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Jadaki
HBO acquires rights to the George RR Martin Epic Series!

pokerinc
sick.

any release timeline?
rogerwilco
I have never heard of that book, but this sounds great:
"The book has a decidedly adult bent, with sex and violence comparable to series like "Rome" and "Deadwood.""
Jadaki
QUOTE (rogerwilco @ Thursday, January 18th, 2007, 5:29 AM) *
I have never heard of that book, but this sounds great:
"The book has a decidedly adult bent, with sex and violence comparable to series like "Rome" and "Deadwood.""


This might be hard to believe, but it's way more adult oriented than anything in Rome or Deadwood. There are things that take place that are possibly even too graphic for HBO to put on the air. You would have to mix the most graphic parts of Rome, Oz, Sopranos and Deadwood together to start to get the idea of what you would see in this series. I really don't have the words to explain it.

The setting of the books takes place 15 years after a civil war tears through a continent of the seven kingdoms as they prepare for winter, and while the kingdom buckles down for a winter that lasts over a decade, the fallout of the civil war and the positioning of various people in a play to take over the kingdom take center stage. The story is told through multiple point of views, from up to 10 different characters or so per book. Unlike some other books in the genre that rely on magic and things that are very fantasy based, magic lays in the background (though it is present) and the series and at the forefront are gritty realistic characters that are not necessarily good or evil, but everything in between. I could give you a better summary of what the story is about but I would feel like I am ruining a great experience of reading them.

The thing about Martin's work is that no character is safe, many have died already and the series only has the first 4 books out, 3 more are due (the 5th one soon hopefully). Everyone I have introduced the series to absolutely loves them even if they don't like the genre. If they stick to the plan of 1 book per season, season 3 (A Storm of Swords) might be the best thing to ever hit television.

The series so far...
  • A Game of Thrones (1996)
  • A Clash of Kings (1998)
  • A Storm of Swords (2000)
  • A Feast for Crows (2005)

The remaining three novels are provisionally titled:
  • A Dance with Dragons (no release date set, but it is hoped to be released in early 2007)
  • The Winds of Winter
  • A Dream of Spring (formerly known as A Time for Wolves)
digitalmonkey
QUOTE (Jadaki @ Thursday, January 18th, 2007, 11:20 AM) *
This might be hard to believe, but it's way more adult oriented than anything in Rome or Deadwood. There are things that take place that are possibly even too graphic for HBO to put on the air. You would have to mix the most graphic parts of Rome, Oz, Sopranos and Deadwood together to start to get the idea of what you would see in this series. I really don't have the words to explain it.

The setting of the books takes place 15 years after a civil war tears through a continent of the seven kingdoms as they prepare for winter, and while the kingdom buckles down for a winter that lasts over a decade, the fallout of the civil war and the positioning of various people in a play to take over the kingdom take center stage. The story is told through multiple point of views, from up to 10 different characters or so per book. Unlike some other books in the genre that rely on magic and things that are very fantasy based, magic lays in the background (though it is present) and the series and at the forefront are gritty realistic characters that are not necessarily good or evil, but everything in between. I could give you a better summary of what the story is about but I would feel like I am ruining a great experience of reading them.

The thing about Martin's work is that no character is safe, many have died already and the series only has the first 4 books out, 3 more are due (the 5th one soon hopefully). Everyone I have introduced the series to absolutely loves them even if they don't like the genre. If they stick to the plan of 1 book per season, season 3 (A Storm of Swords) might be the best thing to ever hit television.

The series so far...
  • A Game of Thrones (1996)
  • A Clash of Kings (1998)
  • A Storm of Swords (2000)
  • A Feast for Crows (2005)
The remaining three novels are provisionally titled:
  • A Dance with Dragons (no release date set, but it is hoped to be released in early 2007)
  • The Winds of Winter
  • A Dream of Spring (formerly known as A Time for Wolves)




You gonna check out the show when it airs? icon_biggrin.gif



















Now I have to check out these books, you bastard. I need more hours in a day.
Jadaki
QUOTE (digitalmonkey @ Thursday, January 18th, 2007, 10:35 AM) *
You gonna check out the show when it airs? icon_biggrin.gif


