Official thread for 'Game Of Thrones'

[Ele'ill]

George R. R. Martin's A Song Of Ice And Fire book series tv adaptation (HBO),

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[Meridian]

I like GRRM's sentence, "Ned Stark is the... center, of the series." ;)

I think it looks to be a good series, most characters resemble somewhat the way I pictured them.

[Ele'ill]

I wonder how they're going to approach the dire wolves and dragons.

[Elfcat]

Waiting patiently. BTW, speaking of HBO, any fans of Boardwalk Empire here? Certainly a pretty vivid example of unbridled capitalism's response to prohibition.

[bcbm]

this looks fucking sick. i love hbo, i am watching "rome" right now

[Meridian]

New official teaser video titled 'Invitation To Westeros'.
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In my opinion this was the most exciting video they've released so far, I am really enthusiastic now.

[Ele'ill]

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[bcbm]

watching the first two episodes a week from now at a friend's... pumped. going to get some mulled wine and ale:lol:

[PhoenixAsh]

They have an RPG for it. I have the...I think...sadly...only book.

[Ele'ill]

First 15 minutes free- here-

http://www.hbo.com/video/video.html/?autoplay=true&vid=1170886&filter=game-of-thrones&view=null

[DDR]

Awsome show, at least the pilot, let's see how it continues. I should read the books, are they any good?

Speaking with a friend of mine, he told me a funny thing: Sean Bean's tends to play awsome characters, it's a pitty that most of them are short-lived :laugh:

[Meridian]

Awsome show, at least the pilot, let's see how it continues. I should read the books, are they any good?

Speaking with a friend of mine, he told me a funny thing: Sean Bean's tends to play awsome characters, it's a pitty that most of them are short-lived :laugh:
Yes, the books are good. Even though the series is looking good, the books are really worth checking out.

[bcbm]

yeah the books are awesome, i read the entire series in like... a month...

[DDR]

So I'll get the first one and I'll see.

[Tablo]

The premier was great. I really felt it stayed true to the book while still standing on its own in a new medium. Can't wait for the next episode!! :D

[~Spectre]

I've never read the books, but I liked the first episode. A lot of subtle story telling that eases in the information dumps.

For example, the horse guy only knowing one word of english, "no". Implying that he's that fucking badass that all he ever hears is his enemies crying out "no!!".

The visuals were great too.

Can't wait for the next episode, though I already find myself wanting the Queen's family to die in a grease fire -with the exception of the midget. He's cool.

[Meridian]

For example, the horse guy only knowing one word of english, "no". Implying that he's that fucking badass that all he ever hears is his enemies crying out "no!!".
Indeed, except that they are not really speaking English, they are speaking what is known as 'The Common Tongue'. Which, of course, is presented as English in the books and television series. Khal Drogo speaks the Dothraki language natively.

I agree though, I am looking forward to the next episode now!

[praxis1966]

Yeah, I gotta say I loved the shit out of the premiere as well. Now I just gotta figure out a way to hornswoggle it without getting caught... I got a DMCA notice from my ISP for doing that shit with Bordwalk Empire. Of course, that probably had more to do with the fact that I seeded a couple of the episodes than anything else, lol.

[Terminator X]

Nice and uplifting episode this week. /sarcasm

I hate the Lannisters. Except Tyrion, who is threatening to steal the show this season, IMO.

[~Spectre]

Nice and uplifting episode this week. /sarcasm

It's funny cuz some monarchies still exist. =\

It'll be interesting to see what the kid is able to remember next episode. Also one starts to ponder Geopolitics. Between Ed and Ben Stark, how many soldiers do they command should they decide to launch a coup?




I hate the Lannisters.

Particularly the queen. Her regular sized brother/lover is at least funny and his motivation is clear cold blooded self-interest. The queen just seems like a sociopath.




Except Tyrion, who is threatening to steal the show this season, IMO.

Indeed. He has the best lines, and the script actually seems to concede that fact, what with the bit where he's talking to the Jon Snow and says how he has to be witty to compensate for being a dwarf.

[Terminator X]

Indeed. He has the best lines, and the script actually seems to concede that fact, what with the bit where he's talking to the Jon Snow and says how he has to be witty to compensate for being a dwarf.

