Rating: 
Summary: THE BEST FANTASY SERIES EVER ALL MY FRIENDS ARE HOOKED!
Review: Martin writes an engrossing tale by devoting each chapter to a hero or villian so you can see the world from that character's viewpoint. Each character is emotionally real and detailed and the events are realistic and gritty. Be forewarned, don't get too engrossed in any one character because he has no qualms about killing them off! The heroes and villians in this story are both capable of goodness and violence they seem so real that they make your imagination jump to new bounds. I've never read someone who can captivate me with writing like Martin and keep me wanting to read on until I'm so tired I have no choice but to put it down. Some of the best characters are the villians, like Sandor Clegane also called "The Hound". A former noble abused by his brothers violent temper and maimed for life with horrible burn scars on his face. Although he seems evil there is a deep sense of sadness and lack of love in this characters life. His frustration is evident and his good side although buried beneath so many years of abuse and ridicule, strives to reach the surface. You can see the tension and trauma this man has sustained, and through it all he still has a need to defend the weak and helpless. It's well worth the money for the book. I've read all three about four times already and I can't wait for the new one to arrive. All of my friends got hooked on the series after I told them about it. Probably the best books I've ever read. Nuff Said. Mike Ceranko
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty Good Beginning to the Series
Review: I am an avid reader of epic fantasies from the likes of J.R.R Tolkien, Terry Brooks, Terry Goodkind, Robin Hobb, and many others. I decided to read this series from George R. R. Martin based on several recommendations from the websites of a few of these authors. I figured that if a published fantasy author is recommending Martin, then he must be good. Right?I have to admit, I enjoyed A Game of Thrones and will soon be starting Book #2. However, for those who enjoy George R. R. Martin or Epic Fantasies in general, you must read Terry Goodkind's The Sword of Truth Series. The first book to read is a Wizard's First Rule. It is by far the best and most original epic fantasy that I have read to date and I have read alot of them. With that said, A Game of Thrones is also very well written and the world that he creates is incredibly vivid and unique. He really knows his medieval history and uses it well when explaining castles, horses, armor, weapons, food, etc. The book is a bit of an historical fantasy as well as an epic fantasy since it is really about kings, queens, lords, knights, etc. and their battles for their lands and the political games of intrigue so common to medieval times. There is not alot of magic and sorcery, stange new animals & monsters, different human races in it and that may be a bit of a disappointment to some who are used to seeing this in the genre. But bottom line is once you start to read it, I will bet that you have a hard time putting it down...
Rating:
Summary: an engrossing read
Review: I am a huge fan of George R. R. Martin and have been so ever since reading his superb sci fi short story, Sandkings. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Martin wrote fantasy as well, and eagerly picked up A Game of Thrones. I was not disappointed; it is one of the best fantasy novels I have ever read. The characters are not only believable, but their lives are so captivating that I was unable to put the book down. One reviewer complained that the novel is poorly written. I would like to dispute this. There is so much drivel and swill that passes for fantasy and sci fi nowadays that it is a breath of fresh air to read such a finely crafted work. The same critic compared Martin unfavorably with Tolkein. I personally found A Game of Thrones to be much more accessible and interesting than Lord of the Rings. It is no surprise Martin's novel garnered a Nebula nomination and won the 1996 Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel. If you're looking for an engrossing fantasy novel with good guys you'll cheer and bad guys you'll curse, then this is for you. The characters are wonderfully flawed and human, and the story has plenty of unexpected twists and turns that'll keep you riveted. The dwarf, Tyrion, is one of the most interesting characters in fiction today, in any genre. Read and enjoy!
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Summary: Round characters, real struggles - best fantasy in decades
Review: In "A Game of Thrones," Martin eschews most of the bland trappings of genre fantasy plot style and writing to create a more realistic, more challenging, and simply better novel than any other contemporary fantasy since Feist's "Magician." The old adage about a polytheistic religion, like the gods of ancient Greek mythology, is that you don't need a 'devil' doing 'evil' because the various gods and goddesses will do enough despicable things to each other to make up for it. Martin's array of very round and very real characters is similar, as they fight enough with each other that "A Game of Thrones" has no need of the standard fantasy cliché of an 'evil' arch enemy, whose minions must be thwarted by our heroes at every turn. In addition, Martin has no true 'heroes,' just round characters with intricate motivations, each one containing some good and some evil, although some act more noble and others more vicious. This more 'real' style of plot and the thorough characterization of complex characters give Martin's work an authentic feel that no other contemporary fantasy author has matched. Martin's quasi-medieval kingdom includes many common fantasy genre trappings, but he so thoroughly makes them his own that even his chivalric machinations and jousting tournament feel most uncommonly vivid. Despite the intimidating length of the book, Martin keeps the action and the characterization moving with concise chapters, each from only one character's point of view. Martin wields this Faulkner-esque narrative technique with skill, showing different sides of specific events, but without having the narrative overlap and repeat the same scenes. The epic scope of "A Game of Thrones" stretches quite far, although the book reads much faster than the length might suggest. Some tangential although well crafted plot lines, such as Daenerys, could be eliminated entirely without harming the novel. The character lists in the back of the book are imperative to keep track of the huge array of names, but Martin still draws each one of these characters, down to the most minor henchman, in colorful and unique detail. Although the length is challenging, Martin's skill in creating a uniquely real fantasy world and plot and the changing point of view narrative make "A Game of Thrones" a brilliant read for the serious reader looking for more than just pale swords and sorcery imitations from their fantasy.
