There will always be debate over books vs. movies. I am a big fan of sci-fi books as they are larger than life, and they encourage me to imagine beyond any regular book or movie, so their adaptations to the big screen truly excite me. Your imagination and excitement also scale up from the page to the big screen.
Popular movies might be worth a thousand words, but these movies owe their existence to some of the finest sci-fi books out there. So, here’s a list of the 10 best sci-fi books to movie/series adaptations you will enjoy!
#1 Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick
About the book
Title: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Author: Philip K. Dick
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Pages:258
Goodreads Rating: 4.09/5
Rick Deckard had a license to kill. Somewhere among the hordes of humans out there lurked several rogue androids. Deckard’s assignment—find them and then… “retire” them. The trouble was that the androids all looked exactly like humans and didn’t want to be found. The Blade Runner series is a very popular franchise that has its roots in the fantastic books of Philip K. Dick.
Why do we recommend this book?
If you have watched Blade Runner and are a huge fan, this book and the series are highly recommended.
To buy Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick now:
#2 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke
About the book
Title: 2001: A Space Odyssey
Author: Arthur C. Clarke
Publisher: Roc
Pages: 297
Goodreads Rating: 4.16/5
A classic science fiction novel from the savannas of Africa at the dawn of humanity to the rings of Saturn as man ventures to the outer rim of our solar system, 2001: A Space Odyssey is a journey unlike any other.
This allegory about humanity’s exploration of the universe—and the universe’s reaction to humanity—is a hallmark achievement in storytelling that follows the crew of the spacecraft Discovery as they embark on a mission to Saturn. Their vessel is controlled by HAL 9000, an artificially intelligent supercomputer capable of the highest level of cognitive functioning that rivals—and perhaps threatens—the human mind.
Why do we recommend this book?
This book, with a great idea, is a classic. If you have watched the Space Odyssey movies and want to explore more about this universe, you must read this book and, of course, the entire series.
To buy 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke now:
#3 Dune by Frank Herbert
About the book
Title: Dune
Author: Frank Herbert
Publisher: Ace Books
Pages: 658
Goodreads Rating: 4.25/5
Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of a boy named Paul Atreides, heir to a noble family tasked with ruling a bleak world where the only thing of value is the “spice” melange, a drug capable of extending life and enhancing consciousness. Coveted across the known universe, melange is a prize worth killing for.
When House Atreides is betrayed, the destruction of Paul’s family will set the boy on a journey toward a destiny greater than he could ever have imagined. And as he evolves into the mysterious man known as Muad’Dib, he will bring humankind’s most ancient and unattainable dream to fruition.
Why do we recommend this book?
An amazing masterpiece of the science fiction genre, it presents complex philosophical ideas and explores ecological issues, cultural identity, and differences. It also explores major themes represented by religion and religious leadership.
To buy Dune by Frank Herbert now:
#4 Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
Michael Crichton
About the book
Title: Jurassic Park
Author: Michael Crichton
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Pages: 466
Goodreads Rating: 4.08/5
An astonishing technique for recovering and cloning dinosaur DNA has been discovered. Now humankind’s most thrilling fantasies have come true. Creatures extinct for aeons roam Jurassic Park with their awesome presence and profound mystery, and all the world can visit them—until something goes wrong. In Jurassic Park, Michael Crichton taps all his mesmerising talent and scientific brilliance to create his most electrifying technothriller.
Why do we recommend this book?
You can’t miss Jurassic Park when we talk about sci-fi books to movie adaptations. This book is the king of speculative sci-fi, of nature and science, and if you haven’t read it, you must.
To buy Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton now:
#5 Leila by Prayaag Akbar
About the book
Title: Leila
Author: Prayaag Akbar
Publisher: Simon & Schuster India
Pages: 207
Goodreads Rating: 3.64/5
In a digitised city, sometime shortly, as an obsession with purity escalates, walls come up, dividing and confining communities. Behind the walls, high civic order prevails. In the forgotten spaces between, where garbage gathers and disease festers, Shalini must search for Leila, the daughter she lost one tragic summer sixteen years ago. Skirting surveillance systems and thuggish Repeaters, Shalini—once wealthy, with perhaps a wayward past; now a misfit, pushed to the margins—is propelled only by her search.
What follows is a story of longing, faith, and, most of all, loss. With its unflinching gaze on class, privilege, the choices that today confront us, and its startling, almost prophetic vision of the world, Leila announces Prayaag Akbar as a remarkable new voice in Indian fiction.
Why do we recommend this book?
This novel will be with you even after you finish reading it. This book will introduce you to a very unsettling future that seems possible and shows you how you got to that future.
