I won’t spoil anything for those who are currently watching the TV show, Game of Thrones, (or reading the book it was based on) but many of you may have heard about the grim turn of events that happened towards the end of the first season that left some viewers feeling dismayed, betrayed and yes, shocked. Some were even threatening to cancel (spoilers at that link) their HBO subscriptions over the kerfuffle. Today’s strip documents exactly how I reacted – or rather, how I wanted to react when this episode aired. It was such an inspired, tense, unexpected, “there’s no way they’ll do this” TV Event, that I wished I hadn’t read the book so I could’ve experienced that “surprise” as it happened. In fact, even as the episode was on approach, I was anxiously willing myself to forget whole chapters from the book but to no avail. Yes, it was shocking when I read it in the book, too, but the scene was so unexpected – especially considering what we’re used to in the Fantasy genre, and even more so on television – that I think there might have been more impact upon seeing it, rather than reading it. A truly rare occurrence, which speaks to the quality of the HBO series.
Don’t post any specific spoilers about the Game of Thrones series or novel in the comments, por favor. The HBO series and the A Song of Ice and Fire novels are pretty special and I wouldn’t want them ruined.
Am I first?!?
yep! is this your first Firsting, Insectoid!? well, congrats!!! the Shades of Firsting are now yours. wear them the next time you want to hide your shock and sadness. or is that to reveal and enhance your shock and sadness? i forget. at any rate, wear them well:
😎
::cough:: Anyway, I have indeed read AGoT, and can well imagine some of the outrage of people watching on HBO. (We don’t get HBO so I don’t know how well it was done.) But if this is the only thing that’s outraged them so far, they ain’t seen nothin’ yet. 😉
i’ve only read through the second book, A Clash of Kings, Insectoid, but now i’m even regretting that! ah, well, too late now. i might as well finish the rest of ’em. 🙂
First Firsting, yes. Dumb luck, really. 😎
I got to about 100 pages through book 3 (A Storm of Swords) and then had to take a break. That must’ve been like a year ago, but I still plan to get back to reading the rest of it; by then, there’ll be 2 more books to read (since book 5 comes out next week).
i know what you mean by needing to take a break, Insectoid – after finishing A Clash of Kings i really didn’t feel like a needed to start reading A Storm of Swords immediately. in fact, it wasn’t ’til i watched the GoT HBO series that my enthusiasm for the series was rekindled.
Really, I couldn’t wait to continue the series and devoured the published books. Now that A Dance of Dragons finally came out after so many delays frustrating delays. I’m eagerly picking up and rereading the series
Totally, I have to watch game of thrones already, just because of the massive hype of it
Eddie
it’s definitely worth your time, Eddie!
Oh, sweet, it’s up! I was just getting some late night nomz when I thought I should check…
I am REALLY sad I’ve never read the books…haven’t seen the show either, but I don’t really watch TV much, so it’s the books I’m sad to not have read…I have SO much stuff to read though, it drives me crazy. I really love reading and I have a *huge* stack of stuff I need to read….if only there were time! And less distracting video games…..:P
yep, was able to get this one up fairly early (a rare occurrence), ZAD-Man!
i agree: not enough time to read. i have so many unread books, it’s quite sad. i’ve been trying to catch up on my comic book reading, lately (Ultimate Spider-Man, Chew and Pluto, at the moment) but will probably read a book or two after that. and maybe a videogame like L.A. Noire concurrently. so many entertainment choices, so easy to get behind.
It’s always more fun to go along with the shock… It’s like seeing Christmas through a child’s eyes. Awesome strip as always Jefbot!
thanks, FunnyShaffer! yep, always more fun to go along with it. heheh.
I’m sorry, I’m among those people who stopped reading game of thrones after the third book. I just couldn’t take any more heartbreak y’know?
i’ve only read the first two books, Jiro, but even those were pretty hard to get through (especially the second). i almost feel like i need to catch up on the rest due to obligation rather than enjoyment. but i thought the HBO series did a good job of keeping everything exciting and moving for the first season, so i look forward to seeing how they adapt the other books.
