The Clockwinder.... Geekly update

The Clockwinder, Felicia Day's Day and Game of thrones

The Game of Thrones....the book

first off beware....Possible spoilers ( as I don’t know what Im truly going to write yet)

Fueled by my love of the HBO series based on it, I purchased the audio book for George Martin’s “Game of Thrones”. 44 hours of book, in 4 8 plus hour sections appeared to be a daunting listen but with time while I waited for Kevin to finish he track practices...I had at.

I don’t normally go gaga over popular fantasy, sure I love me some Tolkien and I read the “Lord Foul’s Bane” series, but besides that I steer clear of the like...with that said, I loved every second of GOT.

I mistakenly began liking some characters in the book only to have the author gleeful slay them in the festering pit of deceit that is Kings landing and the 7 kingdoms. I am thankful that Jon Snow made the cut and remained true to his oath but now I am wary that he may have his dark day ahead.

The book is full of so many great Characters, both good, bad and undetermined that at times you can’t wait for the narrative to return to them. The Mormounts became a favorite of mine, the father, the Son and the sister all coming together to paint the portrait of a minor noble house, though only in the background, richly alive with the Father who was forced to take the black, the son who fled into exile and the Warrior sister who’s daughters carry on the name with the smashing of the morning stars.

The author seems to happily build of the Stark family then takes fiendish delight as he suffers them to all sorts of hardships. I like the Starks and the northern families, the author makes me think of the northern english folk of the border with his descriptions... and their stalwart honorable streak.... a benefit in the north.... that turns out to be their glass jaw in the Machiavellian towers of the capital.

Even the battles come to life with a rich history as the author describes the various bannermen and lords that flock to battle under their various sigels, each appear to be unique and many seem to be dual edged blades ready to cut both sides like the Frey’s and Grayjoys. The battles them selves are bloody and believable.

Tyrion Lannister, the dwarf son of the lord of Casterly Rock is a wonderful character, though he tells you that if he wasnt the son of a lord he probably would have been killed as a newborn, his short comings (forgive the pun) make him more and more a giant in the book as he endeavors to out smart his opponents instead of out fight, but we must say that when push comes to shove....his little body houses bear size courage.

The book is wonderful as it follows the fall of Robert Beratheon, the usurper King and the rise of his son Geof. The secrets that end up killing two “Hands of the king” and the crowning of the kings younger brother Renley towards the end of the book and leaves the 7 kingdoms on the edge of being ripped apart.

With all that happening....we are told the tale of the last of the Targaryen, Daenery, who finds love married to a horse lord and the tragedy that follows.... but in the end, for the child she losses she gains 3.... the first in 100’s of years and we are led to believe the Dragon of House Targaryen is turning its eye once more to the “Iron Throne”.

Though some of the readers voices annoyed me to no end, I have to say I loved the book more then any Fantasy book that I have read in a long time. If you have not read it, I encourage you to pick it up.....the only problem you’ll have is putting it it down.

Winter is Coming......

This Sunday HBO aired the first episode of “Game of Thrones” based on the Novels of George Martin (yes I refused to use his middle initials). I have never read the books but the idea of a Fantasy series on HBO really stocked the fires of my inner geek so I was looking forward to the series.

Last Month HBO began posting some video’s “Ondemand” explaining some of the houses and the world and such and I found my self looking more and more forward to the series. As a Uber nerd I am accustomed to being disappointed so I made sure that I was well armored against the chance of major Suckage.

As A non-reader of the books I didnt have a predetermined idea of what should or shouldn't be, I was the preverbal clean slate. So Sunday when the kids and wife had gone to bed, I sat and watched episode 1.... Two Times.

The series had me right from the first minutes, as the Knights Watch rode through the Icewall and were attacked by the White walkers ( or is it Wight). I loved the way the scene played out against the snow covered forest backdrop and the creatures even though they were only shown in glimpses were Terrifying.

As the episode progressed it introduced a world of great intrigue, the “Kings Hand” had just died ( I think the queen and her brother were responsible) so the king heads north to ask his friend Lord Stark to be the new Kings hand. As all of this takes place, in another land we learn of the Targaryen’s, who were apparently over thrown or something (they may have killed the kings first love.... cause he sure hinted he liked killing Targaryens) and were plotting their return to power.

One of my Favorite scenes happened late in the episode, when the Queen’s Dwarf Brother, Tyrion and Lord Stark’s bastard son, Jon Snow, have a brief conversation and Tyrion advises him to embrace the fact that he is a bastard and no one can ever use it to harm him. Jon Snow asks “What would a Dwarf know of being a bastard” and Tyrion answers “All dwarves are bastards in the eyes of their fathers”. I just thought that was a great scene showing a shrewd wisdom on Tyrion’s part and Jon Snow is one of my Favorite Charecters so far.

Ok....HE PUSHED THE KID OUT THE FRIGGIN WINDOW!!!???? holy crap!!! In a way you knew it was coming but part of you was still going “neh...he cant do that” and sure enough he does. The he is the Queens brother...and he and the queen were up in a tower “getting to know each other better” when one of the Stark children climbs the tower and discovers them. Well the Queens brother catches the boy and then nonchalantly pushes him out the window while saying “the things I do for love” wow...do I hate this guy.

As I have said, I loved so much about this first episode, I pray it continues to be as solid. I enjoyed it on various geek levels as well, I thought the costuming was fantastic, from the black of the Knight’s watch, to the Gilded armor of the people from King’s Point (Though who the hell was the guy in the black armor with the Grumpy Bear helmet?) I was impressed. I have to say that the fashions of House stark are my Favorite so far.

For those of you who have never read the books, Give it a go, you won’t be disappointed.