A Song Of Ice And Fire

[jjreason]

Not reading this thread, but figured I'd let you all know that I'm about 200 pages into book 1. For some reason, I'm somewhat resistant to "learning" a whole new universe, especially one as big as this is figuring on being. It's been good so far, more than interesting enough to keep going, though I may have to divert back to finish off the balad of Lisbeth Salander before I can focus completely.

[Rollo Tomassi]

Not reading this thread, but figured I'd let you all know that I'm about 200 pages into book 1. For some reason, I'm somewhat resistant to "learning" a whole new universe, especially one as big as this is figuring on being. It's been good so far, more than interesting enough to keep going, though I may have to divert back to finish off the balad of Lisbeth Salander before I can focus completely.

Glad to hear it!

By the way, the first issue of the comic book adaptation hits stores today. Also, with my tinsel town connections, I'm gonna score some bootleg DVDs of the first season so I'll be able to watch and rewatch that within the week. Yay!!

[jjreason]

Nice! I've got a lot of viewing to do here. I will want to watch these once I'm done the book - then I've got to start (yep, start ><) on Boardwalk Empire as season 2 is upon us.

[Diabolical]

Also, with my tinsel town connections, I'm gonna score some bootleg DVDs of the first season so I'll be able to watch and rewatch that within the week. Yay!!

Oh, you sick.

You wouldn't happen to have the ability to copy DVD's, would you?

[Rollo Tomassi]

I watched the opening to the first episode on HBO on demand last night & it was creepy as fuck. Haunted looking kids get me, so I shan't be going back to that series.

Heh. I just started watching the series and now I know what you were talking about. You won't ever see that creepy kid again after the first five minutes so you should really give it another shot. As an incentive I feel compelled to point out there is copious boob shots in the episode. Including full nudity of the chick playing Danyraes. Hawt!

[Diabolical]

I won't get specific but there are a ton of "Holy Shit!" moments.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the events of the first book. I'm dying here. There's nobody to talk about the series with. I've resorted to talking about the series with my ex, the mother of the children because she's one of the few people I know who've read all five books also. Usually, we're very chilly towards each other, but mention these books and we both start jibbering away.

Well, it took me a couple of weeks, and my memory may be a bit rusty at all the details, but here are my quick thoughts and "Holy Shit!" moments (SPOILERS...obviously):

Bran being dropped after catching Jaime and Cersei Lannister together. Crippling a child!? That was when I knew this book wasn't going to pull any punches.

Catelyn taking Tyrion captive. The way it unfolds was great.

The murder of Sansa's direwolf Lady. Cersei was a bitch to begin with, but this solidifed her as evil. And for some reason I never expected any of the wolves to die, at least this early in the overall story.

Eddard findng the truth about Cersei and Jaime and giving Cersei the ultimatum to leave or he'll tell King Robert the truth. Such a polite way to say "Fuck you, bitch."

Robert's Death and Eddard's capture, which just proved that hornor in a den of evil gets you nothing but screwed.

Joffrey ordering the execution Eddard by Eddard's own sword. I never saw the death of Eddard coming. I knew whatever happened to him wouldn't be good, but his beheading was mind-blowingly shocking.

Robb being declared King by his followers. I figured Robb would be the one that continues to lead the others against Joffrey (for a time), but for the others to suddenly declare him their new King of the North? Damn, what a cliffhanger.

The encounter with The Others in the beginning was pretty creepy.

John fighting the zombie/Other/thing was pretty cool.

Viserys - obviously he was going to come to a bad end, and it indeed sounded painful.

Daenerys - more precisely the semi-explicit sex. It was written rather hot...until they start saying she's 14 years old, then it felt creepy.

Dragon eggs - duh, I saw that coming a few hundred pages away.

Drago's injuries and death - another death I didn't expect. I felt they were building the Dothraki to be a real threat to the Seven Kingdoms in one of the upcoming books.

Funeral pyre - I'm not so sure I like the idea of Daenerys being able to withstand fire like that, but it was a well-written scene.

[anarky]

I tried to watch the show last night.

I really didn't think it was good at all. I'd rather watch True Blood and its whiny vampires, truth be told.

I don't know if the books are the same way, but it's a frigging army of characters with no reason to give two shits about any of them.

[Rollo Tomassi]

You must read the books.

Seriously, if you can wank it to Darth Plaguies, you will dehydrate yourself from these books. The eruption from your loins will suck every last molecule of moisture from your body and your brittle carcass will fall to the ground and shatter into a dust storm and blow away.

You MUST. READ. THE BOOKS.

[anarky]

On the one hand, I have your recommendation, which I put great stock in.

On the other hand, after seeing how bad the show is (if only it had been as good as the visuals, which were amazing), it puts my desire right down there with my burning urge to read The Girl Who Read a Magazine at the Airport series (which a cursory glance looks like generic detective crap with an EXTREEEEEEME!!!!!1! heroine) or to finish The Da Vinci Pile of Horseshit.

Trying to balance these two contradictory impulses out, but it still winds up not on the top of the to-read pile.

[Rollo Tomassi]

At the very least, sit down and read the first one. I guarantee when you get to the last page, you will say "Oh fuck! Where's the next book?!? Why is it not here??! How long will it take to get a hold of it? If I leave now, and speed, it will take 22 minutes to get to the store, buy it, and get home. That's 21 MINUTES TOO LONNNNNGG!!!!"

Guys, back me up here.

[anarky]

I see where you're coming from, and believe you. Still... imagine if your first exposure to Batman was Batman & Robin. And all your friends keep telling you to check out this book called The Killing Joke. You know they're right, but, still, you need some time to get the stink of B&R out of your mind.

[jjreason]

I am just now passing page 500 of the first book. I had to start over again due to having left it too long - I had trouble with the who's who when I started up at page 290 after a long break.

Having read the comics as they came out, I knew I hadn't seen anything in that format that was "new" to me story-wise, so I basically skim-read until I got to the new shit.

There are key events that occur throughout, but the plot twists are VERY interesting as you get to where I'm at. Get the fucking book, Chux, I'm actually choosing it over WoW right now, which is saying something.

[anarky]

My wife already has it. But you guys are turning into a DaVinci Code or The Girl Who Filled in the Blank, which is having the opposite of your intended effect.

[Rollo Tomassi]

I am giddy with anticipation for future anarky's retraction/apology after he reads these and then smacks his forehead and says "Why the fuck did you guys let me wait so long to read these?!?!?"

[anarky]

Retract? I just said you're hyping this quite a bit. I couldn't finish TDVC and haven't started The Girl Who Got EXTREEEEME!!!1! Tats & Is A Lesbian series because it can't possibly live up to the hype.

I've been sworn to read the books after she's done with them.