A Game of Thrones

Rating:
Summary: The Difference
Review: This fantasy series is arguably the best I've ever seen. I'm just now getting around to writing a review of it, even though I've read it thrice since 1999. Now, before you say "Ugh, another fanatic!", just look at three major differences (in a genre of worn-out plots and character types, this is a good thing) between this book and others.

1. In A Game of Thrones, there is almost no magic. Some people may see this as a bad thing, but I didn't. Take the Lord of the Rings, for instance; most magic happens off-stage. In Martin's universe, we know it exists (magic does make brief appearances at the beginning and end of Thrones) without having our noses rubbed in it, unlike some *other* authors. The result is what could almost be a first-hand historical account of medieval intrigue.

2. Bad things happen to good people. Yes, this has been noted by many other commentators, but I think that it's worth mentioning again. Rather than having one omnipotent protagonist, we have a slew of equally interesting characters who each have their own little (and not so little) problems. And bad things do happen.

3. A gray tone of morality permeates the book. Rather than typecast all of the characters (the Savior and his followers vs. the Destroyer and the Armies of Darkness), Martin has put a giddying amount of time into developing them to ensure that none are as good or evil as they might appear. Yes, there are megalomaniacs. Yes, there are folks who fight for truth, justice, and the Westerosi way. And there are even a couple of jerks in their own right. But once each is analyzed, we find that none is quite as black or white as they seem. There is a noble lord who is the very soul of honor and justice...but it is revealed that he has fathered a bastard.

If you don't believe any of this, read the book. Trust me, those 800+ pages will seem to melt away as you allow yourself to be enchanted by A Game of Thrones.

Rating:
Summary: Really Enjoying the Story
Review: I have never read Fantasy Genre before, I read mostly Mystery,
and Thrillers, but I'll explain how I happened to buy and read
this fabulous epic fantasy book A Game of Thrones.

I play CCG's (card games) and saw an advertisement for Fantasy
Flight Games new CCG called A GAME OF THRONES based on George
R.R. Martin's Series "A Song of Ice and Fire". So being how I
am, I decided to buy and read the book so I could better understand
the characters persona, and events, before I started playing the game. (Which is due out in August 2002)

So, having said all that, I wont reiterate what the book is about so
much, you can see the Editorial Review at the top, but make some
personal comments.

The book is broken down into approx 10 page chapters, titled the
characters name, and written from that characters perspecitive.
It really made an impact on me with that style, I really felt
I was there with the characters, and found myself laughing out
loud, at other times feeling angry, and sad. I can see the plot
unfold in a way that no other character sees yet. We the readers
are the "all seeing big eye in the sky", but Mr. Martin doesnt
let it all be exposed too soon, as we the reader still get the
enjoyment of getting there.

Now, just some personal helpful hints to other readers.
*) The Appendix in the back of the book of the "Houses" is very helpful.
I found myself referencing it alot.
*) Being it's a 800+ page book, you are at a big advantage if you can
read 100+ pages in a day, and read it every day. Probably at a disadvantage if you cant,
because you so many characters, and so
much going on.

I've recently purchased Book 2 - A Clash of Kings, and soon to buy Book 3.

I'm sure I didnt follow the rules of being a "good" reviewer,
but REALLY ENJOYED THE BOOK and wanted to let others know.

Rating:
Summary: A Good Book
Review: A Game of Thrones has several key elements of a great novel, but the inherent design of the series keeps it from becoming a classic. The series as a whole seems to be designed like a single book, and so A Game of Thrones merely introduces the characters and begins to move them into their roles. I've read the first three books and I must say that they do get better as the series progresses into the meat of the story.

Several notable aspects of this book raise it above the majority of epic fantasy out there. The book is genuinely unpredictable in major events, leading to real exitement later in the story (as many other stories either shy away from bad things or consistantly do bad things to their characters, leaving the reader with a good idea of what the outcome of the tense instances will be). Besides that, the main characters are varied and interesting. Some characters aren't clear cut good or evil, and sometimes enemies aren't necessarily bad and friends not necessarily good.

However, the novel is very long, especially viewed as the introduction to the series, and may bore readers who do not have exceptional patience or who do not read exceptionally fast. Although, this is a promblem common in epic fantasy. But, I suggest readers bear through any low points in the story because the later books are worth the wait.

Rating:
Summary: Stands Out From the Crowd
Review: There are lots of books in the genre, but this one stands out for three reasons: a) children act like children and adults act like adults; b) bad -- and permanent -- things happen to good people; and c) the writing style is absolutely top notch.

In short, a good book for the demanding reader. I hope the others in the trilogy match up.

Rating:
Summary: Great but not perfect
Review: This book was impressive in the sense that magic is sparse, the politics is complex, characters are thoroughly developed and not many pages are wasted on glorious quests. Each chapter is told in the viewpoint of a character. This enables the reader to not only learn about the character but also gain insight on other characters as well. The history of the world is slowly revealed to you as you read the book and by the end of it, you know the past pretty thoroughly.

The best part about this book is that almost everything that happens serves to push the plot. This, however, doesn't mean that the book is perfect. Martin wastes a lot of text on detail and quite often repeats convictions and thoughts of various characters. It gets a bit annoying toward the end but it's a minor issue.

I am interested in reading the second book so the series has gained another fan.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Magic
Review: This is by far one of the most enthralling pieces of writing.
Anyone who is a favourite of Kings and queens, medieval liturature, then this is a must, I've read this book 8 times and the series to date 5.
Cant wait for the rest.

