Status
Available
Collection
Publication
Bantam (1997), Edition: Later Printing, 831 pages
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Science Fiction. Thriller. HTML:NOW THE ACCLAIMED HBO SERIES GAME OF THRONES??THE MASTERPIECE THAT BECAME A CULTURAL PHENOMENON Winter is coming. Such is the stern motto of House Stark, the northernmost of the fiefdoms that owe allegiance to King Robert Baratheon in far-off King??s Landing. There Eddard Stark of Winterfell rules in Robert??s name. There his family dwells in peace and comfort: his proud wife, Catelyn; his sons Robb, Brandon, and Rickon; his daughters Sansa and Arya; and his bastard son, Jon Snow. Far to the north, behind the towering Wall, lie savage Wildings and worse??unnatural things relegated to myth during the centuries-long summer, but proving all too real and all too deadly in the turning of the season. Yet a more immediate threat lurks to the south, where Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King, has died under mysterious circumstances. Now Robert is riding north to Winterfell, bringing his queen, the lovely but cold Cersei, his son, the cruel, vainglorious Prince Joffrey, and the queen??s brothers Jaime and Tyrion of the powerful and wealthy House Lannister??the first a swordsman without equal, the second a dwarf whose stunted stature belies a brilliant mind. All are heading for Winterfell and a fateful encounter that will change the course of kingdoms. Meanwhile, across the Narrow Sea, Prince Viserys, heir of the fallen House Targaryen, which once ruled all of Westeros, schemes to reclaim the throne with an army of barbarian Dothraki??whose loyalty he will purchase in the only coin left to him: his beautiful yet innoc… (more)
Media reviews
This is a perfect book.
There's honestly nothing I can think of that could improve it in any way. This is a book that made me shout at it, that made me giggle and cry, that made me gasp, that made me tremble and hate and love. It's seamless; I'd say it's unputdownable, except that sometimes I
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found I desperately needed to put it down because I was overwhelmed with the wonder of it, only to pick it up again half an hour later. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member aethercowboy
A Game of Thrones is, from what I can tell, a realist fantasy written post-Tolkien. You would even think, from reading it, that the author, George R. R. Martin, had never even heard the name Tolkien before. This comes through especially clear when you reach the end of the book and realize that it
There are no quests in Thrones, only people, and a lot of people at that. Martin, who writes without a soul, plays god as he makes his little puppets play this eponymous game, in which “you either win, or you die.”
I made the mistake of actually liking one of the characters, only to have their head on a pike before too long. They’re not kidding about that game.
The strength of Thrones is it’s focus: it is realist, people-oriented fantasy, set in a world that is a believable simulacrum of a feudal secondary world ages past a day when giants and dragons roamed the world. Martin does not hold your interest with whiz-bang magic and special effects, but by the sheer reality of his characters, and how they interact, how they rise, how they fall. And oh, how they fall.
Eddard Stark, the lord of the cold and isolated Winterfell, is summoned to be the king’s, his friend, Hand. A sense of duty overcomes him, and he accepts. While the king and his court are visiting Winterfell, an attempt on one of Eddard Stark’s sons is made. The Starks dig deeper, amidst branching off in their different directions. Everywhere they dig, they hit worms. Tons of them, wheedling their way through every facet of the kingdom, or at least those touched by the King’s wife, more loyal to her own house than the king himself.
Don’t read this book if you’re light-hearted, or not ready for some serious turmoil. Don’t read this book if your shelves are stocked with methaphysically minded Chicken Soup. Don’t read this book if you want a warm, happy feeling that everything’s gonna be all right.
But read it if you want edge-of-your-seat, page-turning drama. Just don’t turn too quickly! Your favorite character’s life may end on that next page.
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isn’t just a rehash of The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings. It’s completely original, as far as post-Tolkien fantasy, and is a delightful breath of fresh air for those who are suffocated by tolkienoid authors reinterpreting the notion of The Quest, and getting it totally wrong.There are no quests in Thrones, only people, and a lot of people at that. Martin, who writes without a soul, plays god as he makes his little puppets play this eponymous game, in which “you either win, or you die.”
I made the mistake of actually liking one of the characters, only to have their head on a pike before too long. They’re not kidding about that game.
The strength of Thrones is it’s focus: it is realist, people-oriented fantasy, set in a world that is a believable simulacrum of a feudal secondary world ages past a day when giants and dragons roamed the world. Martin does not hold your interest with whiz-bang magic and special effects, but by the sheer reality of his characters, and how they interact, how they rise, how they fall. And oh, how they fall.
Eddard Stark, the lord of the cold and isolated Winterfell, is summoned to be the king’s, his friend, Hand. A sense of duty overcomes him, and he accepts. While the king and his court are visiting Winterfell, an attempt on one of Eddard Stark’s sons is made. The Starks dig deeper, amidst branching off in their different directions. Everywhere they dig, they hit worms. Tons of them, wheedling their way through every facet of the kingdom, or at least those touched by the King’s wife, more loyal to her own house than the king himself.
Don’t read this book if you’re light-hearted, or not ready for some serious turmoil. Don’t read this book if your shelves are stocked with methaphysically minded Chicken Soup. Don’t read this book if you want a warm, happy feeling that everything’s gonna be all right.
But read it if you want edge-of-your-seat, page-turning drama. Just don’t turn too quickly! Your favorite character’s life may end on that next page.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Selanit
Suffers from an excess of underdeveloped characters. I count 10-12 major characters, plus dozens of supporting cast. Daenerys, the exiled dragon princess, seemed interesting, as did Arya, the waterdancer-in-training. However, I finished the book and I still don't really care about any of the
In some ways, the whole book felt like nothing more than background for plot lines that won't be developed until well into the second or third novels. For example, the very first chapter introduces the the undead ghouls who are evidently gathering to invade from the North, but they're barely mentioned for the rest of the book's 800 pages, appearing only briefly in the Jon Snow arc. Likewise, the extended story of Daenerys' marriage into the Dothraki tribes seems like wind-up for an invasion from the south by the dispossessed heir, evidently for one of the later books. Though the Daenerys plot struck me as the most interesting part of the book, it really had little or nothing to do with the main plot. With so very many characters to track, there was little time to develop a rapport with any of them.
The landscape and cultures are, for the most part, stock. One glance at the map in the front will have any mildly educated person thinking "Oh, they're England and Scotland divided by Hadrian's Wall." The Dothraki are clearly based on the Mongols, only slightly more hedonistic; whereas the culture of the Seven Kingdoms is stock High Middle Ages.
In short, the material was handled poorly, with little imagination, and at much greater length than it needed. The book could have benefited greatly from the tender attentions of a stern editor.
I bought the first book in this series on the strength of a recommendation from the library web comic "Unshelved," but I won't be purchasing any of the sequels. I may check out the second one out from the library, but there's no way I'm spending another dime on this series unless it improves sharply in volume two.
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characters.In some ways, the whole book felt like nothing more than background for plot lines that won't be developed until well into the second or third novels. For example, the very first chapter introduces the the undead ghouls who are evidently gathering to invade from the North, but they're barely mentioned for the rest of the book's 800 pages, appearing only briefly in the Jon Snow arc. Likewise, the extended story of Daenerys' marriage into the Dothraki tribes seems like wind-up for an invasion from the south by the dispossessed heir, evidently for one of the later books. Though the Daenerys plot struck me as the most interesting part of the book, it really had little or nothing to do with the main plot. With so very many characters to track, there was little time to develop a rapport with any of them.
