A GAME OF THRONES - Discussion Thread

[intodeep]

This is a bit off topic, but I promise to get back on once more news comes out. I’m almost halfway done with Feast of Crows and I think I want another epic fantasy series to jump into.

I’m a pretty slow reader and until I got these books I really did not read much at all. I’ve always really liked the fantasy movies etc though. I read Lord of the Rings a long time ago and loved it.

So any suggestions?
I’ve heard a lot of talk about Steve Erikson’s Malazon Empire series. What scares me though is people say the character development is not that great. I really like stories that connect you with the people in it.

I read the first book of Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time a couple years ago but never moved forward. I liked it well enough, but honestly I’ve read so much bad stuff about books 6-11 that I’m turned off on it. I don’t want to be knee deep in a series and it turn into a chore to figure out the end.

Some other authors that caught my attention were Janny Wurts and her Wars of Lights and Shadows, I heard Guy Kay is a good author I think the Sarantium Mosaic was suggested, I also heard good things about Robin Hobb and her Farseer trilogy.

I know there are a ton of others. I’m looking to stay away from kid driven books. They don’t have to be like GRRM’s stuff but I would like more of an adult focus. I don’t need tons dragons and tons of magic, but I like that kind of stuff some. It is important to me that the author be good at their craft and by that I mean creating a world and characters I can get engrossed in and care about.

I mean to compare to GRRM the stuff that happened in Storm of Swords was pretty wild and I want to feel that kind of attachment to what I’m reading again.

Anyway any thoughts for me to consider?

Again sorry for going way off topic, but I thought who better to ask then folks who like one of my favorite series ever.

[EquallyWorthless]

Honestly the bad talk about books 6-11 in wheel of time is bullshit, there is some weak moments in 9 and 10, but seriously 6,7 and 8 are awesome, and all have really good moments, some of the most important parts come in book 8 and 9, there is just some long winded parts in there as well, with too much detail on none important stuff. It is worth it man. Plus it is totally back on track with 11(the last one that Jordan wrote) and 12 and 13, the ones Brandon Sanderson wrote. Speaking of Sanderson, try his Mistborn trilogy. AMAZING. Also, he has a new book called The Way of Kings that is super amazing that is Book 1 in a planned 10 book series. Seriously, read Wheel of Time though, you wont regret it.

[Fifthelement]

I agree with EW, the Wheel Of Time series is worth it. My biggest issue, earlier in the series, was that it just didn't seem to be going anywhere and it felt like a real slog trying to get through them at first. I was also a little pissed that Jordan just seemed to be milking the series in order to put out more books, equaling more $$$. However, much like any quest-type series, the time between action can seem to take forever; yet, as we get closer to the end of the series things are coming together nicely. The nice thing for you is that almost all of the books are out in paperback right now, so you can start reading them and perhaps by the time you are done, the last two books will be out

One of my all time favourite series, even though it's an old one, is the Dragonlance Chronicles by Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman. Of course, there are over a hundred books set in that world now by various authors, but I still re-read the original every few years.

I'll get back to you about some of my other favourites once I head up to the study and check my bookshelves.

[intodeep]

Thanks Guys I appreciate it.
I'll give the WoT a closer look like. I actually already own the first two books so that would be the easiest course of action.

Oh and i read a ton of dragonlance books many years ago. I could not recall which ones they were but i read my fair share and enjoyed them.

[Fifthelement]

Latest Song of Ice and Fire book new.

A Dance with Dragons is coming 12 July 2011 Woo Hoo!

http://www.georgerrmartin.com/if-update.html

[Jason P]

I just started reading the 1st book a few days ago. So far it's been great although I've spent half my time flipping back and forth to keep track of everyone.

[Digital Twilight]

Latest Song of Ice and Fire book new.

A Dance with Dragons is coming 12 July 2011 Woo Hoo!

http://www.georgerrmartin.com/if-update.html

Cool. About time

[intodeep]

Latest Song of Ice and Fire book new.

A Dance with Dragons is coming 12 July 2011 Woo Hoo!

http://www.georgerrmartin.com/if-update.html

I saw this via facebook a few hours ago on my phone and just got in front of a computer this is AWESOME news! I almost shit myself when i saw it on facebook.

[intodeep]

I just started reading the 1st book a few days ago. So far it's been great although I've spent half my time flipping back and forth to keep track of everyone.

Very cool! I think it only gets better the deeper you get into it. It can be a little overwhelming at first with all the different view points but it comes together nicely.

[rrivers]

Thanks for the news!

I read the first book last year and really enjoyed it. Like Jason when I first read it I was flipping back and forth to keep track of the characters, but after awhile you don't have to do that anymore.

I started book 2 but put it aside. Not because it wasn't good though. Every year my wife and I have a contest to see who can read the most books in the year. I knew I had no chance if I tackled that one late in the year. (I lost anyway so I should have read it !)

I'm really looking forward to the HBO show.

I'm also in the same boat with other people who said they have stayed away from The Wheel of Time because of what they heard about later books. I read the first one and liked it, but haven't moved on. I'm glad to hear someone say the rest is worth it. I was looking at the most recent one in hardcover and figure I will get back to it. The Sanderson "Way of Kings" looks good too.

Also, if you haven't you should check out "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss. The second book in the trilogy came out Tuesday.

[intodeep]

EW also has a new trailer that is awesome and a picture of the wall.......

Holy shit the Wall looks awesome. This looks so good

http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/03/03/game-of-thrones-new-trailer/

[Fifthelement]

EW also has a new trailer that is awesome and a picture of the wall.......

Holy shit the Wall looks awesome. This looks so good

http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/03/03/game-of-thrones-new-trailer/

Trailer looks amazing. Not going to judge based on a few seconds on the clip, but it seems to me that some things have changed from the book Oh well, I'm sure that all will be well

[Fifthelement]

Oh, and Jason P and rrivers, you should both keep at it. The books are definitely worth it. Don't get to caught up on who's who. It'll all come together nicely

[Digital Twilight]

EW also has a new trailer that is awesome and a picture of the wall.......

Holy shit the Wall looks awesome. This looks so good

http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/03/03/game-of-thrones-new-trailer/

Trailer looks amazing. Not going to judge based on a few seconds on the clip, but it seems to me that some things have changed from the book Oh well, I'm sure that all will be well

It's usually necessary to change a few things when you adapt something from medium to another.

Looks like it has been put together nicely and not a rush job.

[Sprunkn7]

There are sooo many names!! When I first started the series I almost put it down because I was having a hard time keeping all the names (and AKA's) straight. But it all does come together nicely. Some people are just not that important and you kind of weed them out.
I still need to read the last book (Crows). I wanted to wait until after the HBO airing was over to resume. Now by then I know I will have two books to read in the summer!