Rating: 
Summary: Beyond Exellence.
Review: I have to confess, however sadly, that the reason to which I bought this book was simply the comment from Robert Jordan on the cover saying that it was, in his words, "brilliant". It did not take more than a few pages to realize how perfectly those few words summarized the truth, however.
The first thing that leaps up into the readers face, beyond the obviously fluent and magnificient story telling of the author, is a tendancy not to shie away from things that most authors seem to abhorr. Actions taken by his characters are true to the personalities that the author works to make believable -- damn the consequences.
Beside those said characters being overwhelmingly believable, the world and the reigning moral and social dogma being described with great detail and depth the plot, too, is well written. The reasons for this is, obviously, the authors honesty to his characters and his own work.
As has been said so many times before, the second book is greatly anticipated, as it is by me -- the truly captivating cast of characters and the slowly, deliberately unfolding intrigue has caught me in a iron grip, begging for more. If he keeps this up, there might finally be an author to weave a thick intrigue to topple even Jordan.
Rating:
Summary: A Class of it's Own
Review: This is the first time I read George Martin's work and I am duly impressed. He has combined fantasy with intrigue and war in a manner that I have never seen before. Read it and you will see what I mean.
Rating: 
Summary: Multi-layered plot, multiple perspectives, symbolism
Review: This was an excellent book, and the author should be one to note as we all wait in breathless anticipation for the sequol. The plot has many layers to it, and they slowly begin to weave together to form a tapestry of great beauty. The charactors are well-formed, with both great virtues and almost unforgivable flaws, all of these charactors are relatable, and most of us know people who remind us of them. Martin gives us this story from the eyes of different people, all of whom are ensnared in the web of secrets and lies in this game of thrones. Through one charactor's eyes we may despise someone, but through anouthor's we come to understand and love them. The direwolves are the greatest symbol throughout the book, and only after reading the book can we go back and realise the meaning of their existance. Events involving the wolves and possible meaning derived from them: The wolves were found by their dead mother, who had been killed by a stag. Possible meaning: Eddard Stark, who is the Lord of Winterfell, has for his symbol the direwolf. In the end of the book, he is killed under the order of the new king, Joffrey Baratheon, whose symbol is a crowned stag. Found by the slain direwolf are its six pups, five of whom are black and gray, the last one of which is an albino, with white fur and red eyes. Possible Meaning: The six pups represent his six children, five of whom are by his lady wife, and the sixth is a bastard by an unknown woman. The albino pup was driven away by his brothers and sisters. Possible Meaning: Jon,the bastard,is sent away from his home to join the Night's Watch Sansa's pup, Lady, is killed under the order of the queen, and because of the lies told by Joffrey.Lord Stark does it, to give Lady the death that one of the North deserves Possible Meaning: Sansa will not survive the series, and will be killed under the order of the Queen, possibly by someone who loves her. Arya's direwolf, Nemeria, is driven off to live off the land to save her from the wrath of the crown prince and the queen. Possible (and probible) Meaning: Arya flees the castle and lives off the streets to escape Joffrey and Queen Cersai.
Rating:
Summary: Just read it!
Review: Anna McCaffrey wrote "...I read my eyes out..." and I did the same! Excellent characters, adventure, peril, romance, loss, love, fighting, humor ... this books got it all! Just pick it up and read it, if you already have give it to another so that they can enjoy it also.
Rating:
Summary: Great epic story with many internal stories
Review: Having read many epic fantasy novels it is difficult to find new and interesting material that will keep my attention. From David Eddings' fast paced, but numerous, stories to Robert Jordan's highly detailed works my interest is broad. Martin's The Game Of Thrones sits somewhere in-between the Eddings and Jordan. It has enough detail to make the world interesting and enough stories within the book to keep you reading. The story does take a while to grab hold of you but once it has you, you will be greatly anticipating the next book, as I am.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: Outstanding character development! Few of the characters are what we assume, one minute you loath them and the next you wish to champion their cause. The only other author that does this succesfully is Guy Kay. A truly epic fantasy! Expect the unexpected! You don't need to read far into the book before you realize that you can't anticipate the story, you must read on and let Martin tell his tale. A Game of Thrones is an outstanding book! Aftrer finishing the book I only hope that Martin continues to write, and fast!
Rating:
Summary: June 1998 is 6 MONTHS away yet!
Review: From what I've read of other reviews, everything that can be said about this story has been said but I just want to add that it's a rare book my teenage daughter 'steals' everytime I lay it down and this is one of those! The reader was drawn into each character's view of events so even the villains' viewpoints were understandable. Not necessarily forgivable, but at least you could see where they were coming from and what their ideas were behind their actions. It was one of those tales that you hungrily devour yet at the same time, wish you could relish it forever. I can only hope the sequel is as satisfying as the first.
Rating:
Summary: Forget the Fantasy Genre...This IS a Story!
Review: G.R.R.M. has remembered what most "fantasy" writers forget....
Characters do not exist in a vacuum, brought to life by the artifice of magic or mythical beasts. Mr. Martin literally breathes life into his portrayal of a land where his people behave in a remarkably similar way to everyday individuals. Sure the setting is medieval and the environment is mystical, but the flesh and blood of his story are the recognizable traits of ordinary human beings dealing with extraordinary circumstances. The rotating first person perspectives gives dimension to the telling, and helps the reader empathize with a host of varying perspectives. Also, the utter lack of cleanly defined "good" or "evil" characteristics truly reflects the reality of the human psyche. While the plot is necessarily fraught with elaborate machinations, it only adds to the believability of his tale, in that politics and intrigue are as familiar to human existence as eating and sleeping. I heartily recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good read, regardless of the genre. And please fellow readers, enough with the comparisons to Tolkien, Jordan, or Donaldson. When discussing this book, it truly exists in a class of it's own creation.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent & entertaining
Review: I truly enjoyed this book! Martin creates a fully believable world with well-crafted,empathetic characters. The writing style is an interesting change from most other books in that every chapter is told from the perspective of a certain character. Through this, Martin can present many views of pertinent situations. In all, the book flows well and tells and intriguing tale. My only complaint is that I fell in love with two or three characters, and I didn't get to hear from them enough. It's always a joy when one finds a book that one would like more of, instead of less.
Rating:
Summary: A Powerful Story
Review: Every now and then I come across a novel that after reading it, I run out and buy several copies and give them to my friends to read. Not since I championed the cause of Card's "Endor's Game" and Jordan's "The Eye of the World" have I felt compelled to do this. But, now comes "A Game of Thrones" and I have given my copy to my wife and purchased three more for my closest friends. This book is simply brilliant. The characters come to life with a complexity and a reality that is far richer than the card board cut-out caricatures that seems to be the norm for many novels these days. The Starks of Winterfell deserve to be one of the great literary families of all time. I remember turning to my wife in bed the night that I started reading the book and telling her that the prologue and the first chapter were as good as anything that I have ever read and that this book was going to be something special. Martin is a gifted storyteller. Sometimes when a novel has this many characters I find myself looking ahead to see when one of my favorite characters will again be the focus, but Martin weaves the story together so masterfully, that I was engrossed by every major character and their actions. This book transcends the genre. When many people think of fantasy they think of monsters and dragons and knights, they don't always realize that the common denominators in great novels in any genre are characters to which the reader develops emotional attachments. "A Game of Thrones" does this. Although I am ready to read book two, I hope that Martin takes his time and releases a novel that is at least the equal of this one.
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