A Game of Thrones

Okay, I am well aware that I am very very late to this party – I have never watched the TV phenomenon Game of Thrones and never had any interest in it. But at some point, *something* made me buy the first book in the series, so long ago that I don’t remember getting it. I’ve never been inspired to pick it up before now, but then I decided to do so on a whim. I didn’t expect to enjoy it and I told myself that if I wasn’t interested after about the first 50 pages, I would allow myself to not finish it (I hardly ever leave a book unfinished no matter how little I’m enjoying it).

Anyhow, by the time I got to 50 pages in I was completely hooked! I absolutely loved the politics, the machinations, the characters and the strategies show more they employed – everything! Essentially it boils down to a battle for power among various families in the Seven Kingdoms. Each family has their reason for believing that they should be the ruling power, and they are each prepared to go to war for it, and do whatever is necessary.

My favourite characters were Ned Stark and Tyrion Lannister, but I loved how all of the characters were so well developed. The chapters alternate between different characters’ points of view and situations, so we get to see situations from all sides. And it’s the beginning of the series! I’ll probably give it six months and then start on the second book, and of course I definitely need to watch the show now.

Given that fantasy is one of my least favourite genres, and one I rarely read, I was surprised myself with how much I enjoyed this, even though I felt towards the end that it was just a *tad* too long, possibly. But it was captivating, thrilling and I was totally absorbed. Definitely recommended. show less

So, okay, now I know.

This book's pacing and conflict is extremely well managed. The characters were likeable but the crux of everything is GRRM's ability to have situations get worse and worse while still somehow staying in the reins. Another thing is that through all the death and emotional scars, the characters are able to persevere without the story devolving into a lost-in-the-wilderness mopefest––that's the easy way to deal with trauma in a novel imo and I was super impressed that it wasn't taken.

What's hard and what GRRM does best is keep the train on the tracks. He keeps the balls rolling. I don't care how many characters you off, if the plot keeps rolling on and there are still the peaks and valleys that keep things show more interesting, then you've done well.

Great stuff.

On a side note: the original covers are atrocious. I'm a fan of fantasy but there's a reason that so many people had no idea that these books were so good before they got the HBO treatment; the covers are super super ugly. I don't know whose idea it was to put a black silhouette on a cheesy photoshop orange gradient but it's that kind of business that would've had this sloshing around the slums of self-publishing nowadays. show less

The book that opened the door.

This was the first fantasy book I ever read. Not the first fantasy book that year or as an adult. The first. I grew up on literary fiction and the occasional thriller. Dragons, castles, and direwolves belonged to other people; readers I assumed were more patient or more childish than me.

Then a high school friend would not stop talking about this TV show. Game of Thrones, he called it. "You have to watch it," he said. "People die. Everyone dies. It's amazing." I was curious, but I had a rule: I read the book before watching the adaptation. So I picked up A Game of Thrones instead of turning on the screen.

That decision changed everything.

The prologue: three men of the Night's Watch riding through a forest, a show more dead boy with blue eyes, a cold that should not exist, hooked me by the throat. I did not look up again until I had finished all five published books. And then I sat in silence, furious that the sixth was not waiting for me. (My friend, meanwhile, had watched the first season and kept asking, "Are you caught up yet?" I was two books ahead and never looked back.)

What it is:

The continent of Westeros. Summer has lasted a decade, but whispers of winter creep from the north. King Robert Baratheon, who won the throne through rebellion, travels to Winterfell to ask his old friend Eddard "Ned" Stark to become his Hand (chief advisor). Ned accepts, leaving his frozen home for the viper pit of King's Landing. Meanwhile, across the Narrow Sea, the exiled princess Daenerys Targaryen is sold into marriage to a Dothraki warlord and begins to discover that fire does not forget. And at the edge of the world, a wall of ice guards against... something.