I especially enjoyed that scene. I could see the wheels turning inside Jon Snow's head throughout that entire explanation of why Tyrion reads books, trying to wrap his brain around Tyrion's words, basically wanting to shout "I'm sorry I asked." :)

I'm also looking forward to Bran's awakening. He could make life very interesting between the Lannisters and Starks.

Also, I haven't read the books, but I'm competely uninterested in the Targaryens so far, and couldn't give a toss about the relationship between Daenerys and Drogo. I find that entire dynamic completely boring and the Targaryens insufferable. I'm guessing it picks up as we go, though.

[Meridian]

Also, I haven't read the books, but I'm competely uninterested in the Targaryens so far, and couldn't give a toss about the relationship between Daenerys and Drogo. I find that entire dynamic completely boring and the Targaryens insufferable. I'm guessing it picks up as we go, though.

I remember feeling that way when reading the first book as well. It does get more interesting. But my favorite storyline was always that of Jon Snow (and the Greyjoys, but those won't pop up until later).

[PhoenixAsh]

I have just remembered what bothered me about the first chapters in the first book....the complete and utter naivity of the Starks, Its a freaking wonder how they even managed to survive for so long....

God...how irritating.

I managed to put that aside though as the character development in the books is quite good and eventually started to completely make up for that.

I hope this also happens as the series develops, but seeing as it is quite good at following the books so far I think this will be alright.

Casting is great. Especially the "imp". I love that actors portrayal...and I can not wait to see it develop.

[praxis1966]

Casting is great. Especially the "imp". I love that actors portrayal...and I can not wait to see it develop.

Word. I've been following his [Peter Dinklage] career for some time now. Check out The Station Agent and the original (UK) version of Death at a Funeral if you haven't yet seen them. He's quite good in both of those.

[bcbm]

Also, I haven't read the books, but I'm competely uninterested in the Targaryens so far, and couldn't give a toss about the relationship between Daenerys and Drogo. I find that entire dynamic completely boring and the Targaryens insufferable. I'm guessing it picks up as we go, though.

yeah, just wait... trust me

[PhoenixAsh]

Word. I've been following his [Peter Dinklage] career for some time now. Check out The Station Agent and the original (UK) version of Death at a Funeral if you haven't yet seen them. He's quite good in both of those.

I think I will. thanks for the tips!

[~Spectre]

Well that was certainly an "OH SNAP" moment to end the episode.

[Terminator X]

Free Tyrion! :cool:

[~Spectre]

Small prediction *note I haven't read the books, so if you have then I may be horribly wrong*


King Robert keeps on being a moron and tries to have Khal's wife assassinated. It fails, but it results in losing her pregnancy, which engrages Khal and gets the Dothraki to launch an invasion.

[Aspiring Humanist]

Sean Bean is a fantastic pick for the role...the books were less than what I expected but they were entertaining. Hopefully this will give Martin motivation to pump out those books faster than one every five years

[Terminator X]

Kick-ass episode tonight. Blood factor was definitely cranked up.

I love Ned, but I have to disagree with his decision to walk off like that. Yes, I understand he's an honorable man, but his actions are definitely going to cause a huge fuckarow (and they already have, actually, as he now has a sword wound in his leg as a result).

And I hate Jaime Lannister even more now, if that's possible.

[~Spectre]

Ned wanted to leave early, but littlefinger convinced him to stay. Convenient.

[Sasha]

this is an fucking excelent series, thanx for alerting me to this guys (&gals). just finished episode 3 and since its a quarter to 4 i should go to sleep but i think i'll watch just one more..... how much are we willing to bet i'll end up watching them all 7 tonight?

[brigadista]

am I alone in finding sansa really irritating?

[bcbm]

she's supposed to be i think

[Das war einmal]

Best series I have seen in ages.

[Sasha]

downloading no 9 as we speak, now i have catched up i need to wait every time a whole week, this sucks....

[Terminator X]

Psycho, there's only one episode left in this season, so you won't have to wait too long for the conclusion.

I really hope season 2 starts up soon, anyone know how long filming is expected to take? I heard that they will be combining books 2 and 3 into one season (season 2) as well.

Regardless, this is hands down the best show on TV, IMO.

[Das war einmal]

Here's a preview of the next episode N2VDXgUInl4

Yeah beat Prince Charming's ass mylady!

