Game of Thrones - read the books or watch the series?

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4:05p, 6/28/18
AG
For those of you who have done both, would you read the books first, or watch the series without the books?

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Quad Dog
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4:05p, 6/28/18
AG
Read the first 3 books, then go to the show.
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SeattleAgJr
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4:11p, 6/28/18
Skip the books. There will never be an ending to them, and there is a LOT of extraneous garbage thrown into them.

Just watch the show.
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PaulSimonsGhost
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In reply to Quad Dog • 4:14p, 6/28/18
AG
Quad Dog said:
Read the first 3 books, then go to the show.


Ditto.

I read the first 5, but there comes a point in the books (average is like 900 pages) when you're like, Dear Lord, George RRRR Martin, finish the !@#$ story.

For me it seemed like the man had no interest in closer.

But the show, holy cow! Forever is not enough.

In fact the show could be a rare instance of being better than the book.

Peter Dinklage, WHOOP!!!
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Madmarttigan
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4:16p, 6/28/18
AG
He isn't that great of writer so I would say at most the first few books like the others have said. Stick with the show.
Formerly tv1113
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powerbelly
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In reply to Madmarttigan • 4:21p, 6/28/18
AG
tv1113 said:
He isn't that great of writer so I would say at most the first few books like the others have said. Stick with the show.
Yep.
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tk for tu juan
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4:26p, 6/28/18
Watch the show. I've never read the books. Episode 9 and 10 of each season are awesome if you do not know what is about to happen.
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FIDO95
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In reply to Quad Dog • 4:48p, 6/28/18
AG
This.

I enjoyed his writing style and had a hard time putting down the books. Books 4 & 5 start getting bogged down by an ever expanding list of POVs. It is then aggravating when some of those end up as dead ends and you feel like you wasted a bunch of time reading about a useless character. On the flip side, It is rewarding when you read through and find some detail you thought was extraneous actually has an important impact on a character arc.

While the show is the best series I've ever seen on TV,(there isn't a close second), having some of the book knowledge will make understanding certain events and character motivations make more sense.
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aTmAg
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4:57p, 6/28/18
AG
Was the last season beyond any of the books? I noticed a difference in the feel of it.
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Atreides Ornithopter
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In reply to aTmAg • 5:17p, 6/28/18
AG
aTmAg said:
Was the last season beyond any of the books? I noticed a difference in the feel of it.
Yes the last book ends with Jon snow dead and Daenarys getting taken away by a dragon
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Bruce Almighty
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5:31p, 6/28/18
AG
Watch the show, and if Martin actually finishes the books before he croaks, then read the books.
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MW03
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5:48p, 6/28/18
AG
I'd only read the books if you know nothing whatsoever about what happens, and even then I'd only read 1-3. Once HBO found it's feet, the show became far more enjoyable than GRRM's prose. I think he has tacitly acknowledged that by not writing any more books at this point.
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amercer
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6:26p, 6/28/18
AG
I've read the books, and I've skipped the shows for now because I know they diverge, and I know IF he does finish the books he won't follow the show because that seems to be the kind of guy he is.
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bushytailed
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6:53p, 6/28/18
AG
If you know you're going to read the books at some point, this is how it was recommended to me:

-Book 1, then season 1.
-Book 2, then season 2.
-Book 3, then season 3 but just know that season 4 has some elements of book 4.
-From there it really doesn't matter.

I went straight from season 2 to season 3, then started book 3. No regrets.
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Bruce Almighty
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6:55p, 6/28/18
AG
I started first book and gave up half way through. He's a great world builder, but not the best writer.
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Liquid Wrench
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In reply to Bruce Almighty • 7:36p, 6/28/18
I hear he's a hell of a food describer.
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The Collective
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7:52p, 6/28/18
AG
The shows.
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CapCityAg89
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11:06a, 6/30/18
AG
Ton of show watchers here.

This is easily top 5 fantasy series ever. If you like fantasy, read it. The books are awesome.

If you're not into fantasy to begin with, skip the books and just watch the show. It stands on its own fine.
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Counterpoint
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In reply to Liquid Wrench • 1:59p, 6/30/18
AG
ChiliBeans said:
I hear he's a hell of a food describer.
Lemon cakes!
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Cromagnum
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2:29p, 6/30/18
AG
Martin is a ****ty author with crap writing style. Just watch the show.
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Al Bula
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2:47p, 6/30/18
AG
I guess Martin is a terrible writer now since he has asshurt so many people for being slow.

