A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1)
by George R.R. Martin
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Book Summary Information
Author: George R.R. MartinEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2002-05-28
ISBN: 0553381687
Number of pages: 720
Publisher: Bantam
Book Reviews of A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1)
Book Review: True Literary Fantasy
Summary: 5 Stars
[There is a thorough review for ASOIAF here on amazon which outlines many significant points, but I thought I'd put out a review in my own words, simply because I care so much about this series.]
A Song of Ice and Fire, by George R. R. Martin consists of:
1. A Game of Thrones (to be aired as the HBO series Game of Thrones on April 17, 2011)
2. A Clash of Kings
3. A Storm of Swords
4. A Feast for Crows
5. A Dance with Dragons (via Martin's "Not a Blog" LiveJournal, he has 3 POV chapters left to finish at the time of this writing.)
6. The Winds of Winter (forthcoming)
7. A Dream of Spring (forthcoming)
What's all the fuss?
This series is the progenitor of a new wave of literature which combines elements of epic fantasy, dark fantasy, and intellectual literary fiction. The idea was to create a true world (in all its color, grit, mystery, politics, realism and so on) through cultured prose, and yet still have all the elements of escapist fantasy; the idea was to create real people with real drama, and insert them into a fantastic reality; the idea was to reinvent the fantasy genre from cliché hack-and-slash/sword-and-sorcery to something original, passionate, and enthralling.
Martin succeeded in these goals, and inspired others to follow in a similar vein: The Malazan Book of the Fallen, The Kingkiller Chronicles, The Prince of Nothing, The Gentleman Bastard, The First Law, etc.
Why so good?
1. Exceptional writing: Martin is a literary master. His prose doesn't just "work," it really inspires. His vocabulary is learned yet approachable. The text inserts me directly into this medieval kingdom. Imagery runs rampant with details galore. Just a very well written story.
2. Believable characters: Grey characters! Real, believable characters with unique dialogue, motivations, and reactions populate this entire series. Martin develops interesting personalities with his talent for voice. These characters come alive within just a few pages of reading their chapters. People change! What a concept!
3. Risk: This is a world of blades and steel, arrows and leather. People die in war. This is a story of politics, intrigue, and betrayal. People are assassinated. Main characters may serve as a central window into the chief plotline, but that certainly doesn't mean that they are safe from harm. Pain and death MEAN something, and Martin loves to make us feel.
4. History: Martin has spent years living in this world, and the history is so rich that the immersion is instant. It's almost disorienting. The details that he has planned out and the meticulousness of the layers within the story are so natural that you cannot help but be in awe.
5. Tactful use of fantasy elements: No "magic missile" spells or "jelly-legs" jinxes here. There are strong fantasy elements, but they are used in tactful, and oftentimes subtle, ways. The supernatural is seen as superstition by most of the characters in the story, and so when something akin to "magic" does show up, it is unique and potent.
6. Details matter: Watch the description of a character, even if you don't know the character's name; they'll show up later. Actually think about what people say; you may be able to find out the answer to a question far before the characters do. Dreams and prophecies may be vague, but they are actually vital! Martin has also acknowledged his use of the unreliable narrator (in fact, he has to use it, in order to make the POV chapters believable); find the inconsistencies between what happens and what characters think, and see the story from a different perspective!
7. Engaging plot: All three main plotlines are exotic and entertaining: the fight for power over Westeros' throne, the exile of the last Targaryen queen, and the threat of the Others in the north. Filled with cliffhangers chapter after chapter, mysteries that need solving, epic moments of badassery, horrible moments of dread, cool one-liners and philosophical quotes, raunchy sex, and violent death, the story is brimming with awesome.
Why doesn't everyone like this series, then?
