Rating: 
Summary: All I can say is WOW!!
Review: After exhausting what I had thought was just about all there was in the field of fantasy, and left mostly disappointed, I finally picked up 'A Game of Thrones' and was left utterly in awe. This book reads more like historical literature than the usual cardboard cut-out fantasy we've been forced-fed for so many years. Not since that 'other' 'R.R.' in fantasy have I found someone who had such a literal command of what he was doing and how to capture a reader so completely. What can I say? The plotting, the view's from so many different characters (which is what I thought REALLY set this novel apart) and the fact that you simply cannot become too close with any specific character, because you just have NO IDEA whether or not they'll live past the next chapter. I am pleased that all who have read and reviewed this novel and it's sequels, have gone out of their way NOT to spoil the story by revealing WHO dies and other crucial plot twists. To give you an idea, think of ALL the other novels you have read...think of how many were predictable...how many were TOTALLY original AND IMPOSSIBLY UNPREDICTABLE? Not many I would guess (if any). 'A Game of Thrones' IS that kind of novel (and so are the next two in the series). Like many folks I read the reviews wondering HOW in the WORLD this book could POSSIBLY live UP to the praise that was tossed back and forth...it has happened before and will happen again, SOMEONE see's a movie and praises it SO MUCH that it could NEVER live up to the hype...but that is where 'A Game of Thrones' does an about-face...the praise is high indeed, perhaps more than I have ever read before for any other novel--however George R.R. Martin has lived UP to that high praise, and has gone beyond. His imagination is phenomenal. His characterization is without equal in modern fiction. I just MIGHT offend a few fantasy readers with this next comment, but Martin has written a world more detailed and entertaining than Mr. Tolkien did years ago. It's amazing that it took so long for someone to be able to grab hold of a genre like fantasy and not just assume the title of King, but do it with such style. I submit that Mr. Martin IS the Heir of the Tolkien crown, and he earned it not by stealing it away, but by giving us a story that is truly amazing in scope and texture. In short, 'A Game of Thrones'is worth every ounce of praise it received and will continue to receive for decades to come. Do NOT be afraid to admit that Tolkien has finally been eclipsed...George R.R. Martin HAS done it. This book is already a classic.
Rating:
Summary: Riveting
Review: I have a voracious reading appetite, especially for books in this genre, and this is the first review I've written. I am taking the time to write this because the book is absolutely wonderful. It is going to be hard to appreciate Goodkind and Jordan again after reading this book (and the first in the series). The depth of the characters, the explanation for what drives them, the ability to convey important information without repeating it over and over again throughout the book, the way acts of generosity and love overcome bleakness and bloodshed, is excellent. This book was riveting - almost impossible to put down. I can't wait to read the next one. The only disappointing things are 1) Nymeria has not reappeared and 2) the latest maiming of Tyrion - I think that character had enough of a cross to bear without this latest disfigurement.
Rating: 
Summary: Now this is what the fantasy doorstops should strive for.
Review: Martin's novel A Game of Thrones may be lengthy enough to quailify as a doorstop but its writing quality sets it apart and makes a strong case for the genre.Martin is able to tell the stories of multiple characters (each having their own brief chapter of ~10-20 pages) by skipping between them along the timeline of the plot. That is, the characters that don't die off. One thing you'll find here is that Martin is not afraid to have some of his main characters interact within the world in a somewhat realistic way. By doing this, he keeps the fantasy aspect of the book in check by keeping it from becoming an epic prophecy story where everything goes right and there is never really any anxiety on the reader's part (Goodkind). I think the greatest success of this novel (and the successor, "A Clash of Kings") is the realism. Of course, the standard fantasy elements are there: castles, dragons, knights, kings, magic (albeit, quite toned down compared to most authors), etc... His treatment of these aspects is quite nice. The brunt of the story takes place in a magicless land so most of the magic in the book is treated with great respect (even simple things by the standards of other novels). The characters react to magic with suspicion and fear, which is a nice change of pace. Another refreshing change is that Martin has escaped the 800+ page syndrome that causes the writer's writing to become almost childish with simple descriptions and dialogue that could easily be placed into a novel for 10 year olds. His writing stays at a consistently high level throughout the novel up until the very last chapter. All in all, highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Good novel.
