Never read "Game of Thrones" but...

[Basilius]

Been reading the first book for the past week, now. I won't start watching the series until I'm done with the novel. I'm more than halfway through the book, and it's great, btw.

FWIW, the first episode covered the first nine chapters (through the 2nd Bran chapter), and chapter 12 (the 2nd Daenerys chapter). This is one of those times I wish Martin numbered his chapters. If you've read at least that far, you can watch the first episode without spoiling anything.

[mooshie78]

I can't promise this will work for you, but I also have DirecTV and don't have a subscription for the premium movie channels.  However, when I looked before the free HBO weekend started, for some reason I do have HBO Signature (it was called "HBOSeHD" in the on-screen guide and is channel 503), and from what I can tell on the Game of Thrones website, they will be showing each Sunday night's episode on the following Friday night on that channel.  Now I can't tell right now if I still have it, because it's still the free promo time and it still shows all the HBO channels available for me (even when I look days ahead) in the on-screen guide, but I'm really, really, really hoping that when I check tomorrow, it will still show I have HBOS available.  So that's something you might want to check.  Just a thought.

No such luck for me.  The channel isn't grayed out in the guide, but it shows up a "Channel Not Purchased" when you go to it.

[endhalf]

I have seen the first episode of the game of trones and I really liked it. It was very violent and sexual as true fantasy should be... But I don't know about Americans... You Americans seem to be overly sensitive to sexuality in TV... It will be certainly succesfull in Europe though... I have planned to buy all game of thrones books, they sell them in my country for about 100 dollars :-) I belive it is 8 books...

[mooshie78]

I have planned to buy all game of thrones books, they sell them in my country for about 100 dollars :-) I belive it is 8 books...

It's a planned 7 book series.

The first 4 have been out for a while, book 5 comes out this summer.  Books 6 and 7 aren't written yet.

[endhalf]

It is "song of ice and fire" series... Might be possible that there aren't just  Game of Thrones books :-)

[mooshie78]

It is "song of ice and fire" series... Might be possible that there aren't just  Game of Thrones books :-)

Yes, the Song of Ice and Fire series is 7 books, with 4 out so far, book 5 out this summer and 6 and 7 to come.  A Game of Thrones is just the first book in the series

A Game of Thrones
A Clash of Kings
A Storm of Swords
A Feast for Crows
A Dance with Dragons
The Winds of Winter
A Dream of Spring

[MichelleR]

It was very violent and sexual as true fantasy should be... But I don't know about Americans... You Americans seem to be overly sensitive to sexuality in TV...

It's on HBO, which is pay cable, meaning people have paid extra for that smut. 

[mom133d (aka Liz)]

Renewed for a second season!!! http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/04/19/game-of-thrones-renewed/

[SebastianDark]

I love all fantasy, usually, but GOT was a bit too.. dense.. for me.  At least back when I first read it.  There were so many characters introduced in such a short span of time that you had to consistently backtrack to figure out their relationships to one another.  That was the least enjoyable part, for me.  But I watched the premiere, and now have a better grasp of the characters I read about earlier.

So, I'd say watch the first episode, then go and read the book.  It'll help you in sorting all the characters out.

[mooshie78]

Yeah, the books a bit overwhelming at first.  By about half way through Game of Thrones you'll have the main characters sorted out and new one's get introduced more gradually over the remaining books.

I do agree that reading after watching a few episodes may help as well since you get a quicker introduction to the main characters in the show than in the book.

[jonathanmoeller]

I plan to wait until the season is done, and then get it on DVD.

Big books, though. I'd say read 'em before watching the show, but that's just a personal preference on my part.

[kCopeseeley]

I know everything is personal preference, but the child in me is sad when people say that Martin isn't a good writer.  I admit to being a skeptic when my friend told me that Ice and Fire was the best fantasy series every written.  (I mean, would YOU believe someone who said that?)  But when I read that series, I was blown away.  Every book is like a new example of what a master of character development Martin is.  He has become the gold standard by which I judge all writers now. 

I think I'm going to buy the DVDs when they come out, then I can enjoy them all in one big marathon.    SOOOOOO excited they got renewed for the second season!!!

[Blanche]

I know everything is personal preference, but the child in me is sad when people say that Martin isn't a good writer.  I admit to being a skeptic when my friend told me that Ice and Fire was the best fantasy series every written.  (I mean, would YOU believe someone who said that?)  But when I read that series, I was blown away.  Every book is like a new example of what a master of character development Martin is.  He has become the gold standard by which I judge all writers now. 

I couldn't have stated it better.  I think the books are fantastic -- characters are gritty and complex and Martin adds a new layer to them with each book.  I watched the premiere (Direct TV free HBO weekend  ).  Very much enjoyed the premiere although was short.  I like that the show remained true to the books.  Will have to hold off and buy them when they all become available.  But hopefully, I can read the next book in the series in the interim!

