Game of Thrones

I've always hated the fantasy genre, it's too unrealistic.  I like gritty urban dramas set in a world I see.

A few years ago someone at work who became a good friend, Susan Emro (she was Susan Kemp then), told me how much she liked the Harry Potter books.

Susan?!  Liking Harry Potter?!  Maybe I should read one.

I got the first novel and realized I'd been wrong to rule out something based on its genre.  The Harry Potter books are populated with people and relationships, and in that way they are universal.  And the writing, especially early on, is tight and powerful.

(As the series progressed I think Rowling's success made editors afraid to trim her books down, to her detriment; the Stephen King affliction.)

A show on HBO just premiered its second season, "Game of Thrones."

It's a fantasy show.

When I saw the first season advertised I thought it looked boring and stupid.  But it got good reviews, so I checked it out.

What an amazing show.  Each episode is like a 60-minute movie with HUGE production values; big main cast, a gazillion extras, amazing locations and sets, and elaborate wardrobe and prop pieces.  You know a lot of what you see has to be CGI, but it works so well you just go with it.  And the writing is stellar, blending in the occasionally fantastical with real characters and situations easy to relate to.

Maybe it works for me because the setting seems more like medieval England than some fantastical universe.  Or maybe that's how a lot of fantasy is?  (If so, what's the connection between medieval England and the fantasy genre?)

After watching this show I bought a discount boxed set of the first four books of the series in paperback, the original novels written by George R. R. Martin.  Very impressive.  I can recommend these to anyone who likes good writing.

Like Robert E. Howard before him with Conan The Barbarian, Martin creates an elaborate, sophisticated, whole reality.  The difference is that Howard (like Burroughs) was a pulp writer.  Martin is much better.  He's more like Ray Bradbury, someone who works within a genre but creates literature.

Miraculously the HBO program found the budget and the talent to bring all this to life.  It's sooo good.

I'm a fan.  The second season just started and I re-watched the first season in preparation.  Check it out if you haven't.  Start with the first season and pay attention.  Maybe watch each one twice, that helped me get all the details down.  Either way, watch it and let me know what you think.

(I'd love to hear from you.  Feel free to comment.)