I'm about 3/4 of the way through A Clash of Kings, the second book in the series.

I don't know where this series has been all my life.

Whats it about? Is it fantasy? If i'm looking for new fantasy books to read should I read this? TELL ME

Yeah, it's fantasy, but it's not overly done. I can't adequately describe it now, I'm all in forum-building mindset. Should you read it? Not if you value your free time.

Like, I'm in between series right now(aka waiting for Robert Jordan to finish the last book of the Wheel of Time series before he dies) and i'm hungering for a new fantasy book. And by not too overdone I suppose you mean there arent like dragons and elves or something?

Dragons are a large part of the story, actually. They are where the Fire comes in. By not overdone I mean you won't have major events being decided by the use of magic. Magic in this world is much more subtle, and is used very sparingly.

Woot, i'm excited

As well you should be

Err, one warning is not to get too attached to anyone...this is easily the most grim story I've ever read. And merciless. There's foul language in abundance, graphic sex including rape and incest, and some pretty damned horrible deaths (no one is spared the possibility of one, either)

It is my favorite series, and I've read a lot of Fantasy.

It's really more like medieval political intrigue, but actually interesting. There's a little bit of magic, but less than any Fantasy I can remember. Dragons may be a large part of the story, but they're also a very small part of the story.

I don't really know how to describe it, I just say read the hell out of them. There are four books so far, with three more to come. The first book was great, the second was greater, and the third is probably my favorite book. The fourth was a little disappointing after the third, but still great.

If you've read the whole series you might check out http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/gentopic.php?board=585257

It's sort of an unofficial ASoIaF board. Though it's recently grown to include Malazan Book of the Fallen (which I hear is as good as ASoIaF, but I haven't read it yet) topics, and sometimes Wheel of Time.

I highly recommend you stay away from the board until you've finished the series, though. I've never seen anything in the titles that gives away Malazan stuff, but it happens on occasion for ASoIaF. Used to happen a lot.

*hires a nutritionist and personal trainer for George R.R. Martin*

The man must live.

I read Game of Thrones and loved it. Started reading a Clash of Kings and stopped somewhere in the middle for a reason I can't remember... might've been school. Anyway, I really want to get back into them, especially since there's 4 now.

I like it for pretty much all the reasons Morm has stated. I don't want to say too much though so I guess I'll refrain.

I bought a Game of Thrones and plan to start reading asap

Nice, enjoy

I just started A Storm of Swords yesterday, I'm going to do a little more reading now.

My roommate loves the series, he's read all four books several times. I do warn you though, A Feast For Crows (#4) is very frustrating because it only shows the events currently taking place from the perspective of half the characters. In essence, you have to wait two books to see what the hell will happen, because the next book will only cover the other half of things. That's the only thing stopping me from starting to read the series, because I know that'd piss me off. I do think I'll pick it up once #5 is out though.

Well maybe I'll hold off on reading AFfC

I really want to read these books, but I haven't had time.

I'm really enjoying the book, but the sheer number of names is kicking my ass

Things that I've taken time to memorize are names, family names, lordships, and sigils.

lots of time

Damnit. I just read the expected publication date for the next book, it's not for almost another year

I'm toying with the idea of making a character map like I had to make for Call of the Wild in 7th grade to keep track of characters and have little notes about their personality and whatnot

Holy shit this book is DARK.




I love it

So do I but it makes me sad

Which part are you at? (PM plz )

Do PM's work? >.>

I think I sent a few

I'm reminded of a more political Wheel of time with lots more ambiguous sex

Yeah, I got your PMs. I've been on the run most of the day.

wtf how can they do that?

((



***SPOILERS FOR THE FIRST BOOK***



Lord Eddard was my favorite character dammit

Not the first and far from the last painful thing to read.

Well, Robb is my new hero, so nothing can happen to him

Goddamn it, the man has no soul. Just, goddamn.

I knew it was going to happen, even went so far as to tell myself I didn't care it was going to happen, that it had to and should happen, but when it happened...I've been saddened and shocked by a score of things in this series, but now I'm really depressed.

I love this shit.

I finished A Feast for Crows a week or so ago.

I feel all...empty now.

Have you read the two short stories yet?

I think they were published on their own as graphic novels, but the way I've come across them is in these books called Legends and Legends II, which are compilations of short stories by some big name modern fantasy authors.

They take place a hundred or so years before the other books, and I'm liking them a lot. Finished the first the other day, about halfway through the second now.

The Hedge Knight and The Sworn Sword are their titles.

Man, waiting for him to pump out more books is ass.

He keeps killing off my characters

I am an outrageous fan of this series. AFFC wasn't worth the wait, of course - few novels can hold up underneath the weight of five years of breathless expectation. But I love the characters and can't wait for ADWD... hopefully we get it before 2008 rolls around. I'm not hopeful on that point, however.

I've heard of them, I guess I'll have to check them out now that I'm done with the series as it stands. Also finally able to browse forums and take part in discussion about it without fear for spoilers

... XD

I was shocked

I was saddened.
I was enraged.
I was helpless.

