A Game of Thrones question

I would like to say certainly, by all means read the books. I've read the series twice, and the added depth and scope makes the story richer and more satisfying to me - if you like the characters in the show, don't you want to read what's been cut from them? Tyrion alone is worth it.
That being said, as I watch the show I do kind of envy those that don't know what's going to happen. I enjoy the show immensely, and even like some of the changes they have made. Us long-time SOIAF fans are very lucky to have the adaptation we have, and I can separate the books from the show and enjoy both as being different.
There is a reason why fans of the show are passionate about it - because the source is amazing and its fans have been passionate about the books. There's a reason why they're called "like crack on paper".
I think if it were me, and had watched the show first, by the end of the first season I would not have been able to resist diving into the books. But if you want the show to continue to surprise you then maybe wait 4 or 5 more years until it ends. Decisions, decisions!

Yes, the books are even better. That said, they are LONG.

I believe it is totally dependent on you and what you get enjoyment out of. If you enjoy reading and using your imagination to turn the words into images, as I do, then read the novels. If you would prefer that someone else do that for you then watch the show. I would still recommend both. You will have a greater understanding of what is going on if you read the novels first, but the show does stand on it's own. The show also diverges from the story in certain areas but not so much that it's overly distracting. (so far) Another thing to note, is that this is an epic story. It could be upwards of 10000+ pages when all is said and done. Are you into that type of story? Can you sit through that many pages? If so, then read them. It will be worth it. If you are a reader, never let anyone tell you books are a waste of time. Even the horrible ones will give you something. Even if it's just something to laugh about with your peers. :)

I actually saw all 3 seasons of the show before I read the books. I recently finished the 3rd book. Honestly, I would say to at least watch the first season BEFORE you read the first book. Why? There are sooooooooo many characters involved that it will be easier to associate the names with the faces on the show. If it wasnt because I saw the show first, I could see myself getting the characters mixed up in my head if I had no faces to associate with them. Then I would say read the 2nd book, then watch the 2nd season so you can compare the changes; then read the 3rd book and watch the 3rd season for the same reason. P.S. The books are totally worth it. The show is fantastic but the books are much more engaging and have more content that have been cut out of the show.

I watched the first season and then started on the books. Since then I've been sort of reading and watching at the same time, and it works out really well. i enjoy the changes they make in the show, so it keeps it interesting; but there's so much more character development in the books and the intense situations keep me on the edge of my seat a little more. Also, there's just enough difference between the two that when i see something in the show and then go back and read it, it still feels like i'm not sure what's going to happen. i don't know if it would feel that way the other way around.

Yes. I don't watch the show (yet), though :D I always like to read books first.

I read the books and loved them. Your imagination is not limited by the concrete images projected by the show. On the other hand my wife had the greatest difficulty following the (daunting) number of characters.
Now having watched the show she has gone back to read (with enthusiasm) the books. So there seems to be no right or wrong order.

The books are far far better, more detailed and more intelligent than the TV series. A televised production is a highly selectively edited adaptation of a book, and as such it is always disappointing. It is far better to read the books - which are written in an extremely engaging way so you get into them very quickly - and it's surely better to form your own images of the people in them and the world they live in?

I'm reading the books then watching the episode so far it's pretty accurate and stays together. I try to read a few chapters then watch 1 episode. I am half way through book 2

I'll just leave it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CLCOv... :) The answer is definitely books. There're not so many characters as most people cry about. I was 13 when I first read it and I didn't have any troubles at all. So think)

You should absolutely read the books first. The book take a while to get used to reading the language at first but it is worth it. The books give you so much more background and it really sets up the characters personalities. The books also make it easier to follow the show. There are so many characters in the books that they don't even put them all in the shows. Things happen in the show that you will not fully be able to understand if you don't read the books. Also the characters in the books are so much better than the ones in the show. The ones in the show do things that you might think doesn't make sense, but if you read the books it makes complete sense. The books are incredible and worth reading! Also you don't have to wait as long to know what happens because there are five books out and only three seasons of shows.

Definately read the books first! The tv show is awesome and the casting is incredible but the books do give you more backstory of the characters. And since this is a character driven series that is really important. I do agree that by watching the shows first you can put faces to the names when reading the books and it does help keep track of most of the characters but just staying focused you can file them away in your head when the words come off the pages imo.

I have watched all 3 seasons; and listened to the 1st 2 audiobooks - after each season. I listened to the 3rd book during the 3rd season, starting the audiobook after the shows, but quickly caught up. I will say that the next to last episode was somewhat spoiled by the book since I had caught up. I find books after show flesh out the environment and huge cast for you. Books first get you ready for changes the show makes, and "how are they going to get from x to y."

I read the first couple of books before watching season 1 and I'm glad I did because I think I'd have found it hard to understand what was going on without having read them. Having said that, I usually don't like TV/film adaptations of books I've read but Game of Thrones is an exception. The series is very well-acted with stunning visuals. The books give more detail but I still felt the first season captured the essence of the books very well. I just loved the opening music and sequences. In short, I'd say read the books then watch the shows.

I think I would have enjoyed the show just as much without the books, but there is sooooo much in the books that will give you filler while you watch the action on screen.

I like reading things before I see them because of that very reason-background story.