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Summary: The "Master and Surgeon" of the fantasy genre.
Review: I can't write as well as Mr. Martin, so I very likely will not do justice to his books in this short review. If I were speaking to my co-workers I'd merely say, "Man, you are cheating yourself if you don't read the Song of Ice and Fire series." And if I were trying to impress a young lady over Friday night cocktails, I'd say, "George R.R. Martin has writtten the finest example of the fantasy genre; an awesome saga entitled A Song of Ice and Fire." But, since I'm just writing this for a bunch of folks I'll never meet let me state, plainly: Get thiese books. Now! You may never enjoy another novel till he writes the next, but, hey...life's a frigging gamble.
Rating: 
Summary: Good story? Yes. Good writing? No.
Review: I've read all three. I am waiting for the fourth, if only because the story never ends, and I guess I need to find out what happens. It's a great story poorly told, interesting, with many plot twists and turns that are so unique and unexpected that they eventually become predictable--what is the worst, most depressing, shocking turn of events that could occur? And it usually does. It's the writing I can't stand. It's terrible, juvenile, wretched prose, with phrases like, "walking like he had a dagger up his ...". I've read the story once, and never again. It's a pity that a great story was delivered so poorly, when the author had at his disposal the same language of Tolkien!
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Summary: A book everyone should read
Review: Simply the best book I've read in a long time. I actually held off reading this book when it first came out, thinking that the hype was just that: hype. At the time I couldn't believe that some new book could be better than Jordan's WoT. I was wrong. I bought the Game of Thrones when the second book (Clash of Kings) came out in paperback, and after 100 pages I knew why everyone who reads this book loves it. Martin effortlessly gives you a dozen characters that you may not love (some are revolting), but you understand them. No character is "good" or "bad;" they are simply people, with private motivations, reasons, and prejudices. Part of what makes these books so great is that the characters are not flawless. Some likeable characters are blinded by thier pasts, or even thier sense of honor. Another thing about this book that is refreshing is the lack of "magic." Not that the world is without any, it takes a major backseat in the plot. Many stories today have the "magic-user" as some kind of god-on-earth, and rely on him/her to save the world by some miraculous display of magic that only they can perform. This book has more to do with ruthless politicking than Messiahs. To wrap it up, BUY THIS BOOK! Not to lessen the greatness of Jordan, Goodkind, or any of the others...This series is on a different level. I know that as you read this many of you're probably sceptical, like I was. Just try A Game of Thrones, and at worst you'll be out a whooping 7.50. More likely, you will be floored by this unique book.
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Summary: Never read better!
Review: When I first read this book I had no idea what I was in for. It is quite possiably the best book I have ever read in my life and I read tons of fantasy. This book completly blows away "jordan"! Jordan does not even compare!
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Summary: The Best Fantasy Series on the Bookshelf
Review: I am a sci-fi and fantasy novel skeptic. Books of castles and dragons or spaceships and aliens usually don't entertain me (with their weak plots and single dimensional characters). So it is a rare treat indeed to find myself unable to put down a book filled with knights, castles and, yes, a few dragons. "Game of Thrones" is simply excellent reading. The first book in the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series, this novel is much more than just another fantasy book. The plot is beautifully complex and developed to an amazing degree leaving the reader constantly hooked. The characters are multidimensional and leap to life off the page. But, be warned, this is no children's fairytale. If you like all things to end well, then this book will leave you frustrated. "Thrones" is fantasy story based on a medieval realism with the heroes and villains not always what they seem. I can not wait to move on to this novel's sequel. It is truly that good.
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Summary: Fantasy Soap Opera
Review: It's "Dallas" meets "Fantasy Epic". Martin is a better fantasy writer than most, but sadly this book is no masterpiece. He touches on an interesting story, but gets bogged down in the soap opera in which his main characters are playing. If you are more interested in interpersonal relationships than a gripping story then this book will sit well with you. If you are looking for a good fantasy yarn, then keep looking. This is fantasy for those who like "he said, she said" stories.
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