I too laughed at your sentiment >_<

Well, the Red Wedding was perhaps the most shocking scene I can recall... except for the Mountain v. The Viper.

I dunno, what's your favorite scene?

I think the duel has to be mine.

I loved both of those.

I think my favorite scene, which wasn't really detailed enough compared to some of the others, was in the first book, when Ned was thinking back on the fight he and a few others had with a few members of the Kingsguard. It was just...well-written.

Here's what I came up with googling, and it looks about right to me (it's short enough that I'll post it here>_>):

He dreamt an old dream, of three knights in white cloaks, and a tower long fallen, and Lyanna in her bed of blood.

In the dream his friends rode with him, as they had in life. Proud Martyn Cassel, Jory's father; faithful Theo Wull; Ethan Glover, who had been Brandon's squire; Ser Mark Ryswell, soft of speech and gentle of heart; the crannogman, Howland Reed; Lord Dustin on his great red stallion. Ned had known their faces as well as he knew his own once, but the years leech at a man's memories, even those he has vowed never to forget. In the dream they were only shadows, grey wraiths on horses made of mist.

They were seven, facing three. In the dream as it had been in life. Yet these were no ordinary three. They waited before the round tower, the red mountains of Dorne at their backs, their white cloaks blowing in the wind. And these were no shadows; their faces burned clear, even now. Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning, had a sad smile on his lips. The hilt of the greatsword Dawn poked up over his right shoulder. Ser Oswell Whent was on one knee, sharpening his blade with a whetstone. Across his white-enameled helm, the black bat of his House spread its wings. Between them stood fierce old Ser Gerold Hightower, the White Bull, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.

"I looked for you on the Trident," Ned said to them.

"We were not there," Ser Gerold answered.

"Woe to the Usurper if we had been," said Ser Oswell.

"When King's Landing fell, Ser Jaime slew your king with a golden sword, and I wondered where you were."

"Far away," Ser Gerold Said, "or Aerys would yet sit the Iron Throne, and our false brother would burn in seven hells."

"I came down on Storm's End to lift the seige," Ned told them, "and the Lords Tyrell and Redwyne dipped their banners, and all their knights bent the knee to pledge us fealty. I was certain you would be among them."

"Our knees do not bend easily," said Ser Arthur Dayne.

"Ser Willem Darry is fled to Dragonstone, with your queen and Prince Viserys. I thought you might have sailed with him."

"Ser Willem is a good man and true," said Ser Oswell.

"But not of the Kingsguard," Sir Gerold pointed out. "The Kingsguard does not flee."

"Then or now," said Ser Arthur. He donned his helm.

"We swore a vow," explained old Ser Gerold.

Ned's wraiths moved up beside him, with shadow swords in hand. They were seven against three.

"And now it begins," said Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning. He unsheathed Dawn and held it with both hands. The blade was pale as milkglass, alive with light.

"No," Ned said with sadness in his voice. "Now it ends." As they came together in a rush of steel and shadow, he could hear Lyanna screaming. "Eddard!" she called. A storm of rose petals blew across a blood-streaked sky, as blue as the eyes of death.

--------

Two of the seven survived? Or maybe three, and then one died pretty quickly, I forget.

I think only Ned and Howland Reed survived but I'm not 100% sure, I loved that scene also. I need to think for a while on my favorite one.

I charged though the first 3 books but I've slowed down at the b eginning of this one

Yeah, probably a good idea to savor them.

It's insane - I probably read AGOT in 1999. I could probably get so much more out of them (hell, I could do a full-blown literary analysis) if I had the time to do it.

I've always been partial to the House of the Undying. Just a cool idea, in my book. Well, maybe I'll have a chance to read the next one before I die. I've got a good 50 years left. That's enough time, right? Right?!

I think the scene that had the most impact on me was the scene with Mirri Maz Dur in the tent the night she raised Drogo. Sent shivers up my spine.

http://www.chud.com/index.php?type=thud&id=8544

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111795753...oryid=14&cs

That's right. An HBO miniseries. I've been orgasming since I heard about it a half hour or so ago.

OMG!!!!!

aejlhgqoeighi3g

WOOOO



wait

i dont get HBO in my dorm room


shit shit shit shit shit

Yeah, I don't get HBO, either (actually, I've never so much as had basic cable in my life), but I still think it's awesome news. I'm sure the episodes'll leak onto the internet almost as soon as they're released (whenever that's going to be, probably not for a while), and then I can always pick it up on DVD.

I'm so happy.

I don't know what to do.

I wish I knew when it was coming out. Or if it ever really will.

*sits and waits patiently*

I think my favorite scene was the banter between theon greyjoy and his unbeknowngst to him his sister, just a great clash of witty sex jokes

http://imdb.com/title/tt0944947/

According to that, 2008. But I can't see more without imdbpro, which I don't have. I'm not sure if they know something we don't, or if they're just guessing, or what.

Ha, I was rolling when I figured out that it was Asha he was talking to.