# Game of Throne Viewers: How Many of the Books Have You Read? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 2, 2012, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-throne-viewers-how-many-of-the-books-have-you-read/617634 "2012-04-02T21:56:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-throne-viewers-how-many-of-the-books-have-you-read/617634/61 "2012-06-04T16:05:58Z")
I read the first book before watching Season 1 and discovered that I knew everything that was going to happen ahead of time. Therefore, I am watching Season 2 prior to reading Book 2. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-throne-viewers-how-many-of-the-books-have-you-read/617634/62 "2012-06-04T16:08:38Z")
I finished the first book and read a few pages of the prologue of book 2 yesterday. But I’ve only seen the first episode of season 1 of the show so far. Now that I’ve finished Book 1 I’ll probably watch the rest of Season 1. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-throne-viewers-how-many-of-the-books-have-you-read/617634/63 "2012-06-04T16:12:40Z")
Now that Season 2 is over, can anyone tell me if it’s okay to go ahead and read the second book? Did it cover the same ground? ---
**Author:** ![Terraplane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Terraplane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terraplane)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-throne-viewers-how-many-of-the-books-have-you-read/617634/64 "2012-06-04T16:41:04Z")
I wouldn’t have read the books yet if the TV show hadn’t come out. I’d heard about Martin’s incredibly slow writing pace and looking at the guy, well, it’s a mean thing to say but I’m not all that certain he’s going to last long enough to finish the series. I really didn’t want to watch the series before I read the book though, and the previews for the show looked so good that I figured I’d take a chance. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-throne-viewers-how-many-of-the-books-have-you-read/617634/65 "2013-05-08T02:40:34Z")
Thanks for this poll! ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-throne-viewers-how-many-of-the-books-have-you-read/617634/66 "2013-05-08T03:30:11Z")
I’ve read all of the first two and about half of the third. The first book was great- one of those books I absolutely couldn’t stop reading. The second was “meh” and the third I just gave up on partway through. I think the show is way better than the books, with the exception of the first book. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-throne-viewers-how-many-of-the-books-have-you-read/617634/67 "2013-05-08T03:51:12Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I read the first four and loved 'em. I’m reading the fifth now, am about halfway through, and am not digging it quite as much. But I’ll still finish it! I finished the fifth about a month ago. Not my favorite, by a long shot, but there was, ahem, much and more to enjoy about it. God willing and the creek don’t rise, I’ll keep reading as long as Martin keeps writing. And I’m definitely hooked on the TV show. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-throne-viewers-how-many-of-the-books-have-you-read/617634/68 "2013-05-08T03:58:06Z")
I haven’t read any George R.R. Martin since _Wild Cards._ ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-throne-viewers-how-many-of-the-books-have-you-read/617634/69 "2013-05-08T04:10:39Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > I haven’t read any George R.R. Martin since _Wild Cards._ Please tell me you’ve read Martin’s _Tuf Voyaging_ (ecological engineering on a planetary scale mixed with deadpan sarcasm) and _Fevre Dream_ (vampires along the Mississippi before the Civil War). Both very different, both very very good! ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-throne-viewers-how-many-of-the-books-have-you-read/617634/70 "2013-05-08T04:11:59Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I finished the fifth about a month ago. Not my favorite, by a long shot, but there was, ahem, much and more to enjoy about it. God willing and the creek don’t rise, I’ll keep reading as long as Martin keeps writing. And I’m definitely hooked on the TV show. The writing was still there, but he really needs an editor. Too many authors get so popular that they think they don;t need editing anymore. Or sometimes their editors are too afraid to do what needs to be done. Both are wrong. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-throne-viewers-how-many-of-the-books-have-you-read/617634/71 "2013-05-08T04:12:23Z")
I’ve read all of them, but have forgotten almost everything except for a few major events. I couldn’t even tell you what happened in \*Dance With Dragons, the most recent book. \* The TV series is therefore new to me. You guys with good memories – I don’t know whether to envy you or not. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-throne-viewers-how-many-of-the-books-have-you-read/617634/72 "2013-05-08T08:18:35Z")
I’d been vaguely aware of the series & the delays between books. Wasn’t it one of those interminable Tolkien ripoffs? Publicity for the TV show reminded me that GRRM was the guy who wrote _Fevre Dream_, so I picked up the first volume. (Why won’t somebody bring _Fevre Dream_ to the large or small screen?) Managed to read every volume released to date before the first series began; I read fast. Definitely _not_ Tolkien ripoffs–but he seemed to lose his way toward the end. (Why the fuck didn’t he make a real outline? You can’t successfully compete such a huge work flying by the seat of your pants.) The _Dance with Dragons_ hardback is sitting there unread; Gene Wolfe is my favorite modern fantasist, although I read more than fantasy. So far, I think the showrunners are doing an excellent job of editing the series, with fine production values & some outstanding performances. And have visions of hanging all five volumes around the necks of those who insist on talking about the books in episode threads & dumping them, well, not in the Narrow Sea. Perhaps in some stagnant water where they will be discovered by Freys… ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-throne-viewers-how-many-of-the-books-have-you-read/617634/73 "2013-05-08T10:03:42Z")
I voted “I haven’t read any” but that’s not _strictly_ true, I have read the “prequel” Dunk & Egg novellas and their graphic novelizations. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2013, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-throne-viewers-how-many-of-the-books-have-you-read/617634/74 "2013-05-08T13:53:50Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > The writing was still there, but he really needs an editor. Too many authors get so popular that they think they don;t need editing anymore. Or sometimes their editors are too afraid to do what needs to be done. > > Both are wrong. I quite agree. Tom Clancy and Stephen King have both fallen into the same no-one-dare-edit-them career trap now and then. > [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > …Publicity for the TV show reminded me that GRRM was the guy who wrote _Fevre Dream_, so I picked up the first volume. (Why won’t somebody bring _Fevre Dream_ to the large or small screen?)… I’ve wondered that myself, given the recent vampire craze. With the right casting and a decent budget, I think it’d make a _great_ movie. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-throne-viewers-how-many-of-the-books-have-you-read/617634.md?page=3)