I am preparing a letter to HBO now that warns them if they pull the plug on this prematurely like they have a few other series then I very well may get have to go Ving Rhames on them and break out some pliers and a blowtorch.
fleung22
QUOTE (Jadaki @ Thursday, January 18th, 2007, 8:43 AM) *
I am preparing a letter to HBO now that warns them if they pull the plug on this prematurely like they have a few other series then I very well may get have to go Ving Rhames on them and break out some pliers and a blowtorch.


a.k.a. Medieval on their ass
digitalmonkey
I found a sample on his website. View it here. [WARNING: Spoiler alert!]
Jadaki
QUOTE (digitalmonkey @ Thursday, January 18th, 2007, 11:02 AM) *
I found a sample on his website. View it here.


Thats a sample chapter from the upcoming 5th book. If you plan on reading the series, don't read that because way to much info about stuff that happens previously is potentially spoiled including a shocking part of the 3rd book.
rogerwilco
QUOTE (Jadaki @ Thursday, January 18th, 2007, 5:20 PM) *
Everyone I have introduced the series to absolutely loves them even if they don't like the genre.


Well, I have no aversion to Fantasy anyway, I'm not ashamed to say that I have been playing D&D much longer than I have been playing poker. icon_biggrin.gif

I don't care about violence/sex/drugs/etc. if it is presented as end in itself, but I always enjoyed a more "realistic", non-manichean world with believable characters, who aren't necessarily heroes, as opposed to a "clean" universe where you know where everyone stands all the time, and only the bad guys do stupid/dubious things. For example in sci-fi I like Firefly and Galactica a lot more than Star Trek (except DS9 somewhat).

I might check out these books, sounds interesting.
Jadaki
QUOTE (rogerwilco @ Thursday, January 18th, 2007, 5:12 PM) *
I might check out these books, sounds interesting.


We have similar tastes in Sci-fi and an outlook on characters, you should definitely check them out. Martin's use of character viewpoints will make you flip flop on weather you hate someone or are quietly cheering for them later on, because after getting I involved in everyones perspective you realise it's not just good vs evil, its people against people and no one is perfect.

I guarantee you will not be disappointed.
digitalmonkey
I found A Game of Thrones Audiobook formatted for iPod Video. icon_dance.gif
rogerwilco
Hehe, I bought the first 2 books and nearly finished reading the first part today (I'm a fast reader), this will make a sick tv-show, in the best and worst sense of that word. icon_biggrin.gif
Jadaki
Taken from a fansite of the series... here is a decent spoiler free preview.

QUOTE
In a day and age where door-stopper fantasy series with no apparent endings are hitting the bestseller lists, it’s often hard to consider new entries into this particular sub-genre with any seriousness. After all, if Robert Jordan or Terry Goodkind are the heights of the field, what’s the point of trying anything else? But each book (or series) should be judged on its own merits - and George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire proves that there’s still room for diamonds among the rough.

The first book in the series (for a long while planned as six volumes, but the exigencies of the publishing world now make seven the likelier number) is the award-winning A Game of Thrones. Describing it isn’t easy, because a short summary will miss one of the precious facets of the work. But here’s an attempt to give the feel:

Imagine a feudal kingdom on a massive continent in a world filled with many cultures and half-legendary lands and an ancient history. Imagine a time where dragons once lived but magic is now dwindling, yet the seasons can be long or short, bringing glorious summers or terrible winters that last years at a time. Imagine a massive iron throne from which seven kingdoms are ruled, with false knights and true all gathered about it in hopes of blood or glory or profit, and shadows behind it pushing the pieces that make up the game of thrones.

That’s the book for you, in a nut-shell. But if you want something more specific, try this:

The story starts with a frightening prologue that tells us who the truest enemies are, and then turns suddenly to the castle of Winterfell from which the Starks rule the North for King Robert on his Iron Throne far to the south. A man is executed and on that bloody day direwolf pups are found next to the dead body of a huge direwolf slain by a broken antler in her neck. There just happens to be one for every son and daughter of Lord Eddard Stark, including his ******* Jon Snow, and what that strange coincidence can mean is a mystery. On that same day, more blood when news arrives that Lord Eddard’s childhood fosterer and friend Jon Arryn, the man who had rebelled against a king to protect him and his best friend Robert and became Robert’s Hand, has died. Slowly the history is unveiled, piece-by-piece like a jigsaw puzzle forming into place haphazardly, and layers of events are formed that mold the lives of all the characters.