Review: To tell the truth, I have only read the prologue, but it was great. It was well written and had a cool storyline. Lets just hope the rest of the story is just as good!
Rating:
Summary: Solid beginning....
Review: This book has great character development and a lot of intriguing sub-plots. It doesn't have the great atmosphere or charm of the Tolkein books, but does convey a convincing landscape that effectively backdrops the cadre of characters. I will be reading the next book in this series, since there are so many loose ends...and I want to know what happens next! Good books should leave you wanting more.
Rating:
Summary: Drop that crap by Robert Jordan and read this!
Review: This is the best fantasy I have read in many years and one of the best ever written in my opinion. Interesting, witty, intelligent, and exciting. This has it all. If you are bored with the same old fantasy crap...and you know what I mean (blah blah...something strange happens, learn of new powers, get chased by evil guys, escape, hide out in the inn, escape the attack at the inn...blah blah blah) and you can no longer stand all the eternal drawn out boring series, like The Wheel of Time (Lord help me), then read this, you should be impressed. If you are not, then there is no hope for you. Go buy Jordan's 9th book, you'll doubtless love it.
Rating:
Summary: Real fantasy at its best
Review: I think this is a great book and series. It is well worth the investment of time and money. The characters were very realistic. It does get a little dark and graphic but only to the point of setting the tone of what the characters are going through. This book is not for those who are squeamish and those who always like those "happily ever after" outcomes.
Rating:
Summary: Why is this always compared to Robert Jordan?
Review: A lot of people have compared A Game of Thrones to Robert Jordan. Thankfully, its nothing like the Wheel of Time. Jordan's so-called 'epic' was filled wih haphazard adventures, whining and crudely drawn 2D characters, and more drudge. A Game of Thrones is nothing like it. The book is supposed to be loosely based on The War of the ROses in England, twisted into a fantasy setting. There is some magic in the book, but one of my complaints is that its overshadowed by the political intrigues and conniving characters. The book is 'realistic' in the sense that it is brutal. For this I had to take away one point; the world is too cynical, harsh and brutal. I'm not criticizing it for being realistic, because the real world isn't as bad as that. People who seriously believe we live in such a world must be very depressed or reading too much Catcher in the Rye. Some of the joie de vivre, as the French put it, is missing. Fantasy doesn't have to be exuberant or escapist but it should at least contain things like love, sorrow and beauty that exists but is hidden in our world. Unfortunately Martin goes too far and creates a world that's overly oppressive in its atmosphere. However there's a lot to like about this book. Well-drawn politics and fleshed out characters populate this world, not whining old Rand Al'thor and Co. The book is also more than a little exciting. Pick it up and you won't be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Imaginative
Review: A Game of Thrones is an imaginative book. Its better than Robert Jordan's over-hyped and badly-written Wheel of Time; and it comes near my favorite fantasy books (LOTR and His Dark Materials by Pullman). Lots of well-developed characters exist, and are rather realistic at that. The literature isn't solely escapist as a lot of fantasy is, but it also has that subtle element of magic which makes it a fantasy book. The only problem I found was that sometimes the relationships between people became too convoluted, and also the magical elemnt sometimes seemed to be forgotten. Otherwise this is a good read.
Rating:
Summary: A great book, not only for fantasy lovers
Review: It's difficult to add something to what other enthusiastic reviewers already said. I just want to underline how the strong sense of reality this book transmits, is not due to the absence of elves, orcs and other usual fantasy stuff. The book is so real, so entangling, because of characters' depth. Do you really believe men like Richard Cypher or Aragorn could ever exist ? Martin's characters could.
| 
