George R.R. Martin Reveals Books He Wants to See Adapted Most
'Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser' by Fritz Leiber
Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser – Keith Parkinson #fantasyart #dndartist pic.twitter.com/T4qPjIMQca
— Hawklorddragon (@cimerians) October 11, 2022
Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser are a fantasy duo created by author Fritz Leiber, appearing in stories from 1970 to 1988. It's no surprise that Martin loves this pair, as they share some stylistic aspects in common with Martin's own work. Having grown up reading fantasy stories like Tarzan and Conan the Barbarian, Leiber once wrote that he intended his own heroes to be closer to true human nature than legend.
The stories are set in a brutal secondary fantasy world. Fafhrd is a barbarian from the north – a massive warrior with a big heart who loves to sing and wax poetic. the Mouser is smaller and more a rogue, as well as an under-trained magician. Throughout the stories, they travel throughout the world taking work as mercenaries wherever they can find it.
'Conan the Barbarian' by Robert E. Howard
Conan the Barbarian has already made it to the screen a couple of times, but there is always more that could be done with this character. He was created by Robert E. Howard, and in his book Dreamsongs, Martin holds him up as the biggest example of "Heroic Fantasy" rather than "Epic Fantasy." Back in June, Martin wrote that he specifically wants "someone to film that Conan pilot that Ryan Condal wrote."
'Dying Earth' by Jack Vance
So after the wonderful goodness that is Lankhmar and also reading through the fantastic PDFs of Dying Earth, I will take no umbrage from declaring that @GoodmanGames should be the one to bring forth the next TTRPG iteration of Michael Moorcock’s Elric. pic.twitter.com/RVnAklq2PH
— OrcusSPOOKUS | Not going to eat my kids candy🤞🏻 (@HailOrcusdorkus) October 6, 2022
Dying Earth is a loosely-connected series by Jack Vance, published sporadically between 1950 and 1984. It is often held up as an example of how fantasy and science fiction can be combined – these stories are set in the distant future when the sun has nearly burned out. Something about this celestial confusion has given rise to magic like never before, and the post-apocalyptic civilizations of earth are gripped by religious fanaticism.
'Nine Princes in Amber' by Roger Zelazny
Just re-read the first Chronicles of Amber for the first time in decades. Amazing and essential S&W but also Zelazny's most down-to-earth work. In real way, his sorcerous paean to Hemingway. A more percipient look at axiomatic Law vs. Chaos than Moorcock ever achieved, IMO. pic.twitter.com/hbd5uZmqGr
— atanamar sunyata Ⓥ (@AtanamarSunyata) October 7, 2022
Martin called out Zelazny's Chronicles of Amber in both of his blog posts on this topic. This week, he wrote: "Most of all, I want Roger Zelazny's NINE PRINCES IN AMBER. I will never understand why Corwin and his siblings are not starring in their own show. And hey, if epic fantasy continues to do well, maybe we will finally get that. A boy can dream."
Nine Princes in Amber was published in 1970 and is the first book in a series of 10. It is a heady, existential story that begins in a version of our real world, but quickly draws that setting into a broader multiverse. If Martin can exert his influence as an executive producer, we just might get to see this story on TV someday.
'Jirel of Joiry' by C.L. Moore
That's a very male list but that doesn't mean I would not LOVE new Jirel of Joiry stories, the first sword and sorcery heroine (created while Howard was still writing Conan stories).
— Patch the Freebooter (@PatrickZircher) October 5, 2022
I think she's a great subject for an anthology. pic.twitter.com/kVpzkNcZ62
C.L. Moore's Jirel of Joiry is another nod to the days when the fantasy genre thrived in the form of short stories, published in magazines. This character appeared in five stories between 1934 and 1939, though Martin likely encountered them in the collected edition published later in 1969. Jirel is the ruler of a kingdom somewhere in France in a distant past, and she finds herself investigating and combatting the supernatural forces that threaten her realm.
