George R R Martin

[Beren Ercharmion]

Here you are
Jory Cassell
Littlefinger
Syrio Forel
Samwell Tarly
Hodor
Grand Maester Pycelle

And next time have look at GRRM's blog yourself, lazy bastard

[Palantyre]

Here you are
Jory Cassell
Littlefinger
Syrio Forel
Samwell Tarly
Hodor
Grand Maester Pycelle

And next time have look at GRRM's blog yourself, lazy bastard

I saw those. However, the one I was most interested in, Gregor Clegane, is rather absent from that list.

[Beren Ercharmion]

According to Wikipedia a guy called Conan Stevens is playing the Mountain, but that one hasn't been confirmed by Martin so far, so all the legal stuff might not be settled so far.

And Ser Barristan has been cast as well

[Beren Ercharmion]

And here's the big blast from HBO that I have been promising:

============================================================

GAME OF THRONES

HBO Entertainment
Season one will total 10 episodes
Production is based in Belfast, Northern Ireland and is will begin principal photography on July 26, 2010.

“Game of Thrones” has received funding from Northern Ireland Screen and will shoot in the Paint Hall studio, Belfast, as well as various locations in Northern Ireland. A second location for production will be Malta with assistance from the Malta Film Commission.

LOG LINE:

“Game of Thrones” is a new original HBO series based on George R.R. Martin’s best-selling novels. In a world where summers span decades and winters can last a lifetime, the Westeros crown comes with a price. Betrayal, lust, intrigue and supernatural forces shake the four corners of the Kingdom, from the scheming south and the savage eastern lands, to the frozen north and the ancient Wall that protects the realm from the darkness beyond. Kings and queens, knights and renegades, liars and noble men vie for power in the bloody struggle for the Iron Throne.

SERIES CREDITS:

David Benioff Executive Producer
D.B. Weiss Executive Producer
Carolyn Strauss Co-Executive Producer
Guymon Casady Co-Executive Producer
Vince Gerardis Co-Executive Producer
Ralph Vicinanza Co-Executive Producer
George R.R. Martin Co-Executive Producer
Mark Huffam Producer
Frank Doelger Producer
Marco Pontecorvo Director of Photography
Alik Sakharov Director of Photography
Gemma Jackson Production Designer
Michele Clapton Costume Designer

The pilot was written by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. The writers of the series are: David Benioff & D.B. Weiss (seven episodes), Bryan Cogman, Jane Espenson and George R.R. Martin (one episode each). “Game of Thrones” is based on the series of books “A Song of Ice and Fire” by George R.R. Martin.

The pilot director was Tom McCarthy. Series directors include: Brian Kirk, Daniel Minahan and Alan Taylor. Other directors will be announced as they are confirmed.




SERIES REGULARS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER:

Mark Addy as King Robert Baratheon
Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy
Sean Bean as Eddard “Ned” Stark
Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Ser Jamie Lannister
Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister
Michelle Fairley as Catelyn Stark
Aidan Gillen as Littlefinger
Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon
Iain Glen as Ser Jorah Mormont
Kit Harington as Jon Snow
Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister
Isaac Hempstead-Wright as Bran Stark
Harry Lloyd as Viserys Targaryen
Richard Madden as Rob Stark
Rory McCann as Sandor Clegane (Hound)
Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark
Maisie Williams as Arya Stark

FEATURED CAST IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER:

John Bradley as Samwell Tarly
Ron Donachie as Ser Rodrik Cassel
Jerome Flynn as Bronn
Conleth Hill as Varys
Jason Momoa as Khal Drogo
Donald Sumpter as Maester Luwin

GUEST CAST IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER:

Josef Altin as Pyp
Gethin Anthony as Renly Baratheon
Ciaran Bermingham as Mord
Esme Bianco as Ros
Susan Brown as Septa Mordane
Dominic Carter as Janos Slynt
Antonia Christophers as Mhaegen
Kate Dickie as Lysa Arryn
Roy Dotrice as Grand Maester Pycelle
Emun Elliott as Marillion
Lino Facioli as Robin Arryn
Jefferson Hall as Ser Hugh of the Vale
Derek Halligan as Alliser Thorne
Rhodri Hosking as Mycah
Margaret John as Old Nan
Finn Jones as Ser Loras Tyrell
Dermot Keaney as Gared
Francis Magee as Yoren
Joseph Mawle as Benjen Stark
Brendan McCormack as Ser Vardis Egan
Ian McElhinney as Ser Barristan Selmy
Luke McEwan as Rast
Kristian Nairn as Hodor
Rob Ostlere as Ser Waymar Royce
Eugene Simon as Lancel Lannister
Jamie Sives as Jory Cassel
John Standing as Jon Arryn
Conan Stevens as Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane
Peter Vaughan as Maester Aemon Targaryen
Miltos Yeromelou as Syrio Forel

==========================================================================

George again, with a few closing comments.

