George R.R. Martin’s five-part science fiction book series, “A Song of Ice and Fire”, has become the basis for the hit HBO show named after the first book in the series, “Game of Thrones.”
With the fourth season wrapping up last summer and HBO gearing up for the fifth season this spring, people continue to become fascinated with the political, sexual, and intellectual qualities that define Martin’s fantasy world.
HBO’s adaptation has surpassed the book series in popularity, and some argue for good reason. “A Song of Ice and Fire” is filled with history about characters, lands, and relationships that the TV series cannot hope to ever match, but diehard fans of the books look past this flaw and appreciate the TV show for what it is: good acting, stunning effects, and acceptable plotline adaptations.
Martin published “Game of Thrones” in 1996, almost 20 years ago. It did receive high praise as an impressive fantasy series, but the popularity of the book series skyrocketed once the TV show premiered. Even now, some people cannot read all five of the books, because they can range from 500-900 page novels and take focus and dedication to read.
However, the book series hold nooks and crannies of information that the TV simply isn’t capable of. Characters backstories are explored, doomed lands are explained in entirety, and political motivations of characters become clear right before the reader’s eyes. The power struggles of the land of Westeros takes on a whole new meaning, because a reader would be able to follow every step.
Leave a Reply