[Makhnovist]

My favourite character, Petyr Baelish (Littlefinger) hasn't been the focus of the last 2 episodes. I am sad. :(

Also needs more Hodor.

[Terminator X]

Also needs more Hodor.

With all due respect, I saw a little bit too much of Hodor in the last episode. :D

[Janus]

I really hope season 2 starts up soon, anyone know how long filming is expected to take? The season 2 cast auditions only started last month so filming probably won't be completed until late this winter. According to this HBO interview (http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/04/19/game-of-thrones-season-two-2/), it'll premiere same time next year.


I heard that they will be combining books 2 and 3 into one season (season 2) as well. Where did you hear this? According to the same interview, season 2 is only projected to have 10 episodes so I don't see how they'll squeeze 2 of the longest books in the series into it. I think they'll have trouble just fitting Clash of Kings (book 2) into one season much less Storm of Swords. Besides, given Martin's long writing hiatuses, HBO's producers are more likely to lengthen the series so as to avoid future long breaks in filming which tend to devastate viewer ratings.

[Sasha]

qYNeT2nzEgA

[Terminator X]

Where did you hear this? According to the same interview, season 2 is only projected to have 10 episodes so I don't see how they'll squeeze 2 of the longest books in the series into it. I think they'll have trouble just fitting Clash of Kings (book 2) into one season much less Storm of Swords. Besides, given Martin's long writing hiatuses, HBO's producers are more likely to lengthen the series so as to avoid future long breaks in filming which tend to devastate viewer ratings.

I apologize, I mixed up the schedules. The plan was actually to spend 2 seasons on each book, thus buying more time for Martin to complete the rest of the series. However, it now appears that only book 3 will get the two-season treatment.

[praxis1966]

qYNeT2nzEgA

^My favorite scene of the whole series thus far. The only thing that would have improved it is if he'd put some baby powder on his hand first a la the Mike Epps character in How High.

[Janus]

I apologize, I mixed up the schedules. The plan was actually to spend 2 seasons on each book, thus buying more time for Martin to complete the rest of the series. However, it now appears that only book 3 will get the two-season treatment. No need for apologies, I was just curious as to your source.:) According to this article (http://blastr.com/2011/01/why-hbos-game-of-thrones.php), the "plan" you're referring to is merely Martin's vision for the series, which has yet to be confirmed by HBO. Of course, all writers tend to be extremely optimistic in such matters but IMO Martin's plan to create 7 seasons out of the first 5 books (to say nothing of the last 2 books which will probably be even longer) is too ambitious.

I doubt HBO will approve this plan due to the future costs (they've spent ~$50-60 million on the 1st season alone) and time involved. The longest running HBO show so far (Sopranos) only broadcasted for 6 seasons despite garnering a viewership of 8.5 million during the last season and ~8 million over the course of the entire show so I don't think HBO will risk dragging out this series unless the ratings rise drastically next season. While the HBO managers have been more patient compared to some other networks (NBC & ABC come to mind) with regard to new series, this is really where the fanbase factor comes in so I would recommend all Song of Ice and Fire fans to support/promote the show and get the word out.

[brigadista]

I'm loving Danaerys and I don't usually like this sort of thing .I haven't read the books but the series is good so far.

[Sasha]

almost finished with reading the second book, very curious to how they are going to deal with the increase of fantasy elements (dragons, giants etc) and the gigantic battle scenes in the second season.
HBO will need to dig deep into its pockets... luckily their pockets are pretty deep i heard.


on a related note, apparently the next big fantasy project for HBO is going to be an adaptation of neil gaimans "american gods", he is even busy writing an second book because of this! if this is well done it could become even more awesome than "game of thrones".
(although the news that monty pythones terry jones is adapting neil gaimans and terry pratchets "good omens" was the one that really made me giddy with excitement)

[Decolonize The Left]

Alright you bastards I'm downloading the entire first season. I didn't even know about this show but I read this thread and promptly biked over to my local video store to discover that (obviously) it wasn't out yet...

Only one question: should I attempt to read the books first?

- August

[Sasha]

do like i did, watch the first season, get hooked, read the books from part two on, but buy book one as well for if you ever want to re-read the whole series.

[Decolonize The Left]

do like i did, watch the first season, get hooked, read the books from part two on, but buy book one as well for if you ever want to re-read the whole series.

