Today I watched the very first episode of "Game of Thrones" the new HBO series based on the fantasy epic series "A Song of Ice and Fire". The first book in the series is, duh, "A Game of Thrones". Check it out on Amazon.com it seems interesting enough. Now I gotta admit that it is the very first time I've come in contact with this story. Why? Because I've had my cup full with so much to read, I have relied mostly on reviews and advice. There is so much material out there…It's easy to stumble upon something you don't like, and even easier to get hooked on something so hard that you forget all else.
After seeing the episode, I chose to go and find a sample of the book, just to see if my initial impression of how it could be was correct. And it was. I'm not going to include any spoilers for anyone who hasn't seen the episode or read any of the books. What I will say is that the few pages I've sampled this afternoon after my viewing, have partly confirmed the "feel" I've gotten concerning the story. It reminds me of a series of books I'd read in high school on the long troublesome period before and after the reign of French king Philippe le Bel. A story full of intrigue, passion, treachery. But also of honor, of the old knightly ways that women of our time speak so fondly of, though in truth they know nothing of it!
And quite possibly, and this may be confirmed to me in time or through comments of readers of the books, I believe this is a story that will span decades or more. "Winter is coming", a season in this fictional world really does last decades, and so many of the characters so young, it is gonna be a hell of a ride watching/reading them grow, and carry on the burden of the aftermath of their families' actions. It will be a show to keep an eye on, and a story to read. I look forward to acquiring the books. This post is not intended as a review but rather my initial impressions of the story and to let my friends know about this as I'm sure they were as ignorant as me until HBO decided to bring to our screens every Sunday nights.
Let us pray enough people will watch and that the future episodes will never be of lesser quality.