Behind the Scenes of HBO's Game of Thrones

Good day to you all!  I am very excited this evening because it means that HBO's new series based on George R. R. Martin's The Game of Thrones is one more day closer!  HBO has been showing the trailer more frequently, and they recently aired a short "Behind the Scenes" featurette about the first season.  Exciting!  Check it out!

Inside Game of Thrones

Book Review - A Game of Thrones, by George R. R. Martin

Title: A Game of Thrones
Author: George R. R. Martin
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 5 out of 5 crowned stags

I read this book with my girlfriend, Heather, over a few months. We thought it only fitting to do a cooperative review. Below is my review, predominantly featuring the characters of the book. Head over to The Maiden's Court to learn more about the story!

Author George R. R. Martin is undoubtedly most famous for his epic Song of Ice and Fire series. The first book in this seven (or possibly eight) book series is entitled A Game of Thrones. Thrones follows several powerful families that inhabit a land called Westeros, which is much like medieval Europe. Although technically of the fantasy genre, this novel reads more like a historical fiction novel. With the caveat, of course, that Thrones is completely fictionalized. In fact, there are no magic or fanciful creatures in this novel before the last 20 or so pages. Westeros feels like a world that is past its prime; all of the magic has left its mountains and forests, and now all that is left is the hard judgment of humanity. This brings us to the heart of the novel: the characters.

There are countless characters in A Game of Thrones. Some are “good” and others are “evil”, but none are what they appear to be.

Heather says: Good and evil are relative terms in this series – when you think someone is purely one way, they go and surprise you by doing something entirely opposite. I also feel that over the course of the series, the characters will change and evolve.

To help you make sense of it all, here is a quick breakdown of the three major families (or “houses”) of Thrones:

House Stark – The Starks used to be kings of Northern Westeros. However, because of events that happened long ago, they now swear fealty to the one King. They are a stern and often humorless people, who hold no delusions about how difficult life can be. Their ruler, Lord Eddard Stark, is a friend of the current king of the realm, Robert Baratheon. Loyalty is one of the biggest virtues of the Starks which, in a world full of intrigue, scandal, and backstabbing, usually is more of a curse than it is a blessing. Eddard is married to Lady Catelyn, and they have two daughters and three sons. There is also another, Jon Snow, who is the bastard son of Eddard Stark.

Heather says: I want a shirt that says “Team Stark”!

House Baratheon – The current king, Robert, is of house Baratheon. With the assistance of Eddard Stark, Robert was able to take the throne by force about a decade ago. This has left the power balance of the realm very unsteady. He is married to the shrewd Cersei Lannister, and they have two sons and a daughter. Young Joffrey Baratheon is in position to inherit the throne. Robert also has two brothers. Renly, the popular and attractive lord, and Stannis, the mysterious older brother who lives on a harsh island off of Westeros.

House Lannister – The Lannisters are directly connected to the throne of Westeros thanks to the marriage of Cersei to Robert Baratheon. Cersei has two brothers. The eldest, Jaime, is a strikingly handsome man whose beauty belies his wrathful soul. The disfigured Tyrion Lannister, on the other hand, is crafty and devious. The Lannisters have always had a shady past when it came for their desire for power.

So now that you know some of the back story to the main characters of A Game of Thrones, it’s time to talk about how it measures up as a novel. To be sure, Martin has created a true masterpiece of fantasy in this series. Every aspect of the land and the characters’ lives is beautifully detailed, and the author does not leave anything out. Thrones is at times humorous, thought provoking, and heart-breaking. You will inevitably find yourself connected with the characters of the novel, and putting down the book to do anything else will not be an option.

However, as with any first novel, Thrones serves primarily as an introduction to what will be happening later on in the series. After reading A Game of Thrones, it is very easy to think that nothing really happened (which is odd, for an 800 page book). This is not to say that Thrones is boring. However, by the end of the novel, you realize that all of the events that occurred were simply leading up to the rest of the series. Not that this took anything away from the enjoyment of reading the novel.