[PinkKindle]

No such luck for me.  The channel isn't grayed out in the guide, but it shows up a "Channel Not Purchased" when you go to it.

This happened to me too now that the free weekend is over.   I'm sooooo upset.  I guess I'll be glad to watch them all at once when the Blu-Ray comes out, but right now I'm just sad.

[mom133d (aka Liz)]

I love all fantasy, usually, but GOT was a bit too.. dense.. for me.  At least back when I first read it.  There were so many characters introduced in such a short span of time that you had to consistently backtrack to figure out their relationships to one another. 

No, its true. Same with me. I used the family tree in the back constantly and was always having to flip back to the beginning of the chapter to see who the POV was from. And my husband went the audio book route. I have no idea how he kept the characters and POV changes straight.
I'm on my 4th read of GoT now with the Sci-fi/Fantasy book club over on Goodreads. I've don't think I've read anything this many times. 2 times usually, with the intent to read again but get distracted by other unread titles.

[Tris]

Saw this YouTube video from the "Winter Is Coming" website (a website all about the 'Game of Thrones' TV series), and it was funny.  This guy is REALLY loving the show, so I thought it would be funny to share. 

There is a warning to this video for language and a spoiler for the first episode...

http://youtu.be/3UA8swJtPsQ

Tris

[Sean Thomas Fisher]

Never read the books but watched the HBO premiere last night and was blown away. The ten minute opening was amazing! May have to dive into the books after this season. Hope there are a lot more White Walkers to come. Those things are crazy. 

[MichelleR]

Saw this YouTube video from the "Winter Is Coming" website (a website all about the 'Game of Thrones' TV series), and it was funny.  This guy is REALLY loving the show, so I thought it would be funny to share. 

There is a warning to this video for language and a spoiler for the first episode...

http://youtu.be/3UA8swJtPsQ

Tris

oooooh-suuuuum, dude!

[Miriam Minger]

Enjoyed the first episode last night on HBO On Demand, so looking forward to more. 

Miriam Minger

[KaliedaRik]

I read the series a couple of years ago, mainly because I was competing to design the Dothraki language (don't ask!) Getting into the first book was a bit of a struggle - too many POV characters, even for me, and I'm crap at remembering familial histories as I read - but by the end of the book I was hooked.

GRRM is a very 'easy on the eye' writer, I think. The words don't get in the way of the story, and the story he's telling us is fascinating, compelling stuff. I particularly like the way he world-builds Westeros: not just another mediaeval fantasy setting, with the settings as much a character in the story as the humans.

I'm an Arya fan, myself ... she's one heck of a character.

[Mcfergeson]

FWIW, the first episode covered the first nine chapters (through the 2nd Bran chapter), and chapter 12 (the 2nd Daenerys chapter). This is one of those times I wish Martin numbered his chapters. If you've read at least that far, you can watch the first episode without spoiling anything.

Thanks very much!

I'm about 75 percent of the way through GOT, so I think I'll just finish the book completely before watching any of the eps. I got them on VOD through my cable, so I have plenty of time.

I'm glad to hear the series has been renewed! We need more stuff like this on TV.
 

[Neekeebee]

I read the series a couple of years ago, mainly because I was competing to design the Dothraki language (don't ask!)

Seriously?  Neat!  (I know you said not to ask but I couldn't resist commenting.)

N

[Stephen T. Harper]

Okay, finally saw the show!  As the original poster of this thread I was very jealous of all the comments but I had promised my wife to wait until she got home from a business trip to watch the dvr'd premiere.

Totally worth the wait.  Sophisticated, intelligent, beautiful even in the ugly parts.  I also see how the first book would be a chore to get through with all those set ups.  So many characters and settings.  But you know, this show might be a great primer to make diving into the novels easier.

Also interesting that it seemed barely a "fantasy." other than the decapitating wraiths at the beginning and the mention of dragon eggs, there was no magic or monsters. 

Definitely looking forward the rest of the season.

[David M. Baum]

I think the books are fantastic -- characters are gritty and complex and Martin adds a new layer to them with each book. 

You can like the books or hate them, but I think they are a study in character development. There were a few characters which I hated in the first book, and which shifted to grudging admiration in the third book. There are no black-and-white characters in the books, and that is due to some fantastic writing, IMO.

I will not watch the series, because the image of the actors will intrude upon or replace my own images of the characters, and that really annoys me. Once I have finished all the books (and more importantly GRRM finishes writing them) I will watch the series. I think.

[kCopeseeley]

Also interesting that it seemed barely a "fantasy." other than the decapitating wraiths at the beginning and the mention of dragon eggs, there was no magic or monsters. 

YES!!  That is part of the genius of Martin!  Most people wouldn't read a fantasy book can read this stuff, because it's mostly like medieval fiction. 

I'm a HUGE Tyrion fan and a huge Dinklage fan, so I am interested in seeing his portrayal, though I take the point about the show spoiling the personal viewpoint of the characters.