Rating: 
Summary: Goodkind and Jordan despair
Review: This series really reminded me of why I started to read fantasy novels in the first place. Wonderful, realistic characters with motivations the reader can sympathize with, were a pleasant break from the childish caractures I found in books by Goodkind and Jordan. Also unlike Goodkind and Jordan, these books have maintained their pace, excellent writing style, and absorption level throughout the series. Jordan and Goodkind are enjoyable writers, but Martin is a master.
Rating:
Summary: Fantasy of the highest order!
Review: Martin is one of the few authors who can keep me reading until the small hours of the morning. He creates a world that is totaly convincing in all it's minute detail, resembling our own in all its splendour and squalor: unlike most fantasy, Martin's kings run out of cash, "noble" knights are often atypicaly ignoble, the "bad guys" are often likable, the "good guys" stupid, sometimes brutal. As in the real world, the guys in the white hats don't always prevail, and anybody and everybody is in constant danger of loosing his or her head (literaly). Martin abandons the sugary and idealistic view of love so prevalent in fantasy as a genre and instead shows us a world where love is often divorced from sex, and prostitutes and illigitimate children abound. Martin creates a rich and varied backdrop against which his characters perform, without belaboring us with detail in the manner of Robert Jordan, working it seamlessly into his narrative. His characters are well-rounded and beatifuly drawn, his prose style changing subtly from one character to another, giving them a refreshing individualty. His practice of devoting a chapter to one character at a time, and constantly shifing viewpoints, allows his narrative to move at a brisk pace, without devoting huge blocs of text to describing absolutely everything that happens in relation to a particular character (a problem that has slowed the story of Jordan's 'Wheel of Time' to the speed of an especially slow glacier), allowing the reader to fill in the blanks. I could go on in even more detail, but other reviewers have covered the myriad virtues of Martin's tale. I strongly recomend this book to anyone sick of the rather naive and long-winded fantasy that has been churned out over the last decade or so!
Rating: 
Summary: Slow to start but definitely worth your time
Review: Okay, I admit it. It took me quite a while to get past the first few chapters of this book. I continually found myself rereading parts and going back to previous sections to figure out what the heck was going on. The characters are many and the storyline is complex but once I FINALLY figured out who was who and where everything was at (the map in the front of the book is awful) I couldn't stop reading. You know the kind of book I'm talking about. Once you start reading you forget about everything (and everyone) else around you. The only thing that I truely didn't like about this book was the character-centric chapters. What I mean by this is that every chapter is centered around a different character and their adventures. The problem with this is that as soon as I started to figure out what was going on, the chapter came to an end and I had to start all over with another character (very frustrating). This wouldn't have been so bad, but it really put me off at the beginning of the book. I need a bit of continuity to start off with and jumping around between a dozen or so characters made for a tough read just starting out. Later, when I became accustomed to this writing style, I was further put off having to wait 100+ pages to figure out what happened to one of my favorite character (Arya). Bottom line: Plan on investing a bit of time to figure out what's going on but once you figure it out the pages turn quickly and the book is a good read.
Rating: 
Summary: Another Long Bore
Review: NEVER listen to reviewers, how does it go? "5 star may equal to less than expected?" Waste of time, space and money. Another cash-cow combo series, just like his predecessor, Robert Jordan; Martin crams five books in his first, and tries to sound intelligent by "being creative with enthralling characters and plot". The characters are dull, and worse yet, you are thrusted upon the Stark family, and supposed to like their bland, unoriginal personalities== a typical midieval King in my mind. Then, before Martin has given the audience a chance to enjoy them, he kills them. All of these characters have flashes of personality,the only ones worth a bean of liking is: John being the non-blood child, and the youngest(pardon me for forgetting her name) having a yearning for something else--but for the most part, there is nothing much to behold. On plot: He drags you instantly into the novel, trying to make you care for his kingdom with typical and predictable plot lines that seem thoughtlessly written. He doesn't give the audience enough time to become enthralled with his kingdom, and fairly creative prose. I'll grant Martin this: his writing style is quite good, and that kept me through this first book(plus the fact I paid too much for it)along with the few action scenes. He actually does a decent job in keeping you interested in the realism, but there is not enough of it to keep you interested in the overall book. Overall, I'm throughouly disgusted with the waste of pages and thought and money and time people have to read when picking up the likes of Martin and Jordan.
