 25, 2020 by Brin in Memes, Top Ten Tuesday / 2 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is an awesome meme previously hosted by the lovely folks @ The Broke and the Bookish and now hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl

Science Fiction Novels That Should Be Movies

I know, I know – I’m a day late (as usual!) but I was having some trouble coming up with a topic as this week’s prompt is a genre freebie (pick a genre and build a list around it! i.e., best/worst romances, non-fiction for travelers, memoirs for foodies, classics that feel timeless, romance novel kisses, science fiction that feels too real for comfort, women’s fiction for newbies, etc.)

I finally decided on science fiction novels that should be movies. There have been a lot of great science fiction movies already that have taken inspiration from books: 2001: A Space Odyssey was loosely based on Arthur C. Clarke’s short story The Sentinel (Clarke also co-wrote the screenplay with Stanley Kubrick), Jurassic Park was based on the Michael Crichton novel of the same name, and Blade Runner was based on a novel by Philip K. Dick called Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

There are however many other great works of fiction that would lend themselves well to movie adaptations. This list will include straight up science fiction as well as dystopian/post apocalyptic settings that I personally think would make great movies.

1. Warchild series by Karin Lowachee

This series is one of my most treasured favourites. I don’t have enough words for how much I love it. The story is very relevant: the plight of child soldiers, alien civilisations that are the oppressed not the oppressors, abuse and trauma – it’s got it all really. It would make an amazing movie/movie series if done right.

2. Swan Song Robert R. McCammon

A straight-up post apocalyptic novel with enough twists to keep it fresh and interesting. Amazing characters and genuinely scary bad guys, I have long thought this would make a damn great movie. Even reading it again years later, it still doesn’t lose any of its appeal.

3. Feverwake duology by Victoria Lee

This is a recent favourite but definitely one that doesn’t pull its punches. It is set in a post apocalyptic America but also deals with the topic of refugees and power imbalances. It’s pretty powerful stuff and is very much relevant to the current political climate.

4. Penryn & the End of Days series by Susan Ee

Susan Ee managed to accomplish the impossible – she wrote a series about angels that I didn’t hate! (Seriously, there was a plethora of badly constructed angel young adult books doing the rounds for a good while!) This series is fast-paced and exciting and although later books didn’t quite live up to the excellent first book Angelfall, it was still an exciting ride.

5. Dark Space series by Lisa Henry

This was one of my very first m/m reads and it still remains a firm favourite. The science fiction setting is atmospheric and claustrophobic – it definitely could work well as a movie or series of movies. The characters are amazing and the story is very tense but romantic at the same time!

6. The Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer

C’mon, there was no way the Lunar Chronicles wouldn’t make this list! It has it all really – drawing from fairy tales but set in a futuristic setting – pure genius! The characters are fantastic and the plot is rock-solid. What more could you ask for??

7. The Stars Never Rise duology by Rachel Vincent

This two-part series is part science fiction / part nightmare! Set in a future time where demons have control over the populace, it has shades of The Handmaid’s Tale mixed with genuine horror moments. It might be a tough sell (given the fact that the protagonists love interest doesn’t even have a body of his own) but I think it could work…

8. Across the Universe series by Beth Revis

This has all the elements in place for an awesome movie series. A girl out of time, a boy destined to rule, a ship run by a malevolent overlord who keeps the populace in line by feeding them a mixture of drugs to keep them happy and subservient. It definitely could work!

9. Unraveling duology by Elizabeth Norris

Okay, this could be an interesting one – hear me out… a normal girl, a boy from a parallel dimension, a ruthless agent hot on his heals… It honestly is something I could see working on the big screen.

10. The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna

A film about clones who can replace recently lost family members and all the messy questions and morality it brings up? Yep, definitely would make for an interesting, more cerebral science fiction film. This book was seriously messed up (in a good way!) and I honestly think it would make for a great movie.