Rating: 
Summary: Very Interesting Read.... NO SPOILERS
Review: ...Martin is very daring in writing The Game of Thrones. He says things in large detail, even parts that are usually cut in most books. It is pretty disturbing how some things are described that would be featured in R movies, but also seems necessary for realization of the hardness of this world. He tries very close to realism. For example, several main characters just all the sudden DIE. All their hopes and dreams, what ussually pushes the character in other fantasy books toward adventure and victory are washed dry in torture and death. Some dont even die, but change in physical form. Every character is distinct. Although they dont seem to be at first, you will always find one that matches YOU. Another interesting part is how he dousn't distinctly put an iron curtain between good and evil. He lets you decide. You are put on sides that you think are innocent, right, wrong. Sometimes you will have yourself favoring one family member for some reason, although both have similar intentions and hating another. So... personally I hate Sansa. She is one of the figurements of the girls in daily life that are freakin annoying and in movies, stuff like that. "Just like the songs.." LOL. Anyway, you can decide, it is all your decision, its remarkably well thought out. Gripes? Well, some stories I just dont care about. Maybe that is Martin's plan again, but Tyrion's story is pretty boring and I just want more of Jon's unique experience where he goes in the beginning of the book. It just needs a definate interesting main character, but some could argue that that is the Stark family as a whole. Oh, and since I am not trying to put this following the stupid 6 traits of writing, heh, I hate Catelyn too. She is freakin cruel to Jon. It kinda shows how good Jon is too. Oh, and of course Jon is my favorite character. Thanks for reading, you gotta buy this book (coming from someone who reads a lot, you gotta trust me on this one, k?)
Rating: 
Summary: A Song well sung
Review: Unbelievable mastery in complexity. This whole series has so many plots, twists and faux pass that it truly is impossible to predict the ending of any of them. It is a masterpiece of ingenuity and storytelling that captured me on page 1 of book 1 and kept me avidly turning pages till page 924 of book 3. A rare feat.. and treat. A guarunteed must read if you enjoy books on kings, queens, swords, sorcery, heros, heroines and the all important bad guy and just how he gets it.. when he gets it, and IF he gets it.
Rating:
Summary: Phenomenal
Review: George RR Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series receives almost universal acclaim from reviewers. I picked up A Game of Thrones after seeing it recommended by several reviewers. Since it is billed as the entry into an epic fantasy series, I half-expected to see a fantastic world populated by magic wielders and magical creations. Instead, I found that magic is virtually non-existent. Gritty, harsh realism is the predominant theme in Martin's medieval universe. In fact, this book reads more like historical documentary than fantasy fiction. Martin's Seven Kingdoms supposedly resembles 15th-century England during the War of the Roses with the Starks and Lannisters representing the York and Lannister families, respectively. Even the map of the Seven Kingdoms bears vague resemblance the map of Great Britain, with a vast unexplored ocean to the west, a barbaric, frozen land to the north, and ancient, exotic realms to the south and east. At the forefront is the conflict between the honorable Starks of Winterfell and the cunning, powerful Lannisters of Casterly Rock for control of the Iron Throne. In the beginning of AGoT, Ned Stark finds himself installed as the right-hand man of the King, his old friend, while Lannister influence is exerted through Cersei, the beautiful but cruel Queen. Interwoven throughout are myriad other characters who weaves their own intrigues and schemes. In the north, barbaric tribes and direwolves threaten to overrun the "Hadrian's Wall" guarding the Kingdoms from the frozen wastes. Worse yet, there are glimpses of the Others, mysterious undead creatures, and their army of wights raised from the dead. In the east, a Dragon princess lives among horse warriors dreaming to one day retake the throne that had belonged to her father. Martin's universe is distinguished by its realism. The characters behave as real people would, in realistic if not predictable fashions, with entirely believable motives. I found that reading Martin is frequently frustrating, as there is no clear line of demarcation between good and evil so common in other fantasy works. Yes, the Starks are probably good and the Lannisters likely evil, but there are many gray areas. Seeming heroes commit heinous acts, while supposed villains are entirely sympathetic. If you expect to cheer for good and see evil punished, you would be sorely disappointed, not just with AGoT but likely with the entire series. In fact, for most of the 3 books written thus far, the side of good seems to be sorely persecuted. You just have to accept things the way they are, that good and evil go hand in hand. Martin seems to revel in the anti-heroes. I can't recall how many times I've encountered dashing leading men/women and their equally winsome companions in other works. Here, beauty and wholesomeness often hide vile intentions and a cruel character -- think Cersei -- while Tyrion's deformities and ugliness disguise a truly noble spirit. Martin's world is undeniably dark. The Seven Kingdoms is a violent world, where blood is spilled and lives are snuffed with little pretext or remorse. There is no uplifting conclusion, no triumph of good over evil. In fact, the mood at the end is decidedly downcast as a major character meets with a tragic end. However, there are light-hearted moments, such as those involving little Arya. Tyrion also has many funny lines, in a sarcastic sort of way. This brilliant novel definitely breaks new ground, and quite a few stereotypes, in the fantasy genre. If this book is any indication, this promise to be phenomenal series indeed.
