Rating: 
Summary: Towers Above its Genre
Review: Occasionally a book or series of books comes along that rises far above its 'pigeonhole' genre. (Think Scott Turow among the Courtroom Dramas. Think Edith Pargeter or Tony Hillerman among the Mysteries.)This is one of those books. It is as far above the ordinary Sword and Sorcery tale as Pride and Prejudice is above the standard Romance. Character driven, rather than 'plotted out on a plot chart,' this Song of Fire and Ice series promises to be a classic. I was already a huge George R. R. Martin fan anyway, because of his science fiction, scarce though it is. Dying of the Light is one of the five or six top science fiction works of all time, in my opinion. And of course the award-winning short story A Song for Lya is rightly considered a classic in that genre. Now Martin has brought his huge talent to bear on the Fantasy genre, and in doing so has raised it to heights unvisited since Tolkien. [Maybe it's no coincidence they both have the doubled R.R. for their middle names!] But it's nothing like Tolkien in style. Where that series grows out of comparative-language studies, this one grows out of an understanding of politics. In fact, the history of the English monarchy is now much clearer to me than ever before, although this is supposedly fiction! The intrafamilial squabble-turned-deadly that characterizes the history of England is here turned into unforgettable high drama. The hints of magic and dragon-lore only add spice to the mixture. This series is not only for the fantasy fan, it is also for the history student, the devotee of psychological suspense, and the philosopher. Although it is the beginning of a series [and I can hardly wait to read book three], it can stand alone as a pseudo-historical tragedy as well. If you can be moved at all by prose, the beauty and power of this book will break your heart.
Rating:
Summary: The best fantasy I've read in a long time....
Review: I randomly picked this off the bookstore shelf about a year ago, having no idea what it was about or what to expect. Well...let's just say I devoured it in about 48 hours! I fell in love with this book. It was just one of those books that you pick up and can't put down to the very end. I love Martin's style of writing, his development of the characters, and his fantastic plot building. I have already read the next two in this fabulous series and it just gets better from here. I highly recommend A Game of Thrones to any true fantasy fan! You won't be disappointed!
Rating:
Summary: Great Book for Great Minds
Review: How can anybody not like this book. Coming off of Book 6 of the Sword of Truth novel, I was looking for something new to start. After reading many reviews I decided to pick up The Game of Thrones. WOW!. Fantastic read. In the process of reading Clash of Kings,and the magic continues. Don't listen to the bad reviews, those people should be reading Harry Potter.
Rating: 
Summary: The Never Ending Story
Review: This seems to be a never ending story. After suffering through 807 pages told from NINE different perspectives, I think we deserve some resolution to the story and have some questions answered...but NOooo. You have to buy the second book, suffer through 969 pages told from 11 different perspectives and still end up with more questions than answers...and no ending. If you can't tell a story in 1776 pages then you're not much of a writer in my opinion. I don't appreciate closing a "book" that doesn't have an ending. This is the epitome of flagrant commercialism: "Let's keep the audience in suspense so we can sell more books." Well, it's not going to work on me. The characters are unlikable, the manner the story is written is monotonous, and if I want to read about disloyalty, betrayal, and suffering--then I'll read the newspaper. (And, by the way, I don't CARE what every person in the room is wearing and eating in every scene.) Give it up George...the R.R.'s do not make you a good writer or your never ending story worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: Are you kidding?
Review: As an avid reader of fantasy, I thought I had found a wonderful new series. I read an average size book in 3 days. It took me a week just to get through the first chapter of this book. In fact, I put it down after a few hundred pages, never to be picked up again. In all that time. I never found a character with substance or a plot that meant anything. This book read like a pile of throwaways slapped together in order for the author to make some money. DON'T BOTHER. :-{
Rating:
Summary: Politcal Fantasy
Review: This book is refreshing. I have read fantasy for years, but this book, along with a select few, is unique (others Winter Warriors, by David Gemmel, The Rifwar Saga by Raymond Feist). This fantasy novel is more politics and characters instead of monsters and quests. None of the characters quest for magical items (not that this is bad, it just that every fantasy books tends to do this). Martin's main concerns in this book are with character development and plotting. At the end of this book so much has happened and characters have developed so much, it is almost too much to absorb. Unlike Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series where you read 800 pages and then sit back and recall only 1 event that happeded that really moved the story forward (I do like Jordan), this book is full of great adventure, political manuvering, and unexpected events. Read this book for a new type of fantasy--politcal. Monsters are around but they are people. This is an adult fantasy, some children should be warned not read this is. It is quite adult. This book also does not fall into the heroic fantasy area. People act logically. The hero does not always make it. This book showed me again that fantasy can be original.
