Yesterday HBO showed off some behind-the-scenes footage of their adaptation of George R. R. Martin's fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire. (Thankfully, HBO's going with the far less stupid name Game of Thrones for the series.) I've geeked out about Martin's books before—they really are great, even if the author's busy schedule of signing TV and merchandising deals has rendered him incapable of actually writing any more books in the series. (A good number of Martin's fans have turned on him because of this, which is pretty fair. Martin promised a seven-book series, but has only put out the first four; the fifth book, scheduled to come out in 2006, is still MIA. Hopefully HBO's writers are more reliable than Martin.)

Nerd gripes aside, here's the footage. Get thee to Winterfell!*

There's more such stuff at the official site, if you're so inclined.

*I'm sorry.