Rating:
Summary: Fantasy or realism?
Review: Martin begins this series with great characterization and realism. He includes enough magic to catagorize this as "fantasy", but doesn't coddle the characters. Don't grow too attached to them, because just as in reality, heroes can be killed. Don't expect to get a lot of sleep until you finish this one.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best fantasy books and series ever written
Review: Fabulous book that you'll read several times, and its better every time. Maybe the best series in fantasy other than Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome Read!
Review: I thought this book deserved 4 and three fourths of a rating. It wasn't SUPERBLY written but it was some good stuff. I don't know why people have gone demonically insane over this book and yet I don't know why it hasn't sold more than it has. It's as great/even greater than the super-giants of fanasty like Jordan and Goodkind. Overall, I though this book was great and it had some great twists and turns. It was quite suspenseful and it kept my attention. But, as it is not the writers fault, you didn't get a chance to get fully fully fully! involved in the characters(which I like considering that's why I read books). But, I have yet to read the rest of the series...
Rating:
Summary: Who needs the wheel of time!
Review: Wow this book blew me away, never before have i read so many pages in such a short amount of time. I love the fact you can not identify who is good and who is evil most characters seem to be somewhere in between, or throw you for a loop. A game of thrones is one hell of a good ride!
Rating: 
Summary: TOO dark, and sexually explicit
Review: Robert Jordan writes some harsh stuff - but he has some light in his world. There is no nobility in this fictional world. This is not "realism". This book seeks to bring forth only the vile, base, and viscious - added is the VERY explicit sex scenes. I ordered book 1 and 2 on a whim (a mistake I'll not make again). I read some of book 2 as it came in first until I couldn't take any more (about 1/3). It was even worse! I skimmed book one and found the same when it finally came in. There's better fiction out there that won't stoop to "base vulgarity" and all that is course and vile to paint the moods.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best Fantasy cycles.
Review: As I just stated in the title of this review, this is really one of the best Fantasy books of the last decade. And of all time. If I look at the past, I can only conclude that of the Fantasy series created before, Stephen R. Donaldson can compete with Martin, but compared with Donaldson, it is still Martin who prevails. Roger Zelazny with Amber and Jack Vance with Lyonesse and the Dying Earth also come close. Gormenghast is fine Fantasy Too. Tolkien is another story altogether and towers above these others. So, if you like Fantasy, this is surely a must read. This first book and the follow-ups are realistic and full of depth. The characters are people with emotions and are placed in a newly created world that seems believable to me. The fantasy elements are used sparingly and in the right places and amounts. The whole arsenal of characters is used efficiently and does not cause confusion. I mean to say that all characters are all easily identifiable and readers probably won't mistake a character for another. Also, Martin uses the POV to great extent and this works great. As with real people I liked some and disliked others. If one of my favorites proved to be the POV in a certain chapter, My interest increased to high levels, but that is not to say that my interest in the story before and after such chapters diminishes. Certainly not. By no means! These are fantastic books and other reviewers here have written large chunks of information already, so in order not to seem repititious I will soon end this review, but not before saying that all the five-star ratings are deserved. Be warned! Martin does not shy away from death and violence and certain other elements many people in real life also tend to enjoy. Just read his short stories in Sandkings and A Song for Lya and you will quickly see what I mean. Why these books miss prizes is beyond me, but it is clear that SF is higher on the priority list of voters. This is quality reading and deserve much more attention than the abominable books of Robert Jordan and other writers who write worse than you and me. I wrote this review in just a few minutes and it contains more useful information than such writers hope to get together in five pages. This is just my opinion, so ignore these ramblings if you do not agree with me, please. These books are better than the so called mainstream literature that is now published and which is regarded with high esteem and crowds the shelves of bookshops. Well, not all of it is bad. If you haven't read this before, be sure to grab a copy of this book the next time you walk in such a shop. Do yourself a favor and Mr. Martin and the publishers. The last should be encouraged to publish such books. Thank you Mr. Martin and happy reading to new readers.
Rating:
Summary: astonishing
Review: I read A Game of Thrones several years ago on vacation. I don't remember anything about the trip other than the plot of this book. I don't think I put it down once! Martin's adeptness with his large ensemble cast of characters is astonishing. This is a true classic.
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