The landscape and cultures are, for the most part, stock. One glance at the map in the front will have any mildly educated person thinking "Oh, they're England and Scotland divided by Hadrian's Wall." The Dothraki are clearly based on the Mongols, only slightly more hedonistic; whereas the culture of the Seven Kingdoms is stock High Middle Ages.
In short, the material was handled poorly, with little imagination, and at much greater length than it needed. The book could have benefited greatly from the tender attentions of a stern editor.
I bought the first book in this series on the strength of a recommendation from the library web comic "Unshelved," but I won't be purchasing any of the sequels. I may check out the second one out from the library, but there's no way I'm spending another dime on this series unless it improves sharply in volume two.
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LibraryThing member porch_reader
In this first book in A Song of Ice and Fire series, Martin expertly builds a world peopled with kings, queens, lords, ladies, and knights. Prominent families, including the Lannisters, the Starks, and the Targaryens, play their game of thrones, fighting for control of the Seven Kingdoms. In the
I enjoyed this book for a number of reasons. The story is fast-paced. I spent a lot of time trying to sort out good guys from bad guys and figure out what might happen next. I was surprised by a number of plot points, but Martin's story was always believable. Martin drops us right into the middle of his world. Throughout the book, we gradually learn more about the history and the oddities of the Seven Kingdoms. The cast of characters is diverse and interesting. Martin creates characters that are compelling within a page or two, but that continue to grow and develop throughout the story. It just all works.
I did not need to start another series, but now that I have, I can't wait to read the next installment!
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meantime, the long summer season is ending, and unusual things are happening north of the Wall that is guarded by the Night's Watch. At the end of this book, we are left with a number of unresolved issues that made me want to immediately begin the next book.I enjoyed this book for a number of reasons. The story is fast-paced. I spent a lot of time trying to sort out good guys from bad guys and figure out what might happen next. I was surprised by a number of plot points, but Martin's story was always believable. Martin drops us right into the middle of his world. Throughout the book, we gradually learn more about the history and the oddities of the Seven Kingdoms. The cast of characters is diverse and interesting. Martin creates characters that are compelling within a page or two, but that continue to grow and develop throughout the story. It just all works.
I did not need to start another series, but now that I have, I can't wait to read the next installment!
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LibraryThing member narwhaltortellini
This series has a lot of fans, and at the very least, I think in most all areas this novel do seem to be above average compared to most epic fantasies.
The plot is...eventful, but not too difficult to follow (save for some problems I had remembering minor character's names that was probably at least
But the political intrigue/war seems to be the main foreground of the novel. The various characters seem sometimes to simply be vessels through which we may hear the story the author is telling us, the changes in POV there so we may easily jump to whoever has the most close-up and informative information on the latest plot development. Indeed, there are so many POVs that by the end of the novel, while a considerable amount has happened in the grand scheme of the war, very little seems to have happened to each character. I have almost the feeling of having read eight different books a third of the way through.
The somewhat irritating thing was, a few of those POVs, if they had been their separate books, I may have been able to genuinely like. Arya is your good old rough-edged little lady who'd rather be out playing than inside learning embroidery. It's cliché as hell, but she's likable and the formula works. John is the bastard son, well loved enough by most of his family but still feeling as if he lacks a place to belong. Bran is rambunctious and happy, till he becomes paralyzed and has to deal with not just the huge changes that come with the sudden inability to walk, but with how to grow into a lord others will respect when he cannot even stand on his own two feet.
While not the focus of this book, and while the older characters tended to have much less interesting personal conflicts, these internal struggles were decently well set up. These characters weren't terribly complex (I've seen this novel praised for lack of black and white good and evil characters, which I suppose it deserves, but recognizing people aren't dichotomously good and evil is hardly the whole battle when it comes to character complexity), but their stories still could have passed off as very decent YA novels. Instead, I suppose they are just a little splash to add color to their POVs, used like all others to give us the best seat for the plot developments. They still helped me enjoy the novel, but were not allowed to strengthen it as much as they could have.
And overall, even concerning the plot, the entire novel has the feel of being very..inefficient. It was common after I read a scene to take note of the apparent 'purpose' of that scene (be it a particular tidbit of plot or certain characterization point) and wonder why I had to go through ALL THAT just to get there. Times when I wished the author had a bit more faith in me, enough to realize they didn't have to spell every bit of characterization out multiple times, or that they could skip the last five pages about the latest war developments and just drop a few hints in the dialogue of another scene and I'd figure things out just fine.
In the end, I did enjoy reading this novel more than a lot of more shabbily done fantasies, and my lack of desire to continue might just be the difference between the kind of story the author wants to tell (one about a war, and trying to create somewhat interesting characters to tell it through) and the kind of novel I wanted to read (about characters, using a somewhat interesting plot to stir up their internal conflicts). Still, this novel isn't THAT much above average, and I still hold that the lack of really well done characters and effort to give even one of them a complete story arc within the book weakens the novel considerably.
The plot is...eventful, but not too difficult to follow (save for some problems I had remembering minor character's names that was probably at least
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partially due to multiple days or weeks I left between picking up the book), the prose generally flows well, though it does digress on certain details a little too long. Characters, while not always horrible original, are mostly likable (that, or intended not to be as likable).But the political intrigue/war seems to be the main foreground of the novel. The various characters seem sometimes to simply be vessels through which we may hear the story the author is telling us, the changes in POV there so we may easily jump to whoever has the most close-up and informative information on the latest plot development. Indeed, there are so many POVs that by the end of the novel, while a considerable amount has happened in the grand scheme of the war, very little seems to have happened to each character. I have almost the feeling of having read eight different books a third of the way through.
The somewhat irritating thing was, a few of those POVs, if they had been their separate books, I may have been able to genuinely like. Arya is your good old rough-edged little lady who'd rather be out playing than inside learning embroidery. It's cliché as hell, but she's likable and the formula works. John is the bastard son, well loved enough by most of his family but still feeling as if he lacks a place to belong. Bran is rambunctious and happy, till he becomes paralyzed and has to deal with not just the huge changes that come with the sudden inability to walk, but with how to grow into a lord others will respect when he cannot even stand on his own two feet.
While not the focus of this book, and while the older characters tended to have much less interesting personal conflicts, these internal struggles were decently well set up. These characters weren't terribly complex (I've seen this novel praised for lack of black and white good and evil characters, which I suppose it deserves, but recognizing people aren't dichotomously good and evil is hardly the whole battle when it comes to character complexity), but their stories still could have passed off as very decent YA novels. Instead, I suppose they are just a little splash to add color to their POVs, used like all others to give us the best seat for the plot developments. They still helped me enjoy the novel, but were not allowed to strengthen it as much as they could have.
And overall, even concerning the plot, the entire novel has the feel of being very..inefficient. It was common after I read a scene to take note of the apparent 'purpose' of that scene (be it a particular tidbit of plot or certain characterization point) and wonder why I had to go through ALL THAT just to get there. Times when I wished the author had a bit more faith in me, enough to realize they didn't have to spell every bit of characterization out multiple times, or that they could skip the last five pages about the latest war developments and just drop a few hints in the dialogue of another scene and I'd figure things out just fine.
