A Game of Thrones - A Song of Ice and Fire
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A Game of Thrones - A Song of Ice and Fire
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(5 Votes)In A Game of Thrones, the first book of a projected six, George R.R. Martin rewards readers with a vividly real world,
well-drawn characters, complex but coherent plotting, and beautifully constructed prose, which Locus called "well above the norms of the genre."
Martin's Seven Kingdoms resemble England during the Wars of the Roses, with the Stark and Lannister families standing in for the Yorks and Lancasters.
The story of these two families and their struggle to control the Iron Throne dominates the foreground;
in the background is a huge, ancient wall marking the northern border, beyond which barbarians, ice vampires,
and direwolves menace the south as years-long winter advances.
Abroad, a dragon princess lives among horse nomads and dreams of fiery reconquest.
There is much bloodshed, cruelty, and death, but A Game of Thrones is nevertheless compelling;
it garnered a Nebula nomination and won the 1996 Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel.
Altorian | 
06/08/2011
One thing I won't do in this "review" is list, or rather reiterate, the pros and cons of this work of literature; MISTER SJEM "sonofhotpie" has done a well enough job of that already. Instead, I will warn other readers mainly about the dark philosophy and heavy pornography of this book, with some my own views on the sex, along with a heavy dose of underlying cynicism that laughs in the face of chivalry and religious doctrine. First off, I would like to warn Tolkien fans that this is no book of brave men and high elves with mythical swords fighting the foul orcs and mad wizards of Middle Earth. In fact, there are even no clear antagonists nor protagonists in the entirety of the novel, and black and white morals are mixed in an apathetic grey area defined by the philosophy of Realpolitik. This book jests at the truly pious and wicked men, making them mere cardboard characters beside the cunning and the ambitious. Its underlying message seem to say that real wars are fought in the bedroom and behind closed doors, not out on the battlefield. This book is a possible analogy to modern politics. To the parents; this book is so sinful and vile and truthful that no child could ever read it with getting lifelong scars. Child pornography, whorehouses, and homosexuality are in this book, with the first two fairly often and in explicit detail. This is no Ranger's Apprentice, I Am Number Four, or Twilight, the stereotypically shallow books that have come to define the teenage Fantasy/Sci-Fi genre. This is as explicit as the sex slave trafficking in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. However "deep" and real this may be, I do have some problems with it. I understand that the author Martin is trying make the real, cruel world stand out and slap us Bourgeoisie in the face, but perhaps he overdid it to a point where we can no longer relate to it, and it becomes as shallow as any pornographic video. Scenes of poor adolescent blondes being gang raped are reduced to lustful mental images that give erections to male readers, horror to female ones, and more cash to the writer. In short, this book is not a High Fantasy novel of the norm, but rather a heavily callous story that only the deepest and most cynical of readers can enjoy. If you want to keep your virginity or want to read a good action novel, this is NOT for you. This book is about as brutal and morbid as an Fantasy/Sci-Fi novel can be, surpassing even the novels of the Black Library, and so probably will remain as controversial as any great classic should be.
06/08/2011
One thing I won't do in this "review" is list, or rather reiterate, the pros and cons of this work of literature; MISTER SJEM "sonofhotpie" has done a well enough job of that already. Instead, I will warn other readers mainly about the dark philosophy and heavy pornography of this book, with some my own views on the sex, along with a heavy dose of underlying cynicism that laughs in the face of chivalry and religious doctrine. First off, I would like to warn Tolkien fans that this is no book of brave men and high elves with mythical swords fighting the foul orcs and mad wizards of Middle Earth. In fact, there are even no clear antagonists nor protagonists in the entirety of the novel, and black and white morals are mixed in an apathetic grey area defined by the philosophy of Realpolitik. This book jests at the truly pious and wicked men, making them mere cardboard characters beside the cunning and the ambitious. Its underlying message seem to say that real wars are fought in the bedroom and behind closed doors, not out on the battlefield. This book is a possible analogy to modern politics. To the parents; this book is so sinful and vile and truthful that no child could ever read it with getting lifelong scars. Child pornography, whorehouses, and homosexuality are in this book, with the first two fairly often and in explicit detail. This is no Ranger's Apprentice, I Am Number Four, or Twilight, the stereotypically shallow books that have come to define the teenage Fantasy/Sci-Fi genre. This is as explicit as the sex slave trafficking in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. However "deep" and real this may be, I do have some problems with it. I understand that the author Martin is trying make the real, cruel world stand out and slap us Bourgeoisie in the face, but perhaps he overdid it to a point where we can no longer relate to it, and it becomes as shallow as any pornographic video. Scenes of poor adolescent blondes being gang raped are reduced to lustful mental images that give erections to male readers, horror to female ones, and more cash to the writer. In short, this book is not a High Fantasy novel of the norm, but rather a heavily callous story that only the deepest and most cynical of readers can enjoy. If you want to keep your virginity or want to read a good action novel, this is NOT for you. This book is about as brutal and morbid as an Fantasy/Sci-Fi novel can be, surpassing even the novels of the Black Library, and so probably will remain as controversial as any great classic should be.
