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Well, if you are here and if you're anything like me, you're so happy and excited for the upcoming season of HBO's Game of Thrones that you can slap Joffrey several times!



This will serve as the place to discuss Game of Thrones and/or A Song of Ice and Fire. In the hopes of keeping things under control, I've devised a couple of guidelines:

1. You do not talk about the Fight Club When making your first comment in this thread, please state how much of the show you've seen and/or how much of the series you've read. This can be helpful in determining what we can and can't say to prevent others from being spoiled. And speaking of spoilers...

2. Spoiler tags are our friends! If you don't know how to spoiler tag, please see the "(some html is ok)" link above the comment box. It's very easy!

3. Since we do not have different threads for each book or each episode within this discussion, if you want to create a specific topic, just state briefly what your comment is about (for example: Season 3, first episode) and when replying to that particular comment, simply copy/paste or re-state the topic so we can keep things orderly.

4. Have fun! Show your house allegiance(s), share your theories, post gifs/funny photos, just be respectful of others :)

Please feel free to make suggestions; things can always change for the better. I also must thank our fearless leader Jack for allowing me to do this in the first place.

Let Jon Snow and Arya welcome you to the discussion!

Nice GIF! Can't wait for the new season of GOT! I've seen both season's of the show but haven't read the books yet.

Bri wrote: "Nice GIF! Can't wait for the new season of GOT! I've seen both season's of the show but haven't read the books yet."

Oh, you are in for a treat...the third book is the best, in my humble opinion. Since GoT only has ten episodes per season, A Storm of Swords will be cut in half, so Season 4 will cover Book 3 and probably parts of A Dance with Dragons (Book 4).

I've read all the books in the main series and seen every episode more than once, so I am free to discuss pretty much anything :)

I have watched both series, but haven't read the book...yet! I was considering trying to read them before watching the third series, as I'll have to wait for it to air in the UK anyway. Does anyone have opinions on watching the series, or reading the books first?

Pink, I always recommend reading the book before a movie/show. So that's my answer. Even more so in this case because the books are so good and there is a lot of information.

My allegiance is to House Dayne (and by extension, House Martell)






Here is a theory to start with (spoiler ahead - do not click if you haven't read ADWD):
(view spoiler)[
Who/what is Robert Strong?
It feels like there has to be a twist here because Martin has been foreshadowing this for a while, and he was trying hard to let us know that the identity is a mystery.

Here are the obvious points first:
- If I remember correctly, we first encounter him in Bran's dream when he was still in a coma. He sees three shadows, one with the face of a hound - obviously Sandor; one with an armor golden like the sun and beautiful - this is Jaime I think, because of the gold and beautiful, but it could also be Oberyn because of the sun reference; third is a giant with a stone armor and nothing but black blood and darkness in his helm. Obviously, the third shadow is what concerns us here.

- Physical characteristics, Gregor = Robert Strong.
- Gregor was loyal to the Lannisters.
- After Gregor is killed by Oberyn, his blood turns black because of the poison.
- Qyburn, the shady necromancer, conducts lots of experiments on Gregor while at the same time creating a champion for Cersei...
- Gregor's head is meanwhile sent to Dorne, though we don't know for sure whether it was really his head.
- We never see Robert's head and he never speaks.

Those are the obvious signs, all of which point to Robert Strong being simply Gregor's body brought back to life by Qyburn, probably without a head.

My problem with that is its simplicity. It doesn't feel right that Martin would go to great lengths about this character's identity and then say 'magic + headless body.'

Do you guys also feel there has to be a twist here?
I think some of the twists might be that Robert will have a head, maybe even a head of a known character... and he will speak again.
(hide spoiler)]

House Stark for life, flaws and all



And yes, that includes my boo Jon Snow, who is one of my favorite characters. Bran is also another favorite; I just want to hug him and tell him it'll be okay, that he is going to be awesome and amazing. Favorite dead character has to be Rhaegar, my sweet prince.

I know it's shameful but I haven't read any of this series, nor have I seen any of the TV series... The thing is, I am pretty sure that I would absolutely love it, I just don't have the time to dedicate to it right now, and I know the books are quite hefty. When I do get around to it, however, I'll be sure to come here and share my opinions with you guys :)

Hi Pink,

I admit that I started reading the series because of the show. My plan was to watch the episode, then read the parts of the book that covered that episode. Well, that idea quickly flew out the window like Bran.