My wife is reading the pre-publication edition of my debut novel (Elder Blood), and she was thrown by a similar twist yesterday. She said it upset her, but she’s intrigued to see what direction I took it in from there.
i think you can take that as a win if your wife can be moved by your characters, E. A. Setser, especially since she wants to see more! good luck and let me know if/when your novel gets published. 😀
Thanks, man.
Actually, I’m in the process of self-publishing it. Got more control that way. I’m just waiting on the copyright registration to clear. Oh, and my name is a link to the FB page for it.
(Also, if sales are good, I might be contacting Cornacchia to see if he’d be interested in a derivative film in the future. Not a direct book-to-film work, but something laying more flesh to one of the storylines.)
self-publishing’s great! especially in this day-and-age. it’s how i did the JEFbot book to sell at conventions. hoping to have a new printing of it for sale here on the site soon!
A friend recommended lulu.com, told me her friend had used it and liked it pretty well. I’ll check it out when the time comes and shoot you an email if they seem worthwhile.
There’s a great violin cover of the Games of Thrones theme on Youtube; search “Game of Thrones cover violin”. It’s really, really amazing. Honestly, just for the music and my love for Sean Bean, I have to see this series. But…I think I’ll skip the books until I’ve seen the series. Because I want to be shocked and surprised. 🙂
Then be shocked and surprised reading the books! I don’t understand why people would wait to read the books when the books are even better than the show. In fact, the first season of the show spoilered things that actually don’t happen until books 2 and 3!
the books are definitely richer and more dense than the show, Kate, but for me, the moment referenced in the strip today is more shocking in the HBO series because we aren’t used to seeing major characters killed off like that in a tv show. also, the books are so complex that i think watching the series first gives a good primer on all the characters, relationships and politics, when picking up the novels. opinions may vary.
yeah, the music for the series is pretty great, Tiana (i really really need to get the soundtrack soon) and thanks for the mention of that violin cover (it’s playing in the background as i write this)! whenever i hear the music, i can see the awesome, miniature, gear-filled mechanical map of Westeros floating by in my mind. it’s one of my favorite show openings in recent memory. (see it here.)
and, yes: go for the shock and surprise of the series, first! 🙂
Oh wow, that was a cool opening! My interest is piqued…
This is exactly how I looked like watching that part of GoT three days ago. Damn you Joffrey! And damn you Lannisters!!!!.. except for Tyrion, he’s cool 😀
Anyway.. the first book of the Song of Ice and Fire is on it’s way to me right now. Therefore excited I am 🙂
glad you could share in the expressions from today’s strip, supersonic cucumber! and you didn’t even have to fake it, like jefbot. heheh.
yeah, Tyrion’s supercool. such perfect casting, and Peter Dinklage is playing the hell out of that character!
I hate to say it, because you tried so hard not to spoiler it, but now I’ll be watching the whole while, knowing that the character I become most fond of – or at least some other beloved character – is going to die, so it won’t have nearly the same impact*. The interwebs is such a bugger for spoilers… :}
* Though I really prefer to avoid spoilers as much as humanly possible, I suppose with as emotional as I am, in this case it might actually be a good thing for me to be able to steel myself for the inevitable, LOL…
i hear ya, Ann – it’s like going to a M. Night Shyamalan movie and not trying to think about what the twist ending’s going to be. if HBO hadn’t gotten so much press when this happened, i might not even have done the joke, but since it has become somewhat of a geek pop-culture moment, i had to comment on it while still not outright spoiling what that “moment” was. 🙂
I read the books and so assumed what was coming — though, to misquote Sir Ian McKellen (about LOTR), the book is the book and the series is the series — so I only hoped it would be done well. I think it was.
i agree, Sarah W! the series has most definitely been done well. i think this is close to the best adaptation we could’ve gotten, considering budgets and time aren’t unlimited.
I read the four books AND ARE FANTASTIC. When I read the first was a total “WTF?” moment. I can´t wait to see the next books and the next tv series.
Long live to G.R.R. Martin.
He’d BETTER live long… else he’s gonna pull a Robert Jordan on us.
Ahh, Jordan… The guy-who-started-carving-Mount-Rushmore of the fantasy literature world. (That sounded a lot smarter until I realized I don’t know that guy’s name!)
