The Best Sci-Fi TV Shows that Are Actually Based on Books

sci-fi

Many bookworms claim that it is absolutely impossible to find a movie based on a book that’s better than the book itself. Nonetheless, the sci-fi TV series we are about to share surely is as good as the books they are based on. We are certain that those who enjoy watching such a genre have seen at least two of these shows.

Top-Rated Sci-Fi TV Series Based on Books

We have picked relatively new titles, so you shouldn’t have problems finding them online. Make sure you read our post until the end to find out which are the sci-fi books that will soon be turned into movies. Before we provide you with our thorough list, we would like to share a few streaming platforms where you can see the TV shows:

  • Netflix
  • HBO Max
  • Hulu
  • Peacock
  • Apple TV

The Society

We believe there isn’t a person who hasn’t heard of the book Lord of the Flies by the brilliant William Golding. Although the TV series The Society carries a different name, its plot is actually inspired by this masterpiece. The Netflix production aired on May 19, 2019. The plot follows the story of several high school students who should learn to survive on their own after the rest of the people mysteriously disappear from the town. Even though the show received positive feedback, it, unfortunately, got canceled after the release of its first season.

Altered Carbon

The TV series Altered Carbon is based on the book of the same name written by the author Richard K. Morgan. The action takes place in the future, and more precisely, in the year 2384. In this abnormal world, people’s memories are stored on special devices that are implanted into people’s necks. Society is divided into several social classes, and the wealthiest are known as Meths.

In the pilot episode of the series, a soldier is given the mission to solve a murder. If he succeeds, his entire life will change for the better. The first season premiered on Netflix in 2018, and two years later, the second season premiered, as well. Sadly, similar to the case of The Society, the show got canceled after season two.

Foundation

The very first episode of Foundation aired on September 24, 2021. The sci-fi TV show was created for Apple TV and is based on the book series by Isaac Asimov. The first Foundation book was published between the period of 1942 and 1950 in the form of short stories. Set in the future, the plot follows the story of a mathematician who is determined to succeed in his endeavor of developing an extraordinary theory that will predict the future of mankind.

Brave New World

The dystopian sci-fi novel named Brave New World was published back in 1932. Aldous Huxley, the author of the book, thanks to his brilliant imagination, has created a futuristic world where everyone is excited to become a witness to as many modern innovations as possible. Everyone but one – the main protagonist. The book is considered one of the best ones of its genre.

The TV series with the same name aired on July 15, 2020, on Peacock. The overall number of episodes that got released equals nine due to the fact that the show got canceled after only one season. That’s quite unfortunate because the show received mostly positive reviews.

The Handmaid’s Tale

It would be a shame to miss the spectacular TV show The Handmaid’s Tale. The dystopian series is based on a book of the same name written by Margaret Atwood. The TV show did so great that the book became even more popular after its release. The show aired on Hulu in 2016, and it portrays a world where women are crushed by the leaders.

The Handmaids are females from the lower classes that are used for carrying wealthy people’s children. They engage in a so-called ritualized rape that takes place in the respective family’s homes. The wives of the men that perform the activities are completely aware of this operation, and they are even obliged to be present in the room during the process.

In 2019, the show was positioned 25th in The Guardian’s ranking for the 100 Best TV shows for 2021. Experts describe the show as brutal, visually brilliant, and phenomenal. On September 22, 2022, it is expected for the first episode of season five to air on Hulu.

Sci-Fi Books to Soon Be Adapted into Movies

Fans of the genre are probably excited to find out more about the upcoming books-based sci-fi TV shows that will be released on some of the most popular streaming services. The list is not short, but the most anticipated titles are surely The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Autonomous, Station Eleven, and Snow Crash.