I liked Brandon Sanderson's 2, but they weren't written by RJ so I left them out. He's less subtle than RJ, but a better pacer. The problem with long multi volume epics is that something crucial needs to happen in each book to make it worthwhile. Sometimes there aren't enough of those things in a story. In tPoD, KoD and CoT I can't actually remember anything that's actually important. Feast failed that test too, and Dance's setpiece scenes were buried under layers of filler.
Books A Song of Ice and Fire (Books) | TV show? What TV show?
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I liked Brandon Sanderson's 2, but they weren't written by RJ so I left them out. He's less subtle than RJ, but a better pacer. The problem with long multi volume epics is that something crucial needs to happen in each book to make it worthwhile. Sometimes there aren't enough of those things in a story. In tPoD, KoD and CoT I can't actually remember anything that's actually important. Feast failed that test too, and Dance's setpiece scenes were buried under layers of filler.
RE: Stannis
Stannis appears in the preview chapter of Winds of Winter on GRRM's website: http://georgerrmartin.com/if-sample.html
Yeah, but timeline wise that could be pre-letter.
I thought that might pre-date the letter which Ramsey sent though. It's what happens to Theon after he is captured
This is what happens when I don't double-check the books before posting 
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.While I liked both Feast and Dance, the first more than the latter I think, I have to agree. It didn't feel like anything really happened. There were some great moments (The North Remembers), but no big play. About KoD, I might be influenced by how disappointed I was with CoT, which made KoD seem even better. For me, it felt like a return to the good old Robert Jordan.
There were some big things, though (Wheel of Time spoilers):
Semirhage being captured. Perrin fina-fecking-ly dealing with the Shaido and getting Faile back, Mat finally marrying Tuon and having some battles, Elayne finally becoming queen (that one took way too long), Galad killing Eamon Valda and becoming head whitecloak, and a lovely scene where Nynaeve gets Malkieri to join Lan's army.
Alright book readers. Just a quick question
I can't take another 6 months of waiting for the next season and want to start to read the books. Thing is am I missing out on a lot if I start with the third book as I have already seen the first and the second on TV or is it worth the read from the beginning again?
I will mostly begin reading it from the first but just want to know whether the TV series have covered everything that happens in the book.
I can't take another 6 months of waiting for the next season and want to start to read the books. Thing is am I missing out on a lot if I start with the third book as I have already seen the first and the second on TV or is it worth the read from the beginning again?
I will mostly begin reading it from the first but just want to know whether the TV series have covered everything that happens in the book.
Not really, if anything you'll have already 'seen' some things as there is a light peppering of things that have been brought forward and the odd thing pushed back.
Nothing super critical, there are a few characters that jsut flat out don't get mentioned that have a bit more face time, Jamie and Brienne aren't alone for example, there is a third character, the Lannister he killed in the jail cell. But they've kept prettty close, I enjoy watching the series even though I'm aware of 'what happens next'
Nothing super critical, there are a few characters that jsut flat out don't get mentioned that have a bit more face time, Jamie and Brienne aren't alone for example, there is a third character, the Lannister he killed in the jail cell. But they've kept prettty close, I enjoy watching the series even though I'm aware of 'what happens next'
I'd read all five of the books right through if you have time - there's a lot of contextual background which I didn't pick up on in the tv series
If you're going to do it that way, I'd at least advise you start with the second book. The first season is fairly similar to the first book, but there are some changes from the second season/book. Mainly to do with characters and plot points that get pushed up or back since they didn't want actors just sitting around doing not very much for a season.
I think you might miss some context starting from the second book. I'd just start at the beginning. It'll be quick since you've already seen the tv series, and if anything, having seen the show will enhance your experience reading the books, though maybe not as much as if you had read the books first and are now watching the show.
Starting with the third book would just be odd in all honesty, and you would really just be reading for the sake of reading. Which is a bad way to approach any book! Start from the beginning and enjoy them.
Cheers guys. First book it is then.
Holy shit, that was so good.
2 blasts are for Wildlings. 3 blasts are for....fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
That was a great moment. I was afraid that this episode might be a dud in comparison to the last one, but I'm quite happy. I guess my only complaint is that I wish they hadn't cut away from the House of the Undying and shown a bit more of the feckeduppedness of it. Also I don't think they got a great shot of the size of Mance's army. It was a bit too far away, and fires would've been able to show the overwhelming size, but they can't light fires because of the wildlings so I guess they were a bit handcuffed there.