Heather says: I think if you are looking at this in a traditional sense – this is the exposition to the story, and the characters are the most important. So much happens in the first book that serves to grow the characters and prepare the reader for what is to happen in the rest of the series.

The most exciting aspect of the entire Song of Ice and Fire universe is that HBO is turning the entire set of novels into a television series starring Sean Bean as Eddard Stark! This is great news for a fan like me – it should be a very exciting time! You can learn more about this project at one of my favorite blogs, Winter Is Coming.

EDIT:  The Game of Thrones is now on HBO!

Sadly, I don’t have a trailer for the television show or a book trailer to give you. Instead, check out this great video of artwork inspired by the novel. I feel that it really captures the theme of the series!

A Game of Thrones is an excellent tale, and should be read and loved by all who enjoy fantasy or historical fiction.

5 out of 5 crowned stags!

Book Review - Fevre Dream, by George R. R. Martin

Title: Fevre Dream

Author: George R. R. Martin

Genre: History / Fantasy

Rating: 4 out of 5 steamboats

George R. R. Martin tells us a tale of vampires inhabiting the area around the Mississippi river in the mid-1800's. Fevre Dream is inhabited by colorful sailors, captains, and undead. As you might have read in my First Impressions, riverdog Abner Marsh and mysterious Joshua York team up to captain a brand new riverboat. Marsh is occupied with the fame and fortune that comes along with being the fastest, while the pale York has shady ulterior motives. As the novel progresses, we learn the true nature of York's plans, the likes of which will change Abner's life forever.

One of the best parts about Fevre Dream is Abner Marsh's progression from an ignorant captain to a caring friend and partner. He begins this journey as a man possessed by avarice and envy, always trying to be the best captain on the river. Meeting and befriending Joshua York, however, forces him to rethink what matters most in a man's life.

Another main point of the book is the mystery of Joshua York and his true intentions aboard the Fevre Dream. While Abner Marsh is in the dark for most of the first half of the book, the reader figures out the stranger's somewhat obvious secret within the first few chapters. Because of this, it felt to me like Martin draws out this plot point a bit too long, and it loses a bit of it's edge.

Fevre Dream takes place in a colorful pre Civil War backdrop, and the writing style and plot points fit perfectly into this setting. The only thing that I regret about this story is that Martin overstates his main message at some points: Slavery is as much of an injustice as vampirism. It's not that I don't enjoy a moral to my story, but when it is too clearly stated, I feel as though the author is on a soapbox.

With that said, Fevre Dream is still a great novel about faith, redemption, and overcoming insurmountable odds. With all of the novels being published these days about vampires, Fevre Dream remains a breath of fresh air in the genre.

4 out of 5 steamboats!

First Impressions - Fevre Dream, by George R. R. Martin

I am currently reading Fevre Dream, by George R. R. Martin. It is set in 1857, in the states along the Mississippi river in America. The plot (so far) follows the ambitious Captain Marsh as he tries to gain a foothold in the burgeoning steamboat industry. To this end, he strikes a deal with a charming - albeit mysterious and vaguely threatening - gentleman by the name of Mr. Joshua York. York agrees to build the grandest steamboat for Marsh. Marsh only needs to allow York free passage for him and his colleagues, and to never inquire about their business.

Other chapters focus on a run-down plantation which is inhabited by odd characters who keep to the shadows... murder innocent passersby... and drink their blood...


So far, Fevre Dream is shaping up to be a riveting read. Captain Marsh and Joshua York make an excellent "odd couple" which is made all the more interesting by the increasing tension, as Marsh learns more and more about his shady benefactor. The writing style is colorful, appropriate to the time period, and very smooth. Stay tuned for my full review!

Teaser Tuesdays

Grab your current read. Let the book fall open to a random page. Share two “teaser” sentences from that page. Share the title & author of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser. Please avoid spoilers!

Today's teasers come from A Storm of Swords, by George R. R. Martin.

"A fat man always sits comfortably, I am thinking, for he takes a pillow with him wherever he goes." - p.137

"Whenever she looked at them, she remembered the taste of blood." - p.232