25 book adaptations that surprisingly lived up to the books they’re based on

A Song of Ice and Fire

HBO’s adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire novels has become one of the most beloved television series of all time. And while much of this has to do with the characters and world Martin created, it’s also due to David Benioff and D.B. Weiss’ interpretation of the storylines Martin started—plots that the showrunners have taken to all new places over the course of the show.

One of the most admirable things about HBO’s adaptation of Martin’s books is that it doesn’t shy away from the often brutal moments that appear in the books. The show is just as bold when it comes to killing off characters, and it’s often even more gruesome when it comes to actually showing the violence scattered throughout A Song of Ice and Fire.

But the fact that Game of Thrones embraces Martin’s harsh world is just one of the reasons it has become one of the best book adaptations of all time. The show also furthers the politics and character development in ways the book wasn’t able to while jumping from perspective to perspective, and inevitably, leaving certain characters in the background.

The television series has also continued Martin’s story, which the author has yet to complete in his books. Fans were initially worried upon realizing that the show would catch up to the books before the final two novels were released, but the showrunners did a wonderful job of bringing the events and characters of Martin’s books together, rounding out the story in ways the author has yet to do.