"Song of Ice and Fire" Discussions

Ooh, I will be all over this thread in the future. For now, I'll just mention that I picked up the comic adaptation of George R. R. Martin's The Hedge Knight yesterday at a used bookstore and enjoyed it. It takes place 100 years before "A Song of Ice and Fire" but deals with many of the same themes and families, the Targaeryns in particular. 

Originally posted by Chazwinski I haven't read the Hedge Knight, but I'm aware that certain characters in it became legends that have been mentioned in the main series. If it took place 100 years earlier, were dragons still around? Let me know what you think of it when you're finished.

Oh, it was a good little story. I'd recommend picking it up. Apparently it's based on a prose story he wrote, which I may have to now find and read while I wait for A Dance of Dragons. Speaking of that and other prequels, I, too, would like to read an in-depth version of the events that occurred 16 years before the series began, but at this rate I'd just like Martin to focus on finishing out the series. I don't want me or him to die before it's over.

To anyone out there reading this who's the slightest bit interested, definitely pick up A Game of Thrones sometime. While technically a fantasy series, Martin emphasizes the people in the story -- any fantastical elements are kept very subtle -- and creates a rich world in which no one is clearly good or evil. They're all just people vying for power, with various noble and despicable character traits. I can't emphasize enough how much fun these books are to read. In a recent episode of the Uncanny X-Cast, Brian described it as the fantasy equivalent of the X-Men because of the sheer size of its cast and the complex relationships they have with one another. I sort of agree, and as a bonus, it's all written by one author, so the continuity is much tighter and the themes more consistent. I'd even say Martin gets a little Claremont-esque sometimes with his treatment of -- nay, obsession with -- powerful women.


Edited by sixhoursoflucy - 16-Aug-2010 at 12:12am

I am such a fan. I hardly read novels anymore, but when one of Martin's Song of Ice and Fire books comes out I block out 3 days and just pretty much read it straight through.

Also I cannot wait for the HBO series.

Hey those are great Chaz! I need to go back and get a refresher on all the characters but I recognized Jon Stark, Daenerys, and Tyrion on the first template right away. On the fourth template is the first one Sansa? And I bet the third on the top is Aeron Greyjoy and then 1st on the bottom row is obviously Drogo. On the fourth template I can pick out Arya/Cat. And then on the last template I see Bran, Hodor, and Shaggydog (yay!) and Brienne down second on the bottom row.

Right after this series was mentioned in the 'what are you reading' thread and this thread appearing, one of my friends recommended it to me. I'll put it on my 'to read' list and look forward to reading it. And I've deliberately avoided reading the details in this thread.

Edited by smaug007 - 17-Aug-2010 at 5:22pm

I want to read this series, my friend has told me it's awesome but with it having such a delay I don't want to get into a series that will have no conclusion.

Originally posted by Chazwinski To Everyone: I have some questions. All of the Stark children have direwolves that if not all telepathically linked, at least share the personality traits of each of their masters/mistresses. We know the fate of Greywind & Robb. What do you think it means (if anything) that Sansa's wolf, Lady met such an early end?

I think it means she will have a difficult time surviving to the end of this series as she is a fragile delicate creature, just like her wolf.

Originally posted by Chazwinski Also Shaggydog seems to be the most ruthless and wild of the wolves. Do you think this is foreshadowing that Rickon Stark will grow up to have a fearsome, dark personality?

I think they are both feral right now, they have no parents or guidance figures. But I don't think it means they are irredeemable, but they will be very difficult to tame and integrate back into society.

Originally posted by XtremeOne1 I want to read this series, my friend has told me it's awesome but with it having such a delay I don't want to get into a series that will have no conclusion.

This reminds of some sage advice a friend once gave me. I had heard that Buffy the Vampire started getting bad in its later seasons, hence my reticence to start watching it from the beginning. This wise friend told me that even though it got bad later on, the overwhelming goodness of the earlier seasons more than made up for it. I took this wise friend's advice and began watching Buffy, and it was good. I don't regret the time spent at all. Xtreme, that wise friend... was you.

Seriously, though, I'd be sad if this series never ended, but I've enjoyed the four books we've gotten so far so much and don't for a second regret reading them.

Chaz, those minis are adorable. I identified a few of them before you put the tags up but became overwhelmed and embarrassed because there were so many I didn't know. Anyway, they're great. I hope you don't mind that I shared the links with my brother.

Regarding Sansa, I like her character a lot because she's relateable. Of course I like her little sister Arya because of her spunk, but I see myself much more in Sansa. Her cowardice is understandable. I was enraged by some of her behavior in the first book, but you can just tell she not only feels incredibly guilty about what she did, but feels the consequences of it every day in her sh*tty life. I think she has a lot of grace considering her circumstances. In my mind, I always picture her as Amber Tamblyn. 


Edited by sixhoursoflucy - 21-Aug-2010 at 4:35am

Sorry for the double post, but I need to bump this. Did anyone see the preview for the HBO series, tonight? I hope it is good, but my expectations will be hard to live up to. I'm not even sure if I want TV images to pollute the scenes that I've imagined so well in my own mind, but nevertheless, I can't help but feel excited.

I would too! Post a link if possible if you find one!

Originally posted by sixhoursoflucy Originally posted by XtremeOne1 I want to read this series, my friend has told me it's awesome but with it having such a delay I don't want to get into a series that will have no conclusion. This reminds of some sage advice a friend once gave me. I had heard that Buffy the Vampire started getting bad in its later seasons, hence my reticence to start watching it from the beginning. This wise friend told me that even though it got bad later on, the overwhelming goodness of the earlier seasons more than made up for it. I took this wise friend's advice and began watching Buffy, and it was good. I don't regret the time spent at all. Xtreme, that wise friend... was you. Seriously, though, I'd be sad if this series never ended, but I've enjoyed the four books we've gotten so far so much and don't for a second regret reading them.

 

Edited by XtremeOne1 - 15-Sep-2010 at 6:17am

Cool, glad to see you've both giving this a whirl. I'll keep mum about spoilers from here on out, since there are interested parties. I do love that first book and agree that it gets good pretty quickly. When [spoilers]the plucky six-year-old boy discovered twins having sex with each other and was then thrown from a castle tower so he wouldn't reveal their secret[/spoilers], I knew I was in love.

Reading those two spoilers has made me want to read it....