Samuel |
02/08/2011
Was this really compared to J.R.R Tolkien's masterpiece? If this series didn't have such a huge folowing, I would think it was a joke of a comparison! After 110 pages, there are already three sex scenes. The first was more of an after sex scene which I thought was well done and showed Eddard and Cathlyn's relationship. I liked that. But then we get to the incest on pages 84 and 85. Listen dude I understand if you want to stick with the times but why in the world do you have to be so descriptive? I don't want to read about a brother burying his face in sister's breast and hanging down low and hurting her. It was unnecessary. I know the Lannisters are suppose to be evil characters but from the descriptions, you get a sick feeling that the author actually enjoys writing about incest. Finally, let's not forget Dany and Drogo making love on page 108: "She took his hand and moved it down to the wetness between her thighs" and "Yes," she whispered as she put his fingers inside her." Wtf? This is child pornography. If Martin wanted to go with smut, he should have done it with Eddard and Cathelyn and not some thirteen-year-old girl! He did not need to be that descriptive.
02/08/2011
Was this really compared to J.R.R Tolkien's masterpiece? If this series didn't have such a huge folowing, I would think it was a joke of a comparison! After 110 pages, there are already three sex scenes. The first was more of an after sex scene which I thought was well done and showed Eddard and Cathlyn's relationship. I liked that. But then we get to the incest on pages 84 and 85. Listen dude I understand if you want to stick with the times but why in the world do you have to be so descriptive? I don't want to read about a brother burying his face in sister's breast and hanging down low and hurting her. It was unnecessary. I know the Lannisters are suppose to be evil characters but from the descriptions, you get a sick feeling that the author actually enjoys writing about incest. Finally, let's not forget Dany and Drogo making love on page 108: "She took his hand and moved it down to the wetness between her thighs" and "Yes," she whispered as she put his fingers inside her." Wtf? This is child pornography. If Martin wanted to go with smut, he should have done it with Eddard and Cathelyn and not some thirteen-year-old girl! He did not need to be that descriptive.
Jean1960 "Jean" |
01/08/2011
What can I say that hasn't already been said in the 2,000 + reviews before this? Nothing really. So I'll just say that it's a wonderful way to escape from my boring life into a world of knights, kings, queens, dragons and magic. I haven't read such a good fantasy book series in a long time, since the Lord of the Rings when I was in high school. It's escapism at it's best. It's a fantasy, so just let yourself enjoy it. I did!
01/08/2011
What can I say that hasn't already been said in the 2,000 + reviews before this? Nothing really. So I'll just say that it's a wonderful way to escape from my boring life into a world of knights, kings, queens, dragons and magic. I haven't read such a good fantasy book series in a long time, since the Lord of the Rings when I was in high school. It's escapism at it's best. It's a fantasy, so just let yourself enjoy it. I did!
grumpy old man | 
31/07/2011
Book four was terrible. The last book (thank goodness) was worse. He leaves us with all the heros dead, no conclusions to any issues, Dannery wandering who knows where with her Dragon, the other two dragons gone where? No conclusions on the trials of Cersie, no resolution of the fight with the wights at the wall. It is as if he just ran out of energy and said "lets stop now". I will not read him again.
31/07/2011
Book four was terrible. The last book (thank goodness) was worse. He leaves us with all the heros dead, no conclusions to any issues, Dannery wandering who knows where with her Dragon, the other two dragons gone where? No conclusions on the trials of Cersie, no resolution of the fight with the wights at the wall. It is as if he just ran out of energy and said "lets stop now". I will not read him again.
