Rating: 
Summary: Move over, Robert Jordan.
Review: As a fantasy reader of somewhat high standards, I have always had a proclivity for "epic" fantasy. Nothing else really satisfies my desire for an absorbing story. George R.R. Martin has, with this book, taken the field dominated by such giants as Jordan, Williams, and Kay and blown a great big gust of fresh air into it. Not only does this book have the complicated plot and intricate character development that is common to these three talented authors, but it has a certain brutal realism to it. Granted, we're talking about an invented realm, but never before in all the books that I have read has any author taken his portrayal of all the brutality of human nature to this level. Part of what makes Jordan, Williams, and Kay so brilliant is that they write *human* characters, and good and bad are rarely well delineated. What sets Martin apart is his sheer, brutal, mind-numbing honesty. He doesn't pull any punches, and neither do any of his characters. This ! is life, in all its pain and glory. Honor is not as important as we would like it to be, and things do not all go well as long as we wish for it hard enough. Here, there is no destructive force stronger than the power of men. There is no evil greather than that in the hearts of men. And there is no power, once man has decided to destroy, that can stop him. This novel is a masterpiece; beautifully crafted, shockingly realistic, and a joy to read. However, don't expect to come out of reading this with your ideals intact.
Rating:
Summary: Wow
Review: Stunning, amazing, beautiful, astonishing, mindblowing. The beginning of what is without doubt the great fantasy series ever written. Like many others I had thought that Jordan's Wheel of Time was the crowning acheivement of the genre. This changed my mind. I have never read a fantasy novel written with such depth and maturity.On with the review. What you've heard about every character being vulnerable is true, to a certain extent. I went into this novel expecting main characters to be dying left and right. That doesn't happen. When Martin kills someone, it makes absolute sense in the story, and you will never be able to predict when it happens, and to who. A second thing commonly said is that it's based on the War of Roses in England. I don't agree with this at all. Surely there are parallels between the Starks and the Yorks, and the Lannisters and Lancasters. But it is not dramatized history at all. Another thing that should be mentioned is that no one is 'good' or 'evil' in this book, except perhaps Joffrey. They all have their own reasons, some justifiable, some not. You will sympathize with certain characters (the Starks and Tyrion Lannister), but that's only because that's who Martin is writing as. As Martin shows in the next two books, he can make you like anyone.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best books ever!
Review: It didn't look very good when I first picked it up, but oh was I surprised!
This series is my favorite series, and books in the world! I am waiting for A Feast for Crows to come out now, and so I can enjoy another one of GRRM's masterpieces.
This particular tale starts off the series, it is basically an introduction book to this series. But it is worth the eight dollars you spend on it. In fact it is worth alot more, I think. In my opinion it is 2x better than any Tolkein book
Rating:
Summary: Simply enthralling
Review: I learned of the 'Song of Ice and Fire' series by George Martin from a friend who claimed it was better than the 'Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn' trilogy by Tad Williams, which I considered the best fantasy series for quite some time. He even claimed Martin could easily match up with Tolkien, though Martin would write a completely different style of fantasy literature. Wow, quite some accolades.
Now after having read A Game of Thrones I just can conclude: My friend was absolutely right. A Game of Thrones starts slow, describing the main characters of this first book of a wide span epic series. But from the first moment you appreciate the details Martin uses to introduce his main cast and also the setting of Westeros. Martin's approach to this fantastic world is a more political one. Several factions are scheming against each other, and magic - the essence of fantasy literature - is only for a nanny's tales, but as the machinations unfold also the intensity of the novel rises dramatically. With the culmination of events Martin also raises the stakes of his main characters. Unlike many other fantasy writers Martin doesnt hesitate to sacrifice leading personas, even the 'good ones'. In fact Martin has a knack to make his main characters suffer in a way that the reader feels and aches with them. I always appreciated such excellence to involve the reader in the fates of the characters in a fantasy novel. Some of them you love, some of them you really hate. And there are a lot of both types in Martin's book...but you never know what fate will befall anybody.
This creates an enthralling atmosphere of compassion as Martin takes you on a roller coaster ride of emotions and when A Game of Thrones reaches its climax at its final pages, you're as eager as anyone to learn how the forthcoming events will go on in the following books of this series. That's what I call masterly art of writing, when the book you read catches your attention from start to end, yet still leaving you anxious to the next sequel.
