Song of Ice and Fire
I promised I'd say something about George R. R. Martin's "Song of Ice and Fire" series. Perhaps now is not really the best time, since there are currently four books available, and I'm only one-third of the way through Book 3. So, if you wish to discuss, please keep it all spoiler-free, even regarding events of the first two books, since possibly some of our colleagues here are just starting the series.
That said, I think it's fair to discuss things like favorite characters or likes/dislikes about the books. My own list:
I am highly cliche-sensitive. I usually can't get through a genre mystery or romance--or fantasy--without cringing several times at the formulaic-ness of it all. So I have to hand it to GRRM: his characters are complex and not cookie-cutter fantasy types; they usually (with some exceptions) don't speak in the stilted dorky fashion of ye olde medievalish folke, despite a basically medieval setting; and the magic is not at all overdone. In some fantasies, elves and fairies are popping out of the thin air every few seconds; and such stories have their time and place. But this is almost a different world's version of medieval England. (Supposedly it is based on the York v. Lancaster clashes, the War of the Roses. I know very little about that war, but considering the conflict is mainly between Starks and Lannisters in this book, I can already see a similarity.)
Also, though probably half the cast is under 18, they do not act like Robert Jordan's annoyingly whiny youth. (You'd think being dragged through war, fire, and a thousand other near-death experiences would sober up those kids, but no--eight books later, it's still all, "Rand, why don't you love meeee?" and "Ewww, GIRLS!") (Perhaps now is a good time to mention that I might say some very nasty things about Robert Jordan in this post. No offense intended to his fans. I did read the first seven or eight Wheel of Time books before giving up, so it's not like I didn't give him a chance.)
So actually, one of the things I fear for this series is that Martin may go the way of Jordan, slowing down the action bit by bit, dragging things out for another thousand pages, adding more and more extraneous characters...I mean, we're only on four books here so far. Jordan was still OK at book four. So, please, Mr. Martin, be aware of the need to wrap things up. He does already have a tendency to strew a few too many characters into each scene, each with a name, giving readers the uncomfortable feeling that there might be a test on this later. However, I wouldn't worry too much, since usually the extraneous ones turn out to be Redshirts--i.e., Most Likely to Get an Arrow in the Eye by the End of the Chapter.
That's another thing: for better or worse, Martin is gleeful about making life tough for his characters. Getting your appendages chopped off, being half burned to death, wandering the world starving and wounded and freezing, being stalked by the living dead, watching your loved ones get executed by battle-axe...those are just off the top of my head. So, really, it's no worse than the Silmarillion. :D
Now, I know a movie version of Song of Ice and Fire would be almost ridiculous, since it would take 40 installments. All the same, I think it would be fun to do dream casting. Some possibilities:
Jaime Lannister: Jude Law (though he may not be buff enough. Heath Ledger instead?)
Cersei: Charlize Theron (maybe...can she be evil enough?)
Tyrion: Peter Dinklage
Joffrey: Tom Felton (hey, who better than Draco himself?)
Catelyn Stark: Jodie Foster
Robb Stark: William Moseley (Peter from the Narnia flick)
Eddard Stark: Viggo Mortensen (hate to admit it, but he's probably about perfect)
Loras Tyrell: Robert Pattinson (Cedric Diggory--this part is all about looks)
Melisandre: Marcia Cross
It's hard to come up with these. I love Jon Snow, but can't think of anyone young enough--he's, what, 17? Same with a lot of other characters. For Bran (who is about 9) I thought of Haley Joel Osment, but it turns out he's 18 already. Where did the time go?
So, suggest more if you can think of them. I provide an IMDB search thingy, stolen from jedmiller.
IMDB SEARCH
That said, I think it's fair to discuss things like favorite characters or likes/dislikes about the books. My own list:
I am highly cliche-sensitive. I usually can't get through a genre mystery or romance--or fantasy--without cringing several times at the formulaic-ness of it all. So I have to hand it to GRRM: his characters are complex and not cookie-cutter fantasy types; they usually (with some exceptions) don't speak in the stilted dorky fashion of ye olde medievalish folke, despite a basically medieval setting; and the magic is not at all overdone. In some fantasies, elves and fairies are popping out of the thin air every few seconds; and such stories have their time and place. But this is almost a different world's version of medieval England. (Supposedly it is based on the York v. Lancaster clashes, the War of the Roses. I know very little about that war, but considering the conflict is mainly between Starks and Lannisters in this book, I can already see a similarity.)
Also, though probably half the cast is under 18, they do not act like Robert Jordan's annoyingly whiny youth. (You'd think being dragged through war, fire, and a thousand other near-death experiences would sober up those kids, but no--eight books later, it's still all, "Rand, why don't you love meeee?" and "Ewww, GIRLS!") (Perhaps now is a good time to mention that I might say some very nasty things about Robert Jordan in this post. No offense intended to his fans. I did read the first seven or eight Wheel of Time books before giving up, so it's not like I didn't give him a chance.)
So actually, one of the things I fear for this series is that Martin may go the way of Jordan, slowing down the action bit by bit, dragging things out for another thousand pages, adding more and more extraneous characters...I mean, we're only on four books here so far. Jordan was still OK at book four. So, please, Mr. Martin, be aware of the need to wrap things up. He does already have a tendency to strew a few too many characters into each scene, each with a name, giving readers the uncomfortable feeling that there might be a test on this later. However, I wouldn't worry too much, since usually the extraneous ones turn out to be Redshirts--i.e., Most Likely to Get an Arrow in the Eye by the End of the Chapter.
That's another thing: for better or worse, Martin is gleeful about making life tough for his characters. Getting your appendages chopped off, being half burned to death, wandering the world starving and wounded and freezing, being stalked by the living dead, watching your loved ones get executed by battle-axe...those are just off the top of my head. So, really, it's no worse than the Silmarillion. :D
Now, I know a movie version of Song of Ice and Fire would be almost ridiculous, since it would take 40 installments. All the same, I think it would be fun to do dream casting. Some possibilities:
Jaime Lannister: Jude Law (though he may not be buff enough. Heath Ledger instead?)
Cersei: Charlize Theron (maybe...can she be evil enough?)
Tyrion: Peter Dinklage
Joffrey: Tom Felton (hey, who better than Draco himself?)
Catelyn Stark: Jodie Foster
Robb Stark: William Moseley (Peter from the Narnia flick)
Eddard Stark: Viggo Mortensen (hate to admit it, but he's probably about perfect)
Loras Tyrell: Robert Pattinson (Cedric Diggory--this part is all about looks)
Melisandre: Marcia Cross
It's hard to come up with these. I love Jon Snow, but can't think of anyone young enough--he's, what, 17? Same with a lot of other characters. For Bran (who is about 9) I thought of Haley Joel Osment, but it turns out he's 18 already. Where did the time go?
So, suggest more if you can think of them. I provide an IMDB search thingy, stolen from jedmiller.
IMDB SEARCH