Rating: 
Summary: A Brilliant Voice in Fantasy
Review: I'll admit that Martin's epic may not be for everyone. Certainly those fantasy readers who enjoy orphan children who are secretly heirs to a kingdom and wizards who shoot fireballs from their hands will find little to love here. But it would be a shame if you denied yourself, as a reader, the compelling read Martin offers.I don't use the word compelling lightly either, this is an utterly enjoyable read. Its quick, complex, exciting, and it defies expectations repeatedly. In many ways it stands alone in the genre, but I wanted to highlight three virtues of this book and, by extension, the series. First, the female characters are treated with respect and empathy. Within Martin's books are princesses forced into political marriages, sisters who inadvertently do greater harm than they intend through their bickering, and mothers who are completely devoted to their children. It's a far cry from the petulant temptresses and the masculine amazons who inhabit most other fantasy novels. Second, the violence in the story carries a weight absent from most fantasy novels. Martin captures the casual, sudden, and unexpected nature of violence. Horrible things happen so quickly that one stops to reread sentence, almost as if, like the characters, we can hardly believe what we've just seen. There's gut-wrenching injuries and accidents. A character thrown from his horse breaks a leg and swoons with pain instead of hopping up to fight on. In Martin's imagination, just as in reality, these things, these ignominious accidents, happen. Finally, Martin does a fantastic job portraying magic. The book's detractors will disagree with me strenuously here. Martin handles magic subtly, it happens in caves and forests, in dank places where few witness it. The use of magic is fantastic, beyond the belief of most characters in the novel. Magic doesn't happen often. Each time, however, it is completely memorable. There are other great touches in the book. Martin takes the time to name the games children play, uses heraldry and feudal politics extensively, and devises a clever set of surnames for children born out of wedlock. There are plenty of sources for high adventure as well: sworn brotherhoods, zombies, deft swordsmen, poisons, intrigues, and dragons. In short, this is an absolute classic.
Rating:
Summary: Good Work!
Review: Martin is one of the Best! To all the Tolkien Fanatics out there: There is more to fantasy than just Tolkien. I mean, you all know RObert E. Howard, don't you? And what about Marion Zimmer Bradley? To authors who wrote very different fantasy, and i'am thankful for that. Because, you know, i get tired of Sauronlike Dark Lords, who don't manage to win a lousy war against a bunch of dwarfs with hairy feet. Martin has just the better Antagonists. Poor Sauron never had a chance...
Rating: 
Summary: A Wonderful Book
Review: This book was great. To you nay-sayer Tolkien fanatics who complain about similar names, SHUT UP! HE'S PAYING HOMAGE TO TOLKIEN, WHO IS BY THE WAY, UNDESERVING OF HOMAGE PAID BY A REAL AUTHOR! JUST AS HIS WORK WAS UNWORTHY OF PETER JACKSON'S ATTENTION! Now that we have that out of the way I can say that despite the homage to Tolkien, this is a book that, unlike LOTR, is worthy of our time and money (it's also far better than the Hobbit, which was Tolkien's only work worth reading). The characters are actually interesting, where Tolkien got so bogged down in detail I couldn't even remember who the character's were. There was even a character that we got attached to before he was born (Rhaego), and when he was still-born it broke our hearts (he was prophesied to be a great war leader, known as "The Stallion who will mount the world"). While the names are Tolkien's, the writing style is in homage to none other than the great Frank Herbert, even some plot events are Herbertish (and from what I've read about future books it will continue that way), although this story is unique. I would even call this story a grand assault on Fantasy, in an attempt to drive out the Tolky's, and give followers of Frank Herbert control of the Genre. I think the assault should have taken place after getting Scifi firmly under control (Lucas followers still control it, but I don't hate them, even if they are somewhat dumb their entertaining), but so long as Tolkien get's run out of town. Why then did I not give it a perfect rating. One reason, to much focus on Eddard. It's so similar to Dune I knew from the beggining Eddard's fate would be that of Duke Leto, and why do I want to read from the point of someone I can tell already is going to die. Other than that flawless.
Rating: 
Summary: Good, but...
Review: While Martin has an excellent way of telling a story, and Game of Thrones is absolutely enthralling, I could not finish this book. I am probably the exception, but I found this book very appalling. It is bursting with explicit sexual material and I tired of it quickly. I say this as an adult, I wouldn't recommend this book, especially to more sensitive readers-but others can make up their mind. I was very disappointed as it had great reviews and I had already purchased the 2nd book, expecting to enjoy a great tale. I ended up throwing both books away-just FYI.