Agreed! The shot with Dany in the throne room was so well done. And the ending! Pissed off I have to wait for 12 months now. This show has exceeded any expectations that I had
Yeah, It would have been nice to see the mammoths, giants, etc. I want to re-read the end of Clash just to get the ending again. I always loved it in the books. Everything else is tying up a little for the end of the book and then, well, shit hits the fan. I think it captured the fear of all of them when the last horn blast sounded.
Next season(s) will be epic. Clash had fewer major events than GoT and Storm, but Joffrey, Robb, and Catelyn dying should be great.
Next season(s) will be epic. Clash had fewer major events than GoT and Storm, but Joffrey, Robb, and Catelyn dying should be great.
You're just determined to put that on every page in this thread, aren't you?
In all seriousness though, I think I've been underwhelmed by all of the endings in the books since I felt they all seemed a bit weak (it doesn't help that I audiobooked them), but I they've come across much better on television.
Also if I remember right, the end of Clash of Kings was Bran's party splitting up.
Yeah, it's the prologue for Storm. I thought it was in the epilogue of Clash, but apparently my memory is fecked. Chett is the one who pisses himself, not Sam. Well, Sam does too probably, but Chett is the prologue character.
Yeah if they ended this season with Bran, I think people would complain about how boring it is. Good editorial decision by the writers.
Also I just found this gem on Reddit:
That was brilliant, albeit a bit rushed with certain characters.
Agreed with the decision to put the prologue of the next book as the last scene. That was excellent.
(Well, with Sam instead of Cregg)
Agreed with the decision to put the prologue of the next book as the last scene. That was excellent.
(Well, with Sam instead of Cregg)
Small quibbles with the finale, even though I'm not a book purist and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it -
Their treatment of HotU wasn't great ... they really should have done a Soprano-esque hazy dream/vision sequence with the prophecies.
Also, the motivation behind Jon and Quorin's fight should have been explained a bit better than the rushed dialogue they did. I can see why they kept it vague intentionally though, they probably want to keep the new viewers guessing as to if Jon really has changed his allegiance.
What happened at Winterfell was poorly executed. The sacking and burning of Winterfell wasn't explained and was such an anti-climax. They really should have cast Reek/Ramsay and had him betray Theon as in the books, would have been a good end to the arc of Theon's betrayal of the Starks and much more dramatic.
Can't complain though, I'm just delighted we are getting an adaptation of such high quality (boobies).
Their treatment of HotU wasn't great ... they really should have done a Soprano-esque hazy dream/vision sequence with the prophecies.
Also, the motivation behind Jon and Quorin's fight should have been explained a bit better than the rushed dialogue they did. I can see why they kept it vague intentionally though, they probably want to keep the new viewers guessing as to if Jon really has changed his allegiance.
What happened at Winterfell was poorly executed. The sacking and burning of Winterfell wasn't explained and was such an anti-climax. They really should have cast Reek/Ramsay and had him betray Theon as in the books, would have been a good end to the arc of Theon's betrayal of the Starks and much more dramatic.
Can't complain though, I'm just delighted we are getting an adaptation of such high quality (boobies).
In regards to the sacking of Winterfell I think they might be saving the explanation for the start of next season?
It was also hinted that it might have been the Bolton's who did it because the episode before Roose Bolton offered to send his son there to kill Theon and retake the castle.
Some random thoughts & other stuff taken from the interwebs.
Is Syrio really Jaqen H'ghar? I've never really thought about it but I saw someone on another board raising this point. The evidence:
1. Syrio also comes from Braavos, which they made a point of reminding us again.
2. He kinda talks like Syrio
3. He took it upon himself to protect Arya
4. He was taken from the deep dungeons of the Red Keep along with the most dangerous criminals, where Syrio would've ended up if he wasn't killed.
5. He can change his face
6. He called Arya by her real name at the end, which as far as I can remember he had no way of knowing.
Ygritte really is fast becoming my favorite character. Never really liked her that much in the books because she was described as not very attractive and didn't have too many redeeming qualities other than she was tough. However, in the TV series they really have made her quite attractive and very witty, intellegent and strong at the same time. The more I see of her the more I like her.
Alright book readers. Just a quick question
I can't take another 6 months of waiting for the next season and want to start to read the books. Thing is am I missing out on a lot if I start with the third book as I have already seen the first and the second on TV or is it worth the read from the beginning again?
I will mostly begin reading it from the first but just want to know whether the TV series have covered everything that happens in the book.