What follows is a tumult surrounded by the distant tremor of fear that comes when we hear the Stark motto, "Winter is Coming". Politics, murders, conspiracies. Tournaments, love, hatred. War, battle, trials. Disaster and victory. And that’s not the half of it, for a parallel but separate storyline follows Daenerys Targaryen, Stormborn, the last daughter of the dragonkings who had ruled the Seven Kingdoms for three hundred years. Wed to a barbarian khal with an army of 40,000 nomadic warriors, she goes from childhood to adulthood in a harrowing journey that follows her progression further and further from the things she knew.

It’s one of the best fantasies written in the last forty years, and it can stand proudly up there right next to The Lord of the Rings. Where that great work is inspired by epic legends and myth, this one is more grounded in history and reality. You couldn’t count the out-and-out villains on the finger of one-hand, because they don’t exist, and while the heroes are in greater number they’re all flawed. Eddard Stark, for example, is the epitome of decency and honour but he’s unsubtle and the tasks he take on are more over-the-head than he could possibly imagine. It should be no surprise to say that in a world filled with so much grey, happy endings may be far and few, instead becoming ambiguous or even terrible. Good people die, as do bad people, and the wicked win as many victories as the good.

If you want something written in a straightforward manner, without a lot of politics, without bloody battles or frank language and sexual situations, without a huge cast of characters and more than a few POV characters whose chapters are always divided by other POVs lying in-between, then A Game of Thrones may not be for you. But if you want something that will shake you up, that will surprise you and shock you, leaving you elated and angry and sad by the page-turn, and making you think, then give it a try.
Jadaki
Update posted to Martin's website.

QUOTE
The latest news on HBO front is that David Benioff and D.B. Weiss have turned in the second draft of the pilot script for A GAME OF THRONES, and their rewrite is presently being read and evaluated by the powers-that-be at HBO. In other words, it's the normal process, which is long and often slow. So far, the reports are good, and HBO seems to like what they're seeing... but no, there's no greenlight yet, A GAME OF THRONES remains a script in development, not a series in production.

The one hard bit of news is that HBO has reached agreement with the BBC for them to come in as a partner on the series... IF it goes ahead. That's very cool news, and I'm excited and pleased to have the BBC involved... but even so, we're still in the crossed fingers stage here, not the shooting-off-fireworks stage.

I get emails about the HBO adaptation of A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE almost daily, by the way, so let me say a few words about that.

Look, guys and girls, I appreciate all the enthusiasm and interest, but please stop sending me your resumes, your head shots, your audition tapes. We're not hiring anyone as yet. We won't be hiring anyone for some time, most likely. And should that day arrive when the show gets the greenlight and we start looking for a cast and crew, it won't be me doing the hiring and casting. I'll visit the set from time to time, I'm sure (how often may depend on whether we're shooting in Ireland, the Czech Republic, New Zealand, Rumania, or wherever), but the final decisions on these matters will be made by HBO, the BBC, the showrunners, and the director. I can't help you. Especially if you're not actually professionally involved in film and television, but are still "desperate to be involved in the show in any capacity, even just standing around in the background." I get a lot of those emails too. Those people who stand around in the background are called "extras," for what it's worth, and I'm not in charge of hiring them either. Again, we thank you for the love, but that's not how television works.

I also get a constant stream of emails asking me for news about the HBO project. Guys, that's why I have a News page on my website, and that's why I post here. When there's some news to share, I share it. Honest. No news is no news. Sometimes long periods pass when nothing is happening, or things are happening behind the scenes that even I am not aware of. Whenever there is a significant development -- like the BBC coming aboard -- I will post it here. I'm not going to try to disseminate it in individual emails to whoever happens to write that day to ask what's new with HBO.

Thanks for your patience. Thanks for your understanding. Keep your fingers crossed.


Awesome news about them getting involved with BBC on this, we could see something similar to the production of Rome once again.
PMJackson21
Weeeeeeeee!