Why it worked for me as a fantasy beginner (and a book-before-show purist):

1. The magic is barely there. Early on, you could almost mistake this for historical fiction. The Wall is just ice. The dragons are bones. The zombies (wights) appear in the prologue and then vanish for hundreds of pages. Martin eases you in. By the time the supernatural becomes undeniable, you are already too invested to question it.

2. The characters feel real. Ned Stark makes stupid decisions because he believes in honor. Tyrion is a dwarf who uses wit as armor. Arya is a nine-year-old girl who witnesses her father's execution and begins a kill list. No one has plot armor. The first time a "main character" died, I reread the page four times. I had never experienced that in a book before. It was terrifying and addictive.

3. The politics are the plot. I do not care about magic systems or sword fights. I care about people making choices under pressure. Martin gives you that in spades. The small council meetings, the whispered betrayals, the marriage alliances that curdle into war; I ate it all up. This was not the fantasy I had dismissed. It was The Sopranos with swords.

Reading the book before watching the show (a small victory):

I am glad I read A Game of Thrones first. The first season of the show is remarkably faithful, but the book gives you interiority: Ned's doubts, Tyrion's self-loathing, Sansa's desperate illusions, Daenerys's dawning strength. You understand why people make the choices they do. And when the show eventually diverged (and later collapsed), I had the books to return to. My friend watched the final season and despaired. I read A Dance with Dragons again and sighed. We are not the same.

The rest of the series (a quick note for the curious):

I did not stop at A Game of Thrones. I read A Clash of Kings (more war, more prophecies, more heartbreak). I read A Storm of Swords, which contains the two most devastating sequences I have ever encountered in fiction. I read A Feast for Crows, which disappointed me at first because my favorite characters were missing and then I reread it and realized it was the most thematically rich of the five. I read A Dance with Dragons, which ends on a dozen cliffhangers and a feeling of vast, terrible waiting.

And now I wait with everyone else. I have been waiting for years. I will likely wait for years more. And I will do it gladly, because this series taught me that fantasy is not a genre of escape. It is a genre of confrontation—with power, with violence, with the choices we make when the rules fall away.

Where the first book stumbles (honest, even as a fan):

1. The first 200 pages are a feast. Literally. The visit to Winterfell, the journey south, the tournament; it is slow. If I had not been told to push through (by my friend, who kept promising "it gets crazy"), I might have quit. Do not quit.

2. The ages are absurd. Daenerys is thirteen when she is sold and pregnant. Robb and Jon are fifteen. This is historically accurate for medieval settings, but it is jarring for modern readers. Martin has said he wishes he had aged them up.

3. The prose is not beautiful. Martin writes clearly, not lyrically. If you love Rothfuss or Kay for their sentences, you will find Martin workmanlike. He is a plotter and a worldbuilder, not a stylist.

Who should read this (especially if you are new to fantasy like I was):

Anyone who has dismissed fantasy as "too silly" or "too childish".
Readers who love political drama, family sagas, and moral ambiguity.
People who are not afraid of long books and longer waits.

Who should skip it:

If you need a finished series (you have been warned).
If graphic violence, sexual assault, or child death are dealbreakers.
If you hate multiple POVs and complex family trees.

Final verdict:

A Game of Thrones opened a door for me. Behind it was not a fairy tale. It was a world of gray morality, shocking consequences, and characters who felt like people I had known for years. I have since read hundreds of fantasy books: Sanderson, Rothfuss, Kay, Hobb, Abercrombie. But the first one remains special. Not because it is flawless. Because it showed me what I had been missing.

Five stars. For the boy with the sword, the girl with the dragons, and the dwarf who just wants to live. And for my high school friend, who wanted me to watch a show and accidentally launched me into a lifetime of reading fantasy instead.

Winter came. I read it first. Then I watched. And I am still here, waiting for spring.

