ok, finished "storm".

all i can say is...the cat hath claws...

Enjoy "Feast".

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so i picked up my copy of "feast" and the guy at borders goes, "it's almost like there's a tv show or somethin'"...and i wasn't sure if he was being jerky or just making a cute jape...so i just smiled and said "yeah how about that..."

well, i got the last copy. so maybe he'll get a break today.

You should have chuckled for a moment and then open-palmed slap him right across the face and said "A Lannister always pays his debts."

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yes, very good.

maybe one day i'll compile these...

Old Bones

These old bones, they belong to the old ghosts
Baratheon, Greyjoy, Stark, men at their posts
The Night's Watch, taken by the wights
Just soon after their lips cracked open their rights
The rangers gripped their knuckles,
After the oaths, they fasted for nights

These old bones, they pay their debts
No matter the house, they take what they get
The Lions, the wolves, the sigils have drowned
The seaward lords, the iron islands, no one's abound
And what of those fallen...
Have they been around

Yes, these old bones, they still live
They're screaming, they're laughing, they're stiff
The shadows have swallowed them all
They're taking the Wall
And what of those fallen...
They'll still hear the call

http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/07/19/stannis-melisandre/

Lady Melisandre and King Stannis cast.

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I dont know either of the actors but the pics look promising. Next season should be pretty prettty pretttttty good.

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dillane is a good actor; he was fantastic as jefferson in "John Adams" but i pictured someone younger and more burley as Stannis.

Last of the main characters for season 2 cast. It's the Onion Knight.

http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2011/07/game-of-thrones-liam-cunningham-cast-as-davos.html

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another good casting.

Not sure it was mentioned here or not but Dinklage got an Emmy nomination
for best supporting actor. Well deserved and many think he is the favorite
to win.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

interesting debate that's taken place on FB between a friend of mine and some others about this show. he's a HUGE fan of the books, and was looking forward to the show but didn't have HBO so he's just now getting around to it.

i'm submitting the comments (his in bold, mine in italics) from the thread:

I caught up on the first two episodes of A Game Of Thrones. It may shock and alarm you that I didnot enjoy them. I kept thinking, "Could y'all stop f$&@ing for like a half an hour? I'm trying to watch a show here!".

10 hours ago via Mobile Web ·LikeUnlike · .4 people like this..