I hate to say it but Jordan and Martin are not even comparable. Jordan started writing a story that was WAY bigger than his ability and talent, and as a result wound up completely ripping off Frank Herbert’s Dune. I respect him for doing what I won’t – actually try to write a story – but these two aren’t even in the same league.
George knew exactly how his story would end the minute he started writing the first book. And I’m sure safeties are in place in the event that anything ever happened to him. 🙂
I haven’t read any of the Wheel of Time books, but from how my friend talked about it, I got the feeling the R. Jordan got in over his head and didn’t seem sure about how to conclude the series.
Actually Robert Jordan had the ending written out for years
glad to hear that, CE! i gotta admit, i thought the first novel was BRILLIANT but the second was much, much harder to get through. hearing whispers that the third and fourth novels are even more uneven has got me feeling a bit uneasy, although i’ll still be reading them, because i’m obsessive that way. i take it the journey’s worth it?
and, yes: long live George R. R. Martin! would be horrible if he isn’t able to see his story through.
Heh, I’m not sure if I’m ever going to watch it (or read it – schedule is really heavy) but nothing – NOTHING – will ever defeat the ending of Jim Butcher’s Changes. This is kinda how I reacted, but worse. Much, much worse.
Much worse.
Absolutely true…there were moments when I had to put Changes down because I couldn’t see the page any more through my tears. And not a few WTF?!?!?! moments. Note to new Butcher readers: When he changes his title pattern, take note. Usually, his books have two words. Storm Front, Fool Moon, Grave Peril, so on and so forth. So when Changes only has one word…yikes.
I believe my response was to stare blankly into space for a few minutes, then scream and scream and strangle and almost curse Jim into oblivion. 😀
He’s such a good writer to get that kind of reaction.
And yes, yes indeed. Lesson definitely learned.
okay, now you two have really got me intrigued about Changes. popping it onto my Amazon wish list. 🙂
just saw that this is the 12th book in the Dresden series!? yikes. probably won’t be getting to this anytime soon, then.
yes, the series is getting pretty long, but it is definitely worth it. Hope you get around to it. 😀
i keep hearing good things about the novels, Jaeh (and watched and liked the tv series, though not sure if it’s anything like the books), so might get around to reading it sooner or later. 🙂
The novels are 1000% better. 😀 I started out watching the tv show too, then got hooked on the novels. 😀
I read the books first in the Dresden Files, so I never really liked the TV show. I will commend their actor choice for Harry Dresden; I’d cast him again in a heartbeat. But Bob? And Murphy? And even Morgan? No. And it would be so easy to find a short blond-haired, blue-eyed actress to be Murphy (yes, she’s my favorite character).
TL;DR: Read the books; they’re much better. And quick reads!
As much as I was told and recomended this title, I didnt find time to get to it yet. Knowing myself its inevitable to get hooked on something like this, but so far no luck in oportunity department. Translation: I have other things that needs doing right now.
As far as spoilers go, I never minded them. If idea is good, the story/movie/book can still be horrendously done. (70% of fanfiction.net writers should learn how to write characters that feel and think before putting out plot bunnies.) And oposite is true too, crappy story or script so well made into movie that you dont regret going to see it (Transformers: Dark side of the moon anyone?). I do look for mistakes and I complain and bitch about them – a lot, but I realy try to appreciate the good things in all I watch or read. And I newer ask for more than for all aspects of a… thing to be of relatively same at least average quality. So knowing plot beforehand doesnt realy bother me.
BTW: When was the last time Sonitan posted? I kinda miss her around.
I refer to fanfiction.net as the Pit of Voles. There’s some good stuff there, but you really have to dig through a mountain of trash to find the treasures. And I say this as someone who has writing there!
Exactly.
So, what should I look for in there thats yours?
I write LotR stuff (and one To Kill A Mockingbird story); I’m known by the handle o-Vana-o0 there. Fair warning; I’ve changed a lot as an author since the postings there, so…yeah, the stories are a little childish.
I’m too busy play video games (such as Trenched, a video game from the makers of Psyconauts), reading web comics, and watching videos on Youtube to watch a lot of TV any more.
