Hi. I'm Eric, and I get the feeling that this forum has probably seen an influx of new members lately. I also feel safe in assuming that like myself, many of the new members found their way here thanks to the new HBO series. I'd classify myself as a sci-fi fan with a passing familiarity with fantasy-- I grew up reading Tolkien, SC Lewis, and Terry Brooks, mixed in with a TON of sci-fi. Being a child of the 70's, sci-fi has always been my first love, and over the years, I kind of fell out of love with fantasy. I'd heard rumblings about A Song Of Ice And Fire, and how great it was, but I never thought of giving the books a try until catching the premier. After watching 2 episodes, I rushed out to the bookstore and grabbed A Game Of Thrones. Needless to say, I'm hopelessly hooked. The world Martin has created is amazing! What has drawn me in the most is his ability to create characters and situations that feel rooted in reality, which makes them much easier to identify with. And instead of being hit over the head with magic & monsters, hints of the fantastic are introduced to the reader gradually and subtly. I'm brand-spankin' new to the world of Westeros, so I'm not really sure what to expect. I look forward to learning my way around this site, and to delving deeper into the book series. -Eric