Rating:
Summary: Very good fantasy, but only the first part of a long hike
Review: I'm not, in general, a fan of high fantasy, but I've enjoyed almost everything Martin has written in the past, and several of my friends recommended this series very highly, so I decided to give it a try.

It's a very good book, but make no mistake: It's long. Martin is telling truly EPIC fantasy here, with a large cast of characters, a far-ranging domain, an extensive backstory, and lots of politics and infighting (not to mention the outfighting - as in "out fighting on the battlefield"). The degree to which it works for you will largely depend on how much you like the characters, and care about their troubles. Martin's rotating-point-of-view style (a different character is the focus of each chapter) works quite well, particularly when you see two sides of the same events, as happens several times. While some of the characters' stories are there mainly to illuminate other characters (Ned's daughter Sansa, for instance, doesn't really have her own story), others are quite compelling, particularly Tyrion Lannister - the intelligent and outspoken dwarf - and Jon Snow - Ned's ... son sent to guard the northern wall against the horrors beyond it. Tyrion is clever and funny and always entertaining to read about, while Jon is deeply conflicted and has been placed in a difficult situation which ought to have a great impact on the rest of the world before long.

A Game of Thrones largely concerns the power plays between Ned Stark's family and the Lannister family, to which the queen of the realm belongs. The king, Robert Baratheon, is an old friend and comrade of Ned's, but has become strangely quixotic as he'd gotten older, and he seems oblivious to some of the real problems facing the realm, and Ned's days at court occur as the stability of said court is rapidly disintegrating. Of course, it all ends up in war, but it's a carefully-crafted and meaningful conflict, which does come to, well, a resting point by the end of the novel.

However, it all feels like just the prologue to the real story, as there are much worse dangers hinted at elsewhere: The beings beyond the northern wall, who seem to be getting more active as the long winter approaches. And Daenerys Targaryen, daughter of the last Targaryen king, whom Robert and Ned overthrew 15 years earlier, who is engaged in her own adventure across the ocean which might prove at least as dangerous to the Seven Realms as the northern creatures.

The next few novels will not be very successful if they focus primarily on the ongoing conflicts among those within the Seven Realms. The next novel has to start bringing one of the other threats out of the darkness or the story will quickly become idea-poor.

I wouldn't rate Game as highly as Martin's earlier novels Armageddon Rag or Fevre Dream, but it's quite good. It's going to need a big payoff for the series to be wholly successful, though. Currently slated for six volumes, I hear, I hope he's got a lot of neat tricks up his sleeve, because an ongoing run of intrigue and mundane battlefields isn't going to cut it for me.

Rating:
Summary: Engaging Fantasy Story
Review: I've read many novels of high fantasy, but I've only found a few that make you care about the characters. "A Game of Thrones" is one of those few. Some of the reviewers here have complained that the characters and plot aren't original. While they may have a point, what matters is that Martin actually draws the reader into the story, and makes you feel the anger, fear, and triumph of the people involved. I have two favorite characters. The first in Arya, a tough-minded young princess who's more interested in swordfighting than in the maidenly arts, which leads to conflict with here uptight sister. The second is Tyrion, a dwarf whose quick and agile mind make up for his physical handicaps. Although he is one of the villanous Lannisters, you can't help but like him by the end of the story.

The story involves two great houses, the Starks and the Lannisters, who compete for influence and control. There are also several intriguing subplots dealing with other forces that threaten to intrude upon the Seven Kingdoms where the main action takes place. There are several big surprises in the book that catch you off guard. I should warn you that several of the plotlines are not wrapped up neatly at the conclusion, so you might want to have the sequel, "A Clash of Kings", available as soon as you finish.

My one complaint with this book is that the beginning is too long and features too much exposition, while parts of the ending seem rushed. In particular, I really felt shortchanged by two battle scenes at the conclusion. If less time had been spent on some rather plodding dialogue at the start, the novel might flow a little bit better.

Rating:
Summary: A truely remarkable book.
Review: Lets get one thing straight from the start. This is not your typical fantasy. There are no happy elves dancing in the forest. Major characters die. There is not one hero with newly found magic, sword, lost inheritence whatever to save the day. Major charcters die. Good characters turn out to be not so good. Bad characters turn out to be not so bad. The characters swear, and drink and get intimate with each other. It is the realpolitik of the fantasy world. There is nothing else avalible which comes close.

The book achieves what few fantasy novels have - It has very real characterisation so that you and your friends can argue over who is the most likable, Secondly the plot, while VERY complex is well sketched out, has no gaping flaws and is, dare I say it- believable. Finally, Martin is a gifted writer. To jump from character to character, with EACH one having a seperate characteristics is quite remarkable.

I do not agree that the plot lags at all. The pieces are falling into place for a major fantasy epic, and from the introduction you know this is special.

I like the concepts in the book as well. The hints of loss magic, the Others, the detailed history of the seven kingdoms. Incredibly, tiny pieces buried in book one resurface in the following books.

Move over Tolkien, you have now lost your throne.

Rating:
Summary: Everything a fantasy book should be.
Review: This is quality, stop searching through the thousands of books which look and sound the same, this series is what you need. I am incredibly picky because most fantasy books are basically the same, thank goodness I read this one. You will NOT regret it.