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Summary: The best fantasy novel I have read apart from Tolkien
Review: I have read "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" 5 times in my 40 years, and am among those who consider it the benchmark of this genre. I had searched for Tolkien's successor for many years as I read many other Fantasy novels, and believe that I have found him in George R. R. Martin. I consider "A Game of Thrones" the best fantasy novel I have read apart from Tolkien's masterpiece, and am anxiously awaiting turning the first page of Volume 2 in the series, which I have just received....
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Summary: Instant classic
Review: Get read everyone! A Game of Thrones will take you on a roller coaster ride. For those of you who are strict fantasy readers, and believe this book to be another one, you will be pleasantly surprised. I love fantasy. And maybe that is why I picked this book up. It looked like another epic fantasy. However, this book has redefined what a fantasy book is. No longer is there undefined characters carrying out predictable quests. This book is very effective in developing characters. You will meet the scoundrel, the hero, the underdog, the damsel, the dedicated, and the ambiguous. Martin takes you through each of the players thoughts, plots, etc... They clash in extremely entertaining scenes. It leaves you wondering what will happen, who will win. A Game of Thrones is not just a fantasy, but historical fiction, a mystery, a romance, and an uplifting story. I urge those who don't read fantasy to dive into this book. I guarantee you will want more. A fantastic piece of work!
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Summary: Distinctive at last.
Review: While Martin's two released books share many elements with earlier fantasy epics, one element stands out: There are no real heroes, just as there are no real villians. The characters that the reader empathizes with tend to say more about the _reader_ than the book itself. More importantly, so far Martin has only lightly engaged in the practice that eventually ruins so many other good fantasy epics: turning main characters into Gods. I do not necessarily mean this literally, although that can be the case, but the very nature of the Hero's Struggle seems to require an ever-increasing series of hurdles, each growing more intimidating and bizarre, in order to hold the reader's interest. One clear example is Eddings' Sparhawk character, introduced in 'The Diamond Throne'. Initially a slowly-aging knight returned from abroad to save his queen, four books later Sparhawk is running around with a half-dozen Gods, and using equipment that could easily allow him to destroy the planet itself. Yawn. Contrast, for example, The Lord of the Rings, where the heroes are lowly Hobbits who desire only to (and eventually do) return to their humble native lands, with The Wheel of Time series, where within two and a half books every single original character is some sort of super-diety flitting around through time and space at the drop of a hat. Ironically, in attempting to keep readers interested, writers end up creating characters that are extremely difficult to identify with (unless you're megalomaniacal). By spreading the weight of the storyline onto the shoulders of many, many characters, each interesting in their own right, Martin has for the time being avoided this classic series death-trap. While one can read the seeds of ultimate power and glory into any of the characters via the adroitly placed hints (suspiciously magical sword, pet dragons, powers of shadow), only one thing is consistent in Martin's books: calamity befalls everyone. On one page a favored character could appear to be finally clawing their way out of their horrific circumstance, only to fall even farther a turn of the page later. It makes for a wonderful rollercoaster of a series, and leaves any possible resolutions either up in the air, or entirely as speculation. Where other series' set forth the hero and simply ask "How will he/she succeed", Martin sets forth a dozen potential "heroes", and asks "Will any of them succeed?". It's the question we want answered, and that's why we keep coming back.
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Summary: A Consummate Epic
Review: Let me add my voice to the 98% of reviewers who thought this an excellent book (and the 1% who hated it but still couldn't put it down.) This series sets a new, and very high, standard for fantasy, particularly in the quality of the writing and the structure of the story. Game of Thrones assumes that the reader has a brain and is willing to use it. The story flows smoothly, despite the technically difficult multiple-POV structure. Martin's writing is on the level of Robert Graves, Rebecca West or Lawrence Durrell - very high praise. He does not go in for literary weirdness. Above all, this is a book written by a very highly skilled professional, someone who knows the difficult mechanics of putting a long story together and uses them to create a kind of magic. Admittedly dark, and not entirely free of the racist overtones endemic to this branch of literature, it's still one of the most gripping, intense stories I've read in ten years. Martin is incapable of writing a boring line. Read the book.
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Summary: Like Robert Jordan? You'll like this more.
