Play game or read book first?

[TheCrazyCanuck]

I've seen the two TV shows that follow this story but I haven't read the book series yet. I've played this game a bit but I'm wondering if I'm ruining the books for myself by doing this. So for those of you that have read the books, what do you think?

[te quiero]

I finished the game first, and now I'm reading the book. In my opinion, the game accurately describes what is happening in the book. If the game is enough for you, then you can not read the book. And vice versa.

[TheCrazyCanuck]

Originally posted by te quiero:

I finished the game first, and now I'm reading the book. In my opinion, the game accurately describes what is happening in the book. If the game is enough for you, then you can not read the book. And vice versa.

I was hoping this would be the case, Thanks for the info.

[Cifer]

"In my opinion, the game accurately describes what is happening in the book." Well, define whats "accurate"..... if i look at some aspects, occasions and things that happen in the Book, i always think "hey, THAT could have also been adapted into the game, without changing the Overall course or to give more explanation/description to some characters.

Just now, i was thinking about a passage, Aliena says to Jack "i hate it to pretend, im not in love with you"....and im wondering "Why wouldnt they be allowed show their Love in the open? Well, maybe i have forgotten the Reason, but at this Point, there is absolutely no reason for them to "Pretend" they dont love each other The main event/Reason, that triggers this, would happen much later in the Story.

[smilingangel1115]

If you played the game I highly recommend you read both books: Pillars of the Earth and World Without End. Games are good but there is not any equal to reading the actual books. Books have some much more in them. And it's hard to put every detail from the book into a game, movie or miniseries. So yes, read the book. Just be in for a good, long read because both books are not short novels by any means.

[TheCrazyCanuck]

Originally posted by smilingangel1115:

If you played the game I highly recommend you read both books: Pillars of the Earth and World Without End. Games are good but there is not any equal to reading the actual books. Books have some much more in them. And it's hard to put every detail from the book into a game, movie or miniseries. So yes, read the book. Just be in for a good, long read because both books are not short novels by any means.

Well I am reading Malazan so long books don't scare me :) Thanks for the info everyone!

[Calico Witch]

Originally posted by TheCrazyCanuck:

Originally posted by smilingangel1115:

If you played the game I highly recommend you read both books: Pillars of the Earth and World Without End. Games are good but there is not any equal to reading the actual books. Books have some much more in them. And it's hard to put every detail from the book into a game, movie or miniseries. So yes, read the book. Just be in for a good, long read because both books are not short novels by any means.

Well I am reading Malazan so long books don't scare me :) Thanks for the info everyone!

OMG! I read all but the final book (and 1/2) of Malazan. It was so dreadfully depressing that I gave up about halfway thru the next to last book.

[Julian Sark]

Necroing this thread for the benefit of future onlookers, with one tidbit: There is also an audio book version of Pillars of the Earth. I'm currently listening to it on Audible and even though this genre isn't usually my cup of tea, it's really good. So if your Internet-spoiled mind is unable to process a tome made from about a kilogram (yes, we use SI units here) of wood pulp slices with many, oh so many words on it, like mine is, the audio book can be a great alternative.

[TheCrazyCanuck]

Originally posted by Julian Sark:

Necroing this thread for the benefit of future onlookers, with one tidbit: There is also an audio book version of Pillars of the Earth. I'm currently listening to it on Audible and even though this genre isn't usually my cup of tea, it's really good. So if your Internet-spoiled mind is unable to process a tome made from about a kilogram (yes, we use SI units here) of wood pulp slices with many, oh so many words on it, like mine is, the audio book can be a great alternative.

Cool, I might check that out and play the audio while following along in the book when I give this a go (got distracted reading Tolkien :))

[AGTFM]

I did first the movie, than the game, now the book. I enjoy discovering that book-Philipp has more facets than the sheepish game-Philipp - losing his temper quicker but also being the clever one right from the start. You can definitely enjoy the books if you already know the story... if you came for the deep dive in human psychology and politics :-)

[Washee-washee]

play the game can make you part of the story such as making decisions
if you read a book you easily get bored

[Rabblevox]

I did it book first, and loved it enough to read it multiple times. But I think I'd recommend the game first for someone new to this story. The game is faithful to the book, and won't spoil anything, they are both slow paced, but the game is a leisurely dozen hours, the books a leisurely 200. Worth it IMO, but I like low barriers of entry.

[Daikatan]

I've just played the game and it was an astounding experience. Now I want to read book(s) as well. And what about tv versions, were they good?

[TheCrazyCanuck]

Originally posted by Daikatan:

I've just played the game and it was an astounding experience. Now I want to read book(s) as well. And what about tv versions, were they good?

I haven't read the books yet but I enjoyed both TV series. Out of the two I liked World Without End more but the Pillars of the Earth had a great cast.

[n0mad23]

Though not related to the books, the series Secrets of the Castle (building Guedelon, starring historian Ruth Goodman, and archaeologists Peter Ginn, and Tom Pinfold) is really worth a view.

Pretty much covers all aspects of constructing a castle from roughly the same time period.

[Kouzelník Pokustón]

Well, it's only about what you prefer. Both has its plus and nimus

Game is a short family version of the book where characters can act very differently from book version which leads into slightly different situations. No sex, no torturing and other stuff for adult readers in game changes the story about hard medieval life and building into cute family cartoon with choices. I like both.