Just found this news online:
HBO has acquired the rights to turn George R.R. Martin's bestselling fantasy series "A Song of Fire & Ice" into a dramatic series to be written and exec produced by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.
Via Variety.
Now, allow me an excited, girly scream.
I gave up on the sword and sorcery epics a long time ago. Those fantasy trilogies where the farmboy turns out to be the Chosen One stated in ancient prophecies where they will battle some dark god risen? It wasn't a conscious decision, but over the years you get jaded about the new stuff that comes out that doesn't quite inspire your taste. Then one day you just stop browsing at that section of the bookstore altogether.
Except for A Song of Fire & Ice. George R. R. Martin's multi-volumed high fantasy epic is the only series that still keeps me interested, long after I gave up on Robert Jordan and David Eddings. Why do I love his Song of Fire & Ice?
Martin never forgets that character drives the story, and if necessary, very bad things can be allowed to happen to your well-loved characters. And some really bad things have been done indeed.
Martin is also an accomplished writer of horror and it comes through in his writing.
Martin is always aware of the state of moral ambiguity. There are no real heroes, and his villains are heroes at the other side of the fence. His best character created in the epic is Tyrion the dwarf - a complicated and compelling anti-hero whose fate is unknown since the end of A Feast for Crows. Get him back. I want to find out what happened to him.
Martin still knows how to write an epic, with the rise and fall of great houses, lots of political intrigue and betrayal. He takes his time, yes, and so each book is worth waiting for.
I love love love love love A Song of Fire & Ice.
Visit George R. R. Martin's Official Website.
5 comments:
Haven't read the last one. I read the first one, waited years for the second one to come out. Then years for the third. This is a series I wish I had not discovered until it was finished. Much too long in between!
One of my closest friends is a huge Martin fan. He has given me the first book in the Song of Fire and Ice series and it is one of my promised reads for this year. It is only my annoyance with reading series that have yet to be finished that has tempered my enthusiasm for getting into it.
Obviously some books in any genre, especially sci fi and fantasy, are much better than others. I refuse to allow myself to be jaded, however, because I always seem to find something wonderful to read. The latest high fantasy surprise for me was Gene Wolfe's two book series, The Knight and The Wizard. Between those and reading Conan for the first time last year I was blown away with both sword and sorcery and fantasy books that gave me euphoric pleasure.
I look forward to giving the Martin series a try.
Yes, it's always the waiting that's the killer, isn't it? And According to George RR Martin himself - the next book is not yet done.
Yet I wait, for it to be finished, because it's truly a series worth waiting for.
Hello, I'm Carl's friend who loves GRRM's Song of Fire and Ice Series. I'm lucky I didn't discover the series until he had the first three volumes out which I speed through and then I only had a small wait for Feast For Crows which was also great. I'm really looking forward to Dances with Dragons since Tryion is also my favorite character plus I really want to find out more of whats happening up at The Wall.
I will agree with your comment about character. That's really what dives the series and the fact that all actions have consequences and GRRM isn't afraid to let bad consequences happen to any character.
Let's keep our fingers crossed that Dances might be done by the end of year. I find myself checking GRRM's website once or twice a month just to check on any update. I also had a chance to meet him back in 2005 at a convention and he is very approachable author who was very happy to interact with his fans. I'm also looking forward to the series on HBO. It's funny that's always the only place I thought his series could ever find a home where I felt the producers would be able to translate his series with no holds barred. Which is the only way to do it right.
Hi Jeff, Thanks for dropping a note. Everyone's waiting anxiously for the next book, but alas, quality takes time. GRRM is apologetic on his site, but *sigh* I'm not sure about the end of this year though.
GRRM seems positive about the adaptation, since he likes the HBO series like Deadwood and Soprano - I like them too.
I really enjoy Tyrion and his somewhat tragic misunderstood character. (I'm going to assume you've read Feast for Crows) But Jamie himself is suddenly rising to the occasion.
And oh my god, what GRRM did to Lady Stark. The transformation. I was left speechless by the end of the book.
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