The books are terrific. It's disappointing and frustrating the series is still unfinished after 22 years but don't let the bitter drama queens discourage you from some great reading.
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Bruce Almighty
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2:50p, 6/30/18
AG
Looks like some of the book readers are getting butthurt over people not liking the books.
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bearamedic99
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In reply to Bruce Almighty • 5:27p, 6/30/18
AG
Bruce Almighty said:
Looks like some of the book readers are getting butthurt over people not liking the books.


why not? the books are good.
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Goose06
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7:17p, 6/30/18
AG
I read the books after watching 4 or 5 seasons. Finished after watching seasons 6 or so. I recommend that route, watcg first then read. I liked books 4 and 5 better than most I guess. Has new plots that are different from the show that I found interesting (though just about everyone who read first then watched disagrees). I do think some of the shows suspense would be greatly reduced if you read the books first.
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The Debt
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7:19p, 6/30/18
I suggest you watch the book then read the series.



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YouBet
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7:44p, 6/30/18
AG
This thread seals it. GRRM and Robert Jordan made a pact to troll their readers.
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Prosperdick
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8:56p, 6/30/18
AG
Watch the first season then read the first book....that will give you most of the background you need to fully enjoy seasons 2-the end.
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The Debt
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9:01a, 7/1/18
I watched s1, then read all the books.

Seeing the visual representation of houses and names gave me an better understanding of who the fk hes talking about. There are multiple rickons and dickons in the book of different houses.

Even with the show uh under my belt, when GRRM talks of "house connington" who are vassals of "X", the show hasn't shown either nor has the book made them part of the plot, just "oh hey, here is some background information about a thing that happened."

So either you map it out, or you keep the wiki of ice and fire handy to help keep the lesser houses straight.
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TyHolden
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11:57a, 7/1/18
AG
Read the synopsis.
Get a map.
Read synopsis again.
Study the map.
Read the books.
Watch on tv.
Read books again.
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Duncan Idaho
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5:48p, 7/1/18
i enjoyed the books. but there is a lot that the show got better than the books. Looking at you Lady stoneheart. and there is a lot that could be cut the **** out.

This is actually one book seires that would be greatly served by an abridged edition.

That said, there is a lot in the books that i wish we would have seen on the screen.

Highly recommend watching the alt-shift-x videos for detailed breakdowns of the books and shows and where they align and where they don't
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BenFiasco14
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6:33p, 7/1/18
AG
So, I watched season 1 when it aired on tv and I was so hooked and didn't want to wait for season two so I ran out and bought the first four books (5 wasn't out yet).

And I plowed through all of them really quickly, I thought they were great personally. Season 1 is almost book 1 down to a T. In fact I was in japan when book 5 came out and I had just finished 4 over there. I was so into it I had to find a bookstore that sells English books and I actually did and got the fifth and began it.

Now, that it's appearing likely this ****** canoe isn't going to finish the series, I'd say skip it. If he does write the next two, then absolutely read them all and enjoy. Until then, just watch the show. That's what I would do.
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Swarely
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7:18p, 7/1/18
If you do read the books- just be sure to come on to texags and ***** at the show only posters for not enjoying all your unnecessary book knowledge.

You'll fit right in.
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YouBet
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7:36p, 7/1/18
AG
Does Vegas have odds yet on who will finish the series after GRRM dies? Sanderson got famous from WoT.
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The Dog Lord
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7:58p, 7/1/18
AG
Short answer: read the books and then watch the show so that you will understand more about what is happening. As someone else mentioned, maps and the wiki of ice and fire are pretty essential to keeping some things straight while reading.

While some parts of the 4th and 5th books are dull (Brienne's "quest"), I didn't mind others. There are also a ton of things that are better in the books than in the show (Dorne, Euron, etc.). The truth is we don't know what the impact of some storylines will be in the books, but people have already written several off as meaningless if they weren't included in the show. There are still a ton of unknowns for the books even with some of the main points being the same/similar to the show.

The show also can't possibly include the history, detail, and complexity of everything going on in the books...Tons of prophecies, Dance of the Dragons and Blackfyre Rebellion providing background as to what may be going on with Aegon (really a Bkackfyre?), what role the maesters and the Faceless Men may be playing besides their obvious ones, the wolves are much more integrated into the story, etc..
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G Martin 87
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6:15a, 7/2/18
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