In the end, I did enjoy reading this novel more than a lot of more shabbily done fantasies, and my lack of desire to continue might just be the difference between the kind of story the author wants to tell (one about a war, and trying to create somewhat interesting characters to tell it through) and the kind of novel I wanted to read (about characters, using a somewhat interesting plot to stir up their internal conflicts). Still, this novel isn't THAT much above average, and I still hold that the lack of really well done characters and effort to give even one of them a complete story arc within the book weakens the novel considerably.
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LibraryThing member titania86
In the Seven Kingdoms, winter is coming. Summer has lasted over 10 years and autumn is finally approaching, the harbinger of a long winter. North of the Seven Kingdoms, a supernatural force is gathering to battle against men. In the kingdom, the Hand of the King mysteriously dies, prompting King
I started out watching the television series, which I enjoyed, but the book makes it pale in comparison. I'm honestly not typically a fan of high fantasy. The stories seem very similar and rip-offs of Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. I didn't expect to like Game of Thrones at all and I was pleasantly surprised. This series is completely different from most others in its genre. Magic is usually a large aspect of fantasy, but the instances of it in Game of Thrones are few and far between. I even forgot I was reading a fantasy at times. The plot is very detailed and complex with many story lines and subplots in each chapter. I love Martin's writing style and he manages to be detailed without being overwrought or slow. My summary of the plot doesn't do this book justice at all because there is so much more going on besides that one plot line. The story is also realistic and gritty. There is no romanticism nor is it an idealistic view of the Medieval era. Life is hard and it gets progressively harder as the book progresses. No character is safe, which George R. R. Martin demonstrates by the end of the novel.
These characters are incredibly detailed and unique in their own way. My favorite are Eddard Stark, Tyrion Lannister, and Arya Stark. Eddard is honorable, serious, and reserved which can be mistaken for coldness by those who don't know him well. Arya is supposed to become a lady that will marry and bear heirs, but she's more interested in sword fighting and getting into trouble. Tyrion is a deformed dwarf and the shame of his noble family. He makes up for his lack of looks and height with cunning, intelligence, and humor. They don't fit into typical archetypes popular in the genre and seem more like actual people. These characters are not always clearly good or evil, but rest in shades of grey. Sometimes there isn't a clear hero or villain to depend upon or blame in each situation. Each chapter is told from a different perspective and Martin clearly captures each voice. Some chapters may even cover the same event and each character involved has a different view of it and a different version of the truth. This view of each character challenges the reader's views and sometimes even makes immoral or seemingly evil characters likeable.
I haven't felt this sense of urgency when reading a book in a while. I felt compelled to read at every possible moment even though I knew what was going to happen. If you like realistic characters, mystery, intrigue, and aren't easily offended, I would highly recommend Game of Thrones.
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Robert Baratheon to ask his friend Eddard Stark to fill the position. Before he leaves, Eddard's son Bran has a tragic accident and he leaves not knowing whether his son will live or die. He enters King's Landing and a court where words and whispers are as sharp as knives. Treading carefully, he investigates the previous Hand's death and tries to run the kingdom despite empty coffers, a drunken, complacent king, and treacherous advisers. While he is away, Winterfell is in distress. An assassin tries to kill Bran, leading Catelynn, his mother, to suspect the Lannister family had something to do with his accident. She rides out to seek justice, leaving her 3 sons to rule. Can the Starks find out who their enemies are? Can Eddard save the King from the same fate as his Hand?I started out watching the television series, which I enjoyed, but the book makes it pale in comparison. I'm honestly not typically a fan of high fantasy. The stories seem very similar and rip-offs of Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. I didn't expect to like Game of Thrones at all and I was pleasantly surprised. This series is completely different from most others in its genre. Magic is usually a large aspect of fantasy, but the instances of it in Game of Thrones are few and far between. I even forgot I was reading a fantasy at times. The plot is very detailed and complex with many story lines and subplots in each chapter. I love Martin's writing style and he manages to be detailed without being overwrought or slow. My summary of the plot doesn't do this book justice at all because there is so much more going on besides that one plot line. The story is also realistic and gritty. There is no romanticism nor is it an idealistic view of the Medieval era. Life is hard and it gets progressively harder as the book progresses. No character is safe, which George R. R. Martin demonstrates by the end of the novel.
These characters are incredibly detailed and unique in their own way. My favorite are Eddard Stark, Tyrion Lannister, and Arya Stark. Eddard is honorable, serious, and reserved which can be mistaken for coldness by those who don't know him well. Arya is supposed to become a lady that will marry and bear heirs, but she's more interested in sword fighting and getting into trouble. Tyrion is a deformed dwarf and the shame of his noble family. He makes up for his lack of looks and height with cunning, intelligence, and humor. They don't fit into typical archetypes popular in the genre and seem more like actual people. These characters are not always clearly good or evil, but rest in shades of grey. Sometimes there isn't a clear hero or villain to depend upon or blame in each situation. Each chapter is told from a different perspective and Martin clearly captures each voice. Some chapters may even cover the same event and each character involved has a different view of it and a different version of the truth. This view of each character challenges the reader's views and sometimes even makes immoral or seemingly evil characters likeable.
I haven't felt this sense of urgency when reading a book in a while. I felt compelled to read at every possible moment even though I knew what was going to happen. If you like realistic characters, mystery, intrigue, and aren't easily offended, I would highly recommend Game of Thrones.
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LibraryThing member TheTwoDs
George R.R. Martin's A Game of Thrones can be concisely described as fantasy literature for discerning adults. While some of the traditional trappings of the genre are present, they serve more as adornments than the raison d'etre for the novel. How important such elements are to the reader will go
Unlike the majority of post-Tolkien fantasy works, this first novel of a longer series does not involve an epic quest to obtain or destroy an object imbued with immeasurable magical properties, such quest often involving a ragtag band of cross-species characters. Instead, Martin constructs a medieval style world filled with political intrigue, lustful encounters, sordid affairs and fully fleshed out characters who exist on a full spectrum of emotions as opposed to the usual black-and-white, good-or-bad emotional range exhibited in the genre. Think the Wars of the Roses in an exotic land tinged with bits of magic and the supernatural.
Martin's style is to alternate the point of view by character in each chapter, thus depositing the reader directly into the world, raising the tension and practically making the reader a participant in the plot. There are three primary plots in this launch of the Song of Ice and Fire series: the machinations at the court of the king, the defense of the kingdom from a nearly mythical threat and the plot of the decendents of the previously deposed king to reclaim their throne from a land across the sea. Each thread is fully formed, the locations built with enough attention to detail to inform without overwhelming. Information dumps are kept to a minimum and the plot itself drives the narrative.
There were several nights where I found myself unable to put the book down and I look forward to the further volumes in the series.
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a long way towards determining the reader's enjoyment of the book.Unlike the majority of post-Tolkien fantasy works, this first novel of a longer series does not involve an epic quest to obtain or destroy an object imbued with immeasurable magical properties, such quest often involving a ragtag band of cross-species characters. Instead, Martin constructs a medieval style world filled with political intrigue, lustful encounters, sordid affairs and fully fleshed out characters who exist on a full spectrum of emotions as opposed to the usual black-and-white, good-or-bad emotional range exhibited in the genre. Think the Wars of the Roses in an exotic land tinged with bits of magic and the supernatural.
