Rating: 
Summary: Definitly a must read.
Review: I'm a big fan of David Eddings, and just happened upon this book by chance, so I told myself, what the heck, it's not Eddings but oh well, lets give it a shot. After the first 10 pages or so, I found it impossible to put down. Its subtlties are outstanding and The plot changes so quickly that I was caught off guard several times. Martin's work is the most tremendous account of "the game of thrones" that I have ever read. Unbelievable, good guys can actually die. I am impatiently waiting for the next book in the series.
Rating:
Summary: They don't get much better...
Review: I simply have to add my praise for this book to the other hundreds of glowing reports. This book practically took over my life when I read it for the first time, and it was a welcome divertisment the second and third time. I love the story, the characters, the "realistic" way that good doesn't always triumph, etc. The only complaint I have is that this first volume cost less than $10 and the second is going to be more than $30.
Rating: 
Summary: worst money I ever spent!
Review: I found this book bleak and depressing. I could not begin to identify with any of the characters. The only reason I gave it one star is because that's as low as the scale would let me go.
Rating:
Summary: Life altering
Review: quite possibly the most definitive work in the genre. Easily as good (and in some cases, better) than Tolkein's work. You will not find flimsy, two-dimensional characters, here, but people you will both love and hate. Women have an expanded and more realistic role here than in Goodkind's works, and the huge cast is handled much better then in Jordan's works. Reading this book will change the way you look at Fantasy as a whole. forever.
Rating:
Summary: Great read!
Review: I loved this book. Lots of well drawn, complicated characters. I read tons of fantasy and have grown quite weary of the cumbersome tomes that stretch on through 3, 4, 5 and even more sequels so it is with much pleasure that I found this book and realized the genre isn't dead! I'm very excited that the sequel is out and I can't wait to read it too.
Rating: 
Summary: A Game of Thrones transcends the genre
Review: I fell in love with Tolkien's world as a child, and since that time I have eagerly plunged into fantasy novels by most of the 'great names' in the genre, hoping to be captivated by the characters and escape into a fantastical place equal to the likes of Moria or Herbert's Arrakis. It has very seldom happened. Since now as an academic I spend most of my time reading non-fiction with a highly critical eye, I find fiction of all kinds harder to stomach, and story tellers such as Fiest and Donaldson who appealed to me a few years ago on first read I would never bother with again. With most fantasy books I usually end up quitting after the first chapters or (more often) speed-reading the whole thing in a few hours and throwing it away in disgust. The reasons? Fans of the genre know them all too well: cliche characters and plots, sexism, racism, sloppy prose, philological inconsistency, shallow history and culture, gratuitous magic and (sometimes) sex, trite moralising, pathetic attempts at a kind of saccharine pseudo-medievalism, a painful naivity about the realities of war and wilderness, and, of course, the CHEESINESS of it all. Fantasy books with their luridly painted covers and embarassing titles deserve their reputation as fodder for children and geeks. This laboured preamble is just to show how good AGoT was to get the thumbs up from someone like me!!! Although it was lent to me with the highest recommendations, I was not surprised to find that the first 100-odd pages of Martin's book presented the genre's typical (and perhaps unavoidable) range of things to moan about, in addition to such a huge cast of one-line characters and shadowy historical details that I didn't know where to begin trying to remember. But it was the unexpected elements (eg stories of Bran, Daenerys)that kept me reading out of curiosity, and before I knew it I was too involved with the characters to put the book down. I read it in a day and a night and it has been haunting me enough since that I had to tell someone about it! Those who loved the unforgettable Eddard Stark might also enjoy the character of Thorfinn in Dorothy Dunnett's historical novel 'King Hereafter', which rivals AGoT in its characterization, wit, and complexity. One of Martin's greatest triumphs is his use of young children as major characters (so often the bane of the fantasy novel). He has Stephen King's ability to play upon the horror of childlike irrationality and cruelty (the wonderful Arryn jnr!)as well as creating children who are sympathetic without being cute (Arya rocks!). Don't expect neat resolutions and happy endings in AGoT - you won't get them. This is a passionate, gut-wrenching, tragic, and yet sometimes achingly beautiful story. I won't soon forget the image of Tywin's army unfolding like a steel rose in the dawn, or Robb Stark placing his sword on the table and saying "this is the only peace I have for the Lannisters." You want to cheer for him! Other instances spring to mind but I don't want to write anything that would give the plot away - its suprises are one of its greatest strengths. Thank you Mr Martin for a truly wonderful experience - I only gave you four stars instead of five because I'm still mad at you for what you did on p.727! I am also thankful that I read this book in January 1999, only a month before the release of the sequel. I pity the poor readers who got a taste of this drug two years ago and have been waiting all this time for another fix. If like me you don't like to read fantasy regularly, read this book. And if you do, consider saving George R. R. Martin for last - afterwards, most everyone else is going to seem second rate.
Rating:
Summary: 5 stars isn't enough
Review: Just read it for the 3rd time and it keeps getting better!!! If I could give it 10 stars I would. I just can't help gushing about it. All the wonderful subtleties make me want to weep. I'm literally itching for A Clash of Kings!
Rating:
Summary: This book will grab you by the fingertips.
Review: A hard book to put down. The characters in this novel seem to come to life. If you like Robert Jordan or books similiar, then you will completely enjoy A Game of Thrones.The only sad part of the novel is waiting for the sequel.
Rating:
Summary: broad but shallow
Review: I keep trying to like this book. The wordsmithing is excellent. But I just can't find anything beyond that to recommend it. The characters are flat, the plot is complex but meaningless. Lots of pointless violence and nothing seems to be resolved. The only really interesting part (the north wall) is never fully developed. I don't see what the fuss is about. It just isn't very good.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best fantasies ever written
Review: I think I've probably read some of the most popular fantasies including Lord of the Rings, which in my opinion but not much others really sucked, Three and a half books in the Wheel of Time (I couldn't get through Shadow Rising; all the guy did was sit on his butt and whine), The Sword of Truth which was extremely fun though hard to believe at times and then my favorite series: The cronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbelievever which is a brilliant piece of literature that any fantasy fan should at least try. Anyway, this novel compares favorably to my favorites above. This novel is more literary. The structure of constantly shifting points of view is more complext than any of the other fantasies. Good guys actually die. Forget Tolkien. Read this if you want some real fun and don't want to read a hundred stupid elven and dwarwen and whatever songs in Lord of the Rings.
|