Yes, we will be filming in Malta, rather than returning to Morocco. The Knights Hospitaller were kind enough to build some great sets for us.

"Mhaegan" is little Barra's mother. She has no name in the novel.

Two more directors have been named. This was news to me as well. I'm excited too.

Lysa's son has been renamed for the series. "Robin" instead of "Robert," as in the books. He's still Sweetrobin.

Marillion has not been renamed, though I offered to do so. I was tired of people assuming he was named after the band. I had never heard of the band when I named him, though I've heard a lot about them since.

'nuff said. This should give you plenty to chew on for a few days... while casting continues and we nail down a few more parts. Lots more still to come, including Osha, Shae, and Twyin.

[power_dysfunction]

I count 54 named characters already, with more yet to come, before shooting has even started (not counting the pilot, which it seems they'll re-shoot in its entirety). By the third season they may be over 200.

[Cerbere]

It seems to me that grrm needs to devote less of his attention to this and more to a dance with dragons. My theory is that he just isn't able to write up to the precedent set by the first three novels, so he doesn't want to release it not perfect. But I definitely noticed a decline from ASOS to AFFC.

[LittleMissMetal]

Whilst I still enjoyed AFFC, I have to agree with you. Mind you, that may have also been down to the lack (or very little involvement) of my three favourite characters. And also because Cersei got on my wick as a PoV.

[gurufinwe]

It seems to me that grrm needs to devote less of his attention to this and more to a dance with dragons. My theory is that he just isn't able to write up to the precedent set by the first three novels, so he doesn't want to release it not perfect. But I definitely noticed a decline from ASOS to AFFC.

Aye.

He is probably endlessly rewriting in order to get everything 'perfect' which means it's likely that we will never get to read 'A Dance With Dragons'. Even if he manages to complete it he probably won't be around to finish the series.

[Alija Vila]

I was wondering...

Is Martin's writing style similar to Tolkien?
Shall I find beautiful parts like this one from Silmarillion?
Among the tales of sorrow and of ruin that come down to us from the darkness of those days there are yet some in which amid weeping there is joy and under the shadow of death light that endures.

What I really want to know is if his characters swear a lot and things like that.
I don't like swearing in books.

Note that my Avatar is from A Song of Ice and Fire Universe and it represents House Greyjoy, but I haven't read books, it's there because I play House Greyjoy in A Game of Thrones CCG.

[t.a.j.]

I was wondering...

Is Martin's writing style similar to Tolkien?
Shall I find beautiful parts like this one from Silmarillion?
Among the tales of sorrow and of ruin that come down to us from the darkness of those days there are yet some in which amid weeping there is joy and under the shadow of death light that endures.

No.
No. You will find beauty of another kind: Characters that feel real, with personalities and agendas, with their own points of view carried across by Martin's versatile prose. A very complex and intriguing story driven by characters rather than mythological tropes.

What I really want to know is if his characters swear a lot and things like that.

Some of them do. Those that have the personality to.

I don't like swearing in books.

I'd advise you to get over it and move from reactionary tolkienian prose to modern stuff that is much more lifelike and less pure. Else you will miss out on some great writers: G.R.R. Martin, China Mieville, Patrick Rothfuss, Scott R. Bakker.

Note that my Avatar is from A Song of Ice and Fire Universe and it represents House Greyjoy, but I haven't read books, it's there because I play House Greyjoy in A Game of Thrones CCG.

Fascinating.

[Alija Vila]

Thanks t.a.j. I will think about your words generally and I will surely take A Game of Thrones.

Swearing is ok if it fits the character, but sometimes I have a feeling that writers overdo it (like S. King), but it seems that Martin is not the case (based on your post and some other reviews I saw).

Note that my Avatar is from A Song of Ice and Fire Universe and it represents House Greyjoy, but I haven't read books, it's there because I play House Greyjoy in A Game of Thrones CCG.

Fascinating.

Don't understand your point here. I just wrote that because I thought it would be weird if the guy asking about George Martin's book had Coat of Arms of Martin's fictional house as his avatar.

[t.a.j.]

Sorry if I came across unduly sarcastic. You have a point and someone would probably have brought it up. Like me, if I bothered to look at avatars.

[Dorian Falkenmond]

Don't know if anyone else has seen this already but there's a first teaser available on the net!

Teaser

behind the scenes

For those who don't know it yet. Enjoy it! I'm really looking forward to this one...

[Alija Vila]

Finally started reading A Game of Thrones... I really like it so far.