Martin's style is to alternate the point of view by character in each chapter, thus depositing the reader directly into the world, raising the tension and practically making the reader a participant in the plot. There are three primary plots in this launch of the Song of Ice and Fire series: the machinations at the court of the king, the defense of the kingdom from a nearly mythical threat and the plot of the decendents of the previously deposed king to reclaim their throne from a land across the sea. Each thread is fully formed, the locations built with enough attention to detail to inform without overwhelming. Information dumps are kept to a minimum and the plot itself drives the narrative.
There were several nights where I found myself unable to put the book down and I look forward to the further volumes in the series.
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LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
Doorstopper? Check. Prologue? Check. Maps and Appendix. Check. Part of a series of doorstoppers? Check. Epic High Fantasy? Yes. Tolkien clone? No. A Slog? Hell, no! I read this series is inspired by the English War of the Roses and you can certainly see it in the Stark family, patterned after the
I've read a bunch of doorstopper epic fantasies lately. In so many, even after 800 pages, even the main protagonist still feels as thin as onion paper and leaves me indifferent. In this novel, each of the eight point of view characters and others beyond them are distinct in my mind, feel rounded, and are characters I quickly came to care about.
Caring about these characters doesn't make things easy given the author's way with them. Like Robin Hobb, Martin is one of those authors that has no problem with being cruel to his characters, including important ones he makes you come to love. The novel is gritty, dark, at times disturbing, even depressing. It's one reason I never sought to read the other books--afraid he'd bring my favorite characters to a bad end.
There is another concern about investing in this series. There are seven books planned in Martin's series with this first book published back in 1996. Only three more books have been published since, the last, in 2005. You might be left in limbo for a long, long time waiting for Martin to bring this series to a conclusion--if he ever does.
But this first novel really is terrific--wonderful world-building, done with a deft style through story and not massive infodump or as-you-know-Bobs. The story just zips along despite its weight like a huge but limber athlete--a football left tackle. The ending is gasp-inducing. I've encountered several reviewers and fans of fantasy that place Martin higher than Tolkien, that would say the Song of Fire and Ice series is the epic fantasy series of our age. I wouldn't go that far--although I haven't read the others in the series. But I would say it's certainly far more worthy of a reader's time than other Tolkien rivals like Brooks, Jordan, Goodkind, Eddings, Feist or Williams.
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House of York, six of whose members carry the rotating narrative. I'd read this before and on reread it all came back. How much I loved these characters: Ned Stark and his wife and children--especially Ned, his daughter Arya and her brother, Ned's bastard son, Jon. And Tyrion--a member of the rival Lannisters close to the crown. And Dany, a princess in exile.I've read a bunch of doorstopper epic fantasies lately. In so many, even after 800 pages, even the main protagonist still feels as thin as onion paper and leaves me indifferent. In this novel, each of the eight point of view characters and others beyond them are distinct in my mind, feel rounded, and are characters I quickly came to care about.
Caring about these characters doesn't make things easy given the author's way with them. Like Robin Hobb, Martin is one of those authors that has no problem with being cruel to his characters, including important ones he makes you come to love. The novel is gritty, dark, at times disturbing, even depressing. It's one reason I never sought to read the other books--afraid he'd bring my favorite characters to a bad end.
There is another concern about investing in this series. There are seven books planned in Martin's series with this first book published back in 1996. Only three more books have been published since, the last, in 2005. You might be left in limbo for a long, long time waiting for Martin to bring this series to a conclusion--if he ever does.
But this first novel really is terrific--wonderful world-building, done with a deft style through story and not massive infodump or as-you-know-Bobs. The story just zips along despite its weight like a huge but limber athlete--a football left tackle. The ending is gasp-inducing. I've encountered several reviewers and fans of fantasy that place Martin higher than Tolkien, that would say the Song of Fire and Ice series is the epic fantasy series of our age. I wouldn't go that far--although I haven't read the others in the series. But I would say it's certainly far more worthy of a reader's time than other Tolkien rivals like Brooks, Jordan, Goodkind, Eddings, Feist or Williams.
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LibraryThing member DragonFreak
The Seven Kingdoms of Westero is ruled by Houses like the Starks, the Baratheons, and the Lannisters and others, each of them very powerful, very influential, and potentially very deadly.
Up in the North are the Starks where bitterly cold weather is always a threat. Their House words Winter is
The Baratheon House is in the southern continent ruled by King Robert. He’s a good ruler, but he has many faults and weaknesses, it gets in the way of his duties. His wife Cersei of Lannister House doesn’t have the best reputation either. Also there is Prince Joffrey, the son of the King and Queen, and Sansa’s fantasy husband. When Robert’s top advisor Jon Arryn dies without reason, he picks his childhood friend Eddard Stark to take his place, and Eddard reluctantly agrees to the position.
Tywin Lannister is the Lord of the House of Lannister, father of three very unique children. His two oldest are twins named Jaime and Cersei, who the latter is the wife of King Robert. Jaime is also called the Kingslayer, because he murdered Aerys II, called the Mad King, of the Targaryen House.
And finally there is Daenerys or Dany, of the Targaryen House with his brother Viserys. They are the last of the Targaryens, the Blood of the Dragons. When they get exiled to a new continent to the east, Dany is forced to marry Khal Drogo. It seems like everybody wants to kill Dany, because they don’t want another King like Aerys II, and no one wants her dead more than King Robert.
These are most of the characters in the book, and just for a few pages, everything seems good, but it’s not. Dangers are around every corner, no one is safe, and many people are in line for a throne, and winning one is very dangerous. And soon, only one thing is for certain: When you play the game of thrones, you win or die.
There are two things I look for in a book: Great plot, and even greater characters. The plot is outstanding. Even when I thought this one event was going to happen, it didn’t, it was much better than I thought it would be, and at the same time, much worse. It’s not predictable, never boring, and full of surprises on every page.
Then the characters, oh they are so great. I foolishly got very connected with them, wanting them to never get injured or to die, making me feel like they are my friends. Very few books make me have that feeling. Also in addition to character I love, there are also characters that I hate with a passion. Characters I want to stab in the back and send them to the seven hells.
I know a million other reviews say this, but I’m saying it again. Read this book. Seriously. I can’t guarantee you’ll love this book, but I’ll bet my life that you won’t hate it, and why not read it if you know you’ll not going to hate it? This book is now in my Top Five list of the best books I have ever read, and I’m thinking it’ll be on that list for a very long time.
