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I read this for the Sword and Laser book club. This is probably one of the better fantasy books I've read - it was fast paced, characters were surprising and layered instead of one-sided and predictable, and several things happened in the story that I did not expect. I would love to talk about the ending specifically but can't without ruining it, but that was a shocker. There were many threads left hanging for the rest of the series, and I actually think I might read more in this series, high pr
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Re-reading this as the HBO series plays out. Jon Snow is much cooler in the books, the dire wolves are bigger, and lots more background that a TV series can't hope to include. Lots more background as well, as Martin turns standard fantasy tropes around.
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George R.R. Martin is one of the giants in the fantasy world today, and rightly so. He is a master of storytelling, world building and his characters command so much attention it's difficult to put them aside in favor of doing things like, you know, eating, sleeping and working.
There's been a lot of talk lately (most recently in a NYT review of GRRM's latest book) of George "replacing" Tolkien, which is complete hogwash. While both are fantasy authors (and one a recognized forefather of the genr ...more
There's been a lot of talk lately (most recently in a NYT review of GRRM's latest book) of George "replacing" Tolkien, which is complete hogwash. While both are fantasy authors (and one a recognized forefather of the genr ...more
Pretty great book, with an infinite amount of twists and turns.
My biggest problems were that the book is incredibly depressing, and it does not stand alone. The book ends, and like Lord of The Rings, nothing has been resolved. As for the depression, lets just say that very little good happens to any of the main characters. To say that it is impressive that all of the "good" guys have not collapsed on the floor due to despair. ...more
My biggest problems were that the book is incredibly depressing, and it does not stand alone. The book ends, and like Lord of The Rings, nothing has been resolved. As for the depression, lets just say that very little good happens to any of the main characters. To say that it is impressive that all of the "good" guys have not collapsed on the floor due to despair. ...more
A fast read, in a Dan Brown, sort of page turning way. The characters are wonderfully realized. Not a big fan of how gratuitous sex and violence is used as a gritty, modern backdrop to the story.
Never wanted to read this until the HBO series. Then I wanted to see two things... how did the adaptation differ from Martin's original (to aid in gauging how the TV ending might differ from the eventual series ending), and see about all those missing characters and plot lines the readers keep hitting the watchers over the head with. This was dead easy... the TV season followed the book fairly closely, I knew all the major characters like old friends (some now sadly passed), and got to know bett
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Pretty intense and enjoyable. This is a book where you need the family trees next to you 75% of the time. It's also got plenty of plots interweaving and cascading against each other. Watching it all come together like a domino trick is fascinating. This is also the longest prologue I've ever read since it sets up a seven book story arc. Beware that the series is not done yet.
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Aug 28, 2011
Chris
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
dragons,
zombies,
epic-dudes,
grimdark,
tv-show,
fantasy,
lost-technology,
banking,
blacksmith
Feb 17, 2013
Andres
added it
