OT: Game of Thrones Major Spoiler Thread

[Boobs McGee]

Thanks for the replies everyone (and the Full Jordan Definition)...definitely checking out Dune first. That series was finished properly, correct?

Once I wrap those up, I'll come back and start with the next set!

[Boobs McGee]

JUST REMEMBERED! When I was younger, I read a bunch of the Xanth series (piers anthony). From what I recall, they were fun, easy to read fantasy books. Thinking about grabbing one from kindle...anyone recently read any of the newer ones? Are they considered more "teen" books?

[BroncsRule]

Xanth is certainly light hearted and tounge in cheek - and appropriate for young adults. If you like Xanth, try Terry Pratchett's Diskwold.

[scorpio]

the Incarnations of Immortality series by Piers Anthony is good, or at least I really liked it when I was younger.

You might also dig "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman. Much darker and more adult. "Neverwhere" and "Stardust" are both good also.

Originally Posted by Boobs McGee

Thanks for the replies everyone (and the Full Jordan Definition)...definitely checking out Dune first. That series was finished properly, correct?

Once I wrap those up, I'll come back and start with the next set!

I read the Dune series but wasn't as big a fan as some here. There are some big time and generation gaps between books (making each book it's own story). It didn't have that "series" feel to it, for me.

You could say it finished properly, because each book was its own story. But I don't think that term really applies to Dune.

Jordan's Wheel of Time is a continuous story. As others said, he did die before it ended, but purposely left all the detail to have a successor complete it. Brandon Sanderson has finished thee LAST book and it comes out in January. As diverse and sprawling as any story can be, it is still truly awesome.

Earlier in this thread I also mentioned Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth. It's a bit more simple than either Martin or Jordan, but quite good nonetheless. I thought the series started off a little predictable, but the books (and Goodkind's writing) got better as they went along. Book 6 (Faith of the Fallen) was one of my favorite books of any series, or any genre for that matter.

One more good one - Sharon Kay Penman - Here be Dragons. It's a historical fiction 3 book series. Set around 1100-1200 AD in England and Wales. Short review -> it's awesome.

On a sour note, anyone read or like Terry Brooks Shannara series? I read most of them. I thought they were terrible. Simple, predictable, cookie cutter, and boring. Funny part is I read at least 7 of them, maybe 9, until I finally called it quits. I was just hooked on series books at the time.

[BroncsRule]

Originally Posted by jerseyguy4

I read the Dune series but wasn't as big a fan as some here. There are some big time and generation gaps between books (making each book it's own story). It didn't have that "series" feel to it, for me.

You could say it finished properly, because each book was its own story. But I don't think that term really applies to Dune.

Jordan's Wheel of Time is a continuous story. As others said, he did die before it ended, but purposely left all the detail to have a successor complete it. Brandon Sanderson has finished thee LAST book and it comes out in January. As diverse and sprawling as any story can be, it is still truly awesome.

Earlier in this thread I also mentioned Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth. It's a bit more simple than either Martin or Jordan, but quite good nonetheless. I thought the series started off a little predictable, but the books (and Goodkind's writing) got better as they went along. Book 6 (Faith of the Fallen) was one of my favorite books of any series, or any genre for that matter.

One more good one - Sharon Kay Penman - Here be Dragons. It's a historical fiction 3 book series. Set around 1100-1200 AD in England and Wales. Short review -> it's awesome.

On a sour note, anyone read or like Terry Brooks Shannara series? I read most of them. I thought they were terrible. Simple, predictable, cookie cutter, and boring. Funny part is I read at least 7 of them, maybe 9, until I finally called it quits. I was just hooked on series books at the time.

Thanks for the release date on the last WOT - I had not heard that. Also thanks for the "Here be Dragons" - i like historical fiction as a changeup. Ever read Guy Gavriel Kay?

I gave up on Goodkind after the 3rd book. Seemed like he was going all Ayn Rand, and I couldn't hang.

And yeah - Terry Brooks sucks. Only ever read one of 'em - way back in the day.. Was the first one called "Sword of Shanara? I think that was it.

[Taco John]

I start Sword of Storms again this weekend. I'm finding that my second read-through of the series is just as epic as my first. I'm picking up on little details that I didn't catch the first time around - and the significance of certain events. SPOILER: ( Robert and Ned in the forest. Bran's dream before he wakes up. Ned's dreams while he's on the Milk of the Poppy. John Snow's wharg experience. Catelyn and Jamie's conversation in the cells. The ambition of Highgarden. Danery's visions in the house of the undying. )

I'm really looking forward to reading through this third book again. So much happens in it, and I'm excited to find new details that I missed before.

[broncolife]

Just started listening to 4th audio book. Im about 2 hours in and I was wondering where the hell are the main characters. I was getting so bored I had to check the net and see what was up. I was pissed to see that 2 of my fav characters are not in it (Snow and Tyrion.) And my other fav character is hardly in it. (Arya.) Im going to have a hard time gettng through this book. Its like reading a Harry Potter book with no Harry in it.

[broncolife]

There is a rumor Ned stark had another bastard.

[broncolife]

Derek Snow

[ZONA]

Originally Posted by broncolife

Just started listening to 4th audio book. Im about 2 hours in and I was wondering where the hell are the main characters. I was getting so bored I had to check the net and see what was up. I was pissed to see that 2 of my fav characters are not in it (Snow and Tyrion.) And my other fav character is hardly in it. (Arya.) Im going to have a hard time gettng through this book. Its like reading a Harry Potter book with no Harry in it.