Rating: Five Stars ***** (although if I could, it would be much, much higher)
Up in the North are the Starks where bitterly cold weather is always a threat. Their House words Winter is
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Coming and indeed it is. After a decade or so of non-stop summer, winter is approaching, and with that, comes the unknown. Eddard “Ned” Stark the current ruler of the Starks along with her wife Catelyn of the House of Tully. Their children are Robb, the oldest fourteen years old and the heir to Ned’s throne. Then his two daughters Sansa and Arya, is next. Sansa age 11 is the typical princess stereotype, and her dream is to be queen with her betrothed Joffrey , the heir to the Baratheons. Arya, with 9 years on her, is the complete opposite of Sansa, and because of that, they fight constantly. And last, Brandon or Bran, age 7, and Rickon, who’s only three. But Stark also has an illegitimate son named Jon Snow. Jon has high respect and love for his father and honors him, but how can he when time after time again someone points it out that he shouldn’t even exist in the first place.The Baratheon House is in the southern continent ruled by King Robert. He’s a good ruler, but he has many faults and weaknesses, it gets in the way of his duties. His wife Cersei of Lannister House doesn’t have the best reputation either. Also there is Prince Joffrey, the son of the King and Queen, and Sansa’s fantasy husband. When Robert’s top advisor Jon Arryn dies without reason, he picks his childhood friend Eddard Stark to take his place, and Eddard reluctantly agrees to the position.
Tywin Lannister is the Lord of the House of Lannister, father of three very unique children. His two oldest are twins named Jaime and Cersei, who the latter is the wife of King Robert. Jaime is also called the Kingslayer, because he murdered Aerys II, called the Mad King, of the Targaryen House.
And finally there is Daenerys or Dany, of the Targaryen House with his brother Viserys. They are the last of the Targaryens, the Blood of the Dragons. When they get exiled to a new continent to the east, Dany is forced to marry Khal Drogo. It seems like everybody wants to kill Dany, because they don’t want another King like Aerys II, and no one wants her dead more than King Robert.
These are most of the characters in the book, and just for a few pages, everything seems good, but it’s not. Dangers are around every corner, no one is safe, and many people are in line for a throne, and winning one is very dangerous. And soon, only one thing is for certain: When you play the game of thrones, you win or die.
There are two things I look for in a book: Great plot, and even greater characters. The plot is outstanding. Even when I thought this one event was going to happen, it didn’t, it was much better than I thought it would be, and at the same time, much worse. It’s not predictable, never boring, and full of surprises on every page.
Then the characters, oh they are so great. I foolishly got very connected with them, wanting them to never get injured or to die, making me feel like they are my friends. Very few books make me have that feeling. Also in addition to character I love, there are also characters that I hate with a passion. Characters I want to stab in the back and send them to the seven hells.
I know a million other reviews say this, but I’m saying it again. Read this book. Seriously. I can’t guarantee you’ll love this book, but I’ll bet my life that you won’t hate it, and why not read it if you know you’ll not going to hate it? This book is now in my Top Five list of the best books I have ever read, and I’m thinking it’ll be on that list for a very long time.
Rating: Five Stars ***** (although if I could, it would be much, much higher)
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LibraryThing member Jannes
A very mediocre soap opera for people whose main criteria for good litterature is that it contain swords.
LibraryThing member JGolomb
"A Game of Thrones" is a deep, broad and compelling work of medieval-style fantasy. I'm not a reader of much fantasy, but after watching a preview of the new HBO series (starting in April 2011), I found myself drawn in by the mystique, texture and composition of the story.
The twisting and extensive
The characters and backstories are plentiful and complicated. Martin has written detailed histories on all of the royal houses in an appendix and it will take more than a few references in your reading to get your arms around and feel comfortable with who's who and which houses are allies and which are enemies.
The core of the story revolves around the mysterious death of a key advisor to the king. His wife sends a message to her sister suggesting that the death was murder. This plot point is only a small device used as a launching point for the exploration of Martin's incredibly rich universe. Two houses are at odds...House Stark, led by the infinitely honorable, patient and noble Eddard Stark, and House Lannister, led by the irrepressibly conniving Cersei, Queen of the Seven Kingdoms and inheritor of a bloodline of dubious quality.
"Game of Thrones" is heavy...in details, exposition, in character development, and in world-building. It's not light reading, but it's fulfilling. "Thrones" is the first in a series by Martin and while some stories are built and resolved within "Thrones", very little is truly concluded. I find my mind drifting back To Martin's world a few days after I finished reading, and I think it won't be long before I return to the land of "Thrones".
The twisting and extensive
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story is equal parts medieval historical fiction and fantasy. The book is long at over 700 pages, many taken up with well-crafted character development and exposition. The scenery, outfits, and activities are very middle ages European: well-hewn swords, knights in armor that gleams in a multitude of metallic shades, both honor and treachery are driving motivations for characters at all levels of the social stratosphere. There's a wee bit of magic, a zombie or two, and no fantasy-themed story can go too long without dragon lore.The characters and backstories are plentiful and complicated. Martin has written detailed histories on all of the royal houses in an appendix and it will take more than a few references in your reading to get your arms around and feel comfortable with who's who and which houses are allies and which are enemies.
The core of the story revolves around the mysterious death of a key advisor to the king. His wife sends a message to her sister suggesting that the death was murder. This plot point is only a small device used as a launching point for the exploration of Martin's incredibly rich universe. Two houses are at odds...House Stark, led by the infinitely honorable, patient and noble Eddard Stark, and House Lannister, led by the irrepressibly conniving Cersei, Queen of the Seven Kingdoms and inheritor of a bloodline of dubious quality.
"Game of Thrones" is heavy...in details, exposition, in character development, and in world-building. It's not light reading, but it's fulfilling. "Thrones" is the first in a series by Martin and while some stories are built and resolved within "Thrones", very little is truly concluded. I find my mind drifting back To Martin's world a few days after I finished reading, and I think it won't be long before I return to the land of "Thrones".
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LibraryThing member JOSE.
I started reading this book with the highest of hopes. After having read the reviews and having found it at the top of all the "Best of Fantasy" lists, I couldn't expect anything but a grand, heroic and gritty story with well developed characters that would satiate my need for a good Fantasy read
Now, I have read 30% of the book and I'm putting it down... I would not say it's bad, but there are some huge flaws that don't make it the right one for me.
In the first place, no matter how gritty and full of unexpected twists the story is, the characters are not really that well developed, and I found many of their traits very stereotypical.
The pace is tiresome. Very much so. Every episode focuses in one different character and every chapter has the same structure:
1. we find the character reflecting about what happened last time the story dealt with him and, for a few pages, we read about his/her internal feelings and attitudes towards the other characters and life in general.
2. Something dramatic happens that takes the story forwards and then the chapter finishes in a cliffhanger until the next time we find the character again.
And this structure is religiously followed through the 800 pages of the book. And it's tiresome, and boring. I ended up feeling like a hamster in a wheel...
And, finally, maturity is not about saying that "she rode him looking at his eyes under the stars" or talking about blood and guts. The TV series "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" has lots of that too, but the plots and characters, no matter what, are just taken straight from Melrose Place and Dinasty... and that's how I felt with this book.
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and bring me back to the time when I would read and re read The Lord Of The Rings.Now, I have read 30% of the book and I'm putting it down... I would not say it's bad, but there are some huge flaws that don't make it the right one for me.
In the first place, no matter how gritty and full of unexpected twists the story is, the characters are not really that well developed, and I found many of their traits very stereotypical.
The pace is tiresome. Very much so. Every episode focuses in one different character and every chapter has the same structure:
1. we find the character reflecting about what happened last time the story dealt with him and, for a few pages, we read about his/her internal feelings and attitudes towards the other characters and life in general.