As far as Sonitan goes, I think she has just been unable to post a comment recently. I see one or two every few comics, but that’s about it. I think we all miss her and wish she was better. 🙁
yes, time is the enemy, Maryz, especially when it comes to books as they demand so much of it.
i also don’t mind hearing about plot beforehand, especially when it comes to movies, Maryz. (my frequenting of many movie spoiler sites would back me up on this.) it’s only when a twist has a ton of impact, like the one in GoT, or, say, the reveal in The Empire Strikes Back, that i get angry if someone outright spoils that for me. but i understand that some people just don’t want to be spoiled at all and want to go into something fresh. i can totally respect that, but just can’t keep away from hunting down info on stuff i like, myself.
i’ve been thinking about Sonitan, too. i’ll drop her an email soon to see how things are, and let y’all know if i hear anything.
I am a Harry Potter fan. I’ve read the books more times than I can count. I still go to the movies and complain about what they did/do wrong. That’s not going to stop me from going to the midnight release Thursday and bawling my eyes out.
I’ve only read like three of the books, but I still like it. I’ll still go and see the last film, but there is no way in hell I’m going to be up at midnight just to see it.
a friend and i are debating whether to hit a midnight screening or not, dj. my buddy Coolhand and i have been slowly making our way through the movies again over the past couple of weeks and are now up to Order of the Phoenix. we should be done with them just in time for the final film!
funny, i’ve never felt spoiled by having read all of the Potter books. i wasn’t even bothered knowing of Snape’s “shocking” moment of treachery, going into Half-Blood Prince.
Yeeeeaaaahhhhh…I haven’t watched or read it. I tried the first episode and was bored. Apparently, according to the bestie I have to push through the first one and keep watching to get hooked. I guess I’ll try that, when I’m not doing 8 babillion other things I’m working on.
YES I am also a huge HP fan. I still cry when all the bad stuff happens. In fact in HP6 hubby had to pause and find me tissues. I was all hysterical. He was like “Wait….Didn’t you already read the book?” Seeing it in your minds eye and then on screen are two totally different things.
Out of left field…did anyone else see Despicable me? “It’s so fluffy I could just DIE!” SHe’s my favorite!
Yeah, one of my friends said that *spoiler alert* when Hedwig died he literally yelled “What!” in the theater.
I loved Despicable Me. It’s also got to be the film I’ve known about the longest before it came out because of how long the had advertisements for it at the beginning of other movies for years before its actual release.
so far, i’ve hated the way the deaths are treated in the HP movies, Fijiman. they’re just like, *bam* dead, moving on. even the biggest death in H-BP was so matter-of-fact, and no funeral scene at the end! arrgh. and the way one of my favorite characters is dispatched off-screen at the beginning of DHpt1 was unforgivable. those deaths could’ve been SO much more emotional!
I was 15 or so when I read HBP I had to close the book when that death happened. He was my favorite character. I cried for the next four or five chapters after that. At 4 or 5 in the morning.
AWwwww… that’s awesome, DJ. hope you’re mentally and emotionally prepared for DHpt2 this week!
yeah, pushing through those first couple episodes will reward you with goodness, Pixie. it’s just a matter of getting to know all those characters, and then you’ll get hooked.
i’m getting all sorts of jazzed up for the final HP! if the ending’s done as well as JK did it in the book, i might need some tissues myself.
oh, and i still haven’t seen Despicable Me, yet. something i hope to rectify soon.
Good art is supposed to make people feel emotions, in essence. Game of Thrones = Good art.
yep, GoT is some good art, Anime fan. can’t wait for season 2.
I haven’t watched/read that series, but I can totally sympathize. It is always sad when you know what is going to happen in a book, show, or movie that you are totally engrossed in. I tried to avoid Buffy spoilers when I was watching it for the first time last year, but I had accidentally come across some info about Spike. Then I was just waiting for it, but at the same time wishing I didn’t know about it. Same thing for the movie Serenity. I accidentally saw a Con costume of Wash from the movie that gave away his major plot turn and I wanted to erase that section of my memory. 😛
I am just waiting to hear back from Taran (who is at my parents’ for 2 weeks) about that thing we were talking about so I can get back to you.