[Beren Ercharmion]

WINTER IS COMING!!!!!

A DANCE WITH DRAGONS will be in your favorite bookstore on

TUESDAY, JULY 12, 2011

[The Rider Of Rohan]

Don't know if anyone else has seen this already but there's a first teaser available on the net!

Teaser

behind the scenes

For those who don't know it yet. Enjoy it! I'm really looking forward to this one...

Looks really nice. I never read any of the books, but the tv-series is something I really want to enjoy.

[Shayleigh]

WINTER IS COMING!!!!!

A DANCE WITH DRAGONS will be in your favorite bookstore on

TUESDAY, JULY 12, 2011

I know!!!! Awesome!!!
Though the book is still not quite finished, GRRM says :/

Even more awesomeness: The first "real" trailer for Game of Thrones!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfAE3hIaPm4

GREATGREATGREATGREATGREATGREATGREAT!!!!!!

[prongs]

So...is the "A song of Ice and Fire" series worth the time?

[Palantyre]

So...is the "A song of Ice and Fire" series worth the time?

It's only some of the best fantasy ever written. So yeah, it just might.

[prongs]

So...is the "A song of Ice and Fire" series worth the time?

It's only some of the best fantasy ever written. So yeah, it just might.

Ok then, it's next on my to-read list

[t.a.j.]

One a different note, isn't it amazing how much better fantasy has gotten since 1995? When formerly, you had the choice between Tolkien clones and pulp writers, with the occasional Ursual LeGuin thrown in, now you have G.R.R. Martin, S.R. Bakker, China Mieville, Patrick Rothfuss, Joe Abercrombie,...
Certainly, there is still blah-fantasy out there, like Tad Williams or Salavtore, but the fact that a good number of exceptional writers have made fantasy their genre is pretty amazing, if you ask me.

[Palantyre]

Yeah, I know what you mean. Just makes me wonder how much the vast success of the LotR movies had to do with that, raising the profile of the genre.
But be the reason what it may, I'm glad it's so.

Speaking of Joe Abercombie, I recently read the first part of his First Law trilogy and now I'm dying to get my hands on the rest. Logen Ninefingers is one of my favourite characters in a long time.

[t.a.j.]

Logen Ninefingers is one of my favourite characters in a long time.

[power_dysfunction]

So what have you guys thought of the series? Most epic TV season finale ever, amirite?

[Severard]

Dunno, just finished the book and am starting to watch the series.

Logen Ninefingers is one of my favourite characters in a long time.

Oh yes. Also, Sand dan Glokta reminds me of Greg House from House M.D.

[Palantyre]

Oh yes. Also, Sand dan Glokta reminds me of Greg House from House M.D.

I hadn't thought of that, but now that you mentioned it, I realize it's a rather fitting comparison.

Also, I find it impossible to not picture Jezal dan Luthar as young Cary Elwes. I just automatically see him as Westley from The Princess Bride.

[Frostbeule]

Sand dan Glokta was the best thing in Abercrombies book (only have read the first one yet). The Bloody Nine reminded me too much of a character in Steven Eriksons Malazan Book of the Fallen. :/ And I found Rothfuss, while being able to write in a beautiful style, quite generic.

China Mieville's Perdido Street Station was interesting, but I found that the ending ruined much of the story. Maybe I missed something, but that seemed so Deus Ex Machina I couldn't believe it I read it the first time. And the City and the City had an interesting concept, but the solution felt something lackluster. He seems to suffer form Neal Stephenson-syndrome, interesting thoughts and good storytelling into wrecking the ending.

[Severard]

Wait 'till you start reading about West in the second book.

[Desert_Storm]

Has anyone read the fifth volume yet?
I'm about 800 pages in and it's great! Extremely tense right from the start, and reading about tyrion and john is really cool after they were omitted in number four. It's still a little slow and lacks huge story-changing events (like those in the third book) but on a very high level, and I've been enjoying it much more than FFC, and that wasn't bad at all. I'm quite surprised to see all the bad reviews on amazon.

[Led Guardian]

Has anyone read the fifth volume yet?
I'm about 800 pages in and it's great! Extremely tense right from the start, and reading about tyrion and john is really cool after they were omitted in number four. It's still a little slow and lacks huge story-changing events (like those in the third book) but on a very high level, and I've been enjoying it much more than FFC, and that wasn't bad at all. I'm quite surprised to see all the bad reviews on amazon.

Pretty much everyone on Amazon said that those 800 pages that you've read were full of nothing. I saw 2 different comparisons to Crossroads of Twilight, which is probably the worst thing you could say to an author. I have to say, between the reviews for this and AFFC, and the long wait times, I'm really not feeling the urge to start this series.

