BS: A game of thrones 2011

Subject: BS: A game of thrones
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 Apr 11 - 07:07 PM

Well, who's watching it? Who has read the books? Who reckond GRRM must be a folk singer with that beard and hat?

:D

MP

Subject: RE: BS: A game of thrones
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Apr 11 - 07:40 PM

Is this all about the contest where people with the shits ran from toilet to toilet and were judged based on time, quantity, and consistency. Anyone who shit themselves was disqualified.   Didn't get to see it myself but I heard it was won by a former crepitation artist who ate nothing but a diet of sauerkraut and kimchi chased with milk and beer for two weeks. He almost lost it all at Throne Station #13 where an overweight possum wandered into his path.

Stirring stuff!!


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: A game of thrones
From: J-boy
Date: 18 Apr 11 - 11:39 PM

"He looks like a folkie" is what my partner Tami said when I first showed her that picture of him on his website. I don't have HBO or cable but I look forward to watching the DVDs. A Song of Ice and Fire is my favorite fantasy series. I think it's every bit as good if not better(sacrilege alert)than The Lord of the Rings. I hope he can finish it soon.

Subject: RE: BS: A game of thrones
From: Amergin
Date: 19 Apr 11 - 12:09 AM

Well there is an official release date for the next book, I heard...but I dunno...kinda gave up on him.

Subject: RE: BS: A game of thrones
From: J-boy
Date: 19 Apr 11 - 12:21 AM

On July 12th A Dance with Dragons will be published. As for the final two installments...well that's anybody's guess.

Subject: RE: BS: A game of thrones
From: catspaw49
Date: 19 Apr 11 - 12:26 AM

You mean the next one they're going to be shitting while being attacked by a dragon doing the tango???

Wow! Don't wanna' miss that!!!!


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: A game of thrones
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 19 Apr 11 - 12:58 AM

Spaw, I think it's time we look to your having An Official Apprentice - we've already had one close call with you...

Subject: RE: BS: A game of thrones
From: J-boy
Date: 19 Apr 11 - 01:05 AM

catspaw49 really does go on about the feces doesn't he? There must be a website that can help him. But I imagine he knows just where to go.

Subject: RE: BS: A game of thrones
From: michaelr
Date: 19 Apr 11 - 01:35 AM

I watched the opener, having had it hyped down my throat for six months now. And I have to say it's a bit mediocre -- vulgar and not very well written (or acted, for that matter; poor Sean Bean).

The Hallmark moment between the white-haired siblings was particularly bad, I thought.

Not familiar with the books -- Terry Pratchett is about all I can manage these days...

Subject: RE: BS: A game of thrones
From: catspaw49
Date: 19 Apr 11 - 01:53 AM

I don't go on about faces.........you didn't spell it right by the way. Fact is I rarely even mention someone's face unless I refer someone being shitfaced. You must be thinking of someone else or you're just being a real shithead!


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: A game of thrones
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 19 Apr 11 - 03:08 AM

:-) I love this guy!

Subject: RE: BS: A game of thrones
From: J-boy
Date: 19 Apr 11 - 03:36 AM

You know nothing Jon Snow.

Subject: RE: BS: A game of thrones
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 19 Apr 11 - 04:18 AM

I've never found any of George R.R. Martin's fiction to be to my taste (too contrived and over-written). I tried the first chapter of the first book in this series and thought that it was just like every other 'doorstep' fantasy that I had ever read or tried to read. I'm sick to death of doorstep fantasies - why does no-one write books any more? Tolkein has a lot to answer for!

To my mind there have been only two decent fantasies written in the last 30 - 40 years: Jack Vance's 'Lyonesse' trilogy (yes, it's a bit of a doorstep - but it is brilliant and I would read Vance's shopping lists) and Walter Jon William's 'Metropolitan' and 'City on Fire'; these are nothing like the usual 'Sword 'n' Sorcery' rubbish. The two WJW books are two thirds of a projected trilogy - which he has yet to finish.

Subject: RE: BS: A game of thrones
From: ranger1
Date: 19 Apr 11 - 09:50 AM

Spaw, J-boy, am I going to have to separate you two?

I've really enjoyed the books, but no HBO, so J-boy and I are going to have to wait for the DVDs or Netflix to come to our rescue. And J, we're going to have to discuss your heresy later.

Subject: RE: BS: A game of thrones
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 19 Apr 11 - 12:23 PM

I haven't read the books, but in reading an overview of the premise of the stories, I realized I read a single novel by someone else a few months ago set in a similar world, but with the addition of a stranded colony of humans from Earth. (Meaning the planets residents were humanoid, but not Sean Bean-equivalents.) (Can't remember what the book was; I think it's over in Long Beach, and I'm not at the moment.)

I don't get HBO, so it will be a while until I get to see this. Netflix does not have an agreement with HBO, so that won't help. Does HBO stuff go anywhere other than DVD when it's done?

There was an interesting kerfuffle that arose from a NY Times review by a critic who obviously was not into fantasy fiction at all. She happened to be female and made the mistake of operating from the premise that, "of course", few women are into fantasy fiction anyway. Here's one response via Huffington Post.

