Rating: 
Summary: A Great Start
Review: Imagine, an eight hundred page fantasy epic with no quests, no elves, and no gnomes. This is a great opening to George R.R. Martin's six book series "A song of Ice and Fire". Although many of the characters of the book have a darkside, there is no evil lord (well, maybe Joffrey but that's it). It's unfortunate that I must wade through five more books to find out how this series is going to work out, but at least it's not this never ending series like "The Wheel of Time". I hope the rest of the series is as impressive as this book.
Rating:
Summary: It'll make you see how inadequate other fantasy really is!
Review: What can I say that hasn't already been said in the 500+ reviews? This book is an absolute masterpiece- its gritty realism, moral complexity and Machiavellian nature are such refreshing and unexpected changes from modern fantasy fanfare that they can scare you away, at first. But don't let them! I was so taken aback by the book that I had to put it down for a few months. But when I picked it up again, and read through book 3... this series now occupies, for me, the top of the top in fantasy, the best of the best. Believe the reviews- the series truly gets more interesting and entrancing from book to book. The only regret I have is that I know now I'll never find anything again with which to compare it! But it's a worthy sacrifice. Yes, it will turn your stomach. Yes, it will sadden you. Yes, it will even give you nightmares! But it's worth every moment. Save this series until you're ready to acknowledge the flaws in all those fluffy fantasy books (Jordan, Goodkind, etc.) you thought you loved. This will make you realize how flawed and inadequate they really are!
Rating: 
Summary: Realistic
Review: Cosidering the large amount of fantasy writers out there...You don't have to read anything but the very best. So when I saw the high ratings George R.R. Martin was getting I thought it would be worth my time...I was wrong. To be honest...It just sucked. If I want to read about politics I'll grab a newspaper and read the real thing. I have to give George credit, he was brave with his story telling. He wasn't afraid to kill anyone. But the characters were just pawns in some schemer's plot...so whomever dies in the story was meant to die. I wasn't surprised at all...just think of all the things that could go wrong realistically...and they go wrong... If you are looking for a character that rises above his/her negative heritage and becomes greater...then don't look in this series. Its really just there to be unpredictable...which is good. If you wait for the plot to become intense...you might be waiting for a while. Because you are reading fictional history. Not a epic heroic novel.
Rating:
Summary: Simply Great
Review: There's not much to say that hasn't been said. This book, and the rest of the series, is excellently written, plotted and characterized. It's difficult to sumarize the plot, but, for the sake of er, something, I'll make the attempt. As the book begins Lord Jon Arryn, Hand of the King (similar to the royal Chanceller), and foster father to King Robert Baratheon and Lord Eddard Stark has died of a mysterious "sickness". Not surprisingly, Robert asks Eddard, his oldest friend to take the position. Eddard wants nothing to do with it, but Jon's widow, Eddard's sister-in-law, sends a letter saying that Jon was murdered by the Queen and her family. Eddard has long distrusted the Lannisters for refusing to take part in Robert's rebellion 14 years earlier until the ruling Targaryens were all but defeated. Eddard belives that the Lannisters hoped to take the throne before Robert could, and he deplores the treachorous methods they used to capture the capial city of King's Landing. After recieving the letter, Eddard realizes he has no choice but to accept Robert's offer, and uncover the plot. However, just before leaving, Eddard's young son Bran suffers a fall that leaves him comatose. Soon after an assassin is sent to Bran's tower, and though Bran is saved, his mother Catelyn realizes that his fall was no accident. Is it connected to Jon's death? Of course. But Eddard and his wife must piece together the evidence- a book, a brothel, a smithy and a dagger- and discover the truth Jon Arryn died for. And that's barely even scratching the suface. There are tons of subplotsand paralell storylines, told from eight different points of view. With this structure, you'd expect the pacing to be choppy, but Martin eases you into it, starting with all the characters in one place (except for one) and slowly speading them out. This book is actually the most even of the three that have been written, as most of it revolves around Eddard, even the story of Danaerys, which has it's own separate plot, is mainly there to show some of the events that affect the main plot. She gets more in later books, though. The aspect of this book that really distinguishes it, however, is it's chacters. The multiple POV's allow for deep emotional development of many characters. Some characters are developed more than others, and some are more likable than others, but they're all very well done. In conclusion, unless you don't like political intruige, buy this book.
Rating:
Summary: Delicious Mind Candy
Review: The other reviewers have already touched on the highlights, so let me just say that this is one of the only (series of) books I've ever bought in hardback. Worthy of my bookshelf and worthy of my time (I'm stingy w/ both!) If you open the pages, I believe G. Martin will dazzle you as well.