That's probably what'll happen. And I'll have to read book 1 too because I can't start in the middle of a series.

PS: Have you all read LeGuin's Tales of Earthsea series?

- August

[Sasha]

as far as i gathered they did so an good job on filming almost everything of book one that there is no real need to read the book if you already watched the whole series, it at least didnt bother me one bit when i started straight with book two.

and no, i havent read anything of tales of the earth sea, i did see the gibli anime though which was pretty good.
i'm not really an "classic" fantasy reader tbh i love LOTR but for the rest i'm more into writers as neil gaiman and such

[Decolonize The Left]

as far as i gathered they did so an good job on filming almost everything of book one that there is no real need to read the book if you already watched the whole series, it at least didnt bother me one bit when i started straight with book two.

and no, i havent read anything of tales of the earth sea, i did see the gibli anime though which was pretty good.
i'm not really an "classic" fantasy reader tbh i love LOTR but for the rest i'm more into writers as neil gaiman and such

Yeah the Gibli movie was baller. The books are way more complex and interesting though, I highly recommend you read all 4 in the original Tales of Earthsea series. They are really easy to read as LeGuin has a casual narrative voice, yet they're packed with awesomeness.

- August

[praxis1966]

I just have one question about the entertainment biz in general. Why do writers/directors insist on killing fucking Gimli all the time? I like that guy.:lol:

[bcbm]

PS: Have you all read LeGuin's Tales of Earthsea series?

- August

yeah read that a couple years back, remember it being quite good

[Kléber]

,my girlfriend got me into this bc she wanted to reenact the sex scenes between Dany and Drogo. ;d i fell asleep during the first episode when there was some long stupid procession of feudal lords.. but then i got into it, good fun.

[Decolonize The Left]

I've watched 2 episodes now and I think the whole thing can be summed up as: medieval incest soft-core porn.

Really... I'm still waiting for something awesome to happen. Thus far the high point has been the 5 dire wolf puppies and their subsequent attacking of the annoying little prince. I really like those puppies.

Meh.

- August

[Terminator X]

I've watched 2 episodes now and I think the whole thing can be summed up as: medieval incest soft-core porn.

Really... I'm still waiting for something awesome to happen. Thus far the high point has been the 5 dire wolf puppies and their subsequent attacking of the annoying little prince. I really like those puppies.

Meh.

- August

It gets pretty awesome, don't worry. Keep watching. :cool:

[bcbm]

I've watched 2 episodes now and I think the whole thing can be summed up as: medieval incest soft-core porn.

Really... I'm still waiting for something awesome to happen. Thus far the high point has been the 5 dire wolf puppies and their subsequent attacking of the annoying little prince. I really like those puppies.

Meh.

- August

gotta build the characters before they can start killing each other

[Sasha]

stumbled on these two fanatastic blog posts about ASOIAF.
since they are about the books than the HBO adaptation i'll put them in spoilers, although there are no real spoilers in them.

first up this briliant piece by neil gaiman called "George R.R. Martin is not your *****." which is more about writers, writing and fan expectations in general than about ASOIAF
Hi Neil,

I've recently subscribed to George RR Martin's blog (http://grrm.livejournal.com/) in the hopes of getting some inside information regarding when the next "Song of Ice and Fire" book is due to be released. I love the series but since subscribing to the blog I've become increasingly frustrated with Martin's lack of communication on the next novel's publication date. In fact, it's almost as though he is doing everything in his power to avoid working on his latest novel. Which poses a few questions:

1. With blogs and twitter and other forms of social media do you think the audience has too much input when it comes to scrutinising the actions of an artist? If you had announced a new book two years ago and were yet to deliver do you think avoiding the topic on your blog would lead readers to believe you were being "slack"? By blogging about your work and life do you have more of a responsibility to deliver on your commitments?

2. When writing a series of books, like Martin is with "A Song of Ice and Fire" what responsibility does he have to finish the story? Is it unrealistic to think that by not writing the next chapter Martin is letting me down, even though if and when the book gets written is completely up to him?

Would be very interested in your insight.

Cheers
Gareth

My opinion....

1) No.

2) Yes, it's unrealistic of you to think George is "letting you down".

Look, this may not be palatable, Gareth, and I keep trying to come up with a better way to put it, but the simplicity of things, at least from my perspective is this:

George R.R. Martin is not your *****.