It's an interesting question -- I find that there are some genres that work that way: if the critic (or viewer, like michaelr above) has no interest in the genre, they will not be entertained, no matter what. Often happens with movies for kids.

The Times did follow up with a more reasonable (but still somewhat critical) review of the show.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: BS: A game of thrones
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 19 Apr 11 - 01:07 PM

I must say I quite enjoyed the books but they were hard going at times. Which is why, I suppose, in the lazy side of my brain, I'm looking forward to seeing the first episode. I was at the folk club last night but it is recorded and, hopefuly, I'll get to see it later.

Funnily enough, although they are obviously set in a fantasy environment, I never felt that fantasy was the key feature. The politcal intrigues and goings on in the struggle for power were, to my mind, far more prevalent. I also found that the character development, well, of the ones he doesn't kill off in odd twists, was pretty good. But then again - in so many pages I wouldn't expect much else!

I haven't read the ones you mention, Shimrod, but I will keep my eyes open. Once I get to the end of the list I have left over from Christmas and birthdays. I don't know if you class David Gemmel as one of the 'pulp' writers but I must say I found his books very good - Probably more so the historical/mythical, such as the Troy series, than the pure fantasy. But I do find his characters in the fantasy genre some of the best anywhere. Well, maybe excluding Terry Pratchett but I guess a different ball park, as our American cousins would say, would be the right phrase there.

Anyroads - The sooner I get to the gym (sorry, can't help myself at times) the sooner I get back to see GOT.

MP

Subject: RE: BS: A game of thrones
From: catspaw49
Date: 19 Apr 11 - 01:09 PM

So this is about some kind of fantasy thing set in the old days? Well shitfire, that kinda' thing ain't even close to being entertaining and no ways near as good as that crappin' contest I was talkin' about earlier. I never liked that "Lord of the Rings" crap either. Once again I was disappointed when I found out what it was because I had thought it was books about a guy with hemorrhoids sitting on them donuts.................


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: A game of thrones
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 19 Apr 11 - 01:46 PM

NY Times' critic Gina Bellafonte responds to her critics (and invites fantasy fan's reviews of the show, so look to the comments).

Subject: RE: BS: A game of thrones
From: michaelr
Date: 19 Apr 11 - 03:02 PM

Becky -- it's not the case that I'm not interested in the fantasy genre, it's just that I like to see better writing and moviemaking skill that what's on display in the series opener.

It's certainly not going to make me run to the bookstore, whereas I await impatiently new installments from Tad Williams and Stephen R. Donaldson, two of the best contemporary fantasy writers.

Subject: RE: BS: A game of thrones
From: gnu
Date: 19 Apr 11 - 03:31 PM

Tad Williams... what a ball player! And I seen him chuck a fly into "deep right field" on the Miramichi in person. Poetry on the river man!

Subject: RE: BS: A game of thrones
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 19 Apr 11 - 05:50 PM

Pretty damn good I would say. As I remember too - Very little reliance on fantasy. Apart from zombies could have been set anywhere in a history where there were swords and spears. In fact, delete the apart from zombies bit. There are plenty of brain dead walking around anyway so I guess it could have been set anywhere :-)

Seriosuly though - I can see it would ne veryone's cup of tea but I did enjoy it. I thought the chracters came across pretty well given that in this case they were given only an hour to sell themselves. OK - I have the advantage of having read the books but I am pretty sure that anyone who hadn't would have picked up on the mega-baddies at least!

Cheers

MP

Subject: RE: BS: A game of thrones
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 20 Apr 11 - 12:00 AM

Sorry, michaelr, I misinterpreted your post.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: BS: A game of thrones
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 20 Apr 11 - 12:19 PM

For music content (and more commentary on gender and fantasy fiction): What Should Be The 'Game Of Thrones' Soundtrack: Ripped-Bodice Rock.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: BS: A game of thrones
From: Wesley S
Date: 22 Apr 11 - 10:01 PM

Something I can't figure out - and maybe y'all can help - is where and when this story takes place? Is it earth? Some other planet? Some other time or universe? Or are these questions that shouldn't be asked?

Subject: RE: BS: A game of thrones
From: J-boy
Date: 22 Apr 11 - 11:41 PM

A Song of Ice and Fire (as the series is known) takes place in the completely imaginary continent of Westeros which exists on an as yet unnamed planet that GRR Martin invented. It is purely fantastical.

Subject: RE: BS: A game of thrones
From: Max Johnson
Date: 23 Apr 11 - 08:56 AM

I dopn't watch much TV, and only have freeview so I hadn't heard of this until recently. I've just requested the first book from the local library, and it has a waiting list until August 2012!

Subject: RE: BS: A game of thrones
From: Wesley S
Date: 23 Apr 11 - 11:00 AM

If they are from another planet why do they have English accents??

Has anyone been watching Camelot on the Starz network?

Camelot link

Subject: RE: BS: A game of thrones
From: J-boy
Date: 29 Apr 11 - 12:23 AM

George RR Martin finished "A Dance with Dragons" yesterday. Let's hope that it is worth the wait. I think it will be.

Subject: RE: BS: A game of thrones
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 04 May 11 - 05:47 PM

Just watched part 3 - Still pretty good. IMESHO (As Uriah Heap would say)

DtG