Category Archives: Books
My 6 Favorite Game of Thrones Characters…So Far
How cool is it that Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead are two of the most popular shows on TV? Here are two genres – fantasy and zombie – that would have been relegated to just us geeks and nerds only a few years ago. But instead they’re cultural phenomenons! This is an exciting time to be a geek, that’s for damn sure. Of the two, Game of Thrones is definitely the better show. Thanks in no small part to the power of HBO, Game of Thrones is an epic, world-spanning story of power, intrigue, war, sex and dragons.
I am not a full Game of Thrones geek like some of my friends. I’m up to date on the TV show – and am currently watching the third season like the rest of the world – but I’ve only read the first two books. I’ve decided to go show-first, book-second. They make great companion pieces. The books provide further detail and depth to the show’s characters and world, while the show turns the characters into flesh and blood people, giving you a better visual understanding and experience that you can take back to the reading. I’m all for letting our imaginations run wild, but sometimes it really does enhance the experience to know what people and places look like when reading a book.
Dun dun Dunna dun dun!
I wanted to do something Game of Thronesy for my List of Six this week, so I’ve decided to run down my top 6 favorite characters in the series, often forged from a combination of show and book. I put ‘so far’ in the title, because Game of Thrones is, first of all, a long way from being over, and second, notorious for killing popular characters. I’m more than a little nervous that some of my favorites won’t live to see a happy ending. But such is the risk you take when you fall in love with such an amazing series!
I’m going to do my best to avoid any major SPOILERS, but even still, you should be warned. Join me after the jump!
6 Most Badass Elves in Pop Culture
Christmas is right around the corner (and Hannukah just ended), so what better time to talk about elves? I mean, what time of the year do you most talk about elves? That’s what I thought. There are many kinds of elves in pop culture. You have your Christmas elves, your high elves, your house elves, your night elves, your dark elves, your cookie elves, your wood elves, your cereal elves; all manner of elf in every shape, size and dainty color. But don’t let their delicate features or diminutive size fool you. Elves can be quite badass.
He did win Salesman of the Year that one time
So for Christmas this year, let’s take a look at the 6 most badass elves in pop culture! And I hope everybody has a Merry Christmas!
Cats and Game of Thrones, Together at Last
The insanity of the Internet has finally brought together Lolcats and Game of Thrones.
This delightfully insane piece was done by Herbert Costa, and I found it on Topless Robot.
It also works as a splendid segway into revealing that I’m currently reading my way through the Song of Ice and Fire series by writer George R.R. Martin. I’ve written about the HBO show Game of Thrones before, and I’ve watched both seasons. But recently I decided to start the books as well, because they’re supposed to be very good, and I’m always looking for something to read.
As of right now, I highly recommend both the TV series and the books, for anyone interested. I’m watching the show first and will be reading the books second. Which sadly means I’ll have to wait an entire year until I can read the third book. There are 5 books published so far, with 2 more on the way. I’m currently reading the second book, A Clash of Kings. I’m about halfway through.
The obvious question is: which is better, the books or the show? And I, honestly, don’t have an answer to that. Both are very good, but both are also very similar. The first season of the show, for example, is almost a shot-for-shot adaptation of the first book. The two compliment each other very well. The show provides visual cues to characters and locations, while the book helps put them in context. Both the book and the show are the type of fiction that doesn’t hold your hand when introducing many characters, settings and shared history. Martin and those folks at HBO expect you to be able to keep up, and I’ll admit to getting more than a little lost while watching season 1. Reading the book helped put characters into context.
It’s not exactly the same for the second book and the second season. The two stray further apart. But it’s still a very captivating read. Like I said, I recommend both the books and the show to anyone.
One of the Greatest Nerd Fears…
Is that writer George R. R. Martin will not finish the Game of Thrones book series before he dies. The guy is super old, he takes forever between books (each of which is several hundred pages), and he’s still got two whole books to go in the series before he says it’ll be complete. Not to mention the fact that HBO now has a TV show that takes one year to turn one book into one season, and it’s already got two seasons down! Well the musical guys at Geeks & Sundry have put together an entertaining little ditty to try and light a fire under Martin’s ass! It’s quite catchy – and don’t worry, no spoilers for the show or books!
My 6 Favorite Star Wars Expanded Universe Characters
Have you ever wondered what kind of power vacuum there must have been in the Empire after the Rebels blew up the second Death Star, killing Darth Vader and the Emperor? Or who were the first Jedi who discovered the Force and built the first lightsabers? Did Han Solo and Princess Leia ever settle down and have kids? Or if Luke Skywalker heralded the ‘Return of Jedi’, who were the rest? Well wonder no more, because pop culture has you covered. Welcome to the Star Wars Expanded Universe, a collection of books, comics, video games and cartoons that tell the rest of the story.
For the saga of Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker and the Rebel Alliance is only a fraction of the larger, grander Star Wars Universe. Dedicated fans, geeks and professional writers have expanded beyond the movies to tell more and more stories. The Expanded Universe is the greatest, geekiest bit of fandom there’s every been – and what’s more, it’s all A-OK’d by George Lucas himself. It’s all licensed and approved!
We're talking Jedi Wookies with lightsabers, people!
I love the Expanded Universe. I think it’s gloriously geeky and riveting. I love that for every single minor or background character that appears in the six main movies, the fans and professional writers have created full and rich backstories. I once read a book called Death Star, about the building of the first Death Star (bad book, don’t read it). Several times in the first Star Wars film, A New Hope, Darth Vader meets with other Imperial agents aboard the Death Star. Well one of the armed guards standing at the door in the background of those scenes is a main character in the book Death Star. So every time I watch A New Hope, I can point to the guard and say ‘that’s Atour Riten!’ Weird name.
But that’s the glory of the Expanded Universe, filling in the cracks and telling the stories beyond the six movies. Allow me to introduce you to My 6 Favorite Star Wars Expanded Universe Characters.
Henchman-4-Hire 