[AnotherUnixGeek]

Don’t think this is a burial of Game of Thrones; it really is one of the best shows on TV right now.

No, it isn't. The source material, at least for the first three books, is far better. The TV show is bad, and the worst moments are invariably when the TV story decides to strike off in it's own direction.

George Martin's books since the 3rd one have declined seriously in quality, to the point where I believe he doesn't know how to finish his story. But the first three books were outstanding entertainment, and the TV show has done them a real dis-service - and no, the fact that Martin has written some of the TV scripts doesn't change that, the man has obviously lost his ability to write just as completely as Jaime Lannister has.