2. Something dramatic happens that takes the story forwards and then the chapter finishes in a cliffhanger until the next time we find the character again.
And this structure is religiously followed through the 800 pages of the book. And it's tiresome, and boring. I ended up feeling like a hamster in a wheel...
And, finally, maturity is not about saying that "she rode him looking at his eyes under the stars" or talking about blood and guts. The TV series "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" has lots of that too, but the plots and characters, no matter what, are just taken straight from Melrose Place and Dinasty... and that's how I felt with this book.
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LibraryThing member Aerrin99
Everything you hear about how wonderful this book is is true. I was worried; I've read a number of other series in the past year or two that came with high praise from friends and that just didn't do it for me.
I was worried that I wouldn't be thrilled by the sweeping sprawl of the story. I was
I should not have been.
This book is rich and deep and wonderful. It is immersive. It's a book you can wrap tight around you like a blanket and get positively lost in. The world is gorgeously drawn. The language is clear but beautiful. The characters are, each and every one of them, fantastically detailed and fascinating, even the ones you don't like. The intrigue is properly intriguing, the adventures properly adventurous, and the mysteries eerily mysterious.
Martin's writing is fresh, and his ability to deal with the numerous characters and plotlines without losing the reader is, to my mind, almost perfect. I was surprised several times, but it was the /good/ sort of surprise, the sort that goes 'oh, of /course/' and 'I can't wait for what's next' and even 'I can't believe he did that, how dare he!'
Martin doesn't pull any punches. I've been warned not to fall too hard for any one character, and after even this first book I see why. But I'm going to fall anyway. It's impossible not to. Martin knows how to woo the reader, and let me tell you - I'm already his.
I was worried that I wouldn't be thrilled by the sweeping sprawl of the story. I was
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worried that I might not be able to keep the characters straight. I was worried that the politics, promised to be so intriguing, would fall flat to my mind. I was worried that some writing tic or trick of the author's would infuriate my reading sensibilities (as had happened with Kay's The Lions of al-Rassan). In short, I was /worried/.I should not have been.
This book is rich and deep and wonderful. It is immersive. It's a book you can wrap tight around you like a blanket and get positively lost in. The world is gorgeously drawn. The language is clear but beautiful. The characters are, each and every one of them, fantastically detailed and fascinating, even the ones you don't like. The intrigue is properly intriguing, the adventures properly adventurous, and the mysteries eerily mysterious.
Martin's writing is fresh, and his ability to deal with the numerous characters and plotlines without losing the reader is, to my mind, almost perfect. I was surprised several times, but it was the /good/ sort of surprise, the sort that goes 'oh, of /course/' and 'I can't wait for what's next' and even 'I can't believe he did that, how dare he!'
Martin doesn't pull any punches. I've been warned not to fall too hard for any one character, and after even this first book I see why. But I'm going to fall anyway. It's impossible not to. Martin knows how to woo the reader, and let me tell you - I'm already his.
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LibraryThing member TerrapinJetta
Spectacularly disappointing, considering the rave reviews I'd heard about it. It's just your standard fantasy, and dear lord the characters names really irritated the hell out of me. Maybe if they'd all been called down to earth names I would have taken less of a violent dislike to it, I don't know.
LibraryThing member snat
A Game of Thrones has been plaguing my Amazon recommendations list for years and, for just as long, I've gone back and forth over whether or not I wanted to plunge in and give it a try. Some sources use words like epic, Tolkien-esque, and masterpiece, so I would promptly put it on my list for my
HBO. As much as I hate to admit it, I turned to television to tell me whether or not this is a series I would like. And I was hooked immediately. Now I wish I had read the books sooner because it's somewhat difficult for me to separate the book from the series as I have never seen a film or television adaptation stick so closely to the original source material. However, that may be a moot issue as the very fact that I found the book compelling and suspenseful even though I knew what was going to happen is testament enough to Martin's writing.
Told from alternating points of view, Martin vividly captures a wide cast of characters, but I never felt intimidated by keeping up with who is who, nor did I agree with other reviewers who have stated that the plotlines are "overly complex." I also disagree with those who say the novel has misogynistic tones--the men are strong and (I would argue) the women stronger. The court intrigues and the Machiavellian jockeying for the Iron Throne amongst the great houses of the Seven Kingdoms is delightfully entertaining; the scheming, the lying, the seducing, the killing--what's not to love?
I'm also impressed with the world Martin has created here. Admittedly, the world building is not as complex as many other fantasy novels I've read, but I consider the simplicity of his world to be one of its strengths. Set in a somewhat medieval time period, the fantasy elements are subtle: there are direwolves, the Others, the ominous certainty that "winter is coming" (a winter that can last generations). Plus, there's mention of dragons (and everything's always better with a dragon). However, many writers in this genre try to stuff their novels so full of fantasy tropes that they almost become parodies of themselves. Martin's work feels as though you're reading the history of another culture or society; everything seems authentic and nothing forced.
There were a few repeated phrases that began to vex me (such as "breaking their fast" and the blushing, oh, the blushing), but I suppose such repetitions can only be expected in a novel of this size. I also dreaded the Sansa chapters (simply because she's such an unlikable character) and the Bran chapters (though I suspect Bran has the potential to become a favorite character in later books). These flaws are minor, however, and I definitely plan on continuing with the series as I have the feeling that Martin is just beginning to weave the tangled web of the Seven Kingdoms.
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next bookstore visit. Before I could purchase a copy, though, I would encounter other sources using words like convoluted, complex, and plodding, resulting in my just as promptly striking it off my list. And so it went until . . .HBO. As much as I hate to admit it, I turned to television to tell me whether or not this is a series I would like. And I was hooked immediately. Now I wish I had read the books sooner because it's somewhat difficult for me to separate the book from the series as I have never seen a film or television adaptation stick so closely to the original source material. However, that may be a moot issue as the very fact that I found the book compelling and suspenseful even though I knew what was going to happen is testament enough to Martin's writing.
Told from alternating points of view, Martin vividly captures a wide cast of characters, but I never felt intimidated by keeping up with who is who, nor did I agree with other reviewers who have stated that the plotlines are "overly complex." I also disagree with those who say the novel has misogynistic tones--the men are strong and (I would argue) the women stronger. The court intrigues and the Machiavellian jockeying for the Iron Throne amongst the great houses of the Seven Kingdoms is delightfully entertaining; the scheming, the lying, the seducing, the killing--what's not to love?
I'm also impressed with the world Martin has created here. Admittedly, the world building is not as complex as many other fantasy novels I've read, but I consider the simplicity of his world to be one of its strengths. Set in a somewhat medieval time period, the fantasy elements are subtle: there are direwolves, the Others, the ominous certainty that "winter is coming" (a winter that can last generations). Plus, there's mention of dragons (and everything's always better with a dragon). However, many writers in this genre try to stuff their novels so full of fantasy tropes that they almost become parodies of themselves. Martin's work feels as though you're reading the history of another culture or society; everything seems authentic and nothing forced.
There were a few repeated phrases that began to vex me (such as "breaking their fast" and the blushing, oh, the blushing), but I suppose such repetitions can only be expected in a novel of this size. I also dreaded the Sansa chapters (simply because she's such an unlikable character) and the Bran chapters (though I suspect Bran has the potential to become a favorite character in later books). These flaws are minor, however, and I definitely plan on continuing with the series as I have the feeling that Martin is just beginning to weave the tangled web of the Seven Kingdoms.
