A Game of Thrones

A Game of Thrones.  The very title conjures up images of chess, doesn't it?  Politics has often been compared to the game of chess.  It's all about strategy, and moving your pieces to trap and defeat your opponent.  In reality, the art of politics is nothing like chess, except maybe on the surface.  Most political tactics take place off of the board, however. 

I first read A Game of Thrones, by George R.R. Martin, probably when it was first published in paperback. I remember being extremely angry about some of the characters in the book--so upset, in fact, that I had no interest in reading any of the other books. I won't tell you what upset me, because I don't want to spoil the story.  But I used to be way more idealistic than I am now, and that colored my response to the story.   After my husband and I started dating, he read the book.  Larry wouldn't stop talking about it, and while I remembered that I had read the book, I had forgotten much about it.  (Before I had a kid, I averaged about 8 books a week; that so does not happen anymore!) So I reread A Game of Thrones.  I still got very upset with part of the story, but this time I had a more realistic view under my belt.

And I've been hooked ever since.  My only kvetch about the series is that Martin takes forever to finish each book!

Larry and I were beside ourselves when we learned that HBO was turning A Game of Thrones into a television series. We were right to be concerned; could the tale told by George R. R. Martin be translated onto the screen in a way that would convey the rapture of reading it?  We decided that we would wait and see, particularly when we learned that Sean Bean would be playing a role in the series.  My husband adores Sean Bean, particularly his portrayal of Boromir in The Lord of the Rings movies.   The phrase "One does not simply walk into Mordor..." is oft repeated in our household, even before it was popular as a meme.  Casting Sean Bean was sheer genius on HBO's part, at least in terms of getting nerds/geeks like my husband and I to watch the show. 

We watched the first episode, and were hooked.  It was as if the book had come alive!  The producers took great pains to make the show as authentic looking as possible, and it shows.  I'm not going to spoil the show for you, if you haven't watched it, but the settings, the pacing, the actors all fit together so perfectly that you find yourself transported.  Which is what a good book or a good movie should do.

The second season begins April 1st, (today!!), and we will be parked in front of our television, at least after our son is asleep, since the show is definitely not kid safe.  If you haven't read the books, no worries.  You don't need to, although the books provide enrichment.  If you haven't see the show, go rent the first season.  You won't be sorry!