Review: I am going to start off by saying something so shocking nothing else is going to matter. Did you like Harry Potter for its rich details and great characters, a Game of Thrones outstrips it by a good deal int those same areas. Did you like Robert Jordan for its rich plot, you'll like this more. Shocking perhaps, but true. A Game of Thrones id a novel so dark, so rife with details that it raises the bar for fantasy fiction so high nothing else comes close. If it weren't for its rare fantastic touches you might swear it is a rich account of european history. It wipes the slate clean of all such cliches as wise or evil sorcerers, evil orcs, fair elves, dour dwarves and, worst of all, merry halflings. In fact, not one of these appear in this book, there is a dwarf, but thats natural, there is a sorcerer, but he is just mentioned. If the idea appeals to you in the slightest, read it, if it doesn't, read it and let it change your mind. If you are a fan of fantasy, Goerge R.R. Martin, character driven stories, or just good books, you owe it to yourself to read this.
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Summary: wow
Review: first off, i hate when people give away important plot in a review, i don't do it. Martin has created a very beautiful, but harsh world. These are some of the most realistic characters ever to be put in a fantasy novel. well thought out, and well written, this is an excellent beginning to what looks to be an exceptional series. from the start it draws you in, never letting go. just. . . WOW. go read it, now.
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Summary: Read it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: While we are all waiting for the next Robert Jordan book to come out we have something new to read. And it is not just sub-standard fill to keep our mind occupied, its actually good. It takes a while to get used to Martins writing style, (every chapter from a different character's point of veiw) but once you figure out who is who, it is kinda refreshing. The main complaint I've read is that the actual plot in the story is not what they expected from reading the beggining. To that I say, THANK GOD!!! I would die happy if I never had to read another overly predictable Fantasy book. If you are looking for another great book to put on your bookshelf beside Jordan and Goodkind this book is it.
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Summary: Don't read this review!
Review: Skip this review, stop reading right now. Scroll to the top of the page and press the order button now.Still here? Okay, I understand the need for a little explanation. I love fantasy. I read Tolkien's Lord of the Rings soon after the American Version was published (don't start counting years on me) and I've read a greet deal of the genre since. I enjoy the epics (Sword of Truth, Wheel of Time) and the classics but I know that they seldom are the same. This one is an epic that will, without a doubt, be a classic. Okay, why? Reason 1: Characters. Characters so real that they make your friends and neighbors seem like pale shadows of reality. But these are not the trite characters acting out predictable paths so often seen in fantasy. Martin knows that heroes are not always sterling exemplars and villains are not always totally evil. In this series I guarantee you will find yourself, at one point, cheering on a member of the "evil" family in his struggles. When is the last time you did that? Reason 2: This is as close to reality as a fantasy can get. In real life heroes sometimes die or commit murder in a rage. Villains sometimes win. Nothing is guaranteed and if a happy ending emerges at the end it will not be the happy ending you imagined. One reviewer criticized the book because the plot didn't go in the direction he expected. I praise the book for the same reason. Reason 3: Writing. Johnny B Good played so well that it was like he "was ringing a bell." Martin writes that well. It all seems to flow out of him. Most interestingly, he chose to write the entire series in the first person - but that person changes each chapter. Normally I would find that disruptive. But in the hands of a master it adds a depth that has to be read to believe. Most importantly, it assures an identification with characters whose future is not assured. You will read chapters with bated breath as a hero describes, in first person, his or her life or death struggles. In the next chapter you will read the account of one of those who attends the hero's funeral. Okay, enough. Order the book already.
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Summary: If you haven't read this yet, you are so lucky...
Review: If you haven't read this yet you are so lucky - you have such a treat ahead of you. I have to admit that science-fantasy has been disappointing me of late. It's too contrived or too shallow or badly written. But this series, is just wonderful. I read an interview with George RR Martin who said that he wanted it to read like the War of the Roses (real history) but with the drama of no one knowing the outcome. He wanted you to feel that anything was possible - any character could die at any time. And he has written a masterpiece. It's gripping, and chilling and so wonderfully thought out, with a hundred clever ideas and great characters all of whom have parts you love and parts you hate. I took it to the sun, but could only feel the cold of the world Martin has created, with the ominous 'Winter is coming' as it's theme. This is a lush, rich fantasy, in a fully realised world, that you will love and keep forever. Buy it now! In fact, buy the sequel at the same time, otherwise you will have to endure a dreadful wait in between books.
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Summary: The BEST of the BEST!
Review: I have read very many fantasy books and series, in the past. Song of Ice and Fire is the best Fantasy series to date, excluding Lord of The Rings, of course. This is NOT Wheel of Time or Sword of Truth all over again... This is MUCH better: the characters are more interesting, the plot can be unpredictable, there are NO omnipotent characters. Yes, this is a fairly dark book, but it shines with quality... My personal favorite out of ALL the fantasy books ever written.
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