Rating: 
Summary: A work of Art!
Review: After having finished a game of thrones, I sat dumbfounded. How could a book be so rich in detail and plot. I've also read the Robert Jordan series and despite being excellent, they are a bit tedious at times. But a game ofthrones is an adventire the whole way. The characters are so realistic that you grow to hate Joffrey and Cersei but almost fraternize with Jon Snow, Robb, Ned etc. I would recommend this to anyone who loves fantasy. I'm about to start the second one. Can't Wait!
Rating:
Summary: A very good read
Review: I hadn't read a book with such passion in since...I can't even remember when! The characters in this book, whether you like them or not, are well developed, and the setting is a unique world that could very well have existed and is very believable. I found myself reading 100 pages a night, easy.This book really is sort of like the LOTR's "Fellowship" in the sense that it sets the mood, introduces the world we are in, and develops the characters so by the time Volume 2 rolls around we are well aware of who every one is and what they might do. Among my favorite characters were especially the dwarf Tyrion, the deformed Lannister officer known as "the Hound" and Lord Stark's bastard son Jon Snow. Each character is different and has their own unique personality, and are so well developed that you eventually can guess how they're going to act in a situation. Its a long read, but I have spent many a night turning through its chapters awaiting what happened next. The next volume I will hopefully enjoy just as much.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent start...
Review: I found this book to be an entertaining read. It's well-written, and appears to be well-plotted (though we'll see if this is truly the case when the series finally wraps up). It fills a fairly unique niche in the fantasy genre, having a more earthy feel than most of the books currently out there. The principle characters are fairly distinct in terms of personality, which is always a good thing. As far as what it's about, imagine a book about nobles vying for power in a setting reminicent of medieval Europe. Being the start of the series, this book essentially chronicles the fragmentation of a unified kingdom. At present, the fantasy element is fairly low (no hoity-toity elves or mindless armies of orcs), but will likely increase as the series progresses. The book contains a fair bit of sex and violence; I found the former to be a bit distracting in the couple of times it popped up, but that's a matter of preference, I suspect. Unfortunately (for me), these erotic spasms continue to erupt in books 2 & 3 of the series. Still, this is one of the better series to come out in a long time. While it won't change your views on life or anything, it's a thoroughly engaging read. Well worth the price of admission.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant
Review: I started reading George Martin books after searching the Amazon recommendation list. Boy was I got mesmerize by his work of art. I had a great pleasure reading Raymond Feist and Robert Jordan works but comparing to George twisted, intrigue and fascinating stories plot, it's remarkable the story is only in it's 4th Edition. I believe the challenge in writting a good book is not telling the story over voluminous amount of series and chapters but tying all the plots necessary to keep the reader at the edge of it's seat. From what i know, volume does not sell anymore. George has shown what it takes to make the reader hungers for more with micro story plotting and significant smooth storyline to interest the reader. I could never stop wanting for more after ending a chapter... it's just so highly addictive.
Rating:
Summary: Literary genius. One of the best ever!
Review: What can I possibly say that hasn't been said already. The characters are your neighbors (the bloodthirsty ones), the scope exceeds Tolkien, and the politics make Washington look like a kindergarten sandbox. Brilliant doesn't begin to describe this entire series (3 books published at the time of this review).
Rating:
Summary: It's all in the last page.....I promise!
Review: Okay...I understand the perception of a slow start with this series. It took me a while to get through this book. That being said, I was engrossed in the most original writing style I've ever encountered, and when I finally put aside all distractions (I often read several books at a time), I finished the first book in the most amazing fantasy saga ever!! Just get to the last page of book one, and I promise you'll be on the way to Barnes and Noble to get the next one. Then, with each volume, it gets better. Man, I can't wait for book four!! If you like Goodkind, Jordan, or even the original "R.R.", you have to not only start, but FINISH THIS BOOK!! I can't overstate the importance of the ending of this book. Talk about a "WOW"!! I've never read a more realistic, gripping adventure in my life. You'll find yourself liking the bad guys, and confused about how you want this to end. My only regret is that I started the Wheel of Time after I read these, and now I'm having a hard time getting through Jordan's ramblings (I'm almost through book 5). It's all in the last page of book one....but read the beginning first, of course.
Rating:
Summary: The best since Tolkien
Review: Just a quick recommendation to anyone considering reading this fantasy, it's the best one I've encountered since Tolkien's classic Lord of the Rings. Albeit with a different feel to it:this one is more like the real world, and the magic is often subtle. Altho, come to think about it, Tolkien's world was like that, too. A Song of Ice and Fire is a world you can lose yourself in. The Seven Kingdoms of Westeros are very believable, and the characters have the essence of real people. I especially commend to your attention the character of Tyrion. In this work (I refer to the other completed books in the fantasy as well as the first one) there is no black and white good guys vs bad guys; each side in the conflict has both. The story is told from the perspective of individual characters in the story. What's happening to them at any given time replaces the usual chapters found in most novels. Naturally, it takes a lot of narrative skill to draw these threads together, and Martin pulls it off skillfully. Once again, an excellant fantasy. I just got finished reading the third one in the group, titled: A Storm of Swords, and am happily anticipating the release of the fourth volume. Read and enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant!