A. Ryan "Merribelle" |
06/08/2003
I spent quite a while staring at the blank screen in front of me to come up with a fitting description of A Game of Thrones by George RR Martin. Should I compare it to the classic Lord of the Rings for its impressively epic scope? Would it be best to focus on the honest, often painful humanity of the many characters - so rare in a fantasy novel - that personalizes each point of view? Perhaps I could impress other customers here with the sheer brilliance of a plot that weaves so many seemingly disparate stories together to form a believable alternate universe in which not only politics, intrigue, war, adventure and romance can coexist plausibly, but magic as well. How could I do such a work justice? I might as well get this part out of the way first. Obligatory Synopsis: in a fantasy continent that bears a familiarity to Middle Ages England, Winter is coming. Winter in this world means a sort of mini ice age that will last for seven years before receding. In the always-frosty Northern area, the races of nonhuman beings are gathering to advance with the snows; there are hints that there is an ancient, evil power behind their forces. At the same time in the South, political infighting for the Throne has begun. Overseas, the daughter of the dispossessed former King is maneuvering forces of her own for a bid for the throne. All this is told through the various stories of both "good guys" and not-so-good guys. For starters, AGOT can't be accurately compared to any other book or series in the Fantasy genre (not without insulting it). The nearest thing of its type is the laborious Wheel of Time series by Jordan - see what I mean? And yet this first in the Song of Ice and Fire series is fathoms above that aimless, droning style. Martin has perfected what Jordan had arguably introduced; the multiple characters' points of view telling the vast saga on an intimate, up-close scale. Never did I feel that I was being strung along, but rather lead by increments toward an incredible revelation somewhere up ahead. Martin builds the suspense masterfully in each book. But by far the most striking thing about the Song of Ice and Fire is the "rules" that the author breaks. Martin is not afraid to tell the tale from the point of view of some very unlikable, even immoral characters. He is bold about revealing facts from a character's past that challenge one's impressions and assumptions about their ethics. He does not lay all his cards on the table up front, but rather unexpectedly reveals details that later change the whole picture and twist the plot admirably. And his most unusual move: this author even allows "favorites" to die occasionally (no names here...)! These risks pay off well to serve the story as a whole, bring a sense of true humanity to the people of this world and drive the reader on to the next series installment. It's just too bad that I can't magically transplant my sense of admiration for AGOT onto this page. Hopefully, you are intrigued enough to give it a try; it would be a shame to miss what IMHO could be the best series of the decade. -Andrea, aka Merribelle
06/08/2003
I spent quite a while staring at the blank screen in front of me to come up with a fitting description of A Game of Thrones by George RR Martin. Should I compare it to the classic Lord of the Rings for its impressively epic scope? Would it be best to focus on the honest, often painful humanity of the many characters - so rare in a fantasy novel - that personalizes each point of view? Perhaps I could impress other customers here with the sheer brilliance of a plot that weaves so many seemingly disparate stories together to form a believable alternate universe in which not only politics, intrigue, war, adventure and romance can coexist plausibly, but magic as well. How could I do such a work justice? I might as well get this part out of the way first. Obligatory Synopsis: in a fantasy continent that bears a familiarity to Middle Ages England, Winter is coming. Winter in this world means a sort of mini ice age that will last for seven years before receding. In the always-frosty Northern area, the races of nonhuman beings are gathering to advance with the snows; there are hints that there is an ancient, evil power behind their forces. At the same time in the South, political infighting for the Throne has begun. Overseas, the daughter of the dispossessed former King is maneuvering forces of her own for a bid for the throne. All this is told through the various stories of both "good guys" and not-so-good guys. For starters, AGOT can't be accurately compared to any other book or series in the Fantasy genre (not without insulting it). The nearest thing of its type is the laborious Wheel of Time series by Jordan - see what I mean? And yet this first in the Song of Ice and Fire series is fathoms above that aimless, droning style. Martin has perfected what Jordan had arguably introduced; the multiple characters' points of view telling the vast saga on an intimate, up-close scale. Never did I feel that I was being strung along, but rather lead by increments toward an incredible revelation somewhere up ahead. Martin builds the suspense masterfully in each book. But by far the most striking thing about the Song of Ice and Fire is the "rules" that the author breaks. Martin is not afraid to tell the tale from the point of view of some very unlikable, even immoral characters. He is bold about revealing facts from a character's past that challenge one's impressions and assumptions about their ethics. He does not lay all his cards on the table up front, but rather unexpectedly reveals details that later change the whole picture and twist the plot admirably. And his most unusual move: this author even allows "favorites" to die occasionally (no names here...)! These risks pay off well to serve the story as a whole, bring a sense of true humanity to the people of this world and drive the reader on to the next series installment. It's just too bad that I can't magically transplant my sense of admiration for AGOT onto this page. Hopefully, you are intrigued enough to give it a try; it would be a shame to miss what IMHO could be the best series of the decade. -Andrea, aka Merribelle
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