To buy Leila by Prayaag Akbar now:
#6 Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulle
Pierre Boulle
About the book
Title: Planet of the Apes
Author: Pierre Boulle
Publisher: Del Rey
Pages: 276
Goodreads Rating: 3.97/5
Pierre Boulle’s chilling novel launched one of the greatest science fiction sagas in motion picture history. In the not-too-distant future, three astronauts land on what appears to be a planet just like Earth, with lush forests, a temperate climate, and breathable air.
But while it appears to be a paradise, nothing is what it seems. They soon discover the terrifying truth: In this world, humans are savage beasts, and apes rule as their civilised masters. In an ironic novel of nonstop action and breathless intrigue, one man struggles to unlock the secret of a terrifying civilisation while wondering: Will he become the saviour of the human race or the final witness to its damnation?
Why do we recommend this book?
Pierre Boulle has woven a tale as harrowing, bizarre, and meaningful as any in the brilliant roster of this master storyteller, and his customary wit, irony, disciplined intellect, and style make a moving story.
To buy Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulle now:
#7 The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
About the book
Title: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Del Rey
Pages: 374
Goodreads Rating: 4.32/5
Could you survive in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don’t live to see the morning? Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister’s place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before, and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But to win, she must start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.
Why do we recommend this book?
I’m sorry to all the movie lovers; the book was 100% better than the film. The books can sometimes be pretty dark, emotional and disturbing, with themes of murder and extreme violence, making it a brilliant series.
To buy The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins now:
#8 The Iron Giant by Ted Hughes
About the book
Title: The Iron Giant
Author: Ted Hughes
Publisher: Yearling
Pages: 96
Goodreads Rating: 3.90/5
An iron giant saves the world in this contemporary classic. A mysterious creature stalks the land, eating barbed wire and devouring tractors and ploughs. The farmers are mystified—and terrified. And then they glimpse him in the night: the Iron Giant, taller than a house, with glowing headlight eyes and an insatiable taste for metal.
The hungry giant must be stopped at any cost. Only a young boy named Hogarth is brave enough to lead the Iron Giant to a safe home. And only Hogarth knows where to turn when a space bat as big as Australia, hungry for every living thing on Earth, darkens the sky.
Why do we recommend this book?
This book speaks to all ages; the story is gripping and will automatically compel you to read it aloud. The iron giant is an excellent character. It is an easy read and highly recommended.
To buy The Iron Giant by Ted Hughes now:
#9 The Martian by Andy Weir
About the book
Title: The Martian
Author: Andy Weir
Publisher: Crown
Pages: 384
Goodreads Rating: 4.41/5
Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first to walk on Mars. Now, he’s sure he’ll be the first person to die there. After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—and even if he could get the word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive. Chances are, though, he won’t have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old “human error” will likely kill him first.
But Mark isn’t ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, engineering skills—and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit—he confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?
Why do we recommend this book?
This book has created a realistic character and a hard science fiction novel about a man stranded on Mars and trying not to die. Although the theme is serious, you will find a lot of humor in the story, and I highly recommend this book.
To buy The Martian by Andy Weir now:
#10 World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks
About the book
Title: World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War
Author: Max Brooks
Publisher: Crown
Pages: 342
Goodreads Rating: 4.02/5
The Zombie War came unthinkably close to eradicating humanity. Max Brooks, driven by the urgency of preserving the acid-etched first-hand experiences of the survivors from those apocalyptic years, travelled across the United States of America and throughout the world, from decimated cities that once teemed with upwards of thirty million souls to the most remote and inhospitable areas of the planet. He recorded the testimony of men, women, and sometimes children who came face-to-face with the living, or at least the undead, a hell of that dreadful time. World War Z is the result.
Why do we recommend this book?
This amazing book provides an extraordinarily detailed and realistic portrayal of a world struggling to recover from a devastating zombie pandemic; combining it with a traditional oral history of a real-world war is a stroke of genius.
To buy World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks now:
Concluding, I have to say that reading science fiction is an imaging and fantastic journey. Add us to your reading journey and tell us your favourite sci-fi movie or series adaptations of books.
| 1 | Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick | Buy now |
| 2 | 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke | Buy now |
| 3 | Dune by Frank Herbert | Buy now |
| 4 | Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton | Buy now |
| 5 | Leila by Prayaag Akbar | Buy now |
| 6 | Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulle | Buy now |
| 7 | The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins | Buy now |
| 8 | The Iron Giant by Ted Hughes | Buy now |
| 9 | The Martian by Andy Weir | Buy now |
| 10 | World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks | Buy now |
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