A Game of Thrones Television Adaptation on HBO/BBC

[valentinesdead?]

So I finished A Clash of Kings the other day, and when finished I couldn't help but feel like I read around 1000 pages of filler.

Spoiler:

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I drowned in Martin's need to beat you over the head with an incessant amount of details...sometimes I'd get really pissed off when reading a battle scene, only to have a character go into a flashback and start describing the outfit that someone was wearing five years earlier. You get my point.

I feel like not much happened with the POV characters. Tyrion pulled his strings and fucked his whore in King's Landing(the fight scene and his resulting injury at the very end was pretty cool, but that was about it), Jon Snow went north of the wall to find nothing until the very end of the book, Catelyn played her 'mother of the king' role while doing chores, Bran was just chillin' at Winterfell like only a cripple can do(again, until the very end, when something actually happened), Sansa is still a weary and nervous POW and you had a build-up with Ser Dontos saying he'd save her only to leave it for another book at a later time, and Dany was just trying to build an empire in her miniscule chapters. Even Arya's POV's felt like grinding...she really got nowhere. She's still an unknown orphan on the run. Two of my favorite characters were Davos and Theon, and now Theon's dead.

I'm tempted to start reading A Storm of Swords but I'm hesitant because I enjoyed Season 1 of the show MUCH more than I enjoyed the second book.

. . . .I thought you were going to. . . .cool. Awesome.

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I have to say that I totally disagree with several of your points. I recall reading A Clash in the fall of 2008, and I very much enjoyed it the same, if not more than, A Game of Thrones. I'll will admit that Catylen/Bran came off sometimes as a bit of a chore to slog through(at times. . .and mostly Bran. Things happened with Catylen, but I half love/hate her character given her unreasonable hatred of Jon and anything bastard). But I felt the narrative itself was about the same quality as a Game of Thrones. Nothing more, and nothing less. Review-wise, I've given the first 3 books the same score on GoodReads (5 stars. . .and 6 if I could for A Storm of Swords).

And as far as Martin's "incessent" details, I really have to disagree with that one also. He's one of the best writer's I've ever come across, technically speaking. If you want "incessent", try any modern Stephen King book. Now that man does so-called "hair dresser" writing. Martin's style is actually pretty straightforward compared to other fantasy writers. He mostly let's the dialogue do the talking, and his descriptive sentences are pretty sharp and to the point. They don't drag on to the point of being nauseating . I mean, the quality of a writer's prose is more of a subjective thing to a degree(and depending upon a reader's reading experience), but my point is ALOT of people would disagree with your opinion there. Lord of the Rings actually, is a much better description of a book that drowns you in details(but it being written in a different time period makes that a different matter).

But, having said all that, I can see where you're coming from as far as filling there was more a "filler-esqe" filling. Or rather, things aren't happening as fast as you'd thought they'd be. That I can agree with. One of my complaints also with Clash was the lack of a Robb POV. I most certainly would have wished A Clash had had Robb POV in place of Catelyn. . .or Bran. But I digress.

So, in response to whether you should read A Storm of Swords at this point, let me put it simply.


A Storm of Swords>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>over both AGOT and ACWK.

You've already put forth the effort in reading two(or did you just read Clash)of Martin's tomb. You're only cheating yourself if you don't read A Storm of Swords. Seriously. If you want to wash out the nasty taste it seems a Clash has left in your mouth, read A Storm. Big things happen in it. I would be shocked if you thought otherwise.

There's really only one troublesome POV in A Storm of Swords, and that's Spoiler:

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Samwell Tarly. Ugh. I'll take Catelyn and Bran ANYDAY

Otherwise, happy reading!


Oh, and before I forget, I like the look of who've they casted as Lady Tarth, but not sure about Magarery. Kinda older looking than I expected, but I doubt that'll be an issue when it comes time.

EDIT* Oh, and just if anyone's interested, here is a review I wrote for a Storm of Swords back in May 2009. .. DAMN, has it really been that long? Oh, and don't worry. It's spoiler free. . .even though I'm putting it in a spoiler tab for sake of convince.

Spoiler:

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If there is one word that beautifully sums up the third installment of George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, that word, in all it's simplicity, is drama. While A Game of Thrones was about setting up the world and giving us its rules, and A Clash of Kings more of a straight continuation of the conclusions from its predecessor, A Storm of Swords resets some of the playing pieces dramatically. The result is the best book so far in the every-growing epic series, one that builds off a reader's investment of the previous two novels, but puts forth more bold and unpredictable, yet very satisfying twist, even if some are bittersweet to say the least. The great characterization that is vintage Martin continues here, and swells to new heights as already well-defined chacracters are given new layers of pscyhe, along with a couple new POV fresh faces. It's hard to say which character storyline is the best out of all of them due to how they all mix and tangle into each other at various points, but Jamie Lannister is a great addition to the character POV cast, and Daenerys Targaryen has her best outing as well in this dazzling book.

