The Official Game of Thrones [A Song of Ice and Fire] Thread

[Chris]

I think the most intriguing part of the series is, 5 books into a 7 book series, we still aren't sure who the real power players are, or have any real inclination of where the story is going. It's incredible how tight Martin has made his knot. I was talking with my wife last night, and we realized just how many major plot lines we were overlooking because they weren't an integral part of ADWD.

Spoiler response to Cmstophe:

In regards to Jon, I'm assuming he's about to spend a significant amount of time living as a dire wolf before being able to return to his body. I'm curious to see if he'll end up like "Cold hands" or if Melisandre will be able to bring him back in a similar way to Thoros and Catelyn. Presumably, the fact that Jon's soul never "crosses" into another realm will help him from losing as much of his memory and personality, which was a serious issue for both Catelyn and Beric Dondarrion.
The death will seemingly solve two issues:
1. It will nullify Jon's oath to the wall. He pledged to serve the wall until death, and now he's managed to die.
2. I suspect that his return will bring about the personal growth readers keep assuming he's going to make. He's obviously very smart and plans well, but he is still very selfish and a very poor communicator. He has been stubborn, and expects people to follow him without question. I suspect his transformation will be very significant.

I can see that happening. Spoiler:

I'm not sure I ever saw Jon as selfish, or even terribly flawed, to be honest with you. He seems to be one of the other few paragons of morality in the series, such as Eddard and Davos. I don't really want him to start running around in his direwolf for the next book, but I realize that is a significant possibility. You mention Coldhands, and I still have no idea who he is. I know the popular theory is Benjen Stark but even if that's the case, the question begs WHAT is he?

[Malt]

I can see that happening. Spoiler:

I'm not sure I ever saw Jon as selfish, or even terribly flawed, to be honest with you. He seems to be one of the other few paragons of morality in the series, such as Eddard and Davos. I don't really want him to start running around in his direwolf for the next book, but I realize that is a significant possibility. You mention Coldhands, and I still have no idea who he is. I know the popular theory is Benjen Stark but even if that's the case, the question begs WHAT is he?

Response (and please do not read if you aren't through all 5 books):

I say Jon is selfish in that he makes decisions without regard to his counsel. A lot of the decisions he is making do seem to be the right ones, but he is terrible at bringing people to a consensus. Also, he was prepared to become a turncloak and forsake his vow by attacking Winterfell on behalf of Mance, which had some obvious consequences. Jon wants to be like Ned, but lacks the wisdom to do so thus far. I see him as having a superiority complex with the men on the wall.

Jon lacks maturity and perspective. However, he hasn't had a massive transformational moment, and Martin loves to put his characters through serious dilemmas to create growth. IE Jamie's hand, Arya's sight, Tyrion's face and run-in with dad, Danny and Drogo... Every major character has had a major tragedy which ultimately defines their character, for better or worse. I suspect Jon's death is going to be the ultimate tragedy for a character to face. Just look how Lady Grey took it.

[MattyFos.]

Dammit I read it! Spoiler in white just kidding.

[MattyFos.]

I'm like 170 pages in aSoS.

[Rondo]

I just recently bought all the books and started reading the first one. Hopefully I will have the second one done by the time the second TV season is over. I torrented the first season because of all the hype and it's amazing. I loved it.

[tmackin07]

Started reading the first book, it sucks ass. Boring as hell.

[Chris]

Well, we can't all have good taste.

[Malt]

I'm like 170 pages in aSoS.

By far my favorite book in the series. Hope you like it!

[MattyFos.]

By far my favorite book in the series. Hope you like it!

I think it's cmstophe's as well.

[MattyFos.]

I got my dad the first 4 books for Christmas. He's 250 pages in GoT.

[theSTEREO.]

New production photos from GoT, including new characters.

I was worried about Brienne, but they nailed it. So good.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/jpmoore/17-b...rones-season-2

[Chris]

I think it's cmstophe's as well.

It's pretty much everybody's fav.

[Chris]

New production photos from GoT, including new characters.

I was worried about Brienne, but they nailed it. So good.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/jpmoore/17-b...rones-season-2

Bran looks different for some reason. They didn't recast did they? He just looks a lot older. Could cause problems in the future...

Holy hell Brienne looks amazing. I saw the actress they cast and thought she was fairly pretty in some shots, but man she looks downright uggo here. Perfect.

DAVOS LOOKS AWESOME!

Theon looks a tad different, not sure what it is. I wish they went with the way he looked in the books (I thought he had shoulder length black hair and had a somewhat mischievous, conniving look to me, I don't think AA looks anything like what Theon looks like in the books) but I still like it.

Man Daenerys looks rugged as hell. I like Emilia Clark but I hate her "angry voice." It sounds cheesy. Hope she's good this season.

[Stephen Docking]

So got the series for Christmas and I'm 3/4 through A Storm of Swords

Mother fucker

I have to say that Daenerys has become my favorite character in this book, because the motherfucker is killing everyone else off like crazy. Jesus, two main characters in one frickin chapter when he kills off Robb and Catelyn. WTF, why don't these assholes listen to their wolves yet? It's almost like fuck, some bull shit is going to happen and they just let it go. Then they kill off Joffrey, which was sweet (that's the last chapter I read) and are going to blame is on Tyrion.

Gotta love John Snow, Daenerys, Sir Davos at this point, because all the other characters are dead. Fuck, I feel like I'm just waiting for Bran, Arya, Sansa, and John Snow to bite it too. I think the author just thinks to himself, who is the character I have spent the most time developing at this point, yeah let's kill him off. I do love what Daenerys is becoming though. Such a bad bitch and way too cunning for a 15 year. I hate how hot they made her in the show, but they portray her that way in the book too and it makes me sick to think she's 15 and Sansa too. Damn, why does this guy have to make them all young. I feel guilty getting a chubby when I read about Dany getting eaten out by her bed maid

Shit, now that little worm Petyr is actually a good dude? I thought he was off doing something dirty and now he's the one that planned to save Sansa the whole time?

[Chris]

Glad you love it man.

RW hit us all hard. You're not the only one.

As for the ages of the characters, GRRM admits he made them too young. Daenerys is older in the show. Sansa is about the same age though, I think, yet she still looks so hot ... I always feel bad for thinking that but it's true.

Spoilers:

I think you'll struggle with the next two books, but enjoy ASOS while it lasts. The last 1/4th of it is really awesome too. The Red Wedding was insane and as much as it seems GRRM does stuff like that just to be a troll, I don't think that is the case. Ultimately, Robb proved to be an amazing commander on the battlefield but much like his father, he was outmaneuvered in the political arena so badly it made his head spin...literally, in the end. That was his undoing.

Also just FYI, GRRM foreshadowed this in A Clash of Kings. Not sure if you picked up on it but Daenerys in the House of the Undying, she comes into a room of a banquet slaughter, with corpses and limbs everywhere, and at the front of the table a man with the head of a wolf watches her (Robb obviously). Here is the passage:

"Farther on she came upon a feast of corpses. Savagely slaughtered, the feasters lay strewn across overturned chairs and hacked trestle tables, asprawl in pools of congealing blood. Some had lost limbs, even heads. Savaged limbs clutched bloody cups, wooden spoons, roast fowl, heels of bread. On a throne above them sat a dead man with the head of a wolf. He wore an iron crown and held a leg of lamb in one hand as a king might hold a scepter, and his eyes followed Dany with mute appeal."