GRRM's books will translate well to tv because he has done so much work previously on tv shows. I think that is one of the main reasons his dialogue and pacing is so good in the series.

It's HBO, so I shouldn't have to say this, but it better not suck...and I might picket if Warwick Davis doesn't land the part of Tyrion.
BigDMcGee
Wow, I missed this the first time. I haven't read the series, but my Dad's a big, big fan, and this could be an amazingly awesome series. I think the time is ripe for the definitive, brutal, dramatic Fantasy television series. And I trust HBO productions to do it right. I look forward to more updates.
hank213
I went to the bookstore a couple months ago and asked for a good fantasy series to start on while awaiting the next in the Feist series and they recommended these. I was instantly addicted and just finished "Feast" last week. B&N said "Dragons" is slated to come out in September.

Agree with Jadaki on the "adult oriented" aspects, some really gritty stuff in those books.
showstopper24
I just read that HBO has given 10 half hour shows to the people who created funnyordie.com (Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, Chris Henchy and Judd Apatow).
El Guapo
Josh any news on when? I told my buddy who has been trying to get me to read this series for years now and he went nuts. He can't wait.
PMJackson21
QUOTE (El Guapo @ Sunday, June 29th, 2008, 11:51 PM) *
Josh any news on when? I told my buddy who has been trying to get me to read this series for years now and he went nuts. He can't wait.


Nothing new on GRRM's site re: HBO after the June 13th post on his blog that was already posted here.

My gf just finished the 1st book last night and is moving on to the 2nd shortly. I'm always jealous of people when they read books I love for the first time.
Jadaki
Huge BUMP!!!!!!!!!!

HBO orders Pilot Episode
PMJackson21
QUOTE (Jadaki @ Wednesday, November 12th, 2008, 6:52 AM) *
Huge BUMP!!!!!!!!!!

HBO orders Pilot Episode


fkdjf;lkdsajf;lksajf;lkvcnacd;okv'ifnhas;lkdc;loan;rewfd
Jadaki
QUOTE (PMJackson21 @ Wednesday, November 12th, 2008, 1:14 PM) *
fkdjf;lkdsajf;lksajf;lkvcnacd;okv'ifnhas;lkdc;loan;rewfd


My thoughts exactly... now they just need to get the casting right, and kill the pilot to get season one ordered.
dapokerbum
Yes, I finally read the books and I am HOOKED. If this happens, I will actually have to order HBO!
Jadaki
I read another news report that quoted an HBO insider as saying HBO has ordered pilots for roughly 10 shows, and they are expecting to pick up 5-6 of them for full seasons.

I like the chances.
runthemover
I think he originally planned seven books but since the fourth book is basically split into two books does that mean we're getting an eighth book?


also I wonder how they're going to do the casting since there's a lot of young characters in these books.
Theraflu
QUOTE (runthemover @ Thursday, November 13th, 2008, 2:54 PM) *
also I wonder how they're going to do the casting since there's a lot of young characters in these books.


Damn you. As I was driving home I was going to post this exact thing. I think casting is going to be difficult, and most important. Everyone is so young in the books.

Am I the only one that pictured Danny Devito as Tyrion's lost brother?
runthemover
I think they just have to cast people like 18-20 or so and hope that they don't age too much for the 12-13 year old parts. well maybe they'd be a bit too old for those. but even if you cast a 13 year old for a younger part or as a 13 year old then by the time the series is over they age so much. maybe it doesn't really matter too much.

But, do you cast a very attractive 26 year old with no acting experience for one of the red headed parts? most definitely



RE: DD. Probably not the only one but they're both just short. which is the only reason why the relation was made. Slightly relatedly, Tyrion is like what? 28 in the books?
PMJackson21
QUOTE (runthemover @ Thursday, November 13th, 2008, 2:54 PM) *
I think he originally planned seven books but since the fourth book is basically split into two books does that mean we're getting an eighth book?


also I wonder how they're going to do the casting since there's a lot of young characters in these books.


Jadaki and I exchanged a few pms about this subject, and it obv will be very important to the show's success. I think they might make a few of the kids older, Dany especially....I can't see HBO doing a 13 yo Dany's wedding night with Khal Drago.