Rating:
Summary: Not your typical fantasy novel. . .
Review: I've read through some of the critics reviews, I'd like to offer my humble opinion. One critic said that this book wasn't interesting because so many of the characters were neither black nor white in their moral stances. I think that this kind of moral ambiguity is what makes this series so spectacularly refreshing. Perhaps this critic enjoys fantasy for the clear heroes and villians, many people do. On the other hand, most adult readers of fantasy (as well as other genres) are tired of cookie-cutter "hero slays dragon riding baddie", never swearing, junior high sex reference-loaded, plots and characters. This same critic questions the actions of some of the characters, believing these acts to be a sign of Martin's complete misunderstanding of human nature. I'm sorry if the critic's morals were offended, but sometimes people can act in ways that are completely and utterly beyond our comprehension. The depths of human cruelty are bottomless, and I applaud Martin for not shrinking from this fact. That a tyrant father would have his midget son's (an already constant source of disappointment and pain for the father) wife ... treated the way she was was SHOCKING, but it was not unbelievable. Another critic gave this book one star, seemingly because a couple of the character's names appeared to be too close to a couple of Tolkiens. We'll never know whether this is intentional or not, but I don't necessarily it's a cardinal sin. He could just be giving a tip of the hat to the master.
Rating:
Summary: The Game of Thrones is one of the best Novels of all time
Review: Other reviewers on this site have given this a low grade because it is not entirely fantasy or entirely historical fiction. Well, I am appalled at the narrow mindedness of these critics. This book travels through several points of view and ventures into each charater's personality intemitly. The use of imagery is fantastic. The plot may seem vague if seen from a glance, but the emotional impact of the internal conflicts blows the reader away.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best fantasy writer - ever.
Review: You know, I think I've read just about everything even a bit heroicfantasy-ish I could find. And I've always believed that the best fantasy could be found, in two very different styles, in the hands of two very special authors: Robert Jordan for the sheer size of his work and the complexity of the characters - and David Gemmel for the crisp way he writes and the wonderful sense of dialog and gimmicks he has. So, bear in mind that these are the authors I like, and thus my review is aimed toward those who have a soft spot for these giants. After reading all three books in a week's time, I now believe that George Martin has probably written the best books I've ever laid my hands upon - and that's saying something. Martin's character are neither good nor bad. They're just humans, like we all are. This means they sometimes make mistakes, like we all do. They sometimes doubt, like we all do. And they sometimes die, like we all do. George Martin doesn't focus on a couple character (say, a [person] who'll eventually discover who his real father is - rings any bell ?) but rather on a hundred different ones, ala Robert Jordan. Every chapter is written from a different point of view, and you'll get the opportunity to realize that there are no "evil" people and no "good" people. Some are honorable, for instance, but honour can be an asset as well as an hindrance, and honour can blind you to the reality. On the other hand, some might seem cruel when they're actually just trying to survive, or make a profit, or whatever the reason. But the reason's here, and that's what matters. The beginning is a bit slow-paced (though nothing as horrible as some other well-known books), but soon you'll find yourself in the midst of a wonderfully written, wonderfully woven book, where you can actually feel something for the characters - be it loathing, kinship or love. The fact that they're main characters doesn't protect them from their own mistakes and the traps others have laid for them, and you never know whether they'll live to see the day. That might be the first book where you actually fear from them (I mean come on, who ever thought Rand al'Thor would die from any of his fights with the Forsaken ?) A must-read for just about everybody.
Rating: 
Summary: I liked it
Review: I definitely enjoyed the intricate plot and shady characters. I like not knowing who's on what side. What fun is it if you can trust all the characters? But I was still disappointed by the characters, especially the females. I really can't stand Sansa, and I wish we could see more from Arya, but both of them and Catelyn seem to lack...something...like they're a bit too stereotypical. Maybe there's more development in the next books. I loved the descriptions, the intrigue, the ominous mystery. Slow in the beginning, the plot steadily builds. It took a few chapters to adjust to the sudden point of view changes, but different doesn't mean bad. If you're willing to get lost in a totally believable world, and are stubborn enough to get to where the exposition stops and the rising action starts the ball rolling, you're in for quite a ride. I'm going to read the second book and hope that some characters come to their senses and maybe some more make me care about them more. But I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a good fantasy, and I don't recommend lightly. Also, if you like heavy plot and engrossing characters, try Michelle West's Sun Sword series or Hunter's Oath books...not perfect, but enjoyable if you can get through the beginnings. The hardest part always is the beginning.