Rating:
Summary: Fantasy reshaped, remade
Review: I've stopped reading Fantasy for a while as writers just kept mining the same sources, ripping off Tolkien or making minor changes. But George RR Martin has bought out a new brand of fantasy that's brilliant and brutal, with no sentimental attachment to characters in a world that's coloured in shades of grey. Nothing is quite what it seems, and there's layers of intrigue and deceit. Definitely a series to convert non-fantasy readers and show that there's more than just Tolkien in the genre.
Rating:
Summary: CAN'T WAIT FOR INSTALLMENTS 4-6
Review: I'M NOT NORMALLY A FANTASY FAN, BUT I PICKED THIS UP AT THE AIRPORT AND GOT HOOKED. I'VE FINISHED ALL THREE VOLUMES NOW IN PRINT AND AM IMPATIENTLY AWAITING NUMBER 4 (OUT OF 6 PROJECTED). THE CHARACTERS ARE NICELY INDIVIDUALIZED AND THE STORY CARRIES YOU ALONG AT A REMARKABLE CLIP FOR SUCH MASSIVE BOOKS. MY ONLY CRITICIZM IS THAT THE AUTHOR COULD HAVE USED A LITTLE MORE IMAGINATION IN COMING UP WITH NAMES IN THIS ALTERNATE WORLD (SOME ARE JUST LIKE OURS, "ROBERT" FOR EXAMPLE, AND SOME ARE SLIGHTLY MODIFIED LIKE "EDDARD" FOR EDWARD. THE CHARACTERS SPEND A LITTLE MORE TIME THAN I'D LIKE WANDERING FROM PLACE TO PLACE WITHOUT GETTING ANYWHERE, BUT THE ACTION MORE THAN MAKES UP FOR IT. THE WORK IS ALSO VERY HISTORICALLY ACCURATE IN DESCRIBING LIFE IN THE MIDDLE AGES (WITH THE MINOR ADDITION OF DRAGONS AND WALKING DEAD.) A GREAT READ!
Rating:
Summary: Better than I could have hoped for!
Review: Okay, since so many other people have made some long and wonderful reviews, I'm going to keep mine fairly brief. In short, AGOT is an absolutely wondrous read. It's different from some other fantasy books I've read in that it has very little of what I'd call "magic", and is written from a more humanistic approach. Character development is about as good as it gets, and Martin sticks with each character in their own chapters, never diverting from their personalities. If you like reading a book that is imaginative, intriguing and will keep you guessing through 700+ pages, this is the one. There are some adult themes in the book as well, so it's obviously not intended for younger readers. Some of the plots may be a bit complex, but they're tied together very nicely. I'm only through the first two books, but I NEED to buy the third now! If you're into fantasy, get this book! If you want a really good comparison for if you'll like it or not: if you're a Star Wars fan and love Ep. 5 (Empire Strikes Back), this is the book for you!
Rating:
Summary: Incredible fantasy fiction
Review: Martin breaks all the rules, the least of which "the good guys always win". Granted, the series is far from over, but already it's believable fantasy with bitter twists where no one is exempt from death or dismemberment. Light years beyond other fantasy epics. A Song of Ice and Fire can't be compared to any other works comprising the genre, it's in a class all by itself. Not only will you have to use your head, you'll have to use parts of it never before tapped. Nothing is spelled out and Martin refuses to drop the "typical" hints for the simpler minds to get a leg-up - just try to guess what may happen. A literary rush!
Rating:
Summary: absolutely amazing
Review: as anyone can guess from the multitude of other reviewers gushing with praise this is an absolutely amazing book, there is simply no other way to say it. i am an avid fantasy reader but was becoming disappointed with the genre after reading so many awful books with no imagination and the same plot superimposed with different characters. but martin's work brought back my thirst for great books. this is no book with just some all powerful ruler or vilian who wants to either save or rule the world, instead it is a intricate weaving of characters. some people find the countless characters a daunting prospect, DON'T! martin's writing draws you in and after a few chapters you feel like you've known these people all your life. i can't give a summary that would do justice to martin's work. the plot twists that yes, really are twists and completely unexpected, took my breath away. so many writers fall into the rutt of well the obvious next step is this or this, not martin. each turn leaves you breathless and wondering "where did that come from?" one of the greatest things about martin's writing is his characters. there aren't any one dimensional characters here, no purely evil or simply good people appear in "a game of thrones." you find yourself cheering for the bad guys almost as much as you are cheering for the helpless victim. please, please give this book a whirl. anyone who can't find the joy in reading this book doesn't know good literature when it hits them in the head. give it a try. the next two books are out and don't follow the typical sequel slumps, if anything they are better!
|
