A Game of Thrones (aka my latest geek-out)

Summers span decades. Winters can last a lifetime…

I’m not entirely sure which I heard about first, the books, or the upcoming show on HBO. I think it was the books, I’m almost sure it was. I definitely knew the author’s name long before this but am sorry to say I am a johnny-come-lately to his books. George R. R. Martin’s four-book epic fantasy saga collectively known as A Song of Ice and Fire, which begins with A Game of Thrones is now being turned into a series by HBO, set to debut in April, 2011.

As most of  you know, however, I don’t have cable and so no HBO for this kiddo. Sadness. But, everything comes to DVD eventually, and this looks like a keeper from the previews and trailers at the official Web site. Of course as I always do I have to read the books before I’ll allow myself to watch the show anyway (did the same thing with The Lord of the Rings, read the books before seeing the movies).

So the book. Honest to god, I was hooked from the prologue. Here’s a small taste (and with an 800+ page book I think this constitutes fair use):

Will saw the movement from the corner of his eye. Pale shapes gliding through the wood. He turned his head, glimpsed a white shadow in the darkness. Then it was gone. Branches stirred gently in the wind, scratching at one another with wooden fingers. Will opened his mouth to call down a warning, and the words seemed to freeze in his throat. Perhaps he was wrong. Perhaps it had only been a bird, a reflection on the snow, some trick of the moonlight. What had he seen, after all?

” Will, where are you?” Ser Waymar called up. “Can you see anything?” He was turning in a slow circle, suddenly wary, his sword in hand. He must have felt them, as Will had felt them. There was nothing to see. “Answer me! Why is it so cold?”

Sean Bean (be still, my heart!) is in it, love him. God I hope his character doesn’t get killed off.

Here’s a short teaser-trailer:

There are longer ones, but I thought an eleven-minute trailer was a bit much to post here. If you have time go check it out, though. So naturally I followed them on Twitter, and SQUEEE! they followed me back, even sent a direct message saying “Thanks for following. First lesson…stick them with the pointy end.” Good to know, I’ll try to remember that. I’ll bet that’s the sort of pithy advice that could come in real handy in Winterfell.

And I swear if anyone posts a spoilery comment on the books, I will take Eddard Stark’s sword Ice and hunt you down.

You have been warned.