It won't take you that long. Not that the book isn't hundreds and hundreds of pages long, but you won't take notice as you devour the thing in all the spare time you have from the moment you pick it up. At least, that's what I did.
The thing that affected my heart the most about the book was that it so obviously takes inspiration from the War of the Roses, with characters based on Edward IV, Richard III, Elizabeth Woodville, Edward V, etc. Woodville's brothers are well represented, and it would not be off to even make comparisons to the Duke of Clarence or Buckingham. And yet, the events do not work out the same way. If you are familiar with the history, the story is not spoilt, for what you know is only a basis and everything can change by simply having one character make a slightly different choice, or by bloodlines not working out quite as they did historically.
And if history doesn't interest you, you will be reading through the eyes of a variety of incredibly compelling characters. Just try to dislike Tyrion, the queen's dwarf brother, who, while sometimes compared to a demon monkey, has more sense and a better drive than his family. And even those characters whom you are brought to hate, you will delight to hate, for they are either deliciously evil or so bloody useless you can only hope and pray and beg for their death.
With so many voices, it is also impossible not to find at least one with whom you identify.
Now, As I've said, the book is brilliant and a page turner, but if you are not a reader, but a TV watcher, do not fear. HBO has gained the rights for the Song of Ice and Fire (the book series to which Game of Thrones is the premiere) and will hopefully be putting the first season to air sometime in 2010.
Why is this news SO fantastic that I am beside myself with delight? Well, because Sean Bean (who I fell in love with when he portrayed Boromir) will be playing Eddard Stark. Eeeee!
In fact, the entire cast is SO great - Mark Addy (whom you ought to know from A Knight's Tale and the Full Monty, among others) will be King Robert; Lena Headey (the sexy queen from 300) will be the even more sexual Queen Cersei; and Harry Lloyd (Will Scarlett from the BBC's Robin Hood) and Jason Mamoa (Ronan from Stargate Atlantis) are also some names I am familiar with already. Not one of these actors has not already proven themselves to me, and the rest seem to be made from the same cloth!
So HBO will have a hard time screwing this up, and considering their work with True Blood, let's just say that I'm not worried, but, again, ridiculously excited.
How about you?
An excellent summary :-)
ReplyDeleteThe bad news is that they're not making the pick-up decision until March, and production won't start until some time after then, making a Spring 2011 the most likely airing date, which is unfortunate.
I went to the GRRM signing in Belfast whilst they were filming the pilot and met the actors playing Jon, Robb, Arya, Sansa, Theon and Ser Rodrik Cassel. They were all great, really excited about the project and told us it was looking great, and Lena Headey was doing a particularly great job with Cersei's character.
I don't mind waiting 2 years, as long as they do a terrific job, which I'm sure they will! That must have been terrific, meeting the actors and seeing them so enthusiastic about it! I'm very jealous.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it was pretty cool. I have a full report and lots of photos on this blog entry and the two that follow it:
ReplyDeletehttp://thewertzone.blogspot.com/2009/11/belfast-report-01.html
Hope that's of some interest!