Rating:
Summary: Not your grandpa's fantasy........
Review: Granted, I havent read many fantasy series..(...) After those two, I didnt beleive I would find anything worthwhile...til I was recommended to read GRR Martin. Let me say...I was wrong!!!. Now...I love my authors for diff reasons ..(...) Now to me , the reason why I think Martin is superb is that ..he is the perfect blend of these two styles of writing that I have come to love. He has the gritty realism of sex, violence, cruelty, murder and mayhem of a Goodkind, with the insight into characters of Jordan. And although his focus may not be on world building (like Goodkind) he does provide enough info and detail to provide a solid background for the story..so what if we dont know the major hollidays of a particular region? Also, like Jordan, Martin is the master of political intrigue and machinations. He may not be the master weaver that Jordan is..but I love the fact that his plots have clear resolutions..you dont have to wait 5 books to see how a particular thread plays out. Unlike Jordan or Goodkind, the books in this series are very light on magic/sorcery..however, I think that adds to the story...does away with the whole Fate/Destiny ploy and makes it truly a human story...and in this world decisions and actions have real and most likely fatal consequences...its a real, cruel world in Martins books. Which is unlike the sterile safeness of Goodkind and Jordan, who are always loathe to kill off any major or central characters, who somehow always manage to prevail even while making perfect blunders. This heightened reality of Martin's adds a sense of danger..that no character, no matter how beloved is safe, if they make a stupid decision... And as for the characters...Martin is the master of perspective..He never lets your heart and loyalties fall cleanly with one camp or another. Just when you are all for one side...he shows you the heart and mind of the 'enemy' and makes you rethink your initial assesment. In this world, the good guys can wear black and the bad guys do good deeds...and no characters have unbloodied hands. So, I love the fact that instead of black and white, there are varying shades of grey for the characters..its very masterful manipuation that leaves you wondering just how will everything play out, and who exactly are you rooting for. And , the main thing about Martin..its never stale...the language is always terse, to the point and keeps the story moving. Repeat phrasing is rarely a problem( UNlike with Jordan) Once I get started on a Martin book, I usually dont stop unless for hunger or fatigue..Im never bogged down with trudging through reems and reems of descriptive prose.(unlike this review HAH HA!) I admit the going can be a bit slow at first..eps when u are dying to know what is happening with other characters...but for the most part, Im usually never outright bored with a chapter..for with Martin, you MUST pay attention to see where this point of the journey is taking you. So..to all Jordan and Goodkind fans out there..if you truly want the best of both worlds..and a story that is most definitely on the R rated side...pick up and start reading GRR Martin today, you will not be dissapointed.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating, if somewhat dark
Review: A truly amazing book. This is one of (with the inclusion of Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series) the few fantasy series that portray people as people, not mythic, overblown, godlike beings who exist on a totally different plane of existence. The writing is fast paced and incredibly evocative, with the reader really feeling that he/she is a part of the action. Incredible.