P.S. If you have only watched the show, the books are still worth your time. The show diverges after season one, then utterly collapses. The books are richer, stranger, and (so far) more coherent. Start from page one. The prologue alone is worth it. show less

Ever since being published in 1996 George R.R Martin’s first volume of his epic A Song of Ice and Fire series has been reviewed countless times (usually glowing reviews I might add), has been the subject of a number of ongoing reread projects, a lavish HBO mini series and a comic book. I’m not sure that I can really add a lot to all that, but I’ll give it a try.

This is about the 5th or 6th time I’ve read A Game of Thrones (apparently the wonderfully tolerant and accepting people over at SFFWorld seem to think I know nothing about the book, so read on at your own peril) and each time I find myself struck by the sheer brilliance of the writing. George R.R Martin had already created a detailed history for his world of Westeros by show more the time he had the vision that led to him writing the books and it shows here. His marvellous descriptions of what has gone before in Westeros recent and ancient history are worth the purchase price alone. Add to that the game of political intrigue, a slightly stylised depiction of medieval life and some of the most detailed shades of grey characters I’ve ever been privileged to read and you have an almost flawless piece of writing.

For those few who haven’t read the book, or aren’t aware of it’s plot here goes. The story is set on the giant continent of Westeros where seasons last for years, not months. The current summer has lasted nearly a decade, but winter will come and when it does it will be long and hard. After a period of relative political stability Westeros is about to be plunged into a deadly conflict for the crown, the game of thrones is about to begin.

The story is told from the point of view of 8 of it’s major characters: Eddard Stark, the Lord of Winterfell, stiff necked and honourable to a fault, Ned is in no way equipped for the dangerous political intrigues he’s about to step into. Lady Catelyn Stark, Ned’s faithful wife, who will be tested to her very limits as she desperately tries to protect her children from those who would use them as pawns to further their own ends. Jon Snow, Ned Stark’s baseborn son, who elects a life of hardship and struggle as a Sworn Brother of the Night’s Watch, manning the Wall to Westeros’ far north and keeping the kingdom safe from the wildlings and Others that live in the frozen wastes beyond the Wall. Sansa Stark, Ned and Catelyn’s oldest daughter, who goes south with dreams of valiant and chivalrous knights only to find out that the stories are not real. Arya Stark, Ned and Catelyn’s rebellious tomboyish younger daughter, who will have to learn how to survive without any help, if she is to survive at all. Bran Stark, middle child of Ned and Cat, suffers a severe injury early on in the book, and becomes far more responsible than any child of his age should ever have to be. Tyrion Lannister, the dwarf son of powerful Lord Tywin Lannister, Tyrion relies on his wits and silver tongue to keep himself alive and propel him upward in the game of thrones. Daenerys Targaryen, the last surviving heir to the Targaryen Dynasty is far away to the east, married to the feared Dothraki horselord Khal Drogo, Dany is much more than a pawn, she’s a major player, she may be young, but she wants what she believes is rightly hers; the throne of Westeros.

It’s not just these PoV (Point of View) characters that make the story come alive, it’s the others that Martin peoples his narrative with. Characters like the scheming Petyr ‘Littlefinger’ Baelish, the dangerous and mysterious sellsword Bronn, former first sword of Braavos, turned sword teacher; Syrio Forel, the less than honourable knight of the Kingsguard Ser Jaime Lannister and his vicious twin sister Queen Cersei, the scarred vengeance seeking Sandor ‘The Hound’ Clegane, Ned’s oldest son Robb Stark, the heir to Winterfell, the list goes on and on.

The book is heavy on the political intrigue and the action along with all the pomp and ceremony of the age and light on the magic. Magic does exist in the world, but it’s not the driving force that it is in many other epic fantasy's of the time. Martin doesn’t pull punches and there are shocks galore throughout the book’s 600+ pages. Key characters do die and others do things that you wouldn’t expect of them. Many of Martin’s characters are shades of grey, rather than black or white, and it makes for interesting and absorbing reading. I’m left breathless every time I finish this book and never regret a single minute of the time spent reading it.