This is a useful thing to know, perhaps a useful thing to point out when you find yourself thinking that possibly George is, indeed, your *****, and should be out there typing what you want to read right now.

People are not machines. Writers and artists aren't machines.

You're complaining about George doing other things than writing the books you want to read as if your buying the first book in the series was a contract with him: that you would pay over your ten dollars, and George for his part would spend every waking hour until the series was done, writing the rest of the books for you.

No such contract existed. You were paying your ten dollars for the book you were reading, and I assume that you enjoyed it because you want to know what happens next.

It seems to me that the biggest problem with series books is that either readers complain that the books used to be good but that somewhere in the effort to get out a book every year the quality has fallen off, or they complain that the books, although maintaining quality, aren't coming out on time.

Both of these things make me glad that I am not currently writing a series, and make me even gladder that the decade that I did write series things, in Sandman, I was young, driven, a borderline workaholic, and very fortunate. (and even then, towards the end, I was taking five weeks to write a monthly comic, with all the knock-on problems in deadlines that you would expect from that).

For me, I would rather read a good book, from a contented author. I don't really care what it takes to produce that.

Some writers need a while to charge their batteries, and then write their books very rapidly. Some writers write a page or so every day, rain or shine. Some writers run out of steam, and need to do whatever it is they happen to do until they're ready to write again. Sometimes writers haven't quite got the next book in a series ready in their heads, but they have something else all ready instead, so they write the thing that's ready to go, prompting cries of outrage from people who want to know why the author could possibly write Book X while the fans were waiting for Book Y.

I remember hearing an upset comics editor telling a roomful of other editors about a comics artist who had taken a few weeks off to paint his house. The editor pointed out, repeatedly, that for the money the artist would have been paid for those weeks' work he could easily have afforded to hire someone to paint his house, and made money too. And I thought, but did not say, “But what if he wanted to paint his house?”

I blew a deadline recently. Terminally blew it. First time in 25 years I've sighed and said, “I can't do this, and you won't get your story.” It was already late, I was under a bunch of deadline pressure, my father died, and suddenly the story, too, was dead on the page. I liked the voice it was in, but it wasn't working, and eventually, rather than drive the editors and publishers mad waiting for a story that wasn't going to come, I gave up on it and apologised, worried that I could no longer write fiction.

I turned my attention to the next deadline waiting – a script. It flowed easily and delightfully, was the most fun I've had writing anything in ages, all the characters did exactly what I had hoped they would do, and the story was better than I had dared to hope.

Sometimes it happens like that. You don't choose what will work. You simply do the best you can each time. And you try to do what you can to increase the likelihood that good art will be created.

And sometimes, and it's as true of authors as it is of readers, you have a life. People in your world get sick or die. You fall in love, or out of love. You move house. Your aunt comes to stay. You agreed to give a talk half-way around the world five years ago, and suddenly you realise that that talk is due now. Your last book comes out and the critics vociferously hated it and now you simply don't feel like writing another. Your cat learns to levitate and the matter must be properly documented and investigated. There are deer in the apple orchard. A thunderstorm fries your hard disk and fries the backup drive as well...

And life is a good thing for a writer. It's where we get our raw material, for a start. We quite like to stop and watch it.

The economics of scale for a writer mean that very few of us can afford to write 5,000 page books and then break them up and publish them annually once they are done. So writers with huge stories, or ones that, as Sandman did, grow in the telling, are going to write them and have them published as they go along.

And if you are waiting for a new book in a long ongoing series, whether from George or from Pat Rothfuss or from someone else...

Wait. Read the original book again. Read something else. Get on with your life. Hope that the author is writing the book you want to read, and not dying, or something equally as dramatic. And if he paints the house, that's fine.

And Gareth, in the future, when you see other people complaining that George R.R. Martin has been spotted doing something other than writing the book they are waiting for, explain to them, more politely than I did the first time, the simple and unanswerable truth: George R. R. Martin is not working for you.

Hope that helps.

source: http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2009/05/entitlement-issues.html



then an brutally funny piece written by, like many of us, late convert lindy west which i guess in an sense contain some very mild spoilers:

Horse Jerky and Sandcamels

A Primer of Ice and Fire

by Lindy West (http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/lindy-west/Author?oid=21605)

Fri July 29 at 7:30 pm.



