Pajiba

This looks really, really good.

And that Kit Harington is YUMMY.

Plus his name is Kit.

I hope that Nikolaj Coster-Waldau gentleman will be up to the task of portraying Jaime. If the HBO series continues (which from the looks of things seems pretty solid), he'll have the unenviable position of taking the most despicable character in the novels and turning him into someone that the viewer cannot help but root for.

If anyone had to do it, I'm truly glad that it came down to HBO. Anyone else would have watered it down beyond recognition. Can't wait for April 2011.

Kahl Drogo is looking suitably bad ass.

That's the guy who was cast as the new Conan, I believe; that guy from "Stargate: Atlantis."

Thanks for posting this, Steven. I was a bit peeved that I had missed it on Sunday.

Thank you for making my week.

can't. wait. now finish the fucking novels.

And hopefully this new wave of fame and recognition (and shitloads of cash) will inspire the fat man to give my next book.

The people who didn't know that, formerly, would not have been able to tell that he wanted to add that.

Vizzini was right. You are a moron.

After years of people badgering me to read these, I'm finally finishing the first novel right now. (I only have about 30 or 40 pages left. I'm really digging it.) I haven't watched the preview yet.

There were a couple things that struck me about the book and how it might be adapted.

First, the kids very much are important players in the first book. Chapters are told from these eight points of view: Eddard, Catelyn, Jon, Sansa, Arya, Bran, Daenerys, and Tyrion. Five of those characters are children or young teenagers. In Martin's world they all read beyond their years to me (or at least years as our society dictates) in terms of their thoughts, capabilities, and what is demanded from them. That's not to say that I found them unbelievable, but it did make me wonder how HBO is going to credibly adapt them for our eyes if the story stays true to their ages. (E.g., imagine a seven-year-old kid scaling walls like Bran can.)

Based on that first teaser I saw, it does seem they have aged them up at least a little (both Bran and Daenerys appeared older), and based on this column, it would seem they are shifting the focus a bit more toward the adults. I hope they don't lose too much of that young perspective as a result, because many of my favorite parts of the first novel have centered around Arya, Bran, and Jon, and these sections are inherently linked to their youth. Their presence and exclusive perspective also seems extremely plot-critical.

The other thing I wondered about was the wolves. Will we be getting a bunch of CGI wolf action? The Stark pets also are very critical to the story as Martin wrote it.

Don't give me any spoilers, thanks. I'm moving slowly, but I should make it through at least books two and three by the time the show airs.

@Rykker
Way to take a fun topic and douchify it. Kudos.

I'm not the one who poorly disguised a spoiler of one of the major plot-points.
That was a douche move.

April?? For some hopeful reason, I had it stored in my head as February. DAMNIT. And I've been waiting so freakin long for the next book already...

I wonder how much of these epic tomes they're condensing or skipping over. So stoked for this, though.

@UMG Forget undignified squeal I was full on gargling incoherently for a solid minute.
@Darth I am thankful that they aged up the children and Daenerys. I know fantasy writers make their protagonists young, and I don't know why. Probably they are seeking the perceived accuracy of a medieval-like setting, but I also have a sneaking suspicion they just often like to write about pedophilia.
Buuuuuut *cough* feminist conspiracy theories aside, as an 3+ decades woman, ageing them up makes them so much more relate-able to me. Daenerys does have a phenomenally adult storyline that sits a little weird for how young she is supposed to be in the novel.
And, yeah, you will root for Jaime. Part of it is there are people so so much more evil then he is running around, but he also redeems himself in a meaningful way.

@Rykker
So, putting *SPOILER* in front of your post is not enough warning for you? I am unaware of what other protocol to follow. Perhaps you could enlighten me since you seem to take such personal offence to such matters. Or you could just not be a dick. I'd prefer both, but I have a feeling if I get any response I'll only get one.