There’s a very strong debate swinging in my head. In anticipation for Game of Thrones season 2, I’ve already made the conviction to read the book A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin. This was to gain insight to some of the ulterior moves of some characters and I’ve been told time and time again that the television show, while a great adaptation, holds no comparison to the book. Seeing as I’ve already seen the series on television, there will likely be little spoilers as I read the book.
Now here comes the debate. As soon as I finish the first book, Game of Thrones season 2 is heavily based on the George R.R. Martin’s second book, A Clash of Kings. The debate is whether or not I should read the book before/during season 2 and spoil the television series. Hit the jump for some back story to help you get some perspective on the situation. Incredibly spoilertastic to those who haven’t watched the series, but no spoilers for those who kept up with the book series. Before you comment, please no spoilers for the upcoming Season 2 or the book A Clash of Kings. I will end you if you dare spoil me.
People worship him, for good reason.
Last year, near this time, I watched the HBO series Game of Thrones and instantly fell in love with it. By the end of each episode, I was absolutely pining for what was going to happen next and attentively and impatiently awaited the next week. That’s the sheer definition of damn good television. If they legitimately have me raging after a cliff hanging episode, then they’ve done their job. And that’s what I love about television. So here’s the dilemma: Do I read A Clash of Kings and forsake the adrenaline rush of each beginning new episode? It’s essentially a humongous spoiler to the television show, and I feel that if I read the book, I will lose one of my favorite feelings related to television.
I completely understand that the feeling I’m ‘missing out on’ will be translated to the adrenaline of reading the book, but it’s hard to compare that if knowing [spoilers, if you’ve ignored the past warning, stop now and turn around] Ned Stark would die from the beginning, would it be anywhere close to the emotion I was feeling at the end of season one episode 9? Let me give you taste of the emotion I felt: as soon as his head was chopped off and the credits began rolling, I turned off my TV. I slowly stood up and said to myself, ‘what the f*ck’. Never before has a television series killed off it’s main protagonist in the first season and I simply couldn’t sit down. I was raging, I was shaking things, it was a moment that I wish I didn’t share alone because it was too much for me to handle by myself. I was legitimately shocked by it and while simultaneously cursing HBO, I realized that this was DAMN good television.
Will knowing you before I actually see you be a good thing or a bad thing?
And that’s what I’m afraid of missing out on with reading the book. If I finish the book, will I simply close it and run around and yell at the world about how shocking it was? I don’t believe that I’ll be doing that as likely as watching a shocking moment on the television. TV shows purposefully make the climactic moment to conclude itself in the last five minutes and it’s just hard to beat that carefully structured build up. I’m not going to discredit George R.R. Martin’s writing style and build up abilities yet, especially given that I haven’t read any of his material, but I’ve countlessly had more spine tingling moments on the screen then within a novel. Another disadvantage of reading the book is that it only leaves disappointment for the screen adaptation.
Yet the strongest compelling argument for reading the series is obviously the multiple layers of depth added to each story. I’ve read on several forums that the HBO series, while a great adaptation, left out a couple of subplots, characters, and underlying motives. And I’m totally up for more depth. Which is a good reason for example why I enjoyed the 3 hour versions of Lord of the Rigns [to be discussed in a post another time]. And countless book members claim reading the books will always be indefinitely better than any screen adaptation. Which I totally agree with.
Since we are specifically talking about Game of Thrones, it’s no stranger that there are literally dozens of characters. I talked to a friend who’s read the books to discuss in this manner and he brought up some good points. The first mainly being you get to know the characters names much better after constantly reading their names in the books. My first run with Game of Thrones, I probably only picked up on half of how many people there were, and probably missed some of their most significant familial details. The HBO series does well in educating us in the complicated family webs we see, but you could never replace the source material.
So I have a lot to consider here. I am sure reading the book won’t really completely spoil it and if anything it will easily quench any impatiencies I may have. What do you guys think? And of course, it’s never too early to start getting excited for April 1st. I want to hear your book vs movie clashes. For example, would the deathly hallows Part 2 have been more exciting because you never read the book and thrill serves as the adrenaline rush, or is it more exciting because you’re seeing your beloved book series come to life?
I Understand How This Game is Played
Banana Scoop 
I have read the entire series multiple times with the exception of “A Dance of Dragons.” This is only because I haven’t had time and when it came out I downed it in a day and a half and fell horribly behind in the real world….
Anyways if I had to choose reading the books first or watching the series first I would choose watching the series then reading the book. There are three reasons for this.
First, HBO did a good enough job that the series can stand on its own and is very entertaining to individuals who haven’t read the books. Readers like me were slightly disappointed, because I was already so well versed with the world. For example, Arya has never shot a bow in the books yet she shows up her brothers… That little thing almost ruined that episode for me, which it shouldn’t have.
Second, the argument that the books bring more depth is a very good one, but these books have so much depth you have to read them two or three times to really understand all of the subplots going on and characters real motivations. Use watching the TV series as your first exploration into Martin’s great world and then read the book for that season.
Third, assuming HBO will continue to make the series until the very end of the series, which is suppose to be seven books. George RR Martin has basically 4 years to write book 6 and then 1 year to write the last book or 2.5 years for each. Most authors can do that, but he is notorious for being slow in releasing his books. By the way, that is ok with me, but that means your not rushing ahead reading the books because you want to find out what happens in the end. Your reading the books because they are enjoyable and if the first Season of Game of Thrones was enjoyable without reading the book, take your time and watch one season then read one book, watch the next season then read the second book.
If I was new to The Song of Ice and Fire Series that is what I would do.
I read the books before I saw the TV series and while the series was pretty good about sticking to the story, I still found myself to be disappointed at times. My humble opinion is, that if you really want to enjoy the TV series, don’t read the book until after you have seen the season. I have been disappointed by book-to-screen translations and given the complex nature of the Song of Ice and Fire, I’m not certain how much longer HBO will be able to stick to the pure story. Just my two cents though. 🙂
I’m in the same dilemma.
Normally I read the book BEFORE I watch the show/movie, but A Game of Thrones is a great exception where the show is just as good (or even better) than the book. I actually WAN’T to be shocked. I think knowing what will happen next will ruin it for me because I’ll keep expecting epic things to happen instead of just letting them happen. Like right now I’m still reading book 1 and it’s just kind of explaining WHY I was so shocked when I watched the first season.
Another great point is that so far, the show has stuck to what happened originally in the book but not to every detail so there’s still a chance that the producers might want to shake things up and shock people who have already read the whole series.
So go with it and read the second book after season 2 or if you can’t wait, during. (I’ll probably give in and read it during.)
hiya! some people found the TV show made reading the book easier, in terms of keeping people straight.
Since you like the tv show so much, I urge you to Stay Strong and watch it First. (or, if you Really Want, find someone you Trust, and watch an ep, then read the relevant part of the book).
The book WILL be in more depth than the series, so I suggest doing the series first…
(am very glad you decided to read the first book! Now you know a bit more about what’s up with Bran…)