32 Fantastical Books for the Savvy Pop Culture Fan

Posted by Hayley on July 18, 2018


You know winter is coming. You don't blink around statues. You're a true believer.

When it comes to escapism, you're an expert. To help you discover your next out-of-this-world read, we rounded up books based off the biggest movie and television adaptations featured at San Diego Comic-Con, the annual comics-turned-everything convention where fans collide with artists, actors, authors, and more.

From the stories to read before they hit the screen to the backstories of your favorite heroes and villains, these are the books to keep you entertained and in the know.


That's Not How It Happened in the Book…
Impress (or irritate) your friends and family with details about what Hollywood changed from each of these beloved stories.










Between a Castle Rock and a Hard Place
Unleash the horrors of Castle Rock, a fictional town where Stephen King set many of his most chilling tales, before the adaptation premieres on Hulu.






Over My Walking Dead Body
Too far gone? Return to better days of the apocalypse with the original comics and the prequel novels about notorious villain The Governor.






Just What the Doctor Who Ordered
Before the 13th Doctor steps into her T.A.R.D.I.S., travel all of space and time with these Time Lord novels, including one from iconic sci-fi legend Douglas Adams.






The Nature of the Fantastic Beasts
Ready to meet young Dumbledore? Prepare yourself for The Crimes of Grindelwald by replacing your Muggle books with a magical tale or two.






It's a Bird! It's a Plane! No, It's…
Have no fear—all the superheroes are here. Save the world again and again with these genetically enhanced (or just really athletic) humans and aliens.










Comments Showing 1-21 of 21 (21 new)

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message 1: by Nathaniel (new)

Nathaniel I don't understand if this is curated, a publisher generated post, if its based on what's being previewed at SDCC? Does GR know that the comic trade paperbacks selected correlate to the forthcoming movies/TV? Same for Fantastic Beasts? Dr. Who? Walking Dead? Ive read from one of the writers of Castle Rock you needn't know anything to watch the series. (If you're a King nerd, you'll pick up on some stuff, but its not necessary.)

Sorry, it just strikes me as the most random collection of stuff, and they took their marching orders from the publishers or just did a series of searches and picked beginning/early volumes?


message 2: by MundiNova (new)

MundiNova How did I miss A Discovery of Witches is becoming a tv series!! It's a ridiculous book series, but maybe the tv show will be the next Outlander? Hopefully the rough edges will be made ... realistic?


message 3: by Nancy (new)

Nancy Nathaniel wrote: "I don't understand if this is curated, a publisher generated post, if its based on what's being previewed at SDCC? Does GR know that the comic trade paperbacks selected correlate to the forthcoming..."

It says in the introductory text of this post: "we rounded up books based off the biggest movie and television adaptations featured at San Diego Comic-Con"


message 4: by David (new)

David I really should try reading some Doctor Who novels.


message 5: by Rosemary (new)

Rosemary David wrote: "I really should try reading some Doctor Who novels."

The novels are pretty fun. Also, if you're interested, try checking out the audio dramas! They get the actors from the show to voice, and the production quality is excellent. :)


message 6: by Celeste (new)

Celeste Nathaniel wrote: "I don't understand if this is curated, a publisher generated post, if its based on what's being previewed at SDCC? Does GR know that the comic trade paperbacks selected correlate to the forthcoming..."

They're from what's going to be at San Diego's Comic Con.


message 7: by Reader453 (new)

Reader453 I plan to check out the Thirteenth Doctor comics from Titan, as well as G Willow Wilson's run on Wonder Woman.


message 8: by Alexandra (last edited Jul 19, 2018 05:58AM) (new)

Alexandra Nathaniel wrote: "Sorry, it just strikes me as the most random collection of stuff, and they took their marching orders from the publishers or just did a series of searches and picked beginning/early volumes? "

I've come to believe that all these sorts of posts by GR are paid advertisement. So, I'd have to go with the "they took their marching orders from the publishers...", no doubt that's how they became books to be "featured at San Diego Comic-Con" as well.

It's definitely all marketing.


message 9: by Amber (new)

Amber your post are ok. Still like Stephen King but am not reading Cujo cuz I'm scared of dogs in real life.


message 10: by Kristen (new)

Kristen Peppercorn I love Good Omens.


message 11: by M. (new)

M. Tempted to reread some Stephen King!


message 12: by Amber (last edited Jul 22, 2018 03:43AM) (new)

Amber @ Nathaniel - It's Amazon they take their marching orders from (the company that owns goodreads.) By curating this collection of pure fandom, they are "increasing" their chances someone will buy something through them.

To be fair, it's a modest list of books with some good suggestions, even if they do seem "cash-grabby" considering only the DC section and the Walking Dead section have anything to do with comics.


message 13: by Kelly (new)

Kelly Martin I have no idea as to what this list was trying to do. It doesn't let young readers see what some of the older series have to offer. It doesn't let people like me know about some new series. It doesn't DO anything.


message 14: by Jonele (new)

Jonele MundiNova wrote: "How did I miss A Discovery of Witches is becoming a tv series!! It's a ridiculous book series, but maybe the tv show will be the next Outlander? Hopefully the rough edges will be made ... realistic?"

Outlander is already a series too.


message 15: by Jonele (new)

Jonele David wrote: "I really should try reading some Doctor Who novels."

I'd seen those, but wasn't sure I would get anything out of them when I'd already watched the tv show. It's like they were made tv and would lose something in book form.


message 16: by Claudia (new)

Claudia I can remember seeing the movie Nightflyers back in the late 1980's with Michael Praed. Maybe I should get around to actually reading the short story....and before the mini-series comes out.


message 17: by Beth Cote (new)

Beth Cote Nathaniel wrote: "I don't understand if this is curated, a publisher generated post, if its based on what's being previewed at SDCC? Does GR know that the comic trade paperbacks selected correlate to the forthcoming..."

Agree!


message 18: by Patricia (new)

Patricia Swenson Talk about bait and switch! The link said Sci-Fi and this is all comic book crap!


message 19: by Lisa (new)

Lisa Nathaniel wrote: "I don't understand if this is curated, a publisher generated post, if its based on what's being previewed at SDCC? Does GR know that the comic trade paperbacks selected correlate to the forthcoming..."

From the intro: we rounded up books based off the biggest movie and television adaptations featured at San Diego Comic-Con...

So yes, it IS based on what was previewed at SDCC.


message 20: by Lisa (new)

Lisa MundiNova wrote: "How did I miss A Discovery of Witches is becoming a tv series!! It's a ridiculous book series, but maybe the tv show will be the next Outlander? Hopefully the rough edges will be made ... realistic?"

I agree that it's a completely ridiculous series. She should have stopped at the first book and I would have been quite happy. I'm sure there are many fans who would be quite happy if it was treated as well as Outlander in production (imho, an equally ridiculous series).


message 21: by Holly (new)

Holly Lisa wrote: "MundiNova wrote: "How did I miss A Discovery of Witches is becoming a tv series!! It's a ridiculous book series, but maybe the tv show will be the next Outlander? Hopefully the rough edges will be ..."
The second book was worse than the first? You deserve some kind of award.....I couldn't even get through the first book; it was annoying and boring at the same time.


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