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Title: A Game of Thrones by GEORGE R.R. MARTIN, ROY DOTRICE ISBN: 0-7393-0868-8 Publisher: Random House Audio Pub. Date: 13 January, 2004 Format: Audio Cassette Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $54.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.53 (1056 reviews)
Rating: 1
Summary: Gah....
Comment: I picked up (and nearly dropped, it was so heavy) the hardcover of "A Game of Thrones" in my library, thought it sounded interesting, and read it. Having finished this book, I can honestly say I have no idea what everyone is so excited about. As far as I'm concerned, it's merely another addition to the long list of shelf-breaking 'epic fantasy' writers who don't know when to shut up (Robert Jordan, Kate Elliot, Terry Goodkind...please stand up).
800 pages of prose would tire anyone, but once again my chief complaint against this novel is that it was boring. The political machinations of the Starks and the Lannisters for control of the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms (woah, capital letters, woah, impressive) make up most of the 'action' of this first of six volumes, and in most cases it's like watching paint dry, except when they actually get around to killing each other, which they do with depressing regularity. Meanwhile, in the south, the interesting characters (Daenerys) are given short shrift.
I say intersting characters, but as far as I'm concerned Daenerys is the only one. People regularly praise George R. R. Martin for his characters, and I would be an idiot not to grant that they are very well-drawn. That said, I've never met a more off-putting bunch in my life. When they're not being infuriatingly dumb, they're being abhorrent, and I'm not talking about the infamous 'sex and violence,' of Wolfe's writing, which frankly I found no worse (if that's the word) than anything else out there. And, vis-a-vis sex and violence, if you find incest shocking, you haven't watched anime lately. Or, for that matter, read a history book. The real-life machinations of Europe's crowned families, in my opinion, make for far better reading than "A Song of Ice and Fire."
The whole point of epic fantasy is to keep stringing the reader along so that, even after 800 (or more) pages, she or he is still willing and eager to shell out more moolah for the next magnum opus. Martin's book utterly failed to do this for me. I couldn't care less about what happens to any of these people or their little world. There is epic fantasy I have enjoyed (Terry Goodkind, for one, and Michelle West in particular, for another), but it's not this stuff, which is just the same old, same old, repackaged in a shinier wrapper. The second book in this series, "A Clash of Kings," lost out to J. K. Rowling's "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" for the Hugo Award, and I couldn't applaud the decision more. Like Martin, Rowling's work is not totally original, but hers is far more innovative, and compelling.
Rating: 4
Summary: Engaging Fantasy Story
Comment: I've read many novels of high fantasy, but I've only found a few that make you care about the characters. "A Game of Thrones" is one of those few. Some of the reviewers here have complained that the characters and plot aren't original. While they may have a point, what matters is that Martin actually draws the reader into the story, and makes you feel the anger, fear, and triumph of the people involved. I have two favorite characters. The first in Arya, a tough-minded young princess who's more interested in swordfighting than in the maidenly arts, which leads to conflict with here uptight sister. The second is Tyrion, a dwarf whose quick and agile mind make up for his physical handicaps. Although he is one of the villanous Lannisters, you can't help but like him by the end of the story.
The story involves two great houses, the Starks and the Lannisters, who compete for influence and control. There are also several intriguing subplots dealing with other forces that threaten to intrude upon the Seven Kingdoms where the main action takes place. There are several big surprises in the book that catch you off guard. I should warn you that several of the plotlines are not wrapped up neatly at the conclusion, so you might want to have the sequel, "A Clash of Kings", available as soon as you finish.
My one complaint with this book is that the beginning is too long and features too much exposition, while parts of the ending seem rushed. In particular, I really felt shortchanged by two battle scenes at the conclusion. If less time had been spent on some rather plodding dialogue at the start, the novel might flow a little bit better.
Rating: 5
Summary: a humble opinion
Comment: This book is so well written, Martin has a great way of getting the reader involved with so many different characters. From the first page, I was hooked and could not put it down until I was finished. I'm looking forward to reading the other books as soon as I find a free moment in my hectic life.
Here are some comparisons I have made:
(1) If you enjoyed the strategy, and manipulation of books like Shogun and The Godfather, then this book is for you.
(2) If you liked reading Lord of the Rings then this book is for you... keep in mind that this book is not "orc and goblin" fantasy, it's more knights, kings and queens, which for me is a plus!
Read this book... you won't regret it!
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Title: A Clash of Kings (A Song of Fire and Ice, Book 2) by George R. R. Martin ISBN: 0553579908 Publisher: Spectra Books Pub. Date: 05 September, 2000 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 3) by George R. R. Martin ISBN: 055357342X Publisher: Spectra Books Pub. Date: 04 March, 2003 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 4) by George R. R. Martin ISBN: 0553801503 Publisher: Spectra Books Pub. Date: 24 June, 2004 List Price(USD): $28.00 |
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Title: New Spring (A Wheel of Time Prequel Novel) by Robert Jordan ISBN: 0765306298 Publisher: Tor Books Pub. Date: 06 January, 2004 List Price(USD): $22.95 |
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Title: Assassin's Apprentice (The Farseer Trilogy, Book 1) by Robin Hobb ISBN: 055357339X Publisher: Spectra Books Pub. Date: 01 April, 1996 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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