How Much Do You Bench?: HBO's Game of Thrones...

This is the first time I've discussed this topic on this blog. To seemingly switch gears from talking Georgia football to talking dungeons and dragons sounds like the typical conversation pattern of a Georgia Tech student. But hear me out...

Though I like to read, and I enjoy fiction, I've never really been a fan of the science fiction (except some Michael Crichton here or there) or fantasy genres. I have enjoyed the classics (Hemingway, Fitzgerald, etc.) and some more modern day writers like John Grisham and Cormac McCarthy. I had never read stuff like Lord of the Rings and was never a huge fan of movies in that genre either. As a kid, I tinkered with Arthurian legend a bit, but it didn't lead me to explore the fantasy genre.

Jaime Lannister, HBO's Game of Thrones, HT: Entertainment Weekly

One day, a friend of told me that he had just finished re-reading the best series of books he had ever picked up. This friend was well-read and very smart, and I generally trusted his decisions, so I asked him about the books he read. He described the series to me as being the best character development he has ever encountered. Several dozens of characters that fit into this vast and brutal "kingdom" and participate in a struggle for political power. He said if you liked HBO shows The Sopranos, The Wire, Deadwood, and Rome, that you'd like the books. He said there were strong elements from all those shows in the series. He also said that it had intrigue like Kapur's 1998 Elizabeth or Ridley Scott's Gladiator. However, it also had the chivalry and sense of fealty that went along with the Arthurian legend. But he said what stood about about the series was that the character development, the political intrigue, the complex and ever-changing factions and alliances, and the constant plot twists all transcended the genre. In other words, you could have put this "story" in any historic or contemporary setting and it would still be amazing. Oh, and there just so happens to be a lot of sex and violence as well. AND, most importantly for genre skeptics, it has little to no magic. The very small supernatural elements are in the background, and aren't game changers. It very realistic and gritty, and grounded in a sense of realism.

(NOTE: To see more photos like the one above, go to this Entertainment Weekly exclusive, which also features photos of Sean Bean as Ned Stark and Mark Addy and Robert Baratheon.)

So, because my brother was more into the genre than I was, I bought him the first book of the series. And then he started raving madly about the books as well. Then, I encountered some other guys who weren't really "dungeons and dragons" types, and they raved about the series as well. So, I finally picked it up about three years ago and I concur - it is the best piece of fiction I've read.

As of now, there are 4 completed novels in the series. The author, George R. R. Martin, has said there will be 7 or 8 total books in the series. The first book is entitled 'Game of Thrones.'

Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister, HT: Entertainment Weekly

Now, a couple of years ago, as I was reading the series, I caught wind of a rumor that they would make a movie about the series. But I laughed that off, because there's no way they could do a movie, or even a trilogy or something, that could encompass all the characters and complex story-telling contained in these books. Then, the rumor shifted to a mini-series, and I essentially said the same thing. Not only that, but this story couldn't be put anywhere other than premium channels, given the content (which is important to the story).

Finally, I caught wind that HBO was developing the series for an actual drama serial, in which a season worth of 1-hour shows would encompass approximately one novel. Perfect. Both content-wise and length-wise, this would work. And now, as is obvious, HBO is filming the show and it is getting ready for a Spring 2011 release. The show stars Sean Bean (LOTR, Troy) as Ned Stark (the main character) and also features Lena Headey (300), Peter Dinklage (The Station Agent, Elf), Mark Addy (A Knight's Tale), and Aiden Gillen (The Wire, Shanghai Knights).

Fans of the series have been monitoring and following the production very closely, and many of the industry experts and writers have commented on this being the most highly-anticipated series ever brought to television, based on the internet buzz following production of the show.

Anyway, I'd highly recommend reading the books. No matter what your genre or literary preference, it is something all adults - IMO - can get into. But, if you decide not to read the books, you should at least check out the TV show.

Here's a trailer from the series...

"Raven" Preview

And here's a clip of some "behind the scenes" footage and interviews...

In Production

Some more photos and production stills after the jump...