What do YOU think of HBO's 'Game of Thrones' TV series?

Just the other day, courtesy of NetFlix, I finished watching the entire first season of HBO’s “Game of Thrones.” To say that it’s a masterpiece would be an understatement.

This TV series is based on George R.R. Martin’s epic fantasy novel series, “A Song of Ice and Fire.” Season One of HBO’s “Game of Thrones” includes 10 episodes, which are based on the first novel in Martin’s best-selling series, “A Game of Thrones.” I’ve read the novel, which was published in 1996, and I thought the TV series did this awesome book justice.

For those of you unfamiliar with Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire,” it gives us the story behind the ruling families of a fictional land called Westeros. Their world is full of political and personal intrigues, and the characters include nobles, warriors, assassins, wise men, advisors, soldiers, barbarians, dwarves, witches, prostitutes, clerics, thieves, knights, schemers, etc., etc. An attempted murder, other successful killings and the death of the king, bring the ruling houses to the brink of full-scale war. To say that Martin’s novels take place on an epic scale would be putting it mildly.

Many of you probably watched the first series of “Game of Thrones” on HBO. It debuted on April 17, 2011 and wrapped up on June 19, 2011. I don’t have HBO, so when Season One was released on DVD on March 6 of this year, I pounced.

Season Two has already been broadcast. I haven’t seen it, but I know that it consisted of 10 episodes that aired between April 1 and June 3, 2012. Season Two is said to mostly follow the plot of Martin’s second novel in the series, “A Clash of Kings.” Season 3 is currently in production. It will also consist of 10 episodes and is set to premiere on March 31, 2013. It will be based largely on portions of Martin’s third novel in the series, “A Storm of Swords.”

For those of you who haven’t read any of Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” novels, I highly recommend them. I’ve only read the first, but I intend to read all of them eventually. In order of publication, they include “A Game of Thrones” (1996), “A Clash of Kings” (1999), “A Storm of Swords” (2000), “A Feast for Crows” (2005) and “A Dance with Dragons” (2011). I’ve read that Martin plans to wrap up the series with two lengthy novels tentatively called “The Winds of Winter” and “A Dream of Springs.” When all is said and done, many years from now, I predict that these books will make Martin as famous and as respected as J.R.R. Tolkein.

In the end, how many of you have watched “Game of Thrones” on HBO? What do you think about it? Have you read any of Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” novels? What do you think about those? Which is your favorite? Let us know in the comments section below.

For more information about the HBO series, visit its official website at www.hbo.com/#/game-of-thrones.