Game of Thrones, are the books any good?

[Karl Masks]

I hear some old dude who looks like a fisherman adapted the TV show into a series of books but hasn't gotten round to finishing the last one.

I jest.

I'm considering reading them as they are highly regarded. But I didn't really enjoy the TV show. I'm not against grimdark fantasy at all, I quite enjoy it. I just felt the TV show traded far too heavily on the sex and violence and was gratuitious in context of the story. The worldbuilding is really good. So my question is are te books better (as is often the case).

 

[Steel Icarus]

I read the first two or three and they were pretty good but a bit clunky. Might be biased because I already knew the story having seen the show and also as I have little experience of fantasy books.

 

[SpookyFrank]

I'd say they're good stories, but badly written.

 

[Steel Icarus]

I'd say they're good stories, but badly written.

Yeah, closer to airport page turners than powerful fiction. That said, so are The Godfather, First Blood, Jaws...

 

[xenon]

I binge read them before watching the show. They're great. Slow in places as you expect from the genre. A few more characters as they were merged for the TV show, - quite reasonably so. But if you loved the show for the world building, plotting, character arks, that's core to the books.

When watching it for the first time, I thought they got the casting spot on.

 

[Karl Masks]

I binge read them before watching the show. They're great. Slow in places as you expect from the genre. A few more characters as they were merged for the TV show, - quite reasonably so. But if you loved the show for the world building, plotting, character arks, that's core to the books.

When watching it for the first time, I thought they got the casting spot on.

The acting was ok. Tyrion's accent was terrible.

 

[Karl Masks]

I'd say they're good stories, but badly written.

how so?

 

[Karl Masks]

If anyone wants to recommend an alternative, they have my leave to do so.

 

[marty21]

I enjoyed the books , never got into the TV stuff.

 

[Shippou-Sensei]

If anyone wants to recommend an alternative, they have my leave to do so.

The Wheel Of Time​

runs away

 

[SpookyFrank]

If anyone wants to recommend an alternative, they have my leave to do so.

Joe Abercrombie's First Law trilogy.

 

[Jennaonthebeach]

I tried reading one but it read to me like a vast list of people most of whom i was not able to remember. But then I've always prefered sci fi to fantasy.

 

[mojo pixy]

Read these!

Nothing to do with me

 

[Karl Masks]

Joe Abercrombie's First Law trilogy.

I read the first two. Would like to read the third which I didn't for some reason because the

Spoiler: shitballs

massive quest they go on that goes nowhere

was trope subversion that I didn't get at the time. Love Glokta though

 

[Artaxerxes]

It's fine but the man needs an editor to tell him what to cut out

 

[Karl Masks]

The Wheel Of Time​

runs away

I have the audiobook of the first one, haven't listened to it yet. I own too many (ie not enough) audiobooks

 

[Karl Masks]

It's fine but the man needs an editor to tell him what to cut out

That's true of every fantasy author Especially if they are called Steven Erikson

 

[SpookyFrank]

I read the first two. Would like to read the third which I didn't for some reason because the

Spoiler: shitballs

massive quest they go on that goes nowhere

was trope subversion that I didn't get at the time. Love Glokta though

There's a lot of stuff that doesn't pay off until book three.

 

[Dandred]

The first five are pretty good, kind of gets a bit shit after.

 

[T & P]

I have not read any but was just saying to the OH last night whilst starting the new season of House of Dragon that I find it fascinating George R R Martin still hasn’t bothered to write the concluding novel in the series, and was happy for HBO to wing the final, and funnily enough terribly received, season of the TV adaptation.

I wonder if he’s been shoved with so much TV money he doesn’t want to de-canon the final HBO season, or what else is going on in his life that has prevented him from writing the final book his fanbase have been clamouring for.

 

[BristolEcho]

Joe Abercrombie's First Law trilogy.

Yes all the way through I was thinking this and the follow ups and the stand alones.

I loved the GOT books but I've given up on the story being completed and I'd have to work my through them again by the time it comes out.

 

[BristolEcho]

I read the first two. Would like to read the third which I didn't for some reason because the

Spoiler: shitballs

massive quest they go on that goes nowhere

was trope subversion that I didn't get at the time. Love Glokta though

Sorry skipped ahead. It's definitely worth sticking with them. If you like audiobooks then Stephen Pacey takes it to another level.

 

[PursuedByBears]

Yes all the way through I was thinking this and the follow ups and the stand alones.

IMO the Joe Abercrombie standalones are even better than the First Law trilogy. The second trilogy (Age of Madness?) is superb

 

[BristolEcho]

IMO the Joe Abercrombie standalones are even better than the First Law trilogy. The second trilogy (Age of Madness?) is superb

I constantly switch between The Heros and Red Country as my favourite. Though the final trilogy is sublime too.

He has a new book coming out in January which isn't related to these books.

 

[Artaxerxes]

I constantly switch between The Heros and Red Country as my favourite. Though the final trilogy is sublime too.

He has a new book coming out in January which isn't related to these books.

The Heroes I really appreciate for the way it captures the chaos and boredom of a battlefield

 

[JimW]

Read Alfred Duggan's old historical novels instead/as well, also some good scheming and skullduggery in classical or medieval times. Conscience of the King a real fave but they're all great. Re-reading Lady for Ransom atm, about Norman mercenaries in Byzantium at the time of the Turkish invasion.

 

[mentalchik]

It's one of the few book(s) that have defeated me, have them all but there's so much it made my head hurt......loved the TV series....must at some point re-visit it

 

[Karl Masks]

Sorry skipped ahead. It's definitely worth sticking with them. If you like audiobooks then Stephen Pacey takes it to another level.

i would love to but my audiobook bill is becoming lifethreatening!

 

[Karl Masks]

The first five are pretty good, kind of gets a bit shit after.

I thought five was all he'd written thus far.

 

[lazythursday]

The first few are really good. It gets a bit lost at some point, all diarrhoea in the east and endless trudging about the Riverlands. I think the writing is fine, better than an awful lot of the genre, but it's obviously not literary fiction or anything. The big issue is why bother, when it won't be finished?

But despite that I would say it ranks alongside LOTR as the best fantasy series written. Can't think of much else that comes close.