yeah, some things you just don’t want spoiled, shanna, and it’s getting increasingly hard to avoid spoilers, what with the internet and social networks and all. that’s why when you come across a genuine twist or something surprising, it’s so much fun! loved Buffy and Firefly when they were on, and i thought Serenity was under-appreciated by the general public.
no hurry on the thing; let me know when you know. 🙂
Well, it would have been rude of Bot not to play along, even after having read the book and knowing that this character was going to get slayed. I can see Cornfather complaining about that too. ><
indeed, TCG: bot almost had to play along. he may have gone a bit overboard, but at least his enthusiasm was in the right place. 🙂
Good to know (and entirely unsurprising) that you’re a GRRM fan, Bot. Four days ’til Dance With Dragons!
i still have a lot of reading to do (i’ve only read the first two books) before i get to A Dance With Dragons, Cameron! maybe by the time i get caught up, the next book in the series will be out? (seeing how long ADWD took to come out, probably not. heheh.)
Sounds like when Rosalyn Shays unexpectedly fell to her death in an elevator shaft on LA Law (that’s right, children of the 80s…taking you back). As they went to commercial, I remember thinking I saw incorrectly. Then I remember thinking that the elevator was probably just a couple of floors down and we’d find she just broke her leg. Nope. After the commercial break, they made it clear that she fell a good 30-40 floors to her death. Heard the cast was shocked as they didn’t tell them until shortly before they shot the scene. I was shocked! Utterly shocked. Although…I didn’t think of removing Channel 4 from the set of channels programmed in the TV. 😉
at least her death wasn’t spoiled by the L.A. Law novelization, Sean Luke! heheh.
I thought it was awesome. In some ways, knowing what was coming only made it more awesome. I knew what was coming. I still sat there and was like, “WTF NOOOOO YOU FRACKING IDIOTS”
Also,
http://tinyurl.com/3zzdytv
Also, that’s me. I have no idea why it won’t remember me. =/
i had that same apprehension, Kate: even at the beginning of the season, whenever i’d watch and enjoy the character, knowing what was coming i’d be like, NooOOoOOOO!!!
and that link is pretty spot on. 🙂
Surprisingly, I hadn’t really heard anything about the books til after they announced the series, and some people whose opinions I respect told me not to bother with the story, and in fact was told more than once that it was “horrendous”. Now looking at the reactions to the series, I’m starting to think that those people were just angry about a plot twist they didn’t see coming. I just might have to go read the books, but I don’t have the money to invest in books right now. Good thing libraries exist… they do still exist, right?
i’d recommend just checking out the book for yourself, Maddgodd81 – the reactions to the HBO series and the book are so all over the map, that it’s impossible to judge until you’ve watched or read it. i love the series (though of course, it’s not perfect) and am still on the fence about the books after reading A Clash of Kings but yeah, that first book is definitely worth a read and will clue you in to whether or not you’ll like the show.
Eddie
PS: my computer officially hates me
It is clearly possessed. We shall require a preacher, holy water… make that a Bible, a random hobo off the street, and at least one of the Ghost busters.
i suggest taking it out to dinner or spending some quality time with it, Eddie.
I placed the first book on hold at the L.A. public library system a few months ago. I think at the time I was around number 60 or 70 in the queue, waiting for one of 7 holdable copies. Just checked, and I’m now #31 in the queue. Which means at this rate I may be able to read the book around… maybe October?
(Yeah, I know, I could just buy a copy, but, well, that would cost money…)
Money you should absolutely spend.
Money I do not have. You underestimate my level of brokeness.
I would recommend used book stores, but when I went to try to find a copy for my ma, all three used book places in her town had zero copies! D:
yikes! does your library lend out eBooks or audiobooks, RM? my local library lends the latter, but i don’t remember seeing any of the A Song of Ice and Fire novels listed, but yours may differ.
I have the first one in audio (mp3) format and 1-4 in pdf format.
Would you like them?
I can never make up my mind, should I read the book or should I watch it on TV? If I read the books I usually hate the TV version (for example Trueblood). What do you suggest, Book or HBO TV of “Game of Thrones”?
Always, always read the books. Books are good for your brain. And at no risk of being overdramatic, the Song of Ice and Fire series is a masterwork of storytelling.
i’d normally say read the book first like Kate here, pinkee, but in this case, i’d say watch the series; you’ll get the shocking scene and an easier introduction into the world of the books. i can’t even remember the last time i gave a recommendation for watching a movie/tv series before the book, but there you have it.