Of course read the books. Always read the books. However if you wish to maintain the "surprise" read the book after you see the show. Much is left out, much is gut wrenching and you do not want to be forewarned. Enjoy both...

Yes. The books are much more elaborate.

The show is great, but the books are equally as good. It's rare to find books and on-screen presentations that are on par with one another. If you watch the show, you can read the books, and you will not have missed anything. I find it quite respectable that many of the lines from the show actually are taken verbatim from the book.

Watch season 1 and then read all the books. It helps put faces to the multitude of names.
Don't listen to the folks saying the books are a waste. That's crazy talk.

I started with the show before I got to reading the books. I was a bit confused when I was watching it at first because of all the many subplots that were happening with each other. It wasn't until I read the book when I understood what happened exactly.

So, it doesn't matter if you read the book before or after the show.

I watched the first 2 seasons before reading the whole series and then watching season 3. I would reccomend reading the books first, because the visuals on the show are simply fantastic and i think you can really appreciate them after having all the background and understanding from the books first.

however if you're an impatient person maybe watching the show first would be best for you :)

Books are always better, so go for them first. But the show is fantastic, too.

I would enjoy the show just as much whether i'd read the books or not. But the show can kind of ruin the books. The first book and first season are nearly identical. After that, less so, but the show will still ruin some major spoilers. I think you should read the books first, they are incredible!

You get so much more detail out of the books, which can be invaluable when dealing with a series with so many characters and places. Furthermore, the show begins to deviate from the books at a point, so you can't exactly get the same story from both the books and the series.

I was doing both at the same time. On one hand I was reading a few chapters of the book and then watching the episodes of the show. However after watching 3 episodes of the first season I realized I was not enjoying the show as much as I would like to, since I already knew what was going to happen. So I decided to forgo reading the book and watched the show to its entirety. I must say that I was not disappointed.

There were plenty of twists and turns in the story and had I read the book, the show would have been spoiled for me. On the other hand, reading the book after watching the show, has been enlightening because the book goes into more details about the characters and makes it easier to analyze their actions.

I didn't like season one and read the book after the fact and enjoyed the book a ton. I have continued reading the series but don't watch the show.

Definitely read them first.

Read the books first. Fist of all they are the original story, the real deal, also they are way more deep, you understand character's thinking much better, they are many scenes that in the show were either cut off or change because they don't have the time or the budge to put it on exactly like the books. And also they are many subtle details that makes you enjoy the show even more after you read them first.

GOT in my opinion is the best tv series out there, bar none, but ASOIF saga is WAY better.

I've read the entire series to date and would definitely recommend reading the series. The only reason I give it 4 stars is because some of the characters I really liked have been killed off ... but if you're also watching the series, this isn't much of a spoiler. The books greatly expand on the characters and their trials, much more so than the TV show has shown and I feel some of the characters could have been better portrayed in the show (not the actor but by what was cut out). I also think 10 episodes a season/book is a little too short ... but this is just my opinion :)

Watch the show and then read the books but if you really enjoy the show like I do, then only read each book with each season, it's good to get the full impact of things like THE RED WEDDING without already knowing because lets face it there are more wtf moments like that to come! So watch, then go back and read the books for all the niggly little things that make it seem so obvious! At least that's my opinion.

It depends on what you generally prefer doing. I myself prefer reading the books before watching a TV/movie adaptation of something. But in this case, I watched the first two seasons before reading the books, then read all the books, and then watched the third season. I must admit that watching the show as a 'newbie' in the first two seasons made the show more interesting, while in season 3, I kept getting caught up in the deviations from the books. On the other hand, the characters, events, locations, etc, made more sense after reading the books.

On the whole I'm glad I read all the books now, before the rest of the seasons - simply because I simply cannot WAIT to see the rest of the story unfold! (Now I'm impatiently waiting for Book 6.) If you're as impatient as me, or if you prefer reading before watching, I'd say read the books first. If not, then watch the show first. But either way, make sure you do read/watch both, since they are both excellent.

You should start reading the book first.. Except the first book, story is different in show. Major plot points are same but still there are lots of changes.

You can also watch the show first as it will easier to read the book.. The TV Show is fantastic too..

and no books are not waste of time..

I read the books first, but not until the show was due to air. I always like to read books first, but in doing so can get a bit annoyed when things are changed. But it gives a better understanding of the characters and situations that occur in tv show or film. You just have to accept that things are going to be different.

Read the books if you want to know the history/backstory of many popular characters or secondary characters that shape the plot and story of Game of Thrones

The books are intense. Each book introduces a whole new set of characters that may or may not play a larger role in the over all story (or they might just get killed part way in to the book).

I read through the first two books after discovering not the show, but a board game about GoT. The show came on a year or so later. I was able to read 1/2 way through book three (which is about where season three of the show ended) before I gave up on the books. I really want to finish them, but it takes time and concentration to keep with it! And I was frustrated with how many new characters he kept introducing, whilst leaving behind those I had come to enjoy in the previous part of the story.

The show is much more dynamic and concise by necessity and still is the most expensive lavish production on television today.

yes yes read the book next to the show it sucks confusing and they not explain anything.

No, books are a waste of time.

Don't bother with the books. The show is way better.