“Game of Thrones” fans, many dressed as their favorite characters, lined up hours in advance to hear cast members speak in a Friday afternoon panel discussion aiming to tease up season 3 of the popular HBO series. Although fans didn’t get a peek at footage for the upcoming season – the production team has just begun filming – they did learn that the new season will begin in March 2013. They also learned of new cast additions. Mackenzie Crook (“The Office”) goes to Westeros as Orell and Diana Rigg (“Avengers”) as Lady Olenna Tyrell, also known as the Queen of Thorns. Also joining the cast are Clive Russell as Brynden “The Blackfish” Tully, Kerry Ingram as Shireen Baratheon, Richard Dormer as Beric Dondarrion, Ellie Kendrick as Meera Reed, Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Jojen Reed and Paul Kaye as Thoros of Myr.
George R. R. Martin, author of “A Song of Ice and Fire” books that were adapted into the “Game of Thrones” TV show, moderated the panel and was joined onstage by actors Emilia Clarke, Michelle Fairley, Alfie Allen, Rose Leslie, Richard Madden and series producer Carolyn Strauss. “I may have to start killing some of these characters to make room for new ones,” Martin joked about the widely reported struggle he has had with adapting his sprawling epic of historical fiction to television. To be sure, HBO’s “Game of Thrones” is wildly popular among fans of Martin’s books. But a number of fans have complained that Season 2 felt rushed and focused too little attention on important characters. Much to fan’s delight, HBO’s response has been to draw the storytelling out more, covering more of “A Clash of Kings” and “A Storm of Swords” in two additional seasons rather than one.
Martin’s book series “A Song of Ice and Fire” takes place on the fictional continents Westeros and Essos, with a history of thousands of years. The series is told in the third person by point of view characters, whose number reaches 31 by the fifth novel. Three stories become interwoven: the chronicling of a dynastic war for control of Westeros by several families; the rising threat of the dormant cold supernatural Others dwelling beyond an immense wall of ice on Westeros’ northernmost border; and the ambition of Daenerys Targaryen, the exiled daughter of a king murdered in a civil war shortly before her birth, to return to Westeros with her fire-breathing dragons and claim her rightful throne.
Drawing inspiration from historical events such as the English period of the Wars of the Roses, Martin deliberately defied the conventions of the fantasy genre. The series received praise for its realism; it subdues magic in favor of battles and political intrigue. Violence, sexuality and moral ambiguity are frequently displayed among a set of over a thousand named characters. Major characters are repeatedly killed off so that readers cannot rely on the supposed heroes to remain safe and sound. The multiple viewpoint structure allows characters to be explored from many sides so that the supposed villains can provide their viewpoint. A Song of Ice and Fire also received critical commentary for its diverse portrayal of women and religion.
Originally published without much publicity, the books in the series have now sold more than 15 million copies worldwide[1] and have been translated into more than 20 languages. The fourth and fifth volumes reached the top of The New York Times Best Seller lists upon their releases.