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LibraryThing member Hermione40
First I thought, nice story! But what I absolutely do no like is how the author uses the children characters in his book. Most of the actions described are only credible and appropriate for ages at least 5 years older than the ones in the book. Not to mention his descriptions of sex with children.
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LibraryThing member AFlickering
I quite like this book, in fact it's a little way above your average fantasy. Certainly, Martin’s prose is generally pretty strong, and he does at times create quite an atmosphere. The idea of the potential nightmarish winter always lurking in the background certainly gives the book another
Still, I feel I have to speak out against those who claim this as the greatest fantasy since Tolkien, because that’s nonsensical. Martin’s world, though a little darker and with more depth than most, is another rather typically medieval setting, and further doesn’t even begin to possess the tangible beauty of, say, Donaldson’s world, or the historical depth and imagination of Erikson’s. One of the reasons most people seem to love this book is because it avoids clichés where characters are concerned, but what is actually does it sets up clichés and then knocks them down, often in an it's-been-done manner. Many of his characters are initially quite stereotypical, largely made up of a couple of generic attributes which tend to be emphasised in the descriptions; the smarmy prince, the tired honourable old man given responsibilities he doesn’t want, the young misunderstood girl who defies society’s standards – contrasting with her spoilt sister of course, the fat has-been king, etcetc. He then tends to let them gradually or suddenly turn those stereotypes on their head, or receive some sort of comeuppance, but this isn’t that much more original than using the initial stereotypes, and to me seems rather trite at times, preventing me from really connecting with the people I'm reading about. Tyrion was most interesting, rarely have I met a character so dry, but even he suffers from the above flaw. It might not be generic as such, but it is certainly centred around the generic, and thus its so-called uniqueness and originality seems to me superficial. I much prefer the method of, for example, Erikson, who shrouds his characters in mystery and allows them to subtly and gradually develop in the reader’s mind through their thoughts and actions.
Additionally, the violence seems to be there for its own sake on occasion, leading me to wonder whether this is primarily a strategy for creating an accessible fantasy novel that manages to be more distinctly *adult* than the more well known flowery works of the genre (hats off to him if this is the case, he’s sure been successful). If I disregard the violence, I find the book to be lined, albeit not as heavily as many writers, with that same childish fairy-tale feel which plagues most of the genre.
So to conclude, this is a good book, and a step above regular old fantasy in many ways. On the other hand, it has a few fairly major flaws, and can't quite compare with the imagination, intelligence, scope (at least where Erikson's concerned) and artistic power of the best authors in the genre. 3 stars.
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layer. Further, the main plot is packed full of intrigue, and he doesn’t pull his punches where killing off characters is concerned which is always a plus.Still, I feel I have to speak out against those who claim this as the greatest fantasy since Tolkien, because that’s nonsensical. Martin’s world, though a little darker and with more depth than most, is another rather typically medieval setting, and further doesn’t even begin to possess the tangible beauty of, say, Donaldson’s world, or the historical depth and imagination of Erikson’s. One of the reasons most people seem to love this book is because it avoids clichés where characters are concerned, but what is actually does it sets up clichés and then knocks them down, often in an it's-been-done manner. Many of his characters are initially quite stereotypical, largely made up of a couple of generic attributes which tend to be emphasised in the descriptions; the smarmy prince, the tired honourable old man given responsibilities he doesn’t want, the young misunderstood girl who defies society’s standards – contrasting with her spoilt sister of course, the fat has-been king, etcetc. He then tends to let them gradually or suddenly turn those stereotypes on their head, or receive some sort of comeuppance, but this isn’t that much more original than using the initial stereotypes, and to me seems rather trite at times, preventing me from really connecting with the people I'm reading about. Tyrion was most interesting, rarely have I met a character so dry, but even he suffers from the above flaw. It might not be generic as such, but it is certainly centred around the generic, and thus its so-called uniqueness and originality seems to me superficial. I much prefer the method of, for example, Erikson, who shrouds his characters in mystery and allows them to subtly and gradually develop in the reader’s mind through their thoughts and actions.
Additionally, the violence seems to be there for its own sake on occasion, leading me to wonder whether this is primarily a strategy for creating an accessible fantasy novel that manages to be more distinctly *adult* than the more well known flowery works of the genre (hats off to him if this is the case, he’s sure been successful). If I disregard the violence, I find the book to be lined, albeit not as heavily as many writers, with that same childish fairy-tale feel which plagues most of the genre.
So to conclude, this is a good book, and a step above regular old fantasy in many ways. On the other hand, it has a few fairly major flaws, and can't quite compare with the imagination, intelligence, scope (at least where Erikson's concerned) and artistic power of the best authors in the genre. 3 stars.
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LibraryThing member sw155469
I wanted to like the Song of Fire and Ice books. Lots of people recommended them and raved about them. Maybe my expectations were just too high.
Damn, he needs an editor. Does he get paid by the word? Or by the character?
The purpose of having dozens of viewpoints and consequently dozens of
If I had gone into this thinking "typical terrible, long fantasy-series" I might not have gotten so irritated. The author can string words together professionally (which, unfortunately, is something that isn't all that common with fantasy novels.) But in terms of plot and characterization this book was just hack-y and awful.
Damn, he needs an editor. Does he get paid by the word? Or by the character?
The purpose of having dozens of viewpoints and consequently dozens of
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underdeveloped, one-dimensional characters, is to provide a sense that this kingdom is at the mercy of complex political forces and shifting loyalties. Unfortunately the characters' schemes and alliances aren't particularly smart or complex. The plot twists rely heavily on coincidence (amnesia!) or the characters making the stupidest possible choices.If I had gone into this thinking "typical terrible, long fantasy-series" I might not have gotten so irritated. The author can string words together professionally (which, unfortunately, is something that isn't all that common with fantasy novels.) But in terms of plot and characterization this book was just hack-y and awful.
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LibraryThing member mpalotay
There are few books that I've hated. This is at the top of the list. I can't think of a strong enough negative adjective for how bad I think this book is.
Part of it is that I *do* get (or try to get) emotionally involved in characters, so when they're killed off I'm unhappy. But worse than that is
The writing isn't very good, either. Martin changes his characters' motivations at every whim of the plot. Even worse, he continually hints at plot points that he apparently has absolutely no intention of ever actually revealing, because he kills off the one character who could tell us what happened. It's one thing to tantalize your readers, but there had better be a payoff - otherwise, you're just being arrogant.
Part of it is that I *do* get (or try to get) emotionally involved in characters, so when they're killed off I'm unhappy. But worse than that is
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the absolute lack of morality in this story: instead of being punished, evil gets explained away, even rewarded. I realize that sticky-sweet heroes and one-note bad guys are boring, but this is seriously falling off the other side of the horse.The writing isn't very good, either. Martin changes his characters' motivations at every whim of the plot. Even worse, he continually hints at plot points that he apparently has absolutely no intention of ever actually revealing, because he kills off the one character who could tell us what happened. It's one thing to tantalize your readers, but there had better be a payoff - otherwise, you're just being arrogant.