What the rest of the lads said...DEFINATELY DO NOT START AT BOOK 3!!!
Even if it takes you a while to get through book 1 and 2 you should still read them because they give much more insight and details on all the characters and their situations. That way, when you rewatch the first 2 seasons of the TV series you will find that you pick up on all the little things and hopefully have a clarified picture of the story.
She was quite witty in the books too, she was pretty good at calling Jon out on his bullshit.
I'd never really thought about the Syrio angle before, that's quite clever.
I started this weekend reading the books and I am about to 1/3 of the first book. It is absolutely brilliant and much better than TV show.
Like the final two episodes. A bit bothered that no one has mentioned Stannis. He was inside the walls and then next episode he's back home. Surely you would have thought he got captured. How on earth was he supposed to have run?
I'm sure the next season will have Davos very early on waking up on barely alive.
A bit puzzled by the end. Why wouldn't they kill Sir Piggy? The whitewalkers. Wouldn't bother them at all. According to the books that's basically what they do. It's obvious where the huge part of the budget went. Don't have money to show the Nightwatch camp properly. Never mind it being attacked. They chose this route instead, having it happen during daytime and them coming with a snow storm ahead of them, a bit like Sauron's orcs in LOTR.
I'm sure the next season will have Davos very early on waking up on barely alive.
A bit puzzled by the end. Why wouldn't they kill Sir Piggy? The whitewalkers. Wouldn't bother them at all. According to the books that's basically what they do. It's obvious where the huge part of the budget went. Don't have money to show the Nightwatch camp properly. Never mind it being attacked. They chose this route instead, having it happen during daytime and them coming with a snow storm ahead of them, a bit like Sauron's orcs in LOTR.
I thought it was a great ending scene actually. Better that they just showed that instead of having them full on attack the camp, get a feel of how terrifying these things actually are first.
The house of the undying was pretty disappointing for me, although seeing Drogo again briefly was good. I still think Reek/Ramsey should have been in by now as it would explain the Winterfell strand a lot better. Having said all this it wasn't a bad last episode and the last scene was excellent
My guess is they'll have the Ramsey/Reek stuff in next season with Theon in order to keep him in the show. I doubt they'll have it like the book and just obliterate him from it for 2 or 3 seasons.
I think they are going to either drop or massively tone down the whole "reek" storyline. I can't see how they can do it without it being a bit silly.
When Theon comes back in (4 or 5?) its a real WTF? Moment. A bit like Barristan suddenly popping up in SoS. I guess they'll want to keep the Greyjoys in over the next series (even though they weren't in SoS). They might introduce the Crows eye and Victarion. They seem to like continuity of characters hence the inclusion of Robb / Jaime story arcs this season which should have been delayed till next season
Good scene yes, I agree. But I don't know why they needed to have Piggy there. It didn't make sense to be that we wasn't killed on sight.
If you watch the scene again you'll see that the walker on the horse hasn't actually seen Sam yet, he's still behind the rock when it zooms out on their angry. It's just the way the cameras focus on them that makes it look like they're looking at each other, but they're actually not.
As for how he can possibly escape, feck knows. I'm guessing he was put there because they don't want us to see an entirely new, pointless character in the last scene of the series and it'd have a much better effect on the viewer if the scene happened with a major character we already know well.
As for how he can possibly escape, feck knows. I'm guessing he was put there because they don't want us to see an entirely new, pointless character in the last scene of the series and it'd have a much better effect on the viewer if the scene happened with a major character we already know well.
That's an excuse really. Everyone who watched this thought that the whitewalker looked straight at him. It was so specific. Sam looks up, sees the horse. Then it pans up and the guy slowly turns his head left and looks down.
It's definitely shot in the way that Sam sees the horse. He looks right, horse comes into picture and stops. Cut over to Sam who then looks down crying silently.
I'm going to make up a theory. The whitewalkers are a bit like the T-Rex from Jurassic Park. Be still and it won't see you. And that's despite the whitewalker in book/season 1 actively seeking out the commander of the Black Watch to kill him.
The ending of both episode 9 and 10 were a bit similar. You see Stannis and Sam looking really fecked but then in the next episode they will be out of danger (sort of for Sam).
Well it's not an excuse, watch the scene. It's physically impossible for the White Walker to have seen Sam, he's not THAT fat.
To me it was more like the Borg in Star Trek. One cowering chubster was not worth bothering with as they made their way to the Wall.