I think it really depends on what you prefer, but I recommend reading the books first. If you like knowing what happens ahead of time, then go for it. The books cover so much that the show doesn't; for example, that House of the Undying scene was just laughable (well, laughter without humor, since it annoys me to think about it) since they left out so much stuff. Is it too much to ask to slap on a different wig on Harry Lloyd and have him be Rhaegar? Oh well...I'm sure they blew their budget on Blackwater.

Praise the old gods and the new!

hosted by Rob McElhenney from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (hilarious show, by the way) is available for viewing (I had missed the live stream). In attendance are:

DAVID BENIOFF Creator/Executive Producer
D.B. WEISS Creator/Executive Producer
GEORGE R.R. MARTIN Co-Executive Producer
PETER DINKLAGE Tyrion Lannister
NIKOLAJ COSTER-WALDAU Jaime Lannister
LENA HEADEY Cersei Lannister
KIT HARINGTON Jon Snow
MICHELLE FAIRLEY Catelyn Stark
SOPHIE TURNER Sansa Stark
MAISIE WILLIAMS Arya Stark

Thanks everyone for the advice. Usually I only ever read the book first, then watch the film/ show, which usually leads to disappointment on things that have been cut. However I've already watched 2 series and so I'll have to read those books after the show, not sure how to approach book/ series 3. Can't wait though, I love so many characters, not sure exactly where my allegiance would be!

Book 3 for me was the best. I can't wait until the series starts. I want to see how HBO will pull it off.

From everything I've watched and read, this season is supposed to be great! I really hope it's not just hype. I really want to read the books to learn more about all the houses. I keep trying not to get too attached to anymore characters, especially after they took "my sun and stars" away so early. I do love Jon Snow though...

Should I read the books first or watch the series? Because I am dying to start watching the series but usually in my book the books are better than any re-creation made for movies or tv.

Books first

Jon wrote: "Books first"

But they're huuuuge!

I know, but do you have something better to do instead of reading them?

TRICK QUESTION!

There is nothing better :-p

Some excerpts from from the Huffington Post:

On the next book in the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series, titled "The Winds of Winter":
"I am working on it. It will be a long time coming. I have many many more pages to do, but I have some great stuff planned for it: a lot of blood and fire and death and devastation and ravens coming home to roost."

While the panel discussion steered clear of spoiler territory for the most part, executive producers Benioff and Weiss did admit that Martin has already told them who ultimately ends up on the Iron Throne, much to the surprise of the cast. “There’ll be a few people sitting on it before the end,� Martin teased cryptically.

Much was made of Martin's penchant for killing off beloved characters, but the author pointed out, "as bloodthirsty as I am in killing characters, David and Dan are killing some characters who are still alive in the books! Their body count is higher than mine. When they say no one is safe in the series, that's literally true. There are characters in book five and who are gonna be in book six who are dead on the TV show."

...

Benioff and Weiss have previously mentioned that Season 3 was the year they were most excited to reach, and they explained why on the panel.

"There are so many devastatingly great set pieces and scenes in George's books, across the series, of course," Weiss said. "But I would say that the predominance of scenes that really just made us say 'holy shit' -- and we knew would make other people say 'holy shit' if they saw them properly done on television -- more came from the third book, which will span over the third and fourth seasons, as it turns out. But Season 3 was the one we focused on as 'this is the place we need to get to.'"

I know I can't wait to see a certain colorful event this season...but as excited as I am about that, I can't believe that D&D know who will end up on the Iron Throne! GRRM needs to hurry up and write so the rest of the world will know this information, too.

So the book series isn't finished? I had no idea! How long is it going to be?

Can't get it on I books. Anyone know why?

Cherrelle wrote: "So the book series isn't finished? I had no idea! How long is it going to be?"

GRRM planned for seven books in A Song of Ice and Fire, if I'm not mistaken:

A Game of Thrones - Season 1
A Clash of Kings - Season 2
A Storm of Swords - Season 3 and 4
A Feast for Crows
A Dance with Dragons - the most recent book; it came out in 2011
The Winds of Winter
A Dream of Spring

Thanks for the info, Marie!