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LibraryThing member -Eva-
What a great ride! Be prepared to deal with ghosts, decapitations, ravens, extortion, royalty, bastards, murder, sisters, accidents (*pause to rush out and buy the other books in the series*), a dwarf, wolf-cubs, marriage, politics, prisoners, cripples, courtiers, slaughter, omens, kidnappings,
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scuffles, a tournament, favors, a tomboy, heat, desert, story-telling, spies, combat, secrets, prisoners, jousts, melees, butchery, treason, sex, madness, brothels, direwolves, assassins, wildlings, prisons, revenge, trial, brothers, duels, assault, vanity, incest, superstition, agony, oaths, death, swords, confinement, blood, rangers, warriors, dragon-eggs, tactics, planning, courage, dungeons, negotiation, zombies, rape, battles, more battles, magic, urchins, premonitions, humiliation, mercy, scheming, desertion, a siege, and love. I think it's safe to say that somewhere in these 800+ pages is at least one topic for every type of reader. I'll not name my favorite character, though, since I understand that would be a direct death-sentence for that character and I'd like them to live. Show Less
LibraryThing member mks27
George R. R. Martin is a master storyteller and his A Game of Thrones is an extraordinary ride! I would not have one word changed. I truly cannot recall reading a book so well plotted. Each and every move was perfect in every way. His writing is descriptive, but not at all in a burdensome way. Here
“ ‘When he comes after you, we will be waiting’—his finger moved an inch to the left— ‘here.’ Here was a hush in the night, moonlight and shadows, a thick carpet of dead leaves underfoot, densely wooded ridges sloping gently down to the streambed, the underbrush thinning as the ground fell away. Here was her son on his stallion, glancing back at her one last time and lifting his sword in salute. Here was the call of Maege Mormont’s warhorn, a long low blast that rolled down the valley from the east to tell them that the last of Jaime’s riders had entered the trap.”
Just perfect for setting the tone and creating mood and atmosphere. The characters are well designed and developed. I felt I knew them close to completely from the start and knowing them in an intimate way, their pain, their fears, and their loves. But really not all, Martin gives his characters some hidden part as well, some things we are never quite sure of, just perfectly done. The themes are not complicated; they are finding the balance between honor and loyalty and love and vengeance. It is the so powerful and eternal struggle between good and evil. The settings are gorgeous and expansive, small and intimate. The fantasy elements seem secondary, hidden, a thing of another age, but that perception ends in a blaze of fire.
I rarely offer 5 stars, but I have no reservations about this one, it is all that and more.
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is an example:“ ‘When he comes after you, we will be waiting’—his finger moved an inch to the left— ‘here.’ Here was a hush in the night, moonlight and shadows, a thick carpet of dead leaves underfoot, densely wooded ridges sloping gently down to the streambed, the underbrush thinning as the ground fell away. Here was her son on his stallion, glancing back at her one last time and lifting his sword in salute. Here was the call of Maege Mormont’s warhorn, a long low blast that rolled down the valley from the east to tell them that the last of Jaime’s riders had entered the trap.”
Just perfect for setting the tone and creating mood and atmosphere. The characters are well designed and developed. I felt I knew them close to completely from the start and knowing them in an intimate way, their pain, their fears, and their loves. But really not all, Martin gives his characters some hidden part as well, some things we are never quite sure of, just perfectly done. The themes are not complicated; they are finding the balance between honor and loyalty and love and vengeance. It is the so powerful and eternal struggle between good and evil. The settings are gorgeous and expansive, small and intimate. The fantasy elements seem secondary, hidden, a thing of another age, but that perception ends in a blaze of fire.
I rarely offer 5 stars, but I have no reservations about this one, it is all that and more.
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LibraryThing member JZL0003
I loved this book, it was not too wordy(although I do think there is something to wordiness) but has a lot of great lines. The plot is both amazingly detailed but even without copious notes or checking the appendix a lot, it is still great. The fans around it are also amazing, every person has a
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detailed synopsis online which, while not neccessarily about the book, is a testa sent to how many people love this. So, overall, really great. My only caveat is there was a lot of unneeded paragraphs about prostitutes and rape, yes that was important at the time but was it really necessary. Some(i won't spoil it for anyone) does sort of advance the plot line but some do not. There's one example where the protagonist is riding through the forest and this hare, is mentioned twice, it doesn't do anything and while I guess it immerses the reader in the environment, I would like to hear more about the twin instead if a place where men "mine" women. I wanted so badly to recommend it to a younger cousin of mine who would love it but I can't because of that. Highly annoying Show Less
LibraryThing member whitebalcony
Considering all the hype around the HBO series I figured this book would probably suck. But it was epic (in every sense of the word). Sucked me in from the first page & then I could not put it down.
LibraryThing member areadingmachine
Saw the show first, actually saw a poster of Sean Bean sitting on the Iron Throne and thought 'sweeet' and then saw the first episode of the show. I then read all the books in quick succession as they came out as if I am given the option to know what happens in a story through reading or wait years
This is a simply stunning book and shows the despite the quality of the HBO series, no show can ever really capture the nuances of such an epic, sprawling tale and the intimacy that a reader can have with the characters who tell it.
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just to watch it I will take the former..This is a simply stunning book and shows the despite the quality of the HBO series, no show can ever really capture the nuances of such an epic, sprawling tale and the intimacy that a reader can have with the characters who tell it.
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LibraryThing member Crowyhead
One of my friends just described this as "alternative medieval universe soap opera," and that's fairly accurate. Like a soap opera, you know it's not Great Literature, but like a good soap opera, that doesn't keep you from getting sucked in and enjoying it mightily. Martin is a fairly pedestrian
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writer, but he manages to create a pack of characters you love to hate (or hate to love), and really it's kind of a ridiculous blast. I'd meant to wait until he'd actually finished the series before I started reading it, but I got drawn in by the TV show and that piqued my curiosity. I'm sure I'll be reading the rest of the series (at least, as much as currently exists) soon enough. Show Less
LibraryThing member iftyzaidi
Prompted by the twin prods of the imminent release of A Dance with Dragons and watching the great TV series, I decided to re-read the series. The first thing that struck me was... well, how pedestrian some of Martin's writing was, particularly his descriptions. Maybe this reaction was the
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inevitable aftereffect of seeing the world so richly and vividly portrayed on TV? Its only later in the book (and somewhat more in the sequels) that GRRM seems to start letting his descriptions take flight a little more (particularly in the scenes beyond the Wall). But ah, the characters, the wonderfully rich, larger-than-life characters! Its them that make the tale. And of course the plotting, with storylines haring off into unexpected directions. The language used to describe the world GRRM creates may be plodding, (though the dialogue generally manages to keep the feel fantasy 'feel' without falling into faux medievalisms) but the depth and detail it is given cannot be faulted. Once one sinks into the story, the book becomes well nigh unputdownable. Show Less
Subjects
Awards
Nebula Award (Nominee — Novel — 1997)
Locus Award (Finalist — Fantasy Novel — 1997)
World Fantasy Award (Nominee — Novel — 1997)
Ignotus Award (Winner — novela extranjera 2003)
Original language
English
Original publication date
1996-08-06
Physical description
6.91 inches
ISBN
0553573403 / 9780553573404