Review: A Game of Thrones – George R. R. Martin
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| Mass Market Paperback: 864 pages Publisher: Bantam; Mti Rep edition (March 22, 2011) Language: English ISBN-10: 0553593714 ISBN-13: 978-0553593716 |
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Synopsis:
A violent, sexually driven medieval kingdom called Westeros, in which the most powerful families battle it out for control of the Iron Throne, and the kingship of Westeros.
Characters:
Eddard Stark – Patriarch of the Stark Family, Hand to King Robert Baratheon, and Lord of Winterfell.
Tyrion Lannister – Dwarf with a smart ass attitude, but seems to be a more decent person than his family.
Review
It took me a long time to get around to reading this book. The mere size of each volume is a bit intimidating. But once you read it, and begin to understand the characters, it becomes quite the addiction. Each chapter focuses on a specific character, and alternates beteen a core group of the characters and how the events relate to them. The characters are very well developed, the plotlines are thrilling, and there are constant cliffhangers.
Unlike many novels though in the fantasy genre, this one doesn’t rely as much on the basic fantasy elements, elves, trolls, orcs, etc. Instead the protagonists are humans, wildlings, and others not yet seen.
Due to a lot of the sexual content and violence though, this is definitely one for older readers, but if you are a fan of edgy fantasy, on an epic scale, then you definitely need to pick up A Game of Thrones.
About the Author
George R.R. Martin sold his first story in 1971 and has been writing professionally since then. He spent ten years in Hollywood as a writer-producer, working on The Twilight Zone, Beauty and the Beast, and various feature films and television pilots that were never made.
In the mid ’90s he returned to prose, his first love, and began work on his epic fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire.
He has been in the Seven Kingdoms ever since. Whenever he’s allowed to leave, he returns to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he lives with the lovely Parris, and two cats named Augustus and Caligula, who think they run the place.
You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.
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May 29th, 2014 at 12:07 am
I recently read a post that the HBO series was “No where near as good as the book.” ok…but it’s still 10 times better than the garbage on network tv.
May 29th, 2014 at 7:30 am
True. The series is like a Reader’s Digest version. Most of the stuff we watch anymore though is on things like HBO, Showtime, A&E. We’ll watch networks for some of the sitcoms (mostly CBS), and some reality shows (Amazing Race, Survivor, Big Brother),
I’ve read the first 3 so far, but have yet to dive into the last two. Reading them is about the equivalent of reading 3 other books.
June 27th, 2014 at 1:22 pm
I have had the book in my kindle forever. I just cannot seem to get in to it. I watched the first few seasons on HBO and loved it. Go figure.
June 27th, 2014 at 2:12 pm
Tina: The first book seems to drag a bit at the beginning, as they introduce all the characters, and you get familiar with the world. But then when the action starts it picks up.
June 27th, 2014 at 2:13 pm
It’s sort of like my go to book when I’m bored. When I have nothing else to do, I’ll read a chapter or two. Maybe one day I’ll get through the first book LOL
June 27th, 2014 at 2:14 pm
R.R. Martin like Stephen King….could use an editor. I don’t like books that meander and take forever to get to the point.
June 27th, 2014 at 2:15 pm
Scott…. I absolutely do not read Stephen King for that same reason. He is the wordiest Author that I’ve ever read.
June 27th, 2014 at 2:16 pm
“Salems Lot” – like 600+ pages. King used up about 120 pages just describing incidentals and the town. That’s grossly inefficient use of the language. I liked his short stories.
June 27th, 2014 at 2:18 pm
Salems Lot was the first scary movie I ever watched. About scared me to death.
June 27th, 2014 at 2:19 pm
I saw it as a kid (the original tv version) on a B&W tv in my bedroom. The floating kid at the window was super creepy.
June 27th, 2014 at 2:20 pm
OMG……. That was the exact scariest part I was just thinking about!
June 27th, 2014 at 2:20 pm
I’m creeped out now just thinking about it
June 27th, 2014 at 2:21 pm
On Game of Thrones, I think book #2 and #3 have been my favorite. #1 seemed to drag in parts, and #4 is dragging a bit. For the last two though, don’t read the character lists if you read them, because they can spoil the books. I’m not sure I like how they split up the stories in 4 and 5. Supposedly they both cover the same time frame, but from a different subset of characters.
June 27th, 2014 at 2:22 pm
I’m not sure how it started, but I have just went back and started reading the whole series of Sookie Stackhouse again. I guess because the last season of true blood just started.