Review: The entire series of A Song of Fire and Ice (or, at least, the entire portion that has already been published) is a brilliant epic about Heroes, War, Kingdoms, Love, Vengeance, Magic, Dragons, Tragedy, Hope, and much, much more. It is beautifully written from the perspectives of all of the major characters-- and every single character is crafted and developed with honest, detailed precision. The beauty of Martin's method is that he presents you a tale that you can understand from the viewpoints of every major player, and every player has intense strengths and weaknesses that they stay true to in the book, which allows you not only to cheer on the characters that you grow to love, but also respect the characters you grow to hate. In a way, it also makes the book both unpredictable and predictable. As I mentioned before, the book has something for everyone: Battles, strategy, swordplay, and honor for those who like to read about warfare and knighthood. Magic, Oracles, and Alchemy for those who are intrigued by sorcery. Dragons, Giants, and Direwolves for those who like mystical creatures. Marriages, Affairs, and Romance for those into the lovey dovey stuff. Plus Assassins, Theives, Rebels, Corruption, Betrayal, Spies, and more...
Rating:
Summary: Something helpful and convincing for everyone....
Review: George R.R. Martin has worked at Hollywood as a director and producer. So this guy knows how to enthrall an audience. He has worked on the television series Beauty and the Beast (which won an Emmy) and the Twilight zone. Many years ago. In writing, GRRM's done a lot. All of these are some of his best works (all of this BEFORE Song of Ice and Fire):
-He is a 11 time winner of the Locus award.
-4 Hugo awards for his short stories for "Song for Lya," "Sandkings," "The Way of Cross and Dragon," and "Blood of the Dragon."
-2 Nebula awards for "Portraits of His Children" and "Sandkings."
-A Bram Stoker for "The Pear-Shaped Man."
-GRRM was a World Fantasy Award finalist in 1982 and 1983 and in 1988 he won the World Fantasy award for "Blood of the Dragon."
-A Balrog award for "Armageddon Rag."
-He won 3 AnLab Polls, 1 Seiun, and 1 Science Fiction Chronicle Poll.
Thats 25 awards and honors. I'd write all his nominations but there are too many. So as you can see, GRRM is no joke. He's been a successful author for a long while. Ironically, these are all SHORT STORIES. GRRM decided to write the Song of Ice and Fire epic after working at Hollywood. Being a award winning writing, he's not trying to milk the cash cow with his series, unlike Jordan and Goodkind. He has affirmed that there will be only six books, and the first three are packed with action, suspense, tragedy and brilliance. Those who think his violence and sex scenes are gratuitous can think twice. GRRM didn't win awards for THAT stuff (He's married, for pity's sake!). He knows what he's doing. It doesn't get excessive (its restricted to about a paragraph), whereas in "Sword of Truth," sex is uncessary and long. By the way: -"A Game of Thrones" (Book 1) was nominated for the Nebula Award and the World fantasy Award and won the Locus award for best fantasy novel. -"A Clash of Kings" (Book 2) was a NY Times Bestseller and was also nominated for the Nebula, and won the Locus. -"A Storm of Swords" (Book 3) was a NY Times Bestseller, it won the Locus award for best fantasy novel and it was in 2nd place for the Hugo award, right under Harry Potter (don't let that mislead you, though; A Storm of Swords was much better). Also was nominated for Nebula. Also, read his short story "The Hedge Knight" in the "Legends" anthology by Rob Silverberg. It takes place 100 years before the events in Book 1. For those of you who have read it, the "Legends II" anthology came out in UK and is coming in America this Christmas. New stories by the "masters of fantasy," including Rob Silverberg, Anne Mcaffery, Neil Gaiman, Orson Scott Card, Robin Hobb, Elizabeth Haydon, Diana Gabaldon, Ray Feist, Terry Brooks, Tad Williams and GRRM. GRRM's story is called "The Sworn Sword." Don't miss it! By the way, "The Hedge Knight" was nominated for Locus and World Fantasy Award. So everyone, this book is worth it. The series is the best since Tolkien. "A Song of Fire" is not only outstanding fantasy, but it is also an example of fine, complex literature. I reccommend to all readers.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Introduction into a Fantasy Series Ever
Review: I have never been a great fan of fantasy literature. I do enjoy an occassional vampire novel or historical novel. Mr. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series is wonderful. A GAME OF THRONES has reintroduced me into the world of fantasy novels. Sure I have read and slept through the LORD OF THE RINGS and THE HOBBIT(I still enjoyed them though) and I have read THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING. But I forgot about them over time. Tolkien's books are in a world so unlike our own. The young King Arthur is great when you are a teen. But I have grown to want a novel in the real world. I do not mind vampires stalking about because it make our everyday seem scarier and more exciting than our 9 to 5 jobs or the courtroom drama, YAWN. This series is so real. It is like reading a well written historical novel. The world he constructs is a lot like England in the middle ages. In fact I think it is mentioned somewhere that the novel is loosly based on the War of the Roses. Unlike some series where one cannot turn a page without reading about a fairy sparkling with magic. Mr. Martin keeps the supernatural element at a distance. It is the stuff of myth. But slowly it is inching to the foreground through all the political conspiracies and battles. If you are into a more realistic novel where the fantasy is at a minimum, read this series. They are made up of a lot of pages but they are so fast paced that you'll wounder where the time went.
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