Rating:
Summary: The fantasy that is not
Review: If you're one to shy away from fantasy because of overplayed fairies and dragons, A Game of Thrones will hook you in and whisk you away to an epic world of great medieval houses, treachery, and intrigue with only a good dash of mysticism. Martin's succinct style, thankfully devoid of pedantry, works to showcase his talent in weaving a large cast of characters interposing several knuckle-gripping plot lines. This is a land of decade long seasons where spooks roam beyond The Wall and dragons are believed to be long extinct. Scenes blink back and forth as kings, princes, bastards, and wives shuffle and plot to win or maintain the throne of the Seven Kingdoms. The somewhat shrouded death of the Hand of the King leads his successor, Ned Stark to question the Lannisters (those wretched inlaws) of treachery. The last of the the previously overthrown Targaryens who barely escaped the slaughter of their family, enlist an army across the sea and struggle back to regain the throne. In regards to all the complaints about rape, violence, and swearing in this book. ** NEWSFLASH ** Such heinous acts do exist in this world (especially in medeival times) and Martin unabashedly does a tasteful and respectful job of displaying the uglier side of humanity in all its forms. You'll be left on a cliffhanger in every character-titled chapter, not to mention each book so its not recommended for easily exasperated readers. Even so, this first installment does have an appropriate ending with a beautiful denouement in which ... well - no spoilers. A Game of Thrones does stand on its own, but of course, with such talented craft, why stop here? This is more War of the Roses, than Lord of the Rings. Though like LOTR, the fantasy element only augments the lyrical beauty of the stage through which the you will see the futility of honor, true power rise from frailty of innocence, and not all heroes are handsome and good. The lines of good/evil will blur and you'll come to love/hate Starks and Lannisters with equal passion. Strong points: Tyrion Lannister, the Dothraki, the direwolves, Arya Stark, Daenrys Targaryen, winter is coming.
Weak points: Jon Snow's story, The Others, Bran Stark, good guys
Rating:
Summary: Good, solid prose
Review: This book is simply good, solid prose. We are taken into a complex and epic world with all sorts of things going on, many of which are not resolved. Of course, we all like sequels, don't we? I really enjoyed the suspense of the many different dangers, personal and family struggles and wars. I also enjoyed the author's unique style of writing that posited a new persona every chapter--naming the chapter after the perspective character. Though a fantasy, I thought that the very little use of magic was both appropriate and refreshing. It made what little there was really exciting and unusual. A good read and better, I felt, that its sequel. But I'll leave that for another review.
Rating: 
Summary: Slow-going but with depth
Review: I found A Game of Thrones to be incredibly slow-paced. It was more likely to put me asleep than keep me up nights. If you're used to the pace and excitement of Terry Goodkind's novels, this one will require some patience. On the whole, however, I found A Game of Thrones worth the effort. Martin is an excellent writer with a grasp for depth of character and historical perspective. I found myself really caring for individuals in the story, concerned for their safety and future events, and unable to take sides, thanks to the adept way in which Martin shows the humanity of each character. But there's also a nice assortment of "guys you love to hate" thrown in, although you have to feel sad even for them. Martin creates a cold, bleak world, full of intrigue and polictical unrest, in which only those rooted in true strength, whether noble or ignoble, survive. There are no black-and-white's in this book, however. As in real life, the good guys don't always win. In fact, the most realistic part of Martin's storytelling is that it's not really clear just who the good guys are! As in life, one is forced to choose one flawed kingdom or another, in which everyone has a right to their own perspective. The ending of the novel was the best part of all, and definitely portends to more and better action ahead. It's too bad the book takes 700 pages to build a head of steam, but I will definitely be reading book 2 to see what happens next!
Rating:
Summary: The Connoisseur's Choice in Fantasy Reading
Review: It is the most riveting Fantasy manuscript released in decades, spanning complex characters, filled with political intrigue, all wrapped by the ties that bind the members of families to one another. Where Robert Jordan's work eschews character development as formulaic as your average episode of The Powerpuff Girls, George R.R. Martin's poignant style reflects a strict sense of reality in his work. His understanding of people's real desires and motivations are what set him apart as an author first, regardless of the genre. Yet in this genre it's better than Frank Herbert, better than Fritz Lieber, and even better than Tolkien - lop a slice from A Game of Thrones and you'll find that it tastes as real as it gets.
|
