For George R. R. Martin Fans

[lostinasia]

So has anyone else seen the first episode of "Game of Thrones" yet? I just finished watching it, and it seemed OK: note that I haven't read the books, so I can't judge them from that perspective. ("Wheel of Time" had me vowing to never again start another unfinished series.) However, I may be somewhat biased in that I for some reason find Sean Bean watchable in pretty much anything.

What worries me is that it seems all plot and not much character: the Imp fellow is the only one so far who isn't rather cliched, but there's lots of time for development yet.

Note that this is absolutely not fantasy that you could show the little ones. A pair of bloody beheadings in the first few minutes, and lots of more appealing pairs jiggling around throughout. Apparently the missionary position doesn't exist in this fantasy world.

I'm glad to see novels being filmed for TV serials rather than for movies. I wish they'd done Harry Potter that way. (Um, I mention Harry Potter way too soon after "missionary position", but oh well...)

[Deuce Dropper]

Why do dorklit writers always double up on the Rs as a middle initial?

[flike]

Why do dorklit writers always double up on the Rs as a middle initial?

Because they gotta even out dorkscreenplay writers like George "No Middle Initials At All" Lucas.

My working theory, anyway.

[urodacus]

R.R. initial: homage to Tolkein. Obviously, D.D.

[Jaboney]

Heard on a podcast that Dance with Dragons weighs in at 1,500 pages, and of that...

Spoiler: show

at least half deals with Daenerys.

[lostinasia]

Heard on a podcast that Dance with Dragons weighs in at 1,500 pages

Hardly a surprise re: the spoiler. Book 4 focussed on King's Landing, and Book 5 will be what was happening at the same time everywhere else; it probably won't move the grand narrative too far forward.

I fear we'll see nothing of Arya in Book 5 - who knows how long we'll have to wait to find out what's happening to her. I do hope to find out what's the deal with both of the Clegane brothers.

[Jaboney]

I fear we'll see nothing of Arya in Book 5 - who knows how long we'll have to wait to find out what's happening to her. I do hope to find out what's the deal with both of the Clegane brothers.

That'd be too bad. Arya's a favorite. And I think the Cleganes are settled matters.

[Reaperjim]

I am loving this show. It's brutal as hell and pulls no punches. All the characters are awesome even though the majority are scum (everyone spit of Joffrey now), and it just looks ravishing. I really hope that this goes on for more that just two seasons (it's just been picked up for a second). I really want to see Joffrey get his comeuppance.

[lostinasia]

I am loving this show. It's brutal as hell and pulls no punches. All the characters are awesome even though the majority are scum (everyone spit of Joffrey now), and it just looks ravishing. I really hope that this goes on for more that just two seasons (it's just been picked up for a second). I really want to see Joffrey get his comeuppance.

The show's turned out pretty well. I think I like all of the actors now, although it took a while for me with the guy who plays Jon. Mormont father and son are both terrific, as is Joffrey. Not enough of the Hound, however.

God knows how non-readers are keeping track of the politics or the characters: we've got central political figures like Stannis that haven't even appeared on screen yet, and other "key" characters (the Nightwatch guy who helps out Arya) disappear for weeks at a time. And I really don't know how a TV show is going to leave the mysteries of "Who tried to stab Bran?", or "Who killed Jon Arryn of the Vale?" hanging for so long - we don't find out the answer to the latter until book four, do we? Most viewers will have forgotten there's even a mystery by then.

The ending was solid: good cliffhangers for almost all the characters.

Spoiler: show

Dragons

looked fine; I hope they find the budget for CGI direwolves next season.

Jaboney: I really doubt the Cleganes are settled...

Spoiler: show

There's the giant lame guy who gets along with dogs at the island monastery; and there's Cersei's seriously twisted master of whispers, with his Frankensteinish experiments in the dungeons, placing an order for the largest armour breastplate ever made.

I did hear somewhere that Arya will be in Book 5, thank goodness: she's one of my favourites too.

(Nerding out over.)

[Jaboney]

Next book's out Tuesday.

Early reviews are saying it's the best book in the series, to date.