My New Obssession

I had a post ready for you today but it was a bit risque and I didn't want to burn any sensitive ears. So I'm leaving that one for the fairies to giggle over while I tell you all about my new obssession.

GAME OF THRONES.

Those of you with HBO will probably know about the new series that started last year starring Sean Bean. It's based on George R. R. Martin's fantasy book series 'A Song of Ice and Fire' (ASoIaF for short) and is set in a type of medieval world with politics and complex characters and chivalry and betrayal.

Well, I watched the series when it came out and was instantly hooked by... Well, I won't lie. It was the character Khal Drogo (played by Jason Momoa) who hooked me. I just couldn't look away. But as the season unravelled I became more and more fascinated by the other characters - Jon Snow and Danaerys and Ned Stark and Tyrion. When the series ended on a major cliffhanger I was a nervous wreck!

So off I went to my friendly airport bookstore (yes, airport) and I bought the first book in the ASoIaF series. I read it and saw how faithful the series had been to the book except for a few minor details. I was very impressed. George Martin manages to write a fantasy epic in a way that totally draws you in because it's so realistic. He plays on the unrealiable narrator in every scene until the reader is guessing at the most basic things because you can't trust that what you hear from a character is the truth. Just like in real life. People see what they want to see and believe what they want to believe. The rest is up to you.

And while I began this obssession with Khal Drogo I am totally devoted to Jon Snow.

I've read all books in the series and am dying for the next book to come out! The problem is that George Martin is terrible at producing books on time. The last one (A Dance with Dragons) came out after a five year wait and I think the one before that (A Feast for Crows) was a six year wait. So all fans of this series are bracing themselves for a long haul until The Winds of Winter is finally in our hands.

Is anyone here a fan of this series? Do you have any complaints about it?

I do, (although that doesn't stop me from wanting to read the next book). I think that George Martin made some major tactical errors in his planning. He underestimated the time it would take to fully explore his characters complexities. He also screwed up in not fully considering the implications of his characters' ages when he first began ASoIaF.

I still love the books but reading them has also been a cautionary tale in how to plan a major project. Interesting, that.

That said, the HBO adaptation is showing the second season starting April 1st. Can't wait! My darling Jon Snow!