Rating:
Summary: Best Epic Fantasy Yet
Review: This is bar far and away the best fantasy I've read in a long time. It surpases Jordan at his best and leaves Wheel of Time in the dust. For people who think that Jordan is dark fantasy, think again and read Martin. George Martin writes of a dark world losely based on medieval Europe during the War of the Roses with a small dose of the fantastic and magic thrown in. He books have no clear protagonist or antagonist as he prefers to paint his characters in shades of gray. Martin also pulls no punches when it comes to the stark realities of midieval combat and the life expectancy of royalty amid a den of vipers plotting their downfall. The books are gripping, impossible to put down and just get better as the series continues. If you like epic fantasy at all with a leaning towards dark reality (instead of "all is good" Eddings type stories), then I couldn't recommend Martin's Songs of Fire and Ice any higher.
Rating:
Summary: Fantasy at Its Best
Review: The book starts in the North with Ned Stark and his family. Twenty years or so in the past, Ned Stark helped overthrow the old King. The new King, Robert, has come for a visit. When he comes, we learn that all in not well in his Kingdom. His assistant, called "the Hand" has died. Maybe he was killed. His wife is hostile to him. The Kingdom itself is on the verge of Bankruptcy. Will Ned Stark help him? Against his wishes, Ned Stark agrees. Before he can leave, however, a tragedy strikes his family. He delays his departure but eventually leaves his home. His wife stays at their castle. Then the story changes point of view. The story goes from the Starks to the Lannister family. This is the strength of this story. There are no heroes or villians, it is almost compeletely dependant on your point of view. When we here the Lannister family talking, usually it is a clever dwarf, we root or at least sympathize, with them. When we see the story through Ned's eyes, or his wife's eyes our perspective changes with those of the charactors. And, there are other families. In particular, the daughter and son of the old King are in the South and then overseas looking for supporters. We go from family to family and person to person within the family. Since the story never stays long with one person, we rarely stay with one view. "A Game of Throne"'s approach should be compared to other stories. Usually, when a story goes from person to person, it is either repeating details or adding new facts into the story, from the same point of view. In A Game of Throne's, the details are not repetitive. We go from Chapter 1 to Chapter 2 smoothly. But, what happens here is that as the story builds on itself we gain the new perspective of the other parties. The approach works wonders because we never know who will live and who will die. Who is the hero? And, will the hero survive? You just don't know and because you don't know you have to read it. (Compare this to any other fantasy book you know. If you think about it, from page one, you know who is going to win, don't you?) A Game of Thrones is a "must read." This book and this series, if Martin can maintain the pace, will be one of the best in all of fantasy.
Rating:
Summary: The Best (I wish I could give it more than 5 stars)
Review: This is simply one of the best books I have ever read in my entire life. George R. R. Martin is incredible. A Game of Thrones kept me reeling like few books ever have before. The detail and scope of Martin's vision make the pages come alive. A Game of Thrones is gripping from the very first page. There is more drama, mystery, suspense, action, intrigue, and emotion in this book than seems possible. It is seemingly inconsievable to create a world in fantasy that is as true to life as the reader's own, but George R. R. Martin did so. I cannot speak highly enough of Martin's skill as a storyteller. The characters in this book are fantastic. Anyone who does not find themself aghast in their complexity is not reading the same story. Unlike most authors, Martin has absolutely no qualms about killing a main character. The reader never knows where one will end up with this story. Magic exists, but it does not show up. The reader knows that dragons exhisted at one time, but they are all gone now. (or are they?) The history of Martin's world is another absolute plus. People actually remember the past and celebrate it in this book. This element only enhances the story. Martin is unbelievable in his talent. With this book, I found myself doubting whether he was writing a fictional account of his own world or a history of our own. I cannot recommend this book highly enough; I only wish it were longer.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, fast-paced, tightly written
Review: I picked this book up because it said it was the "Fantasy Novel of the Year", and I was surprised to find that its boasting was true! George R. R. Martin has always been a fantastic author, and he is at his prime in this series. The characters are fascinating, the writing is tight, and the plot doesn't get any better. I am a huge fan of "high-fantasy", and it's hard to find a book (much less a series) that manages to elevate itself above its genre. This book includes all of my favorite fantasy elements, yet manages to twist them into something new. While I can tell that this series will eventually be about "saving the world against the forces of darkness", this first book concentrates on the in-fighting amongst the houses. The characters are three-dimensional, and finally, the good guys sometimes act unfairly, and the bad guys sometimes have honor. In addition, a wonderful surprise, the women have their own three-dimensional distinct personalities. For myself, this is one of the most difficult finds in fantasy. The interplay between the houses is truly fascinating, as is the shaping of the characters by their house creed. My favorite is the House Stark motto "Winter is Coming." Juxtapose this against the Lannisters "who always pay their debts", and the Tullys bound to "Duty, family, and honor", and you can tell you'll have a fascinating read. Plot follows within sub-plot until you can't decide who you hope will win. A note of warning, however, this book is extremely graphic and holds no punches. It's not for the light-hearted. Overall, a fantastic, highly-entertaining book that you won't be able to put down. (9.5 out of 10)
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