story?

I realize people who just watch the show don't want the story spoiled, so I'll avoid examples, but any time somebody in GOT looks like a stereotypical fantasy role, you can safely assume it's because you don't understand them yet and more information is coming.

What an awesome yarn.

I'm almost finished with the second and the third is on hand.

To anyone!

I already am!

You couldn't pay me to go any farther.

You should give it another shot. You get some satisfaction in just a few more chapters.

Everyone really is grey, and there's not much black and white. Dubya would have a hard time with this series.

I posted it a little while ago.

Anyway, as an aside Martin seems like an awesome person. He'd be so much fun just to yap with in your kitchen or living room.

About this good and evil thing - he decided that instead of evil empire vs good empire (meaning that all people on each side only had the one trait, good or evil) he decided on the good and evil in each individual and the struggle each of us have with that throughout our lives. That's probably been done scores of times before but for some reason it really sunk in when he said it that way.

and both change, grow, and are in many ways deeply flawed and damaged beings; which, however, feeds into their empathy and compassion.

One of them has a danger of being a bit one-dimensional at times in some of the books, but I suspect (and this is just my hunch) that is because that character is going to play an obviously important role in the later parts of the story, sort of like the card that hasn't really been played yet.

And, ah, that's all I'm saying.

No spoilers, but fortunately Karma catches up somewhere in volume three.

My wife keeps asking me "when? Soon, right? Please tell me it is soon!"

So, I read the first book (the TV show is actually pretty close - Season 1 to Book 1). I'm most of the way through the second book and realized that there's a little more deviation between the series and the books starting in Book 2. The books give me more of a sense of depth of character, though. I read the 1st book after Season 1 and then patiently waited until after Season 2 to read Book 2.

Not that I'm not addicted to the series, too. But I can't wait until Season 3 starts to start reading Book 3. They are just too intriguing.

I found that, while they do have the archtypes that the Huffington posts list, the books and the series are pretty balanced as far as female characters go. I'll never forget reading "Stranger in a Strange Land" (Heinlein) and really relating to the female lead - she was strong and smart and a leader and then just turned into a simpering, idiot follower... that made me so mad.

I know there have been people who have real problems with the sex in the TV show, but the violence tends to bother me a lot more than the sex.

Somehow, oddly, my favorite character is actually Tyrion, not a female character. For whatever reason, I relate to him more than most of the female characters. Since everyone else is trying not to post spoilers, I won't launch into my feelings about Caitlyn Stark. Since I am a wife and mother, you'd think I'd identify most with her, but she doesn't seem too bright sometimes (the thing with Jaime). What the hell was she thinking?

Although shes in a pretty screwed up situation, as a mom.

Danerys has gotta be my favorite female character, also partial to Brienne, and Arya. Sansa becomes much more tolerable as the series progresses.

I think tyrion is one of the best characters in literature that ive read, ever.

But then, like him, I have a fondness for bastards and broken things.

When I first heard they were filming Fire and Ice, I wondered who on earth they would cast as Tyrion. It can't be easy finding an actor who meets the physical requirements. But Dinklage is absolutely perfect.

I also worried about Brienne. It's not easy finding an actress who physically fits the part, and I was gobstruck when they cast a fashion model in the role. But she uglied up good, and can act as well! I guess if they can make Helen Mirren look like Queen Elizabeth, they can do almost anything with make-up.