One side note: There are quite many characters readers will feel attached to. Jon Snow, the Starks, Danaerys, and many others. But, goddam, Tyrion Lannister is likely one of the most complex, yet most likable/admirable rascals you'll ever find. You can clearly see who is Martin's most favorite char. So, look out for more heart-wrenching hardships, extreme challenges but also surprising victories for Tyrion. And never forget: A Lannister always pays his debts!
Rating:
Summary: Martin has taken the epic fantasy genre to a new level
Review: I am a huge fan of epic fantasy, but sometimes find myself wondering why so many authors make their stories so predictable. I was pleasantly surprised by a "A Game of Thrones", since not only Martin's writing style is superior to most, the characters are complex and engaging, there is political intrigue, alliances and treason, but also because the author surprises the reader several times throughout the novel. There are plenty of twists and turns that add a great deal to the interest of the book, and the reader is kept on his toes by the death of characters that in other series would "never die". There is a considerable portion of the book in which the fantastic elements are very limited, with the story introducing more and more of these as it progresses. The "world" in which the epic unravels is composed by the Seven Kingdoms, protected on the north by The Wall, which is defended by the Night Watch to prevent "mysterious creatures" from invading. Winter is coming, and this is the time in which the Night Watch should be more alert. The length of the winter varies and is said to be proportional to that of the summer that preceded it; so this one is expected to be a very long one. This first book focuses on two families, the Starks and the Lannisters. The former rule Winterfell, which is located in the North, and the later are related to King Robert through the marriage of their sister to the monarch. Eddard Stark is selected as Hand of the King by his friend Robert and has to go to court, leaving Winterfell under the control and supervision of his wife, Catelyn, and his eldest son, Robb. Eddard has two other sons; one of these is named Bran, who loves to climb and suffers an "accident" shortly before his father leaves. He also has two daughters, who are going to the court with him, and an illegitimate son, Jon, who has decided to join the Night Watch. The Lannisters are known for being conniving and for addressing their favors to whoever suits their purposes best. We are also introduced to the Tangaryen, which was the reigning house until King Robert won the throne. Viserys and his sister Daenerys, a maid of thirteen years, dream of recovering their previous grandeur and recover their throne. George R. R. Martin uses the different characters' perspectives to tell the story, and succeeds in conveying the differences among them to the reader. He also combines with surgical precision all the different elements that make an outstanding epic fantasy. This book has political intrigue, conspiracies, unusual "rules", magic, odd creatures and much more! In terms of the creatures, each house has its corresponding animal, and these become more and more important throughout the book. It is clear to me that Martin has created something extraordinary, and I cannot wait to read the next book in the series. Especially since in the end of this one there is a huge surprise that leaves the reader with his mouth open and wondering what will come next.
Rating:
Summary: Great start to a great series
Review: George Martin doesn't just tell his readers a story, he grabs them by the back of the neck and yanks them into his world. The characters are so real, you'll think you've known them for years. At least until they completely shock you, which happens throughout. The plot is intricate and it MOVES! The intrigue begins on page one, then twists and builds all the way to the end. A word of warning to avid fantasy readers. This book (and the series in general) is not loaded with magic swords, powerful rings, or hidden spellbooks. Magic provides some of the back story and does cast a shadow on present events, but not much more than that in this first book. The role of magic does expand somewhat in the sequels, however. If you want to read a gripping story featuring complex, three-dimensional characters in a fascinating, well-conceived world, check this book out. I've read fantasy from Tolkien, Donaldson, and Jordan to Wolfe, Willaims, and Goodkind, and "A Game of Thrones" more than holds its own. You WON'T be disappointed!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: In all seriousness, I had major doubts when I picked this book up. I thought that Robert Jordan couldn't be rivaled. I was wrong to a certain extent. Actually, there is no real accuarate way to compare A Song of Ice and Fire to The Wheel of Time. George R.R. Martin, unlike RJ, seems to delight in shocking his readers. His plot runs smoothly with shockers left and right. This man knows how to set a mood and play around with it. Martin knows how to toy with people's emotions. The characters are very nicely portrayed. Although I don't think of Martin's charcters as friends, like I do RJ's, he definitely has a firm control over them. These are not your typical action or fantasy heroes and villians. It wasn't until last parts of the book that I was able to figure out exact how the alliances run and to establish a hero-villian relationship. Even then, you don't really think of villians as "villians," but rather, heroes that took a wrong turn. Excellent book. If you're a hard core fantasy reader who likes character/plot developments, this is it.