Basically—here is the dark, mewling shame-baby that's been calcifying for years in my brain-womb (medical term)—I will read anything with a fucking fictional map in the front.
Ohhhhhh, how I crave a fictional map! Oz, Middle Earth, Narnia, Neverland, Fantastica, Tortall, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the one with the talking war-bears where everyone gets to have a magic otter that is their best friend... uhhh... Dinotopia... ummmmm... you know, all the other ones. All the main ones. I love that shit. So imagine my delight upon discovering that not only does each volume in George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series have a fictional map in the front, IT HAS A FUCKING FICTIONAL MAP IN THE BACK, TOO. That's two fictional maps. Two. (Plus sometimes a third supplementary fictional map that I really can't get into right now because I need both hands for typing, if you know what I mean [MASTURBATION JOKE].)

Now, I know that A Song of Ice and Fire has gone rather mainstream and de rigueur these days (more on that in one second), so it's not exactly a radical statement for me to openly read this shit on the bus, but just indulge me in one quick personal moment of liberation. Because do you know what time it is, shame-baby? ABORTION O'CLOCK. Flush. My name is Lindy West, and I will just read whatever I want on the bus. Phew.
Okay. Down to business. So you've probably noticed that all the people you've ever met—even normals!—are feverishly reading these books right now. Maybe you feel confused. Maybe you are overwhelmed. Frightened. Maybe you don't know where to start, and maybe an oily, red shame-baby is sitting on your chest while you sleep and is staring at you with its horrible rheumy goat-eyes (I can relate, bro). So for you, dear friend, here is everything you need to know to speak authoritatively about A Song of Ice and Fire.

You Are Late

The nerds would like you to know that you are late. Recently, I jokingly scolded a friend on Facebook for not having read ASOIAF, and was reprimanded thuswise by an angry die-hard: "Don't worry [REDACTED], most people who give you shit about it are just bandwagon readers, anyway. I doubt a single one of those jerks had to wait for A Clash of Kings." Yes, hello. This is my wagon, and here is my band of jerks. If you don't mind, I am going to continue reading now. Sorry I like the same thing that you like.

Hella Hella Intrigue

Perhaps you are one of those horribly condescending garbage-people who assume—with no investigation—that if something is very, very popular it must logically be very, very terrible. God, shut up. ASOIAF is popular because it is basically what would happen if Bruce Willis were a wizard and he had sex with Sarah Palin and she gave birth to a baby and then they only let it watch Breaking Bad and then Professor McGonagall transfigured that baby into a book. Shit is exciting and stressful and GOOD, and that's why people like it. Good luck not dreaming about it.

Trigger Warnings

It's probably a good idea to stay away from these books if any of the following has ever happened to you: Rape. Incest. Twincest. Domestic violence. Throat ripped out by a wolf. Disemboweled by a stag. Disemboweled by a sword or ax. Disemboweled by a lance. Basically any disembowelment of any kind. Being flayed alive. Being taunted by a dwarf. Being taunted because you are a dwarf. Zombie attacks. Coming back to life as a zombie. Woolly mammoth attacks. Dragon attacks. Forced castration. Facial burns. Seasickness. Bored to death by heraldry.

Have a Vagina? You're Probably Getting Raped in It

Yup. But don't worry—sometimes you learn to like it once your handmaiden gives you some super-sexy Cosmo tips for How to Please Your Warlord Every Time. If that happens, congrats. To the rest of you, condolences.

Have Intestines? You're Definitely Getting Stabbed in Them

As far as I can tell, George R. R. Martin is under the impression that that's what intestines are for.

I Hope You Like Outfits!

Sometimes, George R. R. Martin will just stop in the middle of a battle to go on for 100 pages about enameled armor and filigreed shields and the sigil adorning everyone's (and I mean EVERYONE'S) doublet. Just go with it.

It's Really, Really Sandy in Dorne

Seriously, George, we get it. Everyone rides their sandhorse down to the sandhole to pick up their sandwives and eat their sand sandwiches washed down with sandmilk from the sandteat of the sandcamel. WE ARE FOLLOWING YOU HERE.

That One Guy Really Likes Drowning People

Again. We get it. We really, really get it. OH MY GOD, WE GET IT.

