Need some advice on A Song of Fire and Ice.

[EightGaugeHippo]

Hey, I've been watching the HBO serise A game of thrones but I have not read any of the books before. With Season 2 almost at an end, I want to start reading the books.
Now, I don't know if I should pick up the books where the story in season 2 leaves us or if I should just start with the first book.
I know there will be more detail in the books, but is there really a significant difference in detail to the point where if I don't read the first one will I miss huge chunks of interesting story?

In short, pick up the books from the beginning or continue where the HBO serise left off?
what do you guys think?

 

[Mayhaps]

Start with the first book, or prepare to be confused and think "Who the hell is this" a lot.
They skipped much and blended characters together, you won't be bored reading it.

 

[GrandmaFunk]

ya, reading from the first book is 100% recommended.

the show barely covers any of the back story and skips out on a bunch of important elements in the first book.

the second season has actually diverged heavily from the books for many of the characters so starting to read at book 3 would be really confusing.

 

[EightGaugeHippo]

Nice one guys.
Thinking back, I guess it was a silly question in the first place.

 

[manaman]

ya, reading from the first book is 100% recommended.

the show barely covers any of the back story and skips out on a bunch of important elements in the first book.

the second season has actually diverged heavily from the books for many of the characters so starting to read at book 3 would be really confusing.

That disappoints me. I never expected the first season to be 100% true to the book, but it far exceeded my expectations. I was really hoping for the same from season 2.

 

[GrandmaFunk]

well I don't think there's any way they could've done it with the time and resources they had.

The show's version of the story is still quite good, but the details are not the same. which is sometimes better, sometimes worse, and in a few cases both at the same time.

 

[Flamezdudes]

Start from the first book.

The TV series, especially Season 2 makes many changes to events and characters and the books also gives a lot more backstory, history and detail to characters and the world.

You must read all the books. They are amazing.

 

[Altorin]

I've only read the first book, so take what i say with a grain of salt.

you definitely want to start at the beginning. While I wouldn't go so far as some have said and say that the show butchered the book (I think that claim for the most part is silly, the show did an absolutely admirable job at adaptation, and I love it to death), you gain a fuller sense of things in the book, and that's along all fronts. Notably to me at least, the scope and scale Eyrie in the show (where Lysa Arryn and her suckling 10 year old boy live) is grossly diminished in the show. Also the white walkers are a lot more interesting in the book. And the various kids ages are all a lot older in the show, probably so the various sex scenes involving them aren't completely gross. But I think those are nits not worth picking.

Think of the show as cliffnotes, edited together to make the story fit. you'll notice little tweaks here and there in the beginning, and I'm sure they pile up by the end of the 3rd book (approximately where season 2 ends I think), but I think if you go into it with the right mindset you'll have a fuller appreciation for the story - In my eyes, those tweaks are little easter eggs for the people who've read the book, i don't have a problem with them so far, although I may by the time I reach the end of the third book.

I don't intend to pass the show in terms of narrative if I can. Last nights episode was really really good, partly because I had NO idea what was going to happen. Any of the characters could have died, and I like that. If I had read the story first, I'd have less appreciation for the show, and the show is of such a high quality and just so fun to watch, I think it deserves first crack at my brain, and then I'll use the books to sure up the narrative.

People may disagree with that, I don't care

 

[EightGaugeHippo]

I don't intend to pass the show in terms of narrative if I can. Last nights episode was really really good, partly because I had NO idea what was going to happen. Any of the characters could have died, and I like that. If I had read the story first, I'd have less appreciation for the show, and the show is of such a high quality and just so fun to watch, I think it deserves first crack at my brain, and then I'll use the books to sure up the narrative.

People may disagree with that, I don't care

I actually think thats a really good Idea.
Since I'm already behind in terms of the books, I may as well watch a season, then buy the book after it's finished.

 

[Euryptus]

My personal advice would be to sit back and enjoy the show. It may cause a little confusion at times, but mercifully it doesn't stick exactly to the books. Why mercifully ? Because George R R Martin could have done with a much better editor. One who'd cut out the long reams of guff that tend to pad out his books and result in massive doorstep-sized tomes.

Don't get me wrong, great story, some good characters, but it does contain several large shovel loads of waffle that add absolutely nothing to moving the tale forward. You really don't need to know the life story, innermost thoughts and family tree of Sir Blah of Blah-de-blah who then gets killed a few pages later. That excess flab gets trimmed away for the show, as screen time is limited - making for a tighter overall story.

Naturally some purists will be irked that the 'full richness' isn't going to up on the screen at all times. But then there are still LOTR fans who moan that the pointless singing hippy Tom Bombadil was axed for the films. And as usual, that was because he didn't push the story forward one jot, despite his jolly yellow trousers.

The fans will probably rant and rave and call me a heretic, but there's nothing new there