That show sucks lol
10 hours ago · LikeUnlike.
lol
10 hours ago · LikeUnlike.
hahaha...now I know why my brother likes the show so much.
9 hours ago · LikeUnlike.
Books were full of sex too. Chock full.
8 hours ago · LikeUnlike.
yeah, they were. But, they didn't have sound effects, and take precious screen-time/page-space away from say, giving a major character, Rob Stark, more than two lines in the first two hours of show. I'm just saying I think the show is paced and prioritized poorly. Two successes, Illyn Payne is perfect, and the actor who plays Tyrion wears that character like a damn glove.
8 hours ago · LikeUnlike.
Are you sure you didnt rent a porn on accident That stuff happens to me alllll the time
8 hours ago · LikeUnlike.
Having recently re-read that book, I'll say that the pacing of the TV show is no slower than in the book, whcih is glacial to start with because there's so many plot engines that have to get revved up and so much background that has to be expositoried. It's a good decision for a cable TV show that wants to capture non-geek as well as geek audiences: more sex, less expostulation. Snow gets plenty of face time later.
8 hours ago · LikeUnlike.
If you know what I mean... oh-HO yes.
8 hours ago · LikeUnlike.
And I mean he's on screen a lot.
8 hours ago · LikeUnlike.
Agreed. The book does not put out the welcome mat. Also, It's not often that a show matches my imagination so closely. This was very faithful to my memory.
7 hours ago · LikeUnlike.
Anj is just now reading the first book for the first time. She's commented on how much dialogue is taken verbatim from the books, esp. Tyrion's (no surprise, as you're not going to get much wittier than the way Martin writes him). She was surprised at how much younger many of the characters are in the book, but it's not surprising they aged some of the younger ones for TV.
7 hours ago · LikeUnlike.
I disagree about the pacing of the book being a slow start. I'll say this about verbatim dialogue taken from the books: as much as I enjoy the written works, I think the show should have taken much more liberty with dialogue. Add some sce...nes, let's get a tour of Winterfell, and the north. Let's hear a old nan, or the Maester on the wall, voicing over the prologue horror or something. The show has fallen victim (at least in the first two episodes that I've seen) to faithfulness to the structure of the book. Take some liberties, HBO. The books are the books, you're producing a different product here, use what's at your disposal. They should have snapped it up in the beginning. Because I'm already disinterested in the show.See More
7 hours ago · LikeUnlike.
Ugh. A Tour of Winterfell? And you were talking about precious screen-time! Although maybe HBO has that kind of stuff on the website. I haven't visitied it.
6 hours ago · LikeUnlike.
But basically you're saying that you don't like the liberties thay have taken, but you want them to take other liberties. Ah, to each his own. It's all good.
6 hours ago · LikeUnlike.
But the book does start very, very slowly. l'll not relent on that. And there's no way to snap up that beginning, for the same reasons. The medium really makes no difference. Characters and political situations have to be presented. Plus, I thnk the multi-POV characterization is one of the fine and distinctive features of the series. To change that structure would be doing a disservice to the story.
6 hours ago · LikeUnlike.
I have a list of issues with the show posted under a book club I belong to. When I watched the first episode a 2nd time with Justin I had to explain who everyone was. It wasn't because he hadn't read the book; it was because everyone was in...troduced (if they were introduced at all) a significant time after they had been on screen. I am REALLY thankful they aged some of the kids up, especially Dany with all of her sex scenes. I have to say I'm impressed overall with how well the show has stayed with the books. That isn't seen very often. They might go Micahs route with season two (I still need to watch episodes 3-10...). If they have a loyal fan base they may step things up (or just piss people off). I was surprised Justin enjoyed them, having not read the books, because the episodes actually seemed just a little boring to me. I'm not throwing in the towel yet.See More
6 hours ago · LikeUnlike.
Yeah... 13-year-old Dany and Drogo the Barbarian would not have been cool.
6 hours ago · LikeUnlike.
honestly clark, i didn't get into the book of "game of thrones" until page 150 or so...i didn't know if i wanted to keep reading. on the flip side, i was immediately engrossed by the show. it's well shot, extremely well acted, and well written. the sex stuff is just pure HBO but i enjoyed the season greatly.
6 hours ago · LikeUnlike.
Random but I really love the Steampunkey opening credits. Its awesome to provide the audience with a map. As for the sex scenes, besides Tyrion's initial whorehouse visit was there any other scene not really in the book? FYI, Jaime Lanniste...r is NOT hot enough and I expected the Stark kids to be a lot fairer. Why did they flip Cat from encouraging Ned to go South to her wanting him to stay? Honestly those are the only things that irked me.See More
6 hours ago · LikeUnlike · 1 personLoading....
Thank you all for the insights. Very good discussion. I'm halfway thru Storm of Swords. Never seen the show but for trailers and behind the scenes stuff. That said I think the book was so immersive because we are thrown in without the narra...tion/overview Micah craves. I was like who the hell is this now and what are they talking about. By making you pay attention and figure it out, it also deepens the investment. ( side note...i was thinking of making this my first ebook forray but after the sample i knew it was too complex and i'd need a real book to be able to process since i dont read the same in a screen as i do with a text). While I can imagine the dread feeling Micahs imagining to evoke (like LotR tried to do), I think the dread builds better by taking all that stuff as "old stories" so when it happens it's so much more blam! The sex is part of the book and making it gratuitous is HBO. We should have a book club because as I get deeper into the story I'm wishing I had more people to talk about it with, particularly my shifting feelings about Jaime as of late. I like it when a character changes and so does my attitude toward him. In this regard Martin is a master among the fantasy genre.See More
5 hours ago · LikeUnlike.
Well, I'm not talking a Rick Steves tour of winterfell. But something more than a campsite and a beheading scene to set the stage. Think of a sweep landscape rather than a sweeping map in the credits. The medium absolutely makes a differ...ence. There are vast differences in storytelling between written word, and the craft of actors and directors bringing the written word before an audience, rather than a readership. And what I mean about being faithful to the book, and having HBO take some liberties with the script is not about ageing up the characters, or whatnot (though I think it was a mistake. It's meant to be horrible, let it be). I'm talking ab...out taking a less linear approach to the opening of the story. The prologue with the Others is important, and it works well in the book, but I'm not sure the opening of the show, the whole first episode shouldn't have take a different path. I keep coming back to it, it's a different medium, use the freedom of having photography, and the talents of the actors help you craft a new piece of work. I didn't want a visual audio book. I wanted a good show. Start it with the battle of the Trident, start it with the deaths of Eddard Stark's father and brother at the hands of the Targaryens, or with the dire-wolf and stag raging in the forest. It's like the first couple Harry Potter movies, they were visual audio-books, and they were boring. Only charming because they were exactly what you'd expect.See More
5 hours ago · LikeUnlike · 1 personLoading....
I was surprised they put the book's prologue as the opening. I think you just made a lot of good points.
5 hours ago · LikeUnlike.
I've watched the whole season a few times; Clark, I think you're dismissing this way too easily. You've watched 2 episodes and you haven't seen where they've taken the narrative in the show. Even Martin commended the series. TV series are m...ore about characters than plot; I honestly don't think this series could work as a film series. It's too broad. These books are about character relations, not action. In fact, "Clash of Kings" is almost entirely set up and character building. Not a whole lot even happens, and the same goes for "Game of Thrones". "Storm of Swords" easily has the most action in it. The TV series develops the characters fairly well in the first season--especially Tyrion, Dany, and Jon Snow.See More
12 minutes ago · LikeUnlike.

Clark sounds like a person who was gonna be disappointed by seeing GoT on the screen because it would never live up to what he envisioned in his mind's eye.

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[ ] yes, that is interesting
[ ] there were some good points made
[ ] I hope you continue to post any updates
[x] none of the above

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that's what i think, too, TP. to suggest that they begin it prior to events in the book seems to want to appease people who have already read the books. that's not what this was intended for. i've actually liked the series more and more as i've watched the episodes multiple times. it really is well done.