'Memory, Sorrow and Thorn' by Tad Williams
I mentioned Tad Williams before. ASOIAF is essentially a clone of Williams’ earlier series Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn. MST does what ASOIAF attempted in a way that isn’t evil, and therefore completed and satisfying. I recommend it if you have the time and interest. pic.twitter.com/6XOjQ34Ron
— Conan the Graverobber 🪦 (@conan_esq) November 21, 2021
Many of Martin's mega-fans have also read Tad Williams' Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series because it has been named as a major influence on Martin so often. The series is written in a similar style to A Song of Ice and Fire – using many point-of-view characters to tell a broad story. However, Williams is a contemporary of Martin's, and this series began only a few short years before A Game of Thrones was published. It just wrapped up in 2017, and so far there is no word of a licensing deal or adaptation in the works.
Joe Abercrombie
Logen Ninefingers, a character from The First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie (@LordGrimdark)
— Jan Sidoryk (@Ironeyes95) July 18, 2021
I had this fanart on my drive for years now and finished it today.#grimdark #thefirstlaw pic.twitter.com/OyCKgLmFq8
Martin mentioned that he wants to see adaptations of work by author Joe Abercrombie, which could refer to Abercrombie's First Law trilogy (2006 to 2008) or his Age of Madness trilogy (2019 to 2021). Abercrombie has also published three stand-alone novels. Whatever the case, Martin clearly isn't alone in wishing for this TV adaptation.
Patrick Rothfuss
i don’t talk a lot about it but the kingkiller chronicles is an all time favorite series and kvothe means the world to me. the scene where he plays music for a crowd for the first time after Years… i’ve never read a more accurate description of how performing feels pic.twitter.com/nlZDsyz2zo
— teddy de lioncourt 🦇 iwtv spoilers (@fangedfiend) October 7, 2022
Martin also named author Patrick Rothfuss without specifying which book he wanted to see adapted. Most likely, he was referring to Rothfuss' Kingkiller Chronicle series, a collection of two novels with a third on the way. Rothfuss and Martin are often compared to one another since Rothfuss has been promising the third installment of The Kingkiller Chronicle since 2011. In the meantime, he was written other works and has added two short stories and two novellas to this series.
'Earthsea' by Ursula K. LeGuin
A Wizard of Earthsea – Ursula K. Le Guin pic.twitter.com/vBJ8C6tamy
— Mythic Maps (@mythicmaps) October 4, 2022
In his blog post, Martin wrote: "I want a good adaptation of LeGuin's Earthsea books." That's because LeGuin's Earthsea Cycle has actually been adapted to the screen twice before. In 2004, The Sci Fi Channel aired a miniseries adaptation of the first book that was not well received by fans. In 2006, Studio Ghibli released an animated film loosely based on LeGuin's fictional world as well. This was not much of an adaptation either, leaving fans hungry for more.
In 2018, producer Jennifer Fox acquired the rights to adapt Earthsea, and in 2019 she partnered with A24 to make it into a TV show. There has been no news on that project since, but hopefully, Martin and other fans will get their way eventually.
Alan Garner
The Wizard of Alderley Edge – the old legend tells of sleeping warriors beneath the earth who will wake & save England in a time of danger.
— AlmanackTweets (@AlmanackTweets) June 10, 2021
Author Alan Garner wove the tale into his fantasy novels The Moon of Gomrath & others #folklorethursday pic.twitter.com/bgHSLdo7Y2
Again, Martin mentioned author Alan Garner without calling out a specific book, and there are many to choose from. Garner is best known for writing children's fantasy books, but he also wrote many "low fantasy" books for a more mature audience. His books were adapted into radio plays in the 1960s and 1970s, and later into some TV shows and episodes. However, Martin clearly wants to see them get the more grandiose prestige TV treatment.
Robin Hobb
Just finished reading my 19th and possibly final Robin Hobb novel (16 in the Realm of the Elderlings series) and now I have to continue with my life apparently. How have these books not made their way to the screen??? pic.twitter.com/g8psF7sfIj
— Lyndal Simpson (@Ms_L_Simpson) October 10, 2022
Finally, author Robin Hobb is another contemporary of Martin, and the two have appeared at some public events together. Hobb has a long bibliography, but her fantasy series Realm of the Elderlings is the one most often compared with Martin's work. That includes numerous series set in a rich secondary fantasy world. There has been no public news of an adaptation of Hobb's work, but many fans are hopeful that it is coming.