In book form, George R.R. Martin's series is called "A Song of Ice and Fire." On HBO, starting in April, it'll be "Game of Thrones," taken from the title of the first book.

Those who've already made Martin's books bestsellers know that there's more to them than a rivalry of royals (not that you'd guess that from the trailer). Instead, they're about rival kingdoms shielded by a northern wall, behind which dwell scary creatures. Like fire-breathing dragons and ice vampires.

It's all news to me. I haven't yet read the books, the first three of which were Locus Award winners. Publishers Weekly called Martin's "A Game of Thrones," the first in the series, "extraordinarily rich," citing its "superbly developed characters, accomplished prose and sheer bloody-mindedness." I'm not sure I'll have a chance to read them before the show debuts on HBO.

How about you?

Are you going to read George R.R. Martin's fantasy series before Game of Thrones begins on HBO?customer surveys

-- Carolyn Kellogg