I watched the Fellowship of the Ring before reading any of the books. (Well, I did read the Hobbit in 6th grade and didn’t like it, so that doesn’t count). I was confused by some of the events, and kept getting Aragorn and Boromir mixed up in my head (which made the ending…interesting), but after watching the movie, I was hooked. I spent the rest of the night reading the rest of the books.
I’ve not watched nor read it and I do not plan on doing either any time soon. This comic, however, was funny and plan on continuing to read it for some time.
And because I’m listening to this right now and think it’s awesome, here’s this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3G6p1YXp5s&feature=feedu
now that’s a recommendation i can get behind! heheh. thanks, Fijiman! 😀
now grooving to that link.
Yeah, the guy who made it makes some really cool music and is a pretty cool artist as well. Here’s a link to some of his channels: http://www.youtube.com/user/Dutvutan#p/u http://www.youtube.com/user/Scoutellite
Spoiler alert:
just kidding…im not that type of guy….all this fantasy novel becoming tv series makes me wonder if there is any chance that david and leigh edding’s Book of elenium and book of tamuli to be adapted.
if it does, i’m shocked.
I’ve never heard of those books. I may have to check them out at some time in the future. Although, a series I would like to see turned into a TV or movie series would be Garth Nix’s The Keys to the Kingdom Series.
YEEEESSSSSSSSS
Which I have not finished because I’m too lazy to go to the library for five minutes in order to check out the last book or two.
I just finished reading Lord Sunday. It’s…not what I expected for the ending. I think you’ll like it.
hey! haven’t seen you in a while, jf#300! glad you’re back. 😀
i’ll throw The Chronicles of Amber series into the ring of book properties i’d love to see made into a series.
wait, you mean Soylent green really IS people?!?
SPOILER!
I always forget what day it’s on so I tend to miss it a lot. I have seen a couple episodes, but never read the books (but want to), but from what I hear, at least it’s a much better adaptation than WGN’s attempt to televise their version of the Sword of Truth series (they ****ed up the personality traits of almost all of the characters and even managed to consistently mispronounce Kalahn’s name. Thank god that show is dead).
EDIT: Turns out it’s ABC/Disney that made that crap series.
In any case, I would definitely like to see how one would turn David Weber’s and Linda Evan’s work, “Hell’s Gate”, into something for either the big screen or the (not so) little screen.
i haven’t even heard of ABC/Disney’s Sword of Truth series, NeoDarklight, which is further testament to how badly they messed it up! but yeah, the HBO series is awesome and well worth your time.
Hahah, I’m sorry, but the first two panels are simply adorable. c:
thanks, Aelyrin! glad you found ’em adorable! 😀
:O!!! you also watch Game of thrones!!! I totally loved the series, and even thou i did read the book, I was still shocked to the those things in the end to happen. Still I will continue watching, and reading, the series 😀
Did the CF actually cried?
glad you’re watching and enjoying the series, nicobot! now begins the long wait for season 2…
and the Cornfather didn’t cry in Real Life – i tried to get him into the series and walked him through the characters during the first and second episodes, but he lost interest by the third, sadly.
I know that before season 2 start I would have already read book 2…the question is, should I read all the books?…it’s soo tempting.
To bad the CF didn’t like G.o.T. I guess it’s not for everyone 🙁
yeah, i think if he had stuck with it he would’ve gotten drawn in. maybe he’ll get into before season 2 comes out.
waiting for dance with dragons now. 🙂
i still have a lot of catching up to do before i can read that, oddbody!
I did not like the start of Game of Thrones and stopped watching after the first one. Then as time went by, I decided to try out the books. I went on a marathon reading session that lasted about 4 days and made it through the first three books and half of the fourth. I DO NOT recommend this for anyone. Every dream for the last two weeks has beean about the books.
Since reading the books, I now kind of want to see the series to see where they go with it. I also don’t think I can take the continued heartache. I will admit to cheating and reading spoilers to help soften the horrible blows. It only gets more painful! They are great books and a lot of fun. It is because of the books that I will return to the series.