Virtually every one- or two-star review I have seen (amazon, goodreads, etc.) can be boiled down to one of three categories:
1. "The Fantasy Lover" (a.k.a. "Sex is Nasty" Syndrome)
a. "Ew, it's so gross and disgusting and tragic and there's so much sex and violence and swearing! Where is my damsel being rescued by the handsome, heroic prince? Why do people die? I felt like `washing in industrial cleanser' to get this filth away from me! Fantasy should only be about romantic ideals and have nothing to do with reality... and the good guys should always win!"
b. To you, I say, stop being such a prude. The writing is excellent and appropriate to its content, and the idea is to explore the connection between fantasy and reality. Fantasy does not have an "end purpose" in mind, and you are simply being obstinate about originality and progress. People are not black and white and neither is life; people die, and people are maimed, and people have sex, and people go to the bathroom, and people are raped, and sometimes, the `bad guys' win; however, I think escapist fantasy may be even MORE engaging when combined with those aspects of reality... and that is an opinion enjoyed by millions of people.
2. "The Whiner" (a.k.a. "The Author is My Bitch" Syndrome)
a. "It's been five years since the last book, and Martin is fat and old, and he has his fingers in so many pies, and he doesn't care about the series anymore, and he's just trying to milk it, and why can't he finish it already, and I could have the next book written by now, and and and and and...."
b. To you, I say, no, the author is not your slave. Your buying his books did not indenture him into servitude, nor did it oblige a contract. He writes when he writes, and you read when he's done. Complaining about it [timing, his other projects, etc.] makes you look pathetic, silly, and a tad bit unstable. It's like trying to intimidate a world-renowned TV chef to finish his/her magnum opus because you just want lunch on your TV tray, damnit! How full of yourself do you have to be?
c. Also, the books do not deserve a one star rating simply because they aren't coming out as fast as you want.
3. "The Pragmatist" (a.k.a. "But Reading Takes So Much Time!" Syndrome)
a. "The first book is 800 pages, and they just get longer from there; there's no end in sight for the series and no single book tells a full story; there's too much exposition with too much `backstory'; the plot is so slow!"
b. To you, I say... well, this might actually be a valid concern for some people. The story IS huge... but in case you didn't see the genre description, it is EPIC fantasy, and Martin has himself described it as having a "cast of thousands." The advantages of longer books are that characters can develop into fully fleshed out beings and that a fictional world can become, in some part, real. It's also a huge story in terms of scope - the synopsis states it simply enough: "...where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime...."
Minor Spoilers on Individual Books:
A Game of Thrones
A brilliant first book, this begins each of the three main plots. For the first plot, the main house we deal with here is the Starks, the house "in charge" of the North. For the second plot, we are introduced to the naiveté of Daenerys (Duh-NAIR-iss) and for the third, we get to see the shabby condition of the Night's Watch. Though each plot develops independently, it is easy to see how they interconnect. The characters really drive this piece, and it is a true trip for anyone, new or old, to the genre. A 5 star book if there ever was one.
Obliviously, I not only recommend this specific book, but the entire series. All the best, and happy reading!
Summary of A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1)
A NEW ORIGINAL SERIES, NOW ON HBO.Here is the first volume in George R. R. Martin?s magnificent cycle of novels that includes A Clash of Kings and A Storm of Swords. As a whole, this series comprises a genuine masterpiece of modern fantasy, bringing together the best the genre has to offer. Magic, mystery, intrigue, romance, and adventure fill these pages and transport us to a world unlike any we have ever experienced. Already hailed as a classic, George R. R. Martin?s stunning series is destined to stand as one of the great achievements of imaginative fiction.
A GAME OF THRONES
Long ago, in a time forgotten, a preternatural event threw the seasons out of balance. In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom?s protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens.
Here an enigmatic band of warriors bear swords of no human metal; a tribe of fierce wildlings carry men off into madness; a cruel young dragon prince barters his sister to win back his throne; and a determined woman undertakes the most treacherous of journeys. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.
Readers of epic fantasy series are: (1) patient--they are left in suspense between each volume, (2) persistent--they reread or at least review the previous book(s) when a new installment comes out, (3) strong--these 700-page doorstoppers are heavy, and (4) mentally agile--they follow a host of characters through a myriad of subplots. 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. So, on to A Clash of Kings! --Nona Vero
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