Tolkien's books were better overall; the LoTR movies have the edge on action and effects but GoT the tv show beats the living shit out of them in terms of performances, pacing, nudity, etc.

Also, who is hotter -- Arwen or Tauriel? Discuss.

(The answer is Tauriel.)

Nudity for the win!

Thrones, I found Rings kinda dull. I felt the same about GOT last two seasons but at least it has boobs.

I have never read either, but I will choose Game of Thrones.

I like the soap opera with tits and dragons as much as anyone else, but it's not even close.

Rings.

Interesting choice, although personally I rank him third.

A little arrogant, perhaps? But I'm sure you have your reasons.

I'm just happy to be in the conversation.

That's an unfair simplification. There are also sword fights and witty dwarves.

I went with Lord of the Rings. While I think the TV series is better than the movie series, the novel's ability to convey time, distance, separation and sacrifice is way way better than the overstuffed meandering of the GoT novels. Oh, and as best I can tell, Martin has no larger themes beyond those in power want to keep power, those that don't have it want to take it, and you can't trust anyone.

Oh, and so much of GOT's success is as a result of playing against the tropes that LoTR created, so there's that.

There's an algorithm.

There Sure Is. Do You Hear It, Too? Come On, Everybody. Dance To The Algorithm.

I think it seems kinda like the same type of deconstruction that led to Stan Lee's Marvel characterizations (oh shit, giving The Man credit) and eventually Alan Moore's Watchmen series -- "What if the fantasy characters acted like real people and/or were put in realistic situations?"

It's intentional. Both the inspiration and subversion of LotR.

Interesting -- in what ways specifically? (If there's an article, I'll read that.)

I just did a double-post.

AND NOW I'M COVERING UP THE EVIDENCE

Yeah Martin has said as much in interview and its really nothing new... People have been making "grittier" versions of LOTR for a long time. Martin just managed to do it better - more memorably, more successfully - than other people like Guy Gavriel Kay or Robin Hobb (both excellent writers by the way).

I don't have anything right now, but you'll find tons of stuff googling it. Martin just can't stop talking about The Lord of the Rings.