A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1)

Rating:
Summary: This novel spoiled me!
Review: I haven't read a great deal of fantasy/adventure, though several were very enjoyable. After reading 'A Game Of Thrones' I fear it will be very difficult to find its equal! Extraordinary story depth and richness, twists and turns like your favorite roller coaster and just as thrilling. Mr. Martin opened so many doors it seems it will take many more volumes in this series to deal with all that lies beyond them. So much the better! I love, respect, take pride in, fear, pity, mourn and despise his characters. They've drawn me into their world and I didn't want to leave until all was well. Alas, all is far from well, and I ache to revisit them! Mr. Martin, promise you will take good care of yourself...eat well, exercise regularly, no smoking...you must stick around for a long while so you can continue to astonish your admiring fans with these wondrous tales. If I could purchase them in advance, I would!

Rating:
Summary: Words can't describe it....
Review: I just happened to pick this book up in the bookstore and notice it was "Fantasy Novel of the Year" so I decided to try it out. I had no idea in the world Mr. Martin had created such an fabulous, engrossing, imaginative story. It has it all. Heroes, villains, and those imbetween. War and peace, betrayals and counter-betrayals, vengeance and honor, good and evil, magic and mysteries, battles and intrigue. It tells the tale of the deadliest game, "The Game of Thrones", those playing, those watching, and those caught up whether they wanted to or not. Mr. Martin has created a world where the heroes aren't always heroes, and the villains aren't always villains, where dark signs and tidings of what is to come send chills down your spine, and a strict code of honor can be stamped out with a web of lies, by a family's ambition to win the "Game of Thrones" at all costs. A fantastic read, it has it all. A warning though, once you pick it up, you may not be able to put it down.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent beginning
Review: I had never read any of Mr Martin's books before this one. In fact, the only reference I had about his work was Beauty and the Beast. I purchased this book during the summer when I was away from home on business. Boy, am I glad I did. This is a thouroghly engrossing story. I carried this book with me everywhere; dinner, hotels, lunch breaks, etc. I recommend this not only to fantasy fans, but to anyone who enjoys a great suspense/mystery/military intrigue/you name it story! The characters, especially Jon Stark, really captured my attention. The good guys aren't always completely good and the bad guys aren't always completely bad. And there are some that you just can't tell WHOSE side their on. I can't wait to see what happens next.

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Summary: Delightfully Devious.
Review: As an avid reader and FRPG player/GM for nearly 20 years, I have become somewhat jaded and cynical about the fantasy genre. This book slapped me awake - with a shovel. It may not be the best fantasy work I have read, but I have found none better. Its secret lies in the gritty realism of the characters, and the lack of any clear cut villans. The plot is disturbingly unpredictable, another pleasant detour from the genre. If you want a sweet, bloodless, light-hearted romp, look elsewhere. This book plays for keeps.

Rating:
Summary: Masterfully written, a new direction for speculative fiction
Review: "A Game of Thrones", although set in a fantastical setting, bears little resemblance to the genre. This is not a novel concerned with dragons and wizards and magical swords, but with human character, desire, ambition, fear and political manoevering that would make Machiavelli seem like a dilletante. A must read for history buffs (real or imagined). This book may set a new standard for quality in speculative writing.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Incredible
Review: This is easily the best fantasy novel I have ever read, certainly the finest work of 1997. Martin's characters, plot, and setting are rich and heady, full of passion and energy. This is an absolute must-read, particularly for those who have suffered through Jordan long enough!

Rating:
Summary: Very Good
Review: This has a very good story line. It is a little slow in the start because the character developement is in so much depth. By mid way, if you did nat pay attention you could get lost. The real strength of this book lies in the developement of very powerfule enemies being developed. This is not a one hero series!

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Summary: A great and truly fantastic tale.
Review: A Game of Thrones is the finest that fantasy fiction has to offer. Too often, fantasy authors expell their energies trying to make their fantasy world "realistic." Well, Martin definately accomlpishes this, but in a different way. Martin makes his world believable not only through historical background and detail, but also through the people who populate it. Any world is little more than the sum total of the people and creatures who inhabit it. The plot Martin weaves through the first volume in this series is incredibly well thought out. Lovers of romance, fantasy, and historical fiction will all find something within these pages to satisfy them. While comparisons to Tolkien and more contemporary authors (like Jordan) are inevitable, Martin has truly created a work of fantasy magic unlike any heretofore. I highly recommend this book. . .the finest fantasy novel since the Silmarillion.

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Summary: Politics, Magic, Incest, and a Harsh Climate
Review: Wow! I've read Martin's Wild Card series, and I was not terribly impressed. So when I picked up Game of Thrones, I expected something similar, but with a more medieval flavor. Was I wrong- a pleasantly so! This book grabbed me by the throat and would not release me. I was sucked in by the whole tone of the book, which hails of impending disaster. The marriage of humor and horror in this book surpass that of J. V. Jones' debut trilogy. I grew attached to many of characters, loathed just as many, and I'm still pinning hopes on the salvation of a few more. When the book ended, I was extremely distraught, as it has a GREAT cliffhanger- that leaves you hanging until June!

Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: This is a great book that I luckily stumbled upon at my local bookstore. Intriguing plot twists and excellent writing will cause many a sleepless night.