Rating: 
Summary: This prelude goes absolutely nowhere
Review: In a world where seasons last decades, trouble is brewing for the noble Stark household. From the looks of it, a supernatural invasion is massing on the Northern border, someone cripples the Starks' young son, and there is unrest in the corrupt government (is the evil queen plotting to usurp the throne?). Suddenly, they are all swept up in a flurry of events that will determine the fate of the Seven Kingdoms for years to come.Enter George R. R. Martin's medieval saga of generally unlikable people as they suffer the actions of even more awful, unsympathetic characters. Because, in effect, Matin's effort to darken everything led precisely to this: in this entire pseudo-historical epic there are virtually no characters I could identify with. I had another qualm with "A Game of Thrones": the characters seem to have next to no agenda: even in omniscient third-person mode, they don't seem to have any specific goals. Not only is this not a quest in the sense of the word - there is barely any foreshadowing. Because of this, there is no plot to speak of. Only the characters' reactions to the various happenings. The only thing the reader will get out of this thick, eight-hundred-page book is pathos and heartache. Martin's world is so unbelievably filthy and gritty, the characters don't seem to stand a chance. A pinprick would give them terminal gangrene. The pages are peppered with scenes along the lines of: "Across the road, a girl no older than Dany was sobbing in a high thin voice as a rider shoved her over a pile of corpses facedown, and thrust himself inside her." The most disturbing part is that no one seems to care. Martin's fantasy world is staggeringly dull: the focus is on the seven perfectly medieval kingdoms, filled with endless farms and hinterland. Outside that, there is a generic Mongol culture, a generic Chinese culture, and so on. The novel is told from the viewpoints of several different characters, for the different perspectives as much as for the fact that the action happens across the globe. Unfortunately, the author has a penchant for cliffhanger endings of each chapter: "The direwolf trotted to him. "Gods be good," Dywen muttered. "That's a hand." Why four stars? The writing is incredibly powerful. The disturbing parts are truuly disturbing. I would've liked less mention of intercourse and prostitution - if you set out to count them, you'll quickly run out of fingers and toes, but what can you do? And, frankly, character involvement or no, the unfolding series of events is riveting to say the least. "A Game of Thrones" is not to be missed, if only for its sheer novelty. Just try to keep your mind open and your expectations low.
Rating: 
Summary: Couldn't Put It Down!
Review: It's been a long time since I've missed a subway stop because I'm engrossed in a book. It happened to me, not once or twice, but many times during the week and a half it took me to read this book. Full of "real" feeling characters this book can be daunting, but believe me, if you are a fantasy fan, or even an epic historical fiction fan, this book is well worth it. I don't know the War of the Roses, I don't care about the War of the Roses.... all I know is that each of the many characters that are introduced in this first volume are fascinating and very individual. This book is very violent, and gives a feel of medieval times - set in a world whose history is recorded in thousands of years. There is magic and magical creatures throughout the story, but the story is about the people involved in the various situations - not the magic or the creatures. Each chapter of this book is told by a set of major characters - some of the narrations are connected, others are not, and yet, the book is never difficult to understand, I never lost the plot lines (and there are many) and after each individual narration, I found myself in a different place with a different person - wanting more from the previous character and yet dying to find out what was going on with the current character. I highly recommend this book - even for those of you who feel that the fantasy genre is way overdone! Mr. Martin has created a true horse of a different color with this epic.
Rating:
Summary: It's about time
Review: After reading Science Fiction and Fantasy for 30 years I thought I had exhausted my search for a well written fantasy book that wasn't the SAME plotline over and over and over! "A Game of Thrones" is well crafted and has intrigue that will keep you with this book to the very end. After 800 pages I am looking forward to getting the second book which is something I havn't said for a long long time.
Rating: 
Summary: Hear that? It's me sleeping...
Review: I was very excited to start reading this series. My friend gave it a good recommendation, and all of the online reviews were pretty good. So... what are you people smoking? Four characters are worth liking, Tyrion, Bran, Eddard, and Robb. Two of them are now dead as of the third book. Almost everyone in every family has been killed off. I can understand wanting unpredictable books, but he's writing for the sole purpose of being upredictable. In order for a book to be good, it must have a character you can identify with, or at least really liked. Oops, sorry they're dead. Hey, I know! We'll try another character and get latched on to him. WHAT?! he's dead too? Ya don't say! Meanwhile... 3,000 pages later... we have no king, or maybe a surplus of kings, and the main bad guys are just now getting around to attacking. At least in the Wheel of Time the forsaken attacked in the first book (even if they did come back to life later). Yawn, Yawn, and a little more Yawn. You have to give me something to work with here, maybe some little clue that there is going to be excitement. And no, my idea of excitement is NOT to kill off all of the main characters and start with fresh ones. That doesn't work. Doesn't matter... I have read the reviews of people who slam Jordan's book 9... who say they haven't liked it since book 3. I'm not so hopelessly idiotic as these particular braindead people, I will not continue to read this series. It is officially a waste of my time.