Martin's prose is as sharp and detailed as ever, layered with information and intrigue that creates a living, breathing world. This book is as much a page turner as it's older brethen, yet some people may be put off by the deliberate slow, methodical pacing, but if you're reading this book, none of this should be a surprise. In Martin books, every chapter is a page turner, but his readers know the creamy gooey center isn't untilt he half-way point, but as always, once Martin hits that, it's Christmas time. But A Storm of Swords is the best example of Martin's ability, and a proclaimation that his story won't be headed down stale's vill, given the numerous and radical game changers Martin injects inot the story. The man is simply not afraid to what he needs to do to keep you guessing, and keep you reading. Nor are past events in previous books forgotten, as new light is shed on several events dating back to A Game of Thrones, and only further cements the relationpship with the reader.

A Storm of Swords continues The Song of Ice and Fire, and proves yet another worthly installment into this great series. I simply cannot recommend this series enough. This is one of those stories that defines what stories are meant to be.

Now bring on a A Feast of Crows. . .

[Trent]

Natalie Dormer(The Tudors) is Margaery Tyrell

Hells yeah!

[Mr. Spencer]

I'll be happy when this fad dies down and we can all go back to our regular scheduled programming.

[valentinesdead?]

I'll be happy when this fad dies down and we can all go back to our regular scheduled programming.

Fad?

How can A Game of Thrones be a fade with the likes of Sean Bean, and Charles Dance invovled? Hm? And how can you even call yourself a Charles Dance fan and have yet to even watch the series? You should be ashamed of yourself. Very ashamed!

The lion does not concern himself with the opinions of the sheep.

[Darkmoon]

Spencer doesn't like fantasy. And therefore, fantasy is a fad.

Although in fairness, with a couple of exceptions, this is closer to a drama set in Ye Olde Worlde. There's very little magic so far - most of the loops of intestines are revealed via sword.

[Mr. Spencer]

Darkmoon called it.

[Dracarys]

The other day while walking past a bookshop I saw an offer in the window, buy two of the books get the third half price, so I caved in and went to buy them. Then when I went in I noticed they were £9 for a paperback copy. Screw that.

[Darkmoon]

Second Hand Bookshops - staying awesome since the dawn of paper.

[aris13]

I'll be happy when this fad dies down and we can all go back to our regular scheduled programming.

Spoiler:

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Fuck yeah!!!

[Dracarys]

Second Hand Bookshops - staying awesome since the dawn of paper.

I'm always cautious of second hand books, mainly due to where people are and what they do while reading combined with how impractical it is to clean a book.

...but even new books online are at the very least 50% cheaper than highstreet. Amazon has GoT for £4 right now.

[valentinesdead?]

The other day while walking past a bookshop I saw an offer in the window, buy two of the books get the third half price, so I caved in and went to buy them. Then when I went in I noticed they were £9 for a paperback copy. Screw that.

Second Hand Bookshops - staying awesome since the dawn of paper.

I'm always cautious of second hand books, mainly due to where people are and what they do while reading combined with how impractical it is to clean a book.

...but even new books online are at the very least 50% cheaper than highstreet. Amazon has GoT for £4 right now.

Two words. Amazon Kindle. That is all.

[Vector]

I found the first four books, boxed, paperback, for $26 including shipping on Amazon.

[Dracarys]

Two words. Amazon Kindle. That is all.

I have not and doubtful if I would ever need or own a ipad. My mobile phone is about 8 years old, it was one of the first ever phones to record video (in UK anyway), a whole 9 seconds worth.

[Mr. Spencer]

Spoiler:

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Fuck yeah!!!

Just quoting this so everyone can once again see the overwhelming level of truth that this man has shown you all.

[valentinesdead?]

I found the first four books, boxed, paperback, for $26 including shipping on Amazon.

Yeah. I bought the set as a gift to my cousins, who have yet to read the series. I read A Game of Thrones in mass market paperback, but I myself own all the books in paperback. Much more enjoyable to read, for me, anyways. Which is why I hope when the 7th, and final, book is released, Random House will put out a Hardcover Collector's boxset with all 7 books. I'd preorder something like that in a jiffy. I'll be re-reading these books for the rest of my life, I'm sure.

I have not and doubtful if I would ever need or own a ipad. My mobile phone is about 8 years old, it was one of the first ever phones to record video (in UK anyway), a whole 9 seconds worth.

Ipad? I meant the actual Kindle device. I recently purchased one. If you read alot, i'ts like having a virtual library in the tips of your fingers. You can buy books off the Kindle store(most which are cheaper than physical copies). ...or other places if you know where to look(if you get my drift). Bottom line, you can save alot of money. And personally, I'm aiming at trying to support the more independent Kindle authors(the few good ones, anyway), rather than the published bookstores. . . .but that's another story.

Just quoting this so everyone can once again see the overwhelming level of truth that this man has shown you all.

Hm. I think all your posts in this topic have amounted to this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMc13A8LqaA

If you thought I was beyond the joys of trolling, you'd be wrong