[Desert_Storm]

Has anyone read the fifth volume yet?
I'm about 800 pages in and it's great! Extremely tense right from the start, and reading about tyrion and john is really cool after they were omitted in number four. It's still a little slow and lacks huge story-changing events (like those in the third book) but on a very high level, and I've been enjoying it much more than FFC, and that wasn't bad at all. I'm quite surprised to see all the bad reviews on amazon.

Pretty much everyone on Amazon said that those 800 pages that you've read were full of nothing. I saw 2 different comparisons to Crossroads of Twilight, which is probably the worst thing you could say to an author. I have to say, between the reviews for this and AFFC, and the long wait times, I'm really not feeling the urge to start this series.

Do it anyway If for nothing else, do it for the first three volumes that are beyond argument superb [grammar question] or is it "superb beyond argument"?, and I hugely enjoyed the fourth one too. Granted, the plot isn't developing as fast as in the earlier volumes, but it's still written better than any other fantasy series I've ever read (by far!). I trust Martin that he uses the slow pace of this two volumes to set up a setting that will furiously explode in the next one.
Compare it to the dark tower if you want, I was very disappointed with nos. 5&6, and the ending in number seven was quite lame, but the fourth volume alone makes it worth it, much more so combined with the first three

[t.a.j.]

Dunno, just finished the book and am starting to watch the series.

Logen Ninefingers is one of my favourite characters in a long time.

Oh yes. Also, Sand dan Glokta reminds me of Greg House from House M.D.

I love Abercrombie! <3<3<3

[t.a.j.]

Has anyone read the fifth volume yet?
I'm about 800 pages in and it's great! Extremely tense right from the start, and reading about tyrion and john is really cool after they were omitted in number four. It's still a little slow and lacks huge story-changing events (like those in the third book) but on a very high level, and I've been enjoying it much more than FFC, and that wasn't bad at all. I'm quite surprised to see all the bad reviews on amazon.

Pretty much everyone on Amazon said that those 800 pages that you've read were full of nothing. I saw 2 different comparisons to Crossroads of Twilight, which is probably the worst thing you could say to an author. I have to say, between the reviews for this and AFFC, and the long wait times, I'm really not feeling the urge to start this series.

Pretty much everyone on Amazon must have read another book.
What's Crossroads of Twilight? Wheel of Time? Unlike WoT, ASOIAF has actual characters.
I'm read about 300 pages of ADWD and I must say that already a lot has happened.

[Desert_Storm]

Pretty much everyone on Amazon must have read another book.

I'm read about 300 pages of ADWD and I must say that already a lot has happened.

Well, it's not that nothing happens, it's just that I don't want to spoil anything

[Led Guardian]

Has anyone read the fifth volume yet?
I'm about 800 pages in and it's great! Extremely tense right from the start, and reading about tyrion and john is really cool after they were omitted in number four. It's still a little slow and lacks huge story-changing events (like those in the third book) but on a very high level, and I've been enjoying it much more than FFC, and that wasn't bad at all. I'm quite surprised to see all the bad reviews on amazon.

Pretty much everyone on Amazon said that those 800 pages that you've read were full of nothing. I saw 2 different comparisons to Crossroads of Twilight, which is probably the worst thing you could say to an author. I have to say, between the reviews for this and AFFC, and the long wait times, I'm really not feeling the urge to start this series.

Pretty much everyone on Amazon must have read another book.
What's Crossroads of Twilight? Wheel of Time? Unlike WoT, ASOIAF has actual characters.
I'm read about 300 pages of ADWD and I must say that already a lot has happened.

The comparisons to CoT (yes, WoT) are in regards to the plethora of superfluous descriptions that Martin apparently has, something that CoT apparently has in abundance. (If you want a laugh, read some of the reviews for that book). One reviewer quoted a rather in-depth passage about turtles in the river as an example.

The other complaints I saw were that people didn't like the direction of certain characters' developments.

I mean, I haven't read it, so you certainly don't need to put weight on my opinion. I'll read the series when he finishes it and judge for myself. You can take a look at my review 14 years from now.

[Desert_Storm]

The comparisons to CoT (yes, WoT) are in regards to the plethora of superfluous descriptions that Martin apparently has, something that CoT apparently has in abundance. (If you want a laugh, read some of the reviews for that book). One reviewer quoted a rather in-depth passage about turtles in the river as an example.

I heard that quite a lot, anyway I think it's for the sake of building an atmosphere. It's a fantasy book after all. Just remember Tolkien

[t.a.j.]

I liked the turtles. They told you that the action had moved to an entirely different place than Westeros without hitting you on the head with it.