Song of Ice and Fire

[TimLA]

anyone else read the song of ice and fire series by George R.R. Martin? It is the series that Game of Thrones on HBO is based on. As good as the tv series is, I think the books are much better. I have read all 5 that have come out thus far. Book three Storm of Swords is my favorite in the series. The next two seasons will be based on that book. I wont give any spoilers but I will say that some huge things will go down this season.

[Darrell]

I wasn't aware that New Reformed folks were cool with Game of Thrones. I'm pleased to hear it.

[TimLA]

we even have our own beer!

[dramaturge]

I'm about 3/4s of the way through the first one. I find that as much as I enjoy Martin's prose, it's very boggy. I also agree with Martin that his characters were initially far too young. I'm glad he aged them up for the series. I know he also mentioned it gave him problems when he was writing the later books, and I'm rather curious about that. At any rate, I have to skim over the ages because they're a little much. haha. Overall though, despite the bogginess, I do find his prose very beautiful and his characterizations are excellent.

[TimLA]

I worry about how things will play out on TV with the kids. They did age them 2-3 years from the books but even in the last book, Bran is a small boy, the actor playing him sounds like his voice is changing. I guess I just have a mental image of Bran and the other kids that soon the actors and actresses will out grow, long before before the series catches up with the books.

The books do drag at some points but all of that political stuff does come into play with the main story. I had for force myself to read through some of Daenerys' chapters at one point but it all came into play and made for a good read. I also find it amazing how he can take a character like Jamie Lannister, who seems so shallow and cliche at points and turn him into one of the deepest and most interesting characters that I have ever read.