After what seems like an eternity, HBO's smash hit "Game of Thrones" is finally returning for a new season. Based on the beloved books of George R. R. Martin, this fantasy series has a fanbase of millions. And with such outstanding success on HBO, the time is clearly ripe for other networks and premium channels to take a chance on adapting other iconic fantasy novels for a TV audience. From best-sellers to lesser-known classics, here are the top picks for books that would make for amazing TV.
"Merry Gentry"
Fantasy author Laurell K. Hamilton is beloved by legions of fans for her books about vampire hunter Anita Blake, but the human-vampire-werewolf love triangle is far too familiar to modern TV and film fans. That's why we'd rather see her series of Merry Gentry books adapted for the small screen. Featuring political intrigue set in a faerie kingdom, plenty of supernatural action, and tons of sexy male and female characters, we think that this show would appeal to fans of supernatural romances and political dramas alike.
"The Kingkiller Chronicles"
Based on the books by Patrick Rothfuss, we'd love to see this tale of magic, star-crossed romance, and revenge get a TV adaptation that equals the quality of "Game of Thrones." With a school of magic that makes Hogwarts look like a pre-school and a leading man more compelling than nearly any other in fantasy novel history, we would be overjoyed for Patrick Rothfuss to get exposure to a wider audience.
"Harry Potter"
Yes, everyone knows the Potter books have sold untold numbers of books and already spawned a blockbuster movie franchise, but we don't want re-tellings of Harry's story on TV: We want a prequel. Yeah, there's a temptation to follow the adventures of Harry and Draco's kids at Hogwarts, but for our money, the friendship between Sirius, James, Lily, Remus, and Peter is far more fascinating. How cool would it be to see the creation of the Marauder's Map, or the formation of the Order of the Phoenix? It's a pipe dream, of course, but we can still hope.
"The Old Kingdom"
While "Shade's Children" would make an amazing mini-series, we'd really love to see the Old Kingdom series (aka the Abhorsen Trilogy) get a TV treatment. Featuring necromancy, strong female characters, talking animals, murders, royal intrigues, and sword-weilding librarians, the sweeping epic is one of Nix's best.
