Geeking Out: A Game of Thrones at HBO
TV critic Alan Sepinwall, via Mo Ryan of the ChiTrib, confirms that HBO has given the greenlight to a series based on George R.R. Martin’s fantasy novel A Game of Thrones.
The cast includes some impressive names, like Mark Addy of Shaun of the Dead, Jennifer Ehle of Pride and Prejudice, and Lena Headey of 300 and the Terminator tv series, but I was most surprised and delighted to see that David Benioff, whose City of Thieves I just finished and loved, is the Exec Producer and screenwriter.
A Game of Thrones was recommended to me in 1997 by two of my co-worker friends at a comic shop in Bryn Mawr, PA. I devoured it and passed it on to my then-boyfriend G. Grod, who also devoured it. We liked the 2nd book, but were disappointed that the third wasn’t the conclusion, and I never made it through. I wished for far less description of what people were wearing (sumptuous velvets embroidered with sigils) and what people were eating (savory meat in delicious sauce, and no vegetables; how did these people not get scurvy?) and more of the story and characters. I’ve been thinking for a while I’d like to revisit the series if Martin ever finishes the fifth book, so I don’t end up a victim of waaaant! because of the series’ IWantToReadItosity like Jo Walton at Tor.com. Now I’ve got even more incentive.
March 3rd, 2010 at 7:34 am
You’re the second person in as many days to talk about this book. If I generally don’t like fantasy, would I still like this? At least the first one?
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:09 am
Amy, I’d give it the 50 page test. It could be one of those that is so good it can be an entry for non-fantasy people.
March 4th, 2010 at 11:33 am
And that’s what the other person said too!
I picked it up yesterday. It looks like something the boys might like too, so even if I don’t, they will.