Brienne Is Not That Great-Looking

Please make a note of it. Or, if you don't make a note of it, just wait two pages because someone will tell you again. Brienne is basically Andre the Giant but with smaller boobs and a horse-mouth and a face carved out of last week's leftover ham. But that doesn't mean she might not cause your manhood to stir within your pantaloons to your great surprise!!! (You know who you are!)

I Can't Tell if It's Racist or Not

I mean, there are all kinds of barbaric and swarthy slave traders and such eating horse meat across the sea, but at least they're not evil. The most evil people in the books are the world's blondest Aryans. But even they're not evil, exactly. I think there are some black people here and there, but I'm not clear on exactly what it is they do or where they come from. Let's just say that the fact that I can't tell isn't a great sign, and epic fantasy doesn't exactly have a pristine track record in terms of racial sensitivity (I'm looking at you, Orcs).

For Some Reason, a Whole Lot of People Live in "The North," Even Though It Is Horrible There

Seriously, you guys? Move south. MOVE. What are you even talking about?

WHY IS SAMWELL TARLY STILL FAT?

HEY MAESTER AEMON, COULD YOU CHECK SAMWELL'S THYROID OR SOMETHING BECAUSE HE HASN'T EATEN ANYTHING BUT AUROCHS JERKY FOR SIX MONTHS AND HE STILL WEIGHS LIKE 400 POUNDS.

George R. R. Martin Has No Sense of Humor

Which is fine. This shit is serious. (And, no, Tyrion's tasty bons mots do not count unless you've never heard an actual joke before in your life.)

Don't Get Attached

You know your favorite character? The one with the intestines? Yeah. You know what that means (see above). Dead as fuck.

Except for Every Single Person Who Dies Offscreen

They're still alive. I KNOW IT. I'M NOT GIVING UP ON YOU, SYRIO FOREL!!!!! http://www.thestranger.com/images/rec_star.gif


source: http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/horse-jerky-and-sandcamels/Content?oid=9230088

[Sasha]

gotta build the characters before they can start killing each other

http://www.collegehumor.com/video/6579356/game-of-thrones-rpg
(warning: VERY SPOILERY)

[Meridian]

Sometimes, George R. R. Martin will just stop in the middle of a battle to go on for 100 pages about enameled armor and filigreed shields and the sigil adorning everyone's (and I mean EVERYONE'S) doublet. Just go with it.

Actually I find his writing style to be pretty good about not going overboard with descriptions, only fitting them in when he wants to draw a specific picture or when it relates to the story.

The books can get a bit monotonous, but that is when the story doesn't seem to evolve much for the character we follow.

[Sasha]

it does seem that martin is to descriptions of sigils and shit what tolkien is to lengthy descriptions of nature and scenery

[heirofstalin]

this looks fucking sick. i love hbo, i am watching "rome" right now

i would really advise you to not watch rome, unless you want to be severely dissappointed like i was.

Game of thrones is HBO's best series, hope they recognise it.

[Sasha]

George R.R. Martin Interview of the Day (http://geeks.thedailywh.at/2011/08/08/george-r-r-martin-interview-of-the-day-2/)

Aug. 8, 2011


QTTW8M_etko


George R.R. Martin Interview of the Day: George R.R. Martin made an appearance (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTTW8M_etko&feature=player_embedded) at Google’s [email protected] interview series (http://www.youtube.com/user/AtGoogleTalks) to answer questions about his A Song of Ice and Fire novels and HBO’s Game of Thrones.
Martin admitted that he’s a slow writer, and said that the one thing he wishes he’d never written was a promise at the end of A Feast for Crows that his next book would be out within a year. We now know how well that worked out.
He also speculated that upcoming books would involve killing off some of his main “point-of-view” characters, because “there’s getting to be an awful lot of them.” Cue loud groans from the fans.
Although Martin tried to keep his revelations vague, the hour-long interview does contain a few spoilers, so it might be best to avoid it if you haven’t caught up on the novels.

[bricolage]

man just finished watching the first series, so good.
dragons>>>anything, ever.

[Decolonize The Left]

Yeah I watched the first season and I'm still sticking to my line that the show is a soap opera set in magical medieval times.

The best character was killed early on.
There's really no action to speak of.
Boobies at least once an episode.
Dramadramadramadrama
The dragons at the end only partially made up for the lameness of the rest.

So... yeah. Not too pumped about season 2.

- August