As I have said since the beginning, if Warwick Davis (Willow, Leprechaun, etc) isn't cast as Tyrion then I will be disappointed to say the least.
Theraflu
QUOTE (runthemover @ Thursday, November 13th, 2008, 4:00 PM) *
I think they just have to cast people like 18-20 or so and hope that they don't age too much for the 12-13 year old parts. well maybe they'd be a bit too old for those. but even if you cast a 13 year old for a younger part or as a 13 year old then by the time the series is over they age so much. maybe it doesn't really matter too much.

But, do you cast a very attractive 26 year old with no acting experience for one of the red headed parts? most definitely



RE: DD. Probably not the only one but they're both just short. which is the only reason why the relation was made. Slightly relatedly, Tyrion is like what? 28 in the books?

I'm not sure on his age, I always thought he was older than late 20s, though I have no idea.

If they made it to Crows, and they had some 14 year old girl playing Anya calling everyone 'camel cunts,' I'd be overjoyed.

Daenerys doesn't really wear a top once she marries Khal Drogo, so wouldn't the actress have to be 18? I don't know the laws on these things. I would not be ok with never seeing her topless, or wearing one of those garbs that show one tit. I don't give a fuck if she's 12.
Jadaki
QUOTE (runthemover @ Thursday, November 13th, 2008, 4:54 PM) *
I think he originally planned seven books but since the fourth book is basically split into two books does that mean we're getting an eighth book?


also I wonder how they're going to do the casting since there's a lot of young characters in these books.


It was originally supposed to be 6, but with Feast and Dance split into two that's how there is supposed to be seven now which is what he has been planning for a few years at least.

As far as casting, obviously getting the Stark children right is huge, even more importantly I think Ned needs to be done very well because in the books that is the first character as a read you are drawn to. With the children ages, Sansa and Dany could be portrayed as slightly older than they are in the first book without much of an issue. The other kids I wouldn't be surprised to see them do what they did with Rome and change actors between seasons to indicate aging over time, especially if some of the characters who play larger roles in later books are so young in the first.

My best guess with HBO is that we are going to get a hefty dose of British actors or relative unknowns as we have in other shows like Rome and True Blood. Honestly, I'm perfectly fine with that. My level of excitement for this being made is off the charts.
Jadaki
QUOTE (Theraflu @ Thursday, November 13th, 2008, 7:04 PM) *
Daenerys doesn't really wear a top once she marries Khal Drogo, so wouldn't the actress have to be 18? I don't know the laws on these things. I would not be ok with never seeing her topless, or wearing one of those garbs that show one tit. I don't give a fuck if she's 12.


Yea, jumping head first into that lifestyle with her husband is key to the character... god there are so many details they will have to get right.
dapokerbum
QUOTE (Jadaki @ Friday, November 14th, 2008, 6:52 AM) *
Yea, jumping head first into that lifestyle with her husband is key to the character... god there are so many details they will have to get right.


This is what I always worry about when there is a book to movie transition. There were things left out of LOTR (Tom Bombadil to name one thing) that i always felt should have been in there. And there is a LOT of sexually charged scenes that need to be done correctly (ie the fall of bran to name one). It is going to be tough and ... as has been beat to death, it all depends on the casting.
Jadaki
Well Martin said on his blog the script for the pilot is very faithful to the book. Considering he used to be a TV writer I'm happy to hear him say that.
Jadaki
Bumping cause PM Jackson sent me this link, and any fans of the series might be interested.

Winter is Coming
El Guapo
QUOTE (Jadaki @ Tuesday, January 6th, 2009, 7:40 AM) *
Bumping cause PM Jackson sent me this link, and any fans of the series might be interested.

Winter is Coming



I started reading the series last night. I fell asleep 10 pages in, not because of the book though, I was dead tired. I am still looking forward to this (and the books)
king_tanner
QUOTE (Jadaki @ Tuesday, January 6th, 2009, 7:40 AM) *
Bumping cause PM Jackson sent me this link, and any fans of the series might be interested.

Winter is Coming


The only kinda interesting thing in that blog was the review of the pilot. Other than that it is weird speculation that it looks like the author of the blog comes up with himself. Yea Im sure Spike Lee would be interested in directing.
Jadaki
QUOTE (king_tanner @ Tuesday, January 6th, 2009, 1:52 PM) *
The only kinda interesting thing in that blog was the review of the pilot. Other than that it is weird speculation that it looks like the author of the blog comes up with himself. Yea Im sure Spike Lee would be interested in directing.