Rating:
Summary: Too many critics here have an inappropriate moral stance!
Review: There are certainly a number of reasons that one could criticize these books, but reading through the one star reviews, I get the sense that some bible-belt wacko book burners all got together to flood these reviews with trollfood. Please take your morality somewhere else - inflict it on your children if you must, but I am an adult and I enjoyed the scene where Eddard Stark takes the head of a deserter in front of his 8 yr old son in the name of honor. That is good fantasy. Criticizing the books from your pseudo-christian perspective betrays the value of a public rating system and the spirit of literary critique. Imagine how poor our literary history would be if all books had been judged against a christian ethic. This is exactly why we don't want your religion in our schools or government.
Rating:
Summary: This is the Series that Brought Me Back to the Fantasy Genre
Review: It used to be (and may still be) that you could read Tolkien, Jordan and maybe a few more authors and you would discover that you had read all the fantasy reading that was worth talking about. I don't claim to be an expert, but some fantasy authors just have no business writing books. So when I picked up George R.R. Martin's first book in the popular A Song of Ice and Fire series, I was understandably wary. Something happened along the way though, I found myself immersed in Martin's storytelling and falling in love with the characters, creatures and worlds he created. I couldn't put down the first book and after finishing, quickly purchased the next two books in his famous series. Not since the first three books in Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time Series had I read a fantasy series that so completely overwhelmed me. Eagerly awaiting the fourth book which will hopefully reach publication by spring of 2004 and looking back on the first three books, I think there were three critical strongpoints that made me love these books: 1) Characters, Characters, Characters - How many fantasy books have you read which had all the great genre elements such as dragons, swords, magic, and so forth, but never one single interesting character to bring life to the novel? Martin doesn't just give us one hero, he surrounds us with an epic geneology of lords and kings. And not just heroes, Martin gives the villainy just as much attention and usually clouds the issues not providing you with a fine line of good and evil. Everyone is human in his stories and it may be the first fantasy series I've ever read where a cripple and midget play a huge role in the story. (No, not a halfling-hobbit midget, a real human dwarf!) No one is perfect and no one is free of error. Martin's characters surround themselves in epic power struggles that would make Shakespeare proud. 2) Detailed Geography and Histories - When I read the first book in Martin's series, I was almost overwhelmed. There were so many new people and places I needed to know but luckily the books are included with appendixes that you can easily flip through to keep you updated on all family and political ties. Also, how many fantasy books have you read in which travel feels like a day on a 21st century highway and the map doesn't seem to have a realistic scale? Martin avoids the common mistakes and not since Tolkien have I read a book in which so many details inhabit the lands inbetween cities and rivers. 3) Realism - Sometimes I'll pick up a fantasy novel and while I enjoy the story and central characters, I feel like "Joe Average" in today's world could easily fit into the author's world. In other words, I think a lot of fantasy authors rely on boring medieval cliches, that is if they even try to give their characters on authentic period feel. In Martin's books, I feel as though I'm exploring a world not too far removed from medieval Europe. Too often with today's popular fantasy material, creators add liberal amounts of magic and common fantasy elements. With Martin, I discover a world which has obtained the same balance that was felt in Tolkien's worlds. As one reviewer put it, wielding magic isn't the equivalent of blowing off a machine gun in Martin's books, even though most fantasy books today want to write it like that. Maybe the best part about Martin's books is that I know there is an impending grand finale. Remember when you read Jordan's Wheel of Time series and felt that way only to give up seven to ten books later? In A Song of Ice and Fire, you can sense everything getting closer to one final epic confrontation instead of the all too common trend of fiction authors to try and cash in on one more book to prolong the series. Martin has even announced that only six books are planned in his series and it's good to know that a compelling best-selling fantasy series actually has an ending in mind. All three books are in softcover now and Martin fans are anxiously awaiting the next addition. My advice would be to pick up the first book quickly because you'll find some of the best fantasy writing in recent years and a terrific story regardless of your interest in the fantasy genre.
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