I recently shared an article discussing books that had been turned into movies. While many books have been turned into movies, there’s another medium that they’ve also been popularly adapted into, and that’s television. With the introduction of streaming services, there has been an abundance of TV being made, and in some cases, television can be a better format for adapting denser books or book series into film. Here are just a few popular books that have been adapted into television series.
Game of Thrones
Based on the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin, Game of Thrones was quite the phenomenon, becoming one of the most popular television shows of all time during its run. The show is known for its various characters and storylines, such as the infamous Red Wedding episode. Readers of the books may have gotten an edge over those who watched the earlier seasons, but by the end of the show, the show had already started to veer away from the source material.
Poldark
“Poldark,” which is a television show produced by PBS, is based on Winston Graham’s book series. The series had an adaptation that ran for two seasons in the 1970s and has since been reimagined for new audiences in 2015. The story follows Ross Poldark, an American Revolution veteran, as he returns home to England after the war. Things aren’t the way he left them when he returns home though. In the fifth season of the current run of “Poldark,” the writers decided to introduce an original plot that differed from the book series by Graham.
Outlander
Based on Diana Gabaldon’s book series, “Outlander,” which is produced by Starz, follows a WWII combat nurse who is sent back in time to 1743 Scotland. She must face her own mortality as she tries to protect her life while navigating through time travel. This becomes an even more difficult task when she realizes she’s in love with two different men – one from her time, and one from the past to which she has been sent back.
The Queen’s Gambit
Based on the Walter Tevis book series, “The Queen’s Gambit” follows the story of Beth Harmon, an orphan chess player who eventually becomes a US champion. The book and the limited series examine the cost of greatness, as she continues to improve and develop her abilities as a chess player. The show became an instant success on Netflix, and the company even claimed that it was their biggest limited series yet.
Killing Eve
The television show “Killing Eve,” which is based on the novellas by Luke Jennings, follows the story of Eve, a disenchanted M15 officer who is tasked with tracking down Villanelle, an unpredictable and elusive assassin. Throughout the story, the two become obsessed with each other while playing an addictive game of cat and mouse.