I can’t recommend it too highly and the only warning I have is that since the 3rd volume (A Storm of Swords) Martin has slowed down considerably (the 4th book; AA Feast for Crows took 5 years to come out and the 5th; A Dance with Dragons almost 6), the books are frustratingly addictive, so savour them and be prepared to wait for the next instalment.

Joe Abercrombie’s gritty trilogy and subsequent standalone volumes have been influenced by A Song of Ice and Fire, although he also owes a lot to Glen Cook’s Black Company series, and Martin himself has said that Tad William’s Tolkien homage Memory, Sorrow and Thorn inspired him and made him see that there was a viable market for BFF (Big Fat Fantasy) if anyone was minded to try and write one. show less

I had a difficult time starting this book. I read the first ten pages probably a gazillion times, on different eReaders. Once I got through the first chapter, I was hooked. This is exactly the kind of book I enjoy reading.

Martin takes the reader through a variety of different characters, each with their own subplots, each indispensable to the over arching plot of the book, and the overarching plot of the series. Each character speaks with his or her own voice, and has his or her own motivations. With as many characters as there is, one would think it difficult to keep track of all the different details, but Martin's writing was so smooth, I found it easy to follow everything - and difficult to put the book down!

His writing style was show more reminiscent of Tamora Pierce's, and his crafting of characters and scenery felt even Tolkien-esque. I found myself completely emerged in the threat of winter, even though where I live, it is unmistakably summer! I cannot praise him enough.

One thing Martin does dare - and I found it successful though others have not - is write a fantasy novel without traces of common fantastical elements - all these things are lost. There is no more magic, and dragons have not been seen in a millennium. Yet in the typical medieval setting, Martin maintains the feel of fantasy without these elements, and that is no small feat. Martin also shows enough of a battle to allow the reader to experience it, but without becoming monotonous.

I have read reviews that criticize Martin's use of sexual imagery, and the abuse of one character in particular. I acknowledge these remarks, but I do not find them to be enough to be a turn-off from the book. Any mention of a sexual encounter is brief and tasteful (unlike too many other fantasy books I have read) and it is relevant to the plot. Actually, I found it a bit refreshing to not be plunged into unnecessary erotica in the middle of a fantastic plotline! But that is my opinion, and I do not wish to belittle other people who were offended by it - their opinions are equally valid.

This is no book for children, and teens and young adult who are not advanced readers or bear a special love for works such as Tolkien will find the book tedious, I believe. For those of us with a love for fantasy and expert writing, A Game of Thrones is an absolute treat. show less

Highly Recommended

“Bran thought about it. 'Can a man still be brave if he's afraid?'
'That is the only time a man can be brave,' his father told him.”

In the Land of Westeros, kings and knights, lords and ladies, sorcerers and assassins struggle for control of the Seven Kingdoms. But even as the leadership of the kingdom becomes contentious, the coming winter of this uncommon land – a winter that can stretch for decades – brings with it a preternatural threat even larger than the potential war between the great houses of the land. That evil has seemingly awoken just beyond the great northern protective wall. And although the Starks of the northern realm of Winterfell do not wish to engage in conflicts, they are destined to be at show more the center of the brewing conflagration that threatens to destroy all of the kingdoms.

A Game of Thrones is the first book in George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, which currently totals five books in an expected seven book epic fantasy tale. With the first five books totaling roughly 5,000 pages, it is one gigantic story. Predictably, this first volume spends a great deal of time setting up the stage pieces. In spite of this, Martin does an admirable job of keeping the story moving and providing plenty of action and drama while introducing a dizzying number of characters, locations and events.

