Amazing house Curtis, how inspirational for you to support my claim and become one of my bannermen.

Curtis @ 27/3/2013 21:28

Dr. Fröken Drr @ 26/3/2013 22:42 Liar!

Not sure what you're talking about.

So guess who decided to buy the seven volume box-set on amazon yesterday? It arrived during the day today. It's a nice looking collection, I have to say.

Paulus @ 29/3/2013 17:39

So guess who decided to buy the seven volume box-set on amazon yesterday?

hmm..

Ari?

Maybe I should have used the "fare enough" quote... so many mal memes to choose from!

My thoughts so far on the first book:

Spoiler

+

It's interesting to see what changes they made in the show. Obviously the ages is the biggest one and I can understand the need for that. It's strange that Joffrey is the older child in the novel though. I have a hard time picturing it with the show embedded in my mind. There's some cool stuff they missed showing while they added scenes that weren't really necessary. Without the POV of the characters and their thoughts, it makes it harder to understand motives and histories so I can see why certain scenes were added but I don't really get why they had to show the shaving scene over the sword-fight with Tommen and Bran, ending in Joffrey mocking and enraging Robb. That seems like the kind of foreboding character moment they'd want to capture. I guess in the show they wanted to make Joffrey even more snivelling and the age differences meant that him fighting Robb and taunting him was unrealistic. But the whole point is that Joffrey was all talk and couldn't really back up his actions (but there was nothing that Robb could do about it). I think of all the parts I've read so far, that single scene is the most interesting omission. Other than that it's largely faithful. Again with the ages, it's strange that Theon is so much older. The Starks all had to be aged up because of the differences with Sansa for audience sensitivity. But I always thought Robb was older than Theon in the show. Maybe that isn't the case at all and it's just my perception that is off. It's funny that the White Walkers are originally called Others. They obviously didn't want to clash with Lost when they made the show. Hilarious really because George R.R. Martin was a Lost fan who despised the ending and actually publically stated he wouldn't end A Song of Ice and Fire in the same way. This pissed off Damon Lindeloff who was pretty vocal on it despite being a fan of his too. The fact that they had to change a detail in the show to avoid clashing with Lost is hilarious in light of this. That being said, Others is a much cooler name for them. It's far more sinister and foreboding. Theon seems even more of a dick (I was expecting him to become more sympathetic in the books but I guess there's time for that to grow). Catelyn insisting Ned goes to King's Landing is an interesting difference too. Her character seems a lot harder and more embittered in the novel. It's nice that there's more insight on her loathing of Jon Snow and her "it should have been you line" at Bran's side was cold as ice. Damn. At the same time Jon seems to be more openly accepted at Winterfell in this. All of the other characters are pretty much the same as their book versions so far, minus the aging differences. It's nice that they captured them so well. Drogo seems less menacing but that's largely down to the POV of Dany. Making her willing on the wedding night is a pretty substantial difference and will likely lead to her development throughout being less of a mysterious jump. I was not a fan of Dany at the start of the show, mostly because her characterisations didn't lend themselves to any emotion at all. She didn't seem scared. She just seemed indifferent to everything. In her POV she largely is indifferent to everything but the fear element comes across a lot stronger, which helps. Oh and Sandor already has a bigger role and more lines. I approve whole-heartedly. EDIT: Also it's kind of nice that Tommen and Myrcella do more than just appear very briefly in the background. I guess the show didn't feel the need to explore them much because they hardly play a tremendous role in the narrative...at least as the first two seasons go. Still, these subtle expansions lead to a more interesting world. So far, very very good read. I'm struggling to put it down.

Oh wow I completely forgot they cut that scene.

That was a very strange change. The original scene was so much more powerful. Wasn't it also where his nickname for her originated?

Paulus @ 29/3/2013 18:39

So guess who decided to buy the seven volume box-set on amazon yesterday? It arrived during the day today. It's a nice looking collection, I have to say.

I'm guessing they split two books in half? I wonder why the UK did that.

I don't think Parliament specifically was involved, Jeff. But I will write to them and ask.

For the record it was this collection: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Song-Ice-Fire-Volumes/dp/0007477155/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364679204&sr=8-1

I couldn't find it on the US Amazon site at all.

UK has a season 1-2 DVD box set as well... you guys sure know how to give a good deal on DVDs... if shipping wasn't an issue I'd buy more Region 2 dvds (I have a region free dvd player so no problems there)

ITS TIME! I got my stream going and I am ready for some serious GoT time.

Well, I greatly enjoyed that season premiere.