George R.R. Martin has posted on his blog a list of actors that have been cast — thus far — for the HBO series A Song of Ice and Fire. The list includes:
- Sean Bean as Lord Eddard Stark
- Mark Addy as King Robert I Baratheon
- Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon
- Harry Lloyd as Viserys Targaryen
- Kit Harington as Jon Snow
Roles for critical characters yet to be filled include: the Lannister twins, the Stark children, and Daenerys Targaryen.
The search continues.
I’ve considered reading this George R.R. Martin series, it was always one of my dad’s favorites and I never got around to reading them. I’ve heard great reviews from several people!
Sarah, it’s by far my favorite fantasy series. I actually have a difficult time finding other fantasy novels I enjoy ever since I first read Martin.
It’s hard to say if you’d like him. Everyone is different, I suppose, and has his/her own opinions. Do you like to read fantasy? If so, what types of fantasy / authors do you enjoy?
Martin’s novels are a bit different from your classic works of fantasy. They have more of a “realistic” feel to them (if that’s possible with fantasy, a bit of an oxymoron I suppose). They are dark and gritty and earthy. At times, it’s difficult to distinguish between the protagonists and antagonists — which I prefer as it makes for well-rounded characters — and no character is ever safe with Martin. Main characters die all throughout the series (some quite early in the novels).
You will love a character one minute and despise him the next, then start to like him again. You often find yourself cheering for the “antagonists,” if they can be called that. The lines are quite blurred.
Martin writes in several points-of-view, dedicating a chapter at a time to a certain character. This makes it interesting because you get to see the world from very different perspectives, and you begin to understand why a certain person you once labeled as “bad” behaves in a particular way. His actions are thus “justified,” and you may no longer view him as you once did. It’s hard to know who to trust, but that’s what makes the series so compelling in my opinion.
My advice is to start reading the first book A Game of Thrones. You should know after the first few chapters whether or not it’s for you.
Happy reading, and come back!