Rating:
Summary: The best fantasy since the Wheel of Time
Review: I really did enjoy this book. The plot was superb, the characters were believable and Martin's writing is quite excellent, though I think leaving the 2 R.R.s out of his name from the covers of his books would have been a wiser choice. I do not like this series better then the Wheel of Time, but there are certain elements that are better. Unpredictablity for one. Robert Jordan can store some surprises up his sleeves now and then but nothing compared to Mr. Martin. I also enjoy the fact that there is not simply one major enemy like en almost every fantasy, but rather many different factions all competing for the same goal and you don't know who you want to cheer for. What I did not enjoy about these books, and the only reason that I gave it 4 stars instead of 5, is the sex and rape. It got really old and frankly it is just disgusting. Yes, this was how it was back then and Mr. Martin wants to provide us with a semi-historic environment, but the details started to become unnecessary. I recommended this book to a friend and he almost can't stand reading it just because of the grusome details. But putting that aside, this is an excellent book and some of the best fantasy out there today. I enjoy the Wheel of Time very much, but for those of you who don't but still like a good epic fantasy, I would recommend A Song of Ice and Fire, starting with this book. I have already started the second book and from the way it's turning out so far, that one WILL get 5 stars
Rating:
Summary: excellent
Review: If you are in any way shape or form interested in fantasy get this book. If you are not interested in fantasy get this book and you probably will become interested in fantasy. One of the best series i have ever read, and I have read quite a few of them. The character development and intrigue is amazing. It can, however, get graphic.
Rating:
Summary: Great Fiction, Not Just Fantasy!
Review: I tend more to SciFi and historical fiction than Fantasy--the genre never really entranced me, until this series! 800 pages never went by so quickly. Fascinating characterizations, gut-wrenching twists (and a little emotional devastation), excellent writing...this book has it all, regardless of genre. Though it nearly drove me crazy, I put off buying the second book for a week because I knew I wouldn't get any work done with it in my possession. Buy it, devour it, and hope the fourth book isn't a year away.
Rating:
Summary: Not Tolkien
Review: This book was good. I didn't enjoy it as much as Jordan, because I found the character's moral dilemna's to be stupid and pointless. But I will say that if you are into intrigue and betrayal and and a whole cast of characters where you can't figure out who the good guy is, then this is the book for you. But, for goodness sakes, don't compare George R. R. Martin to J. R. R. Tolkien. Tolkien was a genius. Martin is a fad. Tolkien's books were beautifuly written, but the real genius lay in the concept. Tolkien knew how to make a plot, knew how to make a protagonist, and knew how to make an enemy. The only well thought out character in this book is Jon Snow, the plot reads like he's making it up as he goes along, and the enemy... well, as far as I can tell, they're all at the same moral level (except for Jon Snow who is pretty cool) and there is no real enemy. Go ahead, sing Martin's praises, but don't prove your ignorance by comparing him to Tolkien.
Rating:
Summary: A well written reading pleasure; not your typical fantasy..
Review: I purchased the hardcover of this book two years ago. It has collected dust until last Thursday, 10 January. Eight days and 674 pages later; I find myself in awe of Mr.Martin's work (A Game Of Thrones). His characters come alive in this tale- trilogy of power, corruption, lies, deceit, love, honor, valor etc.. You will find yourself cheering for any given character in one breath and forty pages later hating or despising that same character. The book and characters are NOT predicatable..a refreshing change I feverently welcome. Trust me when I say this book is more than just a fantasy novel. Mr. Martin has set a standard that will henceforth separate the pretenders from the contenders of literary genuis in this genre. I've read Jordan and many others but in my opinion G.R.R. Martin and Robin Hobb (Farseer Trilogy)are at the top of their craft in Epic Fantasy. I can hardly wait to start Clash of Kings tonight; because now I realize the truth... "Winter is Coming" and when it arrives, it wont be something nice :-). I hope my words have helped sway you to partake in this reading treasure.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book - No conclusion
Review: This is a fun read. The characters are great and the story pulls you in from the get go. I agree with most of the other reviews so I won't rehash their points. I will, however, say that I was disappointed by the lack of conclusion to this book. Absolutely nothing is resolved and there is no choice but to buy book 2. Don't get me wrong here...I've already purchased book 2 and plan to read it soon. I'm just saying that I would like some sort of conclusion - otherwise just make it one book that's 1500 pages. Overall - this is great work and a must for anyone who enjoys Fantasy.
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