I haven't read the books but after watching the series for 2 years now, this is one of the things that I find sorta frustrating. So many characters, you can't possibly keep them all going or go into any great depth on most of them.

[Fedaykin]

Originally Posted by broncolife

Just started listening to 4th audio book. Im about 2 hours in and I was wondering where the hell are the main characters. I was getting so bored I had to check the net and see what was up. I was pissed to see that 2 of my fav characters are not in it (Snow and Tyrion.) And my other fav character is hardly in it. (Arya.) Im going to have a hard time gettng through this book. Its like reading a Harry Potter book with no Harry in it.

Book 4 & 5 are one giant book, split up toughly by geography/character set. Everyone you're missing is featured in B5.

Originally Posted by broncolife

Just started listening to 4th audio book. Im about 2 hours in and I was wondering where the hell are the main characters. I was getting so bored I had to check the net and see what was up. I was pissed to see that 2 of my fav characters are not in it (Snow and Tyrion.) And my other fav character is hardly in it. (Arya.) Im going to have a hard time gettng through this book. Its like reading a Harry Potter book with no Harry in it.

This is the critique I was making earlier in the thread -- Martin doesn't seem to be able to bring things back home and wrap up like a novel should. He keeps starting new character subplots, more moving parts. Just wait until you that some of them come to nothing, and have no effect on the overall plot.

He writes like he's writing for a weekly TV show that never ends, rather than a novel.

Originally Posted by Fedaykin

Book 4 & 5 are one giant book, split up toughly by geography/character set. Everyone you're missing is featured in B5.

And reading these in real time ( when they were published), you would go 11 years without reading about the characters that are not mentioned in B4.

[BroncsRule]

Originally Posted by Jay3

This is the critique I was making earlier in the thread -- Martin doesn't seem to be able to bring things back home and wrap up like a novel should. He keeps starting new character subplots, more moving parts. Just wait until you that some of them come to nothing, and have no effect on the overall plot.

He writes like he's writing for a weekly TV show that never ends, rather than a novel.

Interesting observation. I remember reading somewhere (probably on his blog) that GRRM cut his teeth writing for TV back in the '80's..

[Kaylore]

Mods, please don't move this thread. PLEEEEEASEEE

[Rascal]

When is book 6 supposed to come out? Just started book 4.

[Eldorado]

Season one was dope. Gonna have to 'find a way' to get season 2.

[Broncos_OTM]

Originally Posted by Eldorado

Season one was dope. Gonna have to 'find a way' to get season 2.

tubeplus.com is your friend

[Kaylore]

Originally Posted by Eldorado

Season one was dope. Gonna have to 'find a way' to get season 2.

This is a cool gif I found.

[v2micca]

Seems as good a place as any on the internet to b**** about Peter Dinklage getting robbed at the Emmy Awards. Don't get me wrong. I love me some Breaking Bad. And this past season just keeps getting better and better. But this past season Jesse Pinkman never had a single moment anywhere close to Tyrion Lanister's Blackwater speech. And Dinklage seriously owned that moment.

[Taco John]

Originally Posted by v2micca

Seems as good a place as any on the internet to b**** about Peter Dinklage getting robbed at the Emmy Awards. Don't get me wrong. I love me some Breaking Bad. And this past season just keeps getting better and better. But this past season Jesse Pinkman never had a single moment anywhere close to Tyrion Lanister's Blackwater speech. And Dinklage seriously owned that moment.

Not to mention the scene with Shae after that when she came to visit him after the battle. That was some quality acting.

[houghtam]

So, I know all you are already a bunch of nerds for talking about snarks and grumkins in a public place.

And I know for a fact that several of you are into World of Warcraft or at least Diablo III.

And I really don't care how big of a nerd you all think me to be (because you can probably multiply that by X and you still won't be close)...

SO....

I have begun to adapt a pencil and paper RPG for the Game of Thrones setting. (Yes, I realize there already is one, and I've seen it...it isn't very good) I was wondering if there would be anyone out there interested in giving it a try.

What I'm looking for at the moment is some people to help me iron out some of the kinks and help playtest...I will also have my first "official" campaign starting around the first of the year.

But I'd really like to get a small group from here together and help put some interesting stories together and see how it works.

If you're interested, send me a PM. I already play a few pencil and paper RPGs with some other groups over Skype, Ventrilo, and the like...the lore and "realism" (as far as fantasy goes) of Game of Thrones is just to ripe not to try and pick the fruit.

So send me a PM. I promise not to out your nerd-dom to the rest of the board.

[cutthemdown]

Originally Posted by ZONA

I haven't read the books but after watching the series for 2 years now, this is one of the things that I find sorta frustrating. So many characters, you can't possibly keep them all going or go into any great depth on most of them.

It does get frustrating but the show is still so engrossing I can't stop watching. It gets slow at times, lacks action, but then the payoff is its epic nature and twisting plot lines. It keeps you guessing.

I did have to go online a few times to read the back stories on the characters. It gets hard to follow sometimes.

[Chris]

Originally Posted by cutthemdown

It does get frustrating but the show is still so engrossing I can't stop watching. It gets slow at times, lacks action, but then the payoff is its epic nature and twisting plot lines. It keeps you guessing.

I did have to go online a few times to read the back stories on the characters. It gets hard to follow sometimes.

I have a feeling xbox / microsoft smartglass will let you track who you're watching and get their bios instantly.