The Best LEGO Sets Based on Books – Part Two

In our previous article, we discussed our favourite LEGO sets based on books, concluding that most of these (bar a few examples) were based on movie interpretations of popular book series. Primary examples include themes such as Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Dune – all franchises where LEGO have obtained the brand rights to produce collectable toys based on the movies adapted from the original books.

With this in mind, we’re now turning our attention to which popular novels and written series would translate well as book-based LEGO models, putting aside film or TV adaptations.

With an increasing amount of classic novelisations falling out of copyright each year, LEGO may see an opportunity to honour old classics and perhaps invest in a few more recent franchises without just being restrained to the conceptual design seen in films.

Treasure Island

By Robert Louis Stevenson

“Fifteen men on the Dead Man’s Chest, yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum! Drink and the devil had done for the rest, yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!”

Treasure Island is a classic novel published in 1883, which provided the blueprint for almost all pirate-themed stories and films. The enduring adventure tale follows young Jim Hawkins on a quest for buried pirate treasure as he navigates a mutiny at the hands of the fearsome Captain Long John Silver and his crew. A mysterious island native also tries to thwart the treasure seekers at numerous turns.

Treasure Island’s impact on popular culture remains profound, shaping the pirate genre and influencing countless literary, film, and television adaptations. Stevenson’s creation of iconic characters, pirate slang, and the concept of a treasure map have become ingrained in the cultural imagination.

One preexisting LEGO theme that closely matches the Caribbean-island aesthetics from Treasure Island is the much-loved LEGO Pirates, which recently saw a new set released to celebrate the retired theme – LEGO Icons Eldorado Fortress 10320.

LEGO could easily repurpose minifigures and brick elements from previous sets if it wanted to produce a one-off model based on Treasure Island. Check out the fantastic MOC-138516 Medieval Treasure Island by Dream Build Bricks to the left in the image above, which feels very close to the island in the book. Pirates of Barracuda Bay 21322 (seen to the right) is also the spitting image of the boat used by the treasure seekers.

Redwall (series)

By Brian Jacques

“Who knows, my friend? Maybe the sword does have some magic. Personally, I think it’s the warrior who wields it.”

The Redwall series is a collection of fantasy novels set in a medieval world inhabited by anthropomorphic animals. The first novel, Redwall, was published in 1986, and the series would eventually continue through the 90s and 2000s, spanning twenty-two books.

The Redwall series is especially popular with young readers, who continue to be enchanted by its memorable characters and timeless tales of good versus evil in an animal-based world. Centred around the peaceful Redwall Abbey, the stories feature epic battles between noble creatures and malevolent vermin, led by iconic characters like Matthias, Mariel, and the warrior badger, Lord Brocktree. The series also introduces terrifying villains, such as the first book’s evil one-eyed rat, Cluny the Scourge.

Numerous locations and characters would lend themselves to a LEGO brick model, including the titular abbey itself. Check out this YouTube video from Brick World Museum, who built the abbey themselves as a MOC, giving an epic indication of what a licensed LEGO set could look like.

Pride and Prejudice

By Jane Austen

“When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.”

If we had to select one Regency-era novel, it would be this. Still, we could just as easily choose other classic Regency romance novels by groundbreaking authors such as Charlotte Brontë.

The novel explores themes of love, class, and societal expectations through the lens of several main characters, including the independently-minded Elizabeth Bennet and the reserved Mr Darcy. Jane Austen’s witty prose and keen social commentary highlight the challenges faced by women in the patriarchal society of the time, and the story boasts enduring appeal and relevancy, as proved by the sheer number of TV and film adaptations made.

With its numerous classic scenes in rich settings such as palatial manors and dancehalls, Pride and Prejudice offers the perfect material for inspiring a LEGO diorama set. Perhaps LEGO could eventually consider a series of brick dioramas based on similar vintage classics, such as Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace and Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables.

Goosebumps (series)

By R.L. Stine

“Get off of me, you plastic parasite!”

The Goosebumps books (and TV show) remain classics for kids who grew up in the 90s, and a new reboot recently surfaced on Netflix, bringing the wacky horror series back into focus.

R.L. Stine’s book series comprises over two hundred books, offering a definitive collection of spine-chilling tales for young readers and plenty of classic moments that LEGO could recreate as brick releases. Each book features suspenseful plots that usually involve some kind of supernatural element in the form of ghosts, monsters, or cursed objects. The protagonists, typically children or teenagers, find themselves forced to unravel the mysteries behind the paranormal occurrences to terrifying effect.

Thanks to its blend of horror and humour, Goosebumps remains a beloved horror book series, continuing to haunt new generations with its imaginative storytelling. We would love to see iconic characters such as Slappy the Dummy, the Mummy, the Pumpkin Heads and the Lawn Gnomes appear in any LEGO models released in future.

In this YouTube video from LEGO Adventures, AI is used to speculate what Goosebumps LEGO box art and sets might look like based on specific novels. It’s certainly an exciting concept that leads us to wonder how AI could be used to imagine other books we want to see as LEGO releases…

These are just a few of our favourite book-to-LEGO ideas, and we’d love to hear which book-based sets you would choose – let us know in the comments!