Fortunately, Martin avoids many of the clichéd fantasy traps by focusing on a powerful one-two writing punch – compelling characters and an unpredictable plot. I never found myself bored during the 783 page tome. Whether it was the struggles of the Stark children, the political misery of King Robert Baratheon, the sinister agenda of Queen Cersei Lannister and her family, there are so many intertwined plots and characters, each with their own fascinating story. One of the most captivating characters is Tyrion Lannister – known as “The Imp” for his diminutive size – who possesses a cunning mind and a sharp tongue. What makes him so enjoyable read about is that never once in the entire story was I completely certain of what his real agenda was. Better yet, I’m not sure he knows either. It is this cast of absorbing characters that drives the story. Add to this Martin’s propensity to zig just when you are expecting him to zag, and we have an engrossing story.

Inevitably and unfairly, all fantasy epics are destined to be compared to J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. And while A Game of Thrones does indeed include some of the standard structures of the genre, the storyline is completely dissimilar from LOTR. In place of a single specific quest driving the story, A Game of Thrones is world-building on a scale more often seen in science fiction epics such as Frank Herbert’s Dune and Catherine Asaro’s Skolian Empire series. In fact, one of the only negatives is there are so many competing stories being developed at the same time that it risks overwhelming some readers. In addition, because this is the first book in a long series, there is no firm conclusion at the end of this volume. Rather it has a couple of startling revelations and the foreboding of continued darkening clouds on the horizon where some plot lines are only hinted at. But if you are in for the long haul, this is a positive rather than a negative.

If you are willing to commit to a marathon of intricate storytelling on a massive scale, then A Game of Thrones is the first salvo in a series that promises to keep you engaged with hours and hours (and hours) of reading pleasure. This is not a beach read unless you are planning to be stranded there for a long time. If you are looking for a simple, quick plot driven book, you had better not dive into this very deep, very vast pool. You will most assuredly drown in the overwhelming waves of story. But if you have ever read a fantasy novel and finished it wishing you could have had more detail and immersed yourself much deeper into that world, A Game of Thrones is the answer to your fantasy prayers. Ultimately, I found it engrossing and I can’t wait to continue on the journey Martin has laid before me. Highly recommended. show less

I've never felt such visceral disappointment toward a book in my two decades of reading.

Let me be clear: I had high expectations for ASOIF as a fan of the genre and its TV adaptation, and this certainly added to my heartbreak. The storytelling and writing were as good as I expected them to be, despite my incredulity at the length of the book—a product of Martin's overzealous detailing of his world, no doubt. If I were judging the book on its literary merits alone, I would gladly give it 4, if not 4.5 stars. Sadly, I am not. Sadly, I had to slog through what can only be described as some of the most enraging writing of women I have ever encountered.

TLDR: If Martin spent half as much time working on the next book in the series as he show more does describing the underage female body in AGOT, I daresay the series would have been wrapped up years ago.

I am completely baffled (and slightly concerned) as to the open popularity of the book now that I have read it. It is a book so deeply steeped in the male gaze that it leans dangerously toward misogyny. I found myself constantly tripping over grotesque, self-gratifying erotic prose, in what I can only assume was an exploration of GRRM's fetishes.

Almost all of the female characters in the book fall under at least one of the following labels: a mother, a helpless child, a sex worker, a woman who wants to be a man, a murderer. Meanwhile, the male cast is allowed to be colorful and clothed, allowed to play into stereotypes and turn them on their heads. Not all work needs to be socially transcendent, but I would at least expect something so widely-loved to not be so egregiously off-kilter.

The "Danaerys" chapters are by far the worst of the lot. Her story is completely poisoned by repeated grisly descriptions of sex between a 13-year-old child bride and her 30-year-old husband, in a pattern of erotic writing that is exclusive to her chapters. Here's a wild idea: if you want your characters to behave like adults, don't write them as children. And another: "historical accuracy" cannot be used to defend romanticizing child marriage and rape when your world is fictitious.

It's a sad state of affairs, but the book completely spoiled itself for me and I don't think I have the stomach to continue with the series. Whatever good it held, especially in the "Jon" chapters, was so terribly eclipsed by the nauseating over-sexualization of preteen girls that I'm almost at a loss for words. show less