I’ve been spending some time talking to the futures consultancy The Future Laboratory and LS:N Global on a project they’re putting together examining how and why Game of Thrones broke out of the fantasy ghetto and into the mainstream – crossing generational and cultural lines across the globe. The report they’re compiling will be available to their many and varied clients in business and the media, who’ll use it for future-planning and analysis.
Some of the things we discussed was how technology is making people more receptive to the fantastic, the future of storytelling in TV and games with reference to the Oculus Rift, fairytales, why Dark Ages stories are now in the zeitgeist and why that period is going to be relevant for a while, and what it is particularly about Game of Thrones that has connected with so many people – among a hundred and one other things.
Do not be surprised if you see the fantastic worming its way into many other unconnected parts of the business world in the months to come.
GOT already had a huge readership keen to view which helped get it going whilst the remainder of the audience were initially attracted true blood style to the sexy characters and t*ts and a*ses shown every second scene! However the worlds ends series would absolutely have the same impact, as a non fantasy reader I was completely hooked with worlds end series and felt at the time how well it would convert to the screen. Characters like veitch and Churchill would be loved and the slow relentless way humdrum life starts to disintegrate – Dragons flying over the m4!! Someone has got to pick this up please!
Glad you enjoyed the books, Michelle. They’ve been optioned for TV and film a few times, but no one has yet taken them over the line. But I’m keeping my fingers crossed…
Hi, I have to say I never thought any author could best Juliet Marillier but hey guess I was wrong since I’ve spent the last 3 weeks engrossed in Church et als Tuatha Dé Damn you’re good (s) adventures.
Anyway, I think GOT is a little like Harry Potter- ie a proliferation of similar genre stories fighting for attention in bookstores but Jkrowlings got picked up, whether by luck or design I do not know, is it a case of its not what you know? I am not privy to that this is just my own conspiracy theory. My daughter, on the other hand, has an idea that many 30-50+ people no longer feel part of a ‘ community’ hate that word, so when something like GOT comes along and fires their interest it becomes like joining a tribe or like teenagers with pop groups, team Stark etc. I don’t know I’m inclined to think rightplace right time but I’m sure the academia will reveal some startling insights into why the public are obsessed with the incredibly handsome Jon Snow and the Beautiful Deanerys Storm born T. Seriously the books are addictive though, a little like your own, so excuse me as I need to find out what Jack is up to and wtf has happened to turn Veitch into a raving psychopath,
Regards A. Mark Chadbourn convert.
Thanks for the kind words.
I think there’s probably a perfect storm of multiple reasons why something breaks through into the mainstream consciousness, and you very deftly hit on several of them. The attractiveness of the TV leads should certainly not be discounted! I like your daughter’s analysis – that feeds into a lot of current issues. But a lot of it is just that any kind of success leads to a pile-on as others want to be caught in the reflected glare.