Rating: 
Summary: "Realistic" fantasy.
Review: Fantasy novels are a good break from here and now. Most are ok, but hardly memorable. "A Game of Thrones" was different, by first chapter's end, I knew so. It turned out to be a really good book.
Why? One, I find fantasy too often employs magic, monsters, and the supernatural to cover for poorly contrived story lines. This story is tight, and comes across as realistic, and exciting.
Martin also does a good job with his characters. Good, bad, or amoral (possibly all but a handful approach the latter), they are colorful and have clear motivations (my favorite is "the Imp"). None are safe from misfortune - even cute kids.
Finally, you get plenty of fighting, but not so overly detailed that it seems a fantasy version of "World Military History 301." There's also a good deal of intrigue, aristocratic politics, and romance (or sex). Magic? Hardly at all, although several dragons are hatched towards the end, so maybe it gets a slight bit more fanatical in book 2.
I seldom recommend books, and almost never buy them new. Made an exception for "Game of Thrones," and hope you enjoy this book also. Have a great day!
Rating:
Summary: Wow!
Review: This has to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest fantasy series' ever written. It is not really classic fantasy at first because of the minor but growing influence of magic, but the story is unimaginably intricate and involved. Definitely not your standard heroes quest formula fantasy. Squemish readers beware, this is a gritty novel with violence, sex and swearing, but all of this adds to the reality of the story. No character is safe, in fact I threw this book down on the floor at two or three points, promising to never read any more...but I couldn't stay away. I've read and enjoyed a lot of good fantasy, bad fantasy, and everywhere in between, but I have never been so engaged by any other story with the possible exception of Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing book!
Review: I must start off by acknowledging George Martin as a master of contemporary fantasy. This book is so very different from all the other fantasy books I've read so far, that I don't know if I'll ever treat fantasy the same way again! I had tried to read this book twice earlier - each time I would start off, and then keep it down after reading just 3-4 pages. The violence that hits the reader right from the beginning, the brutality of justice, the nakedness of human emotions (lust, greed, pride and honour) that make the characters seem ironically more human than ever - these features made the book seem very "adultish" and realistic when compared to any other fantasy series. Tolkien had not prepared me for that! As I came to learn, there are no heroes in the book, and no character can be personified as completely "good" or completely "evil. Hence, the traditional fantasy theme of good fighting evil is done away with, and the characters make the story twist and turn every time they reveal one more aspect of their complex and very-human personalities. Fantasy readers should be warned that magic does not form a significant part of the storyline (at least for the first book of the series), though it does form part of the backdrop (The Others etc.). This was one of the reasons why I hesitated to take up this book. After reading David Gemmel, David Eddings and Raymond Feist, reading fantasy sans magic seemed almost impossible. But now that I have gotten past that block, I realize how exciting and incredibly realistic such fantasy can be, even without magic. But it takes a very accomplished and talent author like George Martin to make it so. There are also no deus ex machina characters, or orphans destined to save the world. Heroes are tormented with difficult choices which carry no honour, and villains act quickly and without mercy or remorse. At times, the brutality really shocked me. Sympathetic or "hero-like" characters often died unexpected deaths at the hands of cruel "villains" which went unavenged and often unmourned, and even little children were forced to assume very burdensome responsibilities for the sake of the greater good. At times, it made me wonder if the book was a bit too negative in its overall outlook and portrayal of personalities. The writing style is dramatically different - each chapter is focused on a single character and the events surrounding him/her. While all the characters are tightly linked together and the story moves forward cohesively, often it takes us away from one character at the heights of action and moves diametrically opposite to another character far away, making us wait patiently for the story to revolve back again. No doubt, this is a difficult style to adopt, especially for a four part series, as it necessitates that each character be treated with the same amount of respect and detail as the others, however important or un-important they may seem initially. I've always believed in the philosophy of reading books for the inherent concepts and potential ideas that are contained within, and not for just pure literary pleasure. This was one book that completely justified that philosophy. It gives a peek into a world of Kings and ordinary men, where struggle for power neither leads to decisive victories nor noble victors, where choices men make have outcomes that are too perceptible and painful, and where the cost of achieving peace is high enough to make men question the ends and means. On the whole, this is a must-read for any fantasy reader.
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