A Song of Ice and Fire

This started on Lorient's birthday thread, but rather than follow SOP and hijack that thread I thought I'd start over here. This is for those who have read the books or are watching the TV series. All related thoughts are welcome and we'll see how long before it meanders....

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The whole Song of Ice and Fire series is dangerously addictive because Martin is not afraid to be cruel to his best characters. There's always mystery about what will happen next due to this complete lack of scruples. And he's a very good, very creative writer that creates very real world; the comparisons to Tolkien are apt in this regard.

But you'll never get that uplifting feeling produced by Lord of the Rings.

When they killed off Sean Bean I was really pissed off.
Talking of HBO I do have a big problem with the acting on Game of Thrones, nobody moves their facial muscles, its like they all have blank botox faces, I really notice it a lot, specially Lady Lannister, always that slight frown thing and Danaeris whatevershescalled, same blank expression, and she got an Emmy nomination, for what? having a bad wig? The only one with any inner life is the dwarf chappie, hes brilliant, and I like Jon Snow and the guys on the Wall, and that horrible little blonde pipsqueak who is king., well I dont like him, but he is good at being horrid.

The music is fab, I love it lots.

I'm looking forward to seeing the films. I don't get cable, but have them on order with netflix.

But yeah, the best characters have random horrid things happen to them. Even worse than Ned Stark being killed is when

Spoiler:

Spoiler alert, guys

I really enjoyed the first three books but I thought that the fourth one really dragged and was painfully overwritten. Very little happened, especially for the established characters, and I didn't really care about the new ones whom the focus shifted to. I actually haven't read the fifth book yet because I heard it was more of the same. I've tried a few times to get into the TV series (I even watched the premiere on HBO when it happened) but I just haven't been able to get into it.

I have heard that a lot about the films and its the acting, its rubbish, its not heartfelt they are just going through the motions. But it does creep up on you if you stick at it, I watched the whole first series, I watched it all because it was Winter and there was nothing else I fancied, so I stuck it through and by the end I really got it, and am looking forward to the second series starting here in May on Sky.

and I also heard that the 4 and 5 books were dullsville, I think he ran out of steam.

many readers got upset at the slow pace of new writing for the 5th book that finally came out. It's quite clear he's feeling the weight around his neck.

But a fellow writer defended him in an oft-quoted blog. Scroll down about a page to where it starts:

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

Love Neil Gaiman love love love love

Hey and when is he bringing out a new book? its been ages, he he!

Did you watch the Docor's Wife then Mrs Figg? Thats a Gaiman Who.

Which one is that? dont remember it.

That Gaiman post always amuses me. I agree with him about the attitude of some GRRM fans out there. I like to think that I'm not like that; I just don't really care for the fourth book and my enthusiasm for the series has taken a dip. This isn't the first series where that's happened for me. Doesn't mean I have anything against Martin personally though.

I never got that dip with Rowling, I like all her books equally.

Who episode tracked down for you Mrs Figg on the Who thread.

Possibly badly worded spoilers guys

I can't remember what the book was called but I'm up to the point where Ayra has crossed the narrow sea and Sansa is in the Eyrie or something (It's A Feast For Crows thinking about it) and I'm enjoying the Brienne searching for her. In fact generally speaking the Ayra/Sansa chapters have always been the most intresting to me throughout the books that I've read. I didn't have anything invested in the Iron Islands/Dorne, and as a result those chapters became pretty tedious reading, and as there's a lot of that in the Feast for Crows I haven't even finished it despite reading it for months

But I've heard the next book is much better (with more chapters from the more interesting characters IMO) so I'm still plodding along with it

I'm biding my time for Dance of Dragons to come out in softcover, then I'll probably have to pick up the whole series and reread it to catch up before getting to the final installment. It will take months.

I think GRRM has a special gift for writing young female characters. I find those same storylines to be my favorites as well, Ally.

I find I have to be in the mood for Martins books, and I dont know when I ever will be, its hard work. Guess I need light frothy stuff at the moment like Agatha Raisin Mysteries by M C Beaton. I can literally read one in 3 days and not want to put it down, and I love her mix of crime drama, cozy aga saga and sarcastic bossy boots cranky heroine. She wrote the Hamish Macbeth series too.

Nice pic of Jon Snow.

I finally got the first installment of Game of Thrones on Netflix. I actually really like what they've done with it. I think the wooden face disease actually just comes naturally from the story - given what's going on most of them wouldn't be grinning. And it brings out little Arya's animation and the fact that the king's a playboy: they are the only ones who smile a lot.

except that Kal Drogo was not supposed to be pure brute.

yes you are right Drogo was actually surprisingly hem!, er sweet to Danaeris and you are right it is a bit of a grim place but I actually dont see any negative emotion on their faces either, just blankness, I dont think I am imagining it? I am pretty hyper aware of acting and emoting and all that caper, I notice when I get someones pain and subtle emotions seem to be missing, which is very odd considering the high calibre of the actors involved. But I still enjoy watching it, and I cant wait to see the second series, that music stays in my head for days.

I think Arya must convince you it's not the direction. she's beautifully irrepressible, and so expressive with all emotions. What a gem of a kid.

I actually dont like her acting much, oops. I find her a bit brittle, but thats just my opinion, she may be great for all I know. The only one for me that comes across with a genuine feeling is Tyrion, and genuine nastiness Joffrey.

Have you not started watching the second series yet? It aired in the U.S. about 5 weeks ago, and it's REALLY good, though some parts are just kind of

Arya seems brittle to you?! Of course you're further along in the series when things have been really crappy for her for a long time. Look back at the first two episodes and she lights up the screen.

Perhaps it's my natural tendency to find little girls irresistible, but I found her very much alive.

The second series started last week, but I missed the first episode, I will try to catch up with it this week and let you know what I think. Probably Arya will grow on me, I hope so, I really want to like this series but I am finding the blank face really off putting and its starting to weird me out a bit because nobody but me seems to notice it, plus its the only series that has this blank thing so I am at a loss how to understand it.