Silly fun

Game of Thrones name generator http://rumandmonkey.com/widgets/toys/namegen/14783/

Dothraki Warrior: Rakharo son of Pono

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Lothar Stonehouse - Westerosi Knight

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Victarion Stone---Westerosi Bastard

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Jack Stackspear (Gerblance) - Westeros Knight

can't seem to get away from my name sounding like a porn star's.

Westerosi Bastard: Porther Snow

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A gay porn star at that

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Funny GoT Twitter accounts.

http://tvovermind.zap2it.com/cable/hbo/game-of-thrones/fake-game-thrones-twitter-accounts/84996?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fake-game-thrones-twitter-accounts&wpmp_switcher=desktop

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Gregor Clegane
@GregorPartyDude:

GREGOR SUPPORTS WOMENS' RIGHTS! THE RIGHT TO GO TOPLESS AND MAKE ME A SANDWICH. NO, GREGOR DOESN'T KNOW WHAT SEXISM MEANS. IS IT A DESSERT.

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Gregor Clegane
@GregorPartyDude

GREGORIAN KNOT: YOU MAY MURDER OR COMMIT ARSON. BUT NOT BOTH. THIS IS THE HARDEST DECISION IN GREGOR'S LIFE.

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Gregor Clegane
@GregorPartyDude

GREGOR MET A SINGER NAMED LADY GAGA! SHE WROTE A SONG ABOUT HIM CALLED JUST DANCE! HE'S PRETTY SURE "DANCE" MEANS "SKULL FUCK EVERYONE!"

_________________

You should respond - What about murder by arson?

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I did.

Let's see what The Mountain responds with.

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Well! I have now started, as of today on the flight back from Portland, "A Dance With Dragons". I'm just a few chapters in so far, because I still had to finish "Feast" on the plane as well.

So I'm going to go through books 1-4 now that I'm living in the present tense, even though some of you bastards have already finished "Dance" (and I did purchase it at Powell's, as promised).

Game of Thrones

I had no idea what this series was about as I started this book. I really thought that Bran was going to grow up and be some knight and by the end of the book, we'd know him as an adult. I didn't realize that the plot was not going to lapse time like that until about 80 pages in. And it wasn't until about page 150 that I really started to like it. By the end of it, I was totally hooked. I would like to revisit this book sometime after catching up because now reading it knowing who these characters are, I may enjoy the "journey" a little more.

Clash of Kings

Honestly it's my least favorite of the 4; I think there's just too much plotting going on. And plodding. I did enjoy getting to know some new characters like Davos; but it just felt like the stories weren't going anywhere. Everything was building up for "Storm of Swords". I think Tyrion steals the show in this book though--he just should've acted sooner. Again, may be a better read the second time around.

A Storm of Swords

It's probably unanimous that this has to be the favorite of the series. So much happens, so much heartbreak and then...vengeance--somewhat. Tyrion again is so fucking amazing in this book; but I love the character building of characters like Jamie and Samwell, and the relationship that develops between Jamie and Brienne. This was such a great book...incredibly epic, and incredibly welcomed after "Clash". I finished the last 160 pages in one sitting, nursing a bottle of wine on a lonely friday night, sitting outside while the apartment was nice and peaceful. It was a very nice way to end this book.

A Feast For Crows

Seems like the bastard of the series; I can understand why people weren't high on this one. After 5 years of waiting from "Storm", to get all these new stories and new avenues...not to mention having to suffer through Cersei...the book must've been a huge disappointment...for those following the series in real time. For me, I guess I'm lucky. I knew getting through this book was "Dance with Dragons" around the corner waiting for me, unlike most fans who had to wait 6 years, and 11 years from "Storm" to get back to characters like Jon, Dany, Bran, Tyrion, etc. But let me make a case for it--it is the easiest read I had of the series. I finished it in about 18 days, which for me is incredibly fast for a book this long. My record is finishing the last "Harry Potter" book in less than a week. But I didn't struggle at all with "Feast". In fact, maybe some of what happened was that I think people took the wrong attitude with it. This book is actually quite humorous. I think Martin wanted a sort of "break" from the regular narrative and add depth to characters and places that we were unfamiliar with and, in the case of Cersei, completely uninterested in. Now I realize he wrote this with "Dance" supposedly being a parallel. But the way it's published is actually the lightest entry in the series. Not a whole lot dramatic happens, and I actually found Cersei's bitchdom really funny. She's so phony and resolute to rule but she's the most insufferable person on the planet. I love when Margaery calls her an "evil, scheming bitch". I found myself smiling and laughing out loud many times throughout the series. I think people have softened a little more after having read it more than once, and now being able to get into "Dance", maybe it's been forgiven. But I really enjoyed "Feast" and I'm looking forward to "Dance" very much.

Nice side note - while at Brewfest in Portland, I passed a guy wearing a "Winter is Coming" House Stark tee-shirt. I came up to him, both of us knocked glasses, and I showed him my ring and said "Winter is coming," and we toasted. Pretty cool.