A Song of Ice and Fire appreciation

I did a search but I didn't find a general Ice and Fire thread. Maybe there should be one, seeing as the updates for the HBO show keep rolling in too.
I'd figure this forum has its share aSoIaF-fans? I recently finished Clash of Kings and even though it's slower paced compared to Game of Thrones, it has an incredible conclusion and pay-off. The book ends in such a way that you pretty much háve to start A Storm of Swords immediately and that's what I'm doing now.
 
What I like best about this series is its unpredictability. Anything can happen in this series and if you think or predict according to fantasy tropes, you'd be almost always wrong. Random, unexpected and weird stuff wíll happen. I love how sometimes, characters that have had a small introduction or have been mentioned only through hear say in the chapters, can turn out to be pretty important down the road, like

i first heard about this a month ago because of the show coming out, so i picked up a game of thrones and read it in like 3 days. couldn't put it down. right now im almost to the end of A Storm of Swords and it just keeps getting better and better. i really love the back and forth with different families scheming and the whole story of Dany's return to Westeros. i'll probably hold off on a Feast for Crows (or of Crows) until the next in the series is done because i heard it was kinda weak. i'm sure it's just setting up the next part of the story like how A Game of Thrones did for the next two as well.
 
anyways, i'm looking forward to the show, cast looks great. Sean Bean as Ned Stark? awesome.

i'm most excited about aidan gillan as littlefinger. that's just perfect. the cast in general is exceptionally well chosen i think.

i had to google him but yea that guy was great on The Wire as Tom Carcetti, very cool indeed. Peter Dinklage as Tyrion will be interesting, awesome actor but i always thought of Tyrion as way more deformed and weird looking but i'm sure after make-up and costumes he'll look the part.

Haven't read the books, but Game of Thrones is a great fucking show.  It's drawn me in, in a way that hasn't happened in a long time.  

Terrible show

Terrible show

I'm hoping they pick a great actor for Davos, since he's my favorite.

There were so many great actors, it's too bad some of the best were killed off.

Harry Lloyd killed it as Viserys Targaryen, and Jason Momoa as Khal Drogo was intense. They were clearly the best supporting actors. Too bad those characters died.

@Darunia said:

I did a search but I didn't find a general Ice and Fire thread.

I think you'd be better served over on the Screened forums. There's been some great discussion about Game of Thrones both the series and the books over there. If you're interested.