You're very welcome! The books are heavy (figuratively and literally, if you're reading the physical copies), long, weighty with intricate plots, characters, and relationships, but it's so worth it. I hope you give them a chance! If you do, there are resources that help with the many characters and background information that I totally relied on and I can give you those websites if you want to use them. Thanks to the show, it's easier for me to picture these characters. In fact, GRRM likes Natalia Tena's portrayal of Osha so much that he will incorporate her interpretation into his future books.

Winds of Winter was the only book I was looking forward to this year. Alas, looks like even 2015 is now just a hopeful estimate :-\

At least the show is starting next week.

Marie, I'm still waiting on your take regarding the theory in my spoiler tag...

anyone know where i can buy an e-book? not available from itunes

What ereader do you use?

I have an ipad

One good option that many people like is to use the Kindle app. It will even save the spot for you so you could continue the book on any computer or on your phone.

Didn't know that Jon, thanks. When I got the Ipad first the Kindle app was one of the first things I downloaded but i deleted it when i realised i had the I reader and I didnt see any reason to keep it.

NP, let me know if it works and you're able to purchase the book.

Will do. thanks

Game of Thrones series is not available on ITunes? Its available

Marie, I might take you up on that offer sometime in the future, when I find the time to read them all. I might make it my summer project, we'll see :)

Veronica, I was looking for the book not the tv series. I cant find the book on i books

Just thought this was funny...

Soooo who caught the premier last night...thoughts?

I enjoyed it. Looking forward to the next episode.

Bri wrote: "Soooo who caught the premier last night...thoughts?"

The Harrenhal scene was problematic, but other than that I liked the episode a lot. Lots of foreshadowing and the (very!) early return of (view spoiler)[Barristan Selmy (hide spoiler)] brought a huge smile to my face because that character is one of my favorites.

Needs more Bran/Jaime/Brienne. I loved all the Lannister scenes. This particular portrayal of Margaery should have happened last season; the writers jumped the gun by showing her ambitious side too early, in my opinion.

Hi, Is there any place on "All Sorts" to discuss the first book of Game of Thrones? I originally bought the trilogy for someone about 2 years ago as a birthday gift, hoping that she would let me read them after her, but she never read them, so I bought the first book again a few months ago, started reading it and left it at someone else's house! I finally got the book back and started from the begining today. So, my question is, am I allowed to ask questions about the first book on this discussion post or is there another one for people who haven't read the first 3 books yet?
I am dying to start watching the series on Netflicks, but I think it might be better to read at least one of the books first before watching the series.

Hi Terry, I'm almost in the same boat too. Have only recently bought the book. I am dying to watch the series but I want to read the book first.

Hi Terry,
I also recommend reading the books first.
Regarding the discussion: just place it in a spoiler tag. I think that should work fine.

OK, thanks!

Thanks so much for the book list you posted last week,Marie! I always try to find a list in chronological order when I start reading a series.

There are also three novellas that take place about 100 years before the events in the first book.

Oh, good to know - I'll look them up

I have to read the books! Trying to keep up with the different houses and alliances and histories is tough when just watching the show. I have to use the viewers guide on hbo.com to keep from getting confused.

FYI, I just tried to look up the the 3 novellas (The Hedge Knight, The Sworn Sword and The Mystery Knight) and they are all but impossible to buy individually, either Kindle, comic book version or regular book, but I found each one as part of another book with different authors on the dreaded Amazon site. :-)

I love the whole series through and through. I love each character for their own little quirks, nobody is perfect and that to me is amazing. Flawed characters... you can't beat them!!!

Although... if he doesn't get a move on with this next book I might have to write it myself! :P

Ali,
Please write the books quickly else I shall be mad at you as I am at GRRM!

This may be old news to all of you that already read more than the 1st book,(I am on page 515) but I don't find it very believable that although the Starks seem to be very smart people,they still think that Tyrion Lannister actually was the one behind the murder attempt on Bran. I love everything else about the book. Eddard and Jon are my two current favorites, they are so noble. I also find Daenerys life fascinating...I think if I had to pick a character to be right now, it would be her.