The Pilot stuff is exactly what is interesting, they also had the best casting idea I've seen for Cersei with BSG's Tricia Helfer.
myenemy
QUOTE (dapokerbum @ Friday, November 14th, 2008, 4:34 PM) *
This is what I always worry about when there is a book to movie transition. There were things left out of LOTR (Tom Bombadil to name one thing) that i always felt should have been in there. And there is a LOT of sexually charged scenes that need to be done correctly (ie the fall of bran to name one). It is going to be tough and ... as has been beat to death, it all depends on the casting.

Will they be able to accurately portray Jaime and Cersei ****ing? I LOOOOOVE incest!
Jadaki
QUOTE (myenemy @ Tuesday, January 6th, 2009, 3:41 PM) *
Will they be able to accurately portray Jaime and Cersei ****ing? I LOOOOOVE incest!


read the link I posted, the final scene of the first episode is Bran finding them sleeping together and the "things I do for love" moment.
Jadaki
More news came out. It officially starts shooting in October in Northern Ireland. More casting news should be coming out soon.
CrookedLink
I've never heard of this series and honestly don't think I've ever read a fantasy book in my life (More into mystery, horror, post apocalyptic kinda stuff) but just going through this thread and reading about how excited you guys are over these I figured I'll pick up the first book in the series tomorrow.
king_tanner
QUOTE (CrookedLink @ Thursday, April 23rd, 2009, 7:43 PM) *
I've never heard of this series and honestly don't think I've ever read a fantasy book in my life (More into mystery, horror, post apocalyptic kinda stuff) but just going through this thread and reading about how excited you guys are over these I figured I'll pick up the first book in the series tomorrow.


You won't regret it. I think people who don't usually read fantasy would love this also. So many twists and turns. My favorite thing about the series is that it doesn't matter if they are good guys, bad guys, main characters, or supporting characters... nobody is safe.
Theraflu
QUOTE (king_tanner @ Thursday, April 23rd, 2009, 7:52 PM) *
You won't regret it. I think people who don't usually read fantasy would love this also. So many twists and turns. My favorite thing about the series is that it doesn't matter if they are good guys, bad guys, main characters, or supporting characters... nobody is safe.

Also, the first book doesn't involve as much "fantasy" as the others, so it was a little easier to think of it in a historical sense while you get to know the characters. Then the first book ends, and how can you not want to read the next chapter?
Theraflu
QUOTE (CrookedLink @ Thursday, April 23rd, 2009, 7:43 PM) *
I've never heard of this series and honestly don't think I've ever read a fantasy book in my life (More into mystery, horror, post apocalyptic kinda stuff) but just going through this thread and reading about how excited you guys are over these I figured I'll pick up the first book in the series tomorrow.

PS: You might want to clear your schedule for two weeks.
dapokerbum
QUOTE (Theraflu @ Friday, April 24th, 2009, 9:36 AM) *
PS: You might want to clear your schedule for two weeks.


Seriously! I started to read the series and was coming in late to work because I would HAVE to finish a chapter before i went to work. It is such an awesome series and we are all eagerly awaiting the next book in the series!
pokerinc
Been waiting so freaking long for the next book, ugh. It's frustrating that it's not even really a sequel but just the other half to book 4.

Please don't take a year off to write a children's book after this one George.
king_tanner
QUOTE (pokerinc @ Sunday, April 26th, 2009, 12:46 PM) *
Been waiting so freaking long for the next book, ugh. It's frustrating that it's not even really a sequel but just the other half to book 4.

Please don't take a year off to write a children's book after this one George.


Yeah this deck of cards thing he has been promoting is pissing me off. He has another author helping him finish Dance with Dragons so hopefully he will get it out soon. I just hope he doesn't die before the series is finished.

Has anybody read the other stuff he has put out? If so are they worth it?
Jadaki
QUOTE (king_tanner @ Sunday, April 26th, 2009, 7:56 PM) *
He has another author helping him finish Dance with Dragons so hopefully he will get it out soon.


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