A Game of Thrones discussion

I have been thinking of reading A Game of Thrones. Should I expect something along the lines of The Lord of the Rings, or does it have more action and dialogue?

Game of Thrones is nothing like LotR in my opinion. GoT is a lot grittier and real feeling. In LotR there are only a few perspectives in which the story is viewed from and it is always for the perspective of the protagonists. LotR is closely follows a defined good and evil. These are not characteristics of GoT. The plot is twisting and quite intriguing. One moment you are wishing for the death of a particular character and in the next moment, you find yourself rooting for them. Be warned GoT is visceral. If books had movie ratings LotR would be PG and GoT is easily, R (if that even makes sense).

Martin writes nothing like Tolkien. You could say they are both large in scope with plenty of characters. Where as Martin does not shy away from sexy writing/racy story lines, Tolkien doesn't even bring it up. There is enough action to last a lifetime, courtly intrigue, family dynamics, etc.

If you liked the Mists of Avalon, GOT is more similar to that than LOTR.

Game of Thrones is awesome! One of my favorite series. I think the world he has created is really cool. Although there are plenty of fantastic elements, it is fairly realistic as well. It reads like a mideval novel. The only frustrating thing about the series is that it takes a very long time for a new book to come out! I agree with the above that it is similar to Mists of Avalon.

i stated reading went until page 300 and few more and end.
I didn't finish. are every books of mystery like this one?

started*

You should read them, they're fantastic!

Hi Verity,
As much as I love Tolkien, I think Martin has a more "modern" voice that feels more accessible.

LOTR characters always seem a bit one-dimensional to me. Yes, we wonder whether Frodo or Gollum will give in to the pull of the ring, but, overall, we know where the story is going.

GOT characters act in very human ways; they're constantly changing in reaction to events around them. Characters are much more complex--and we have no clue where they're going story-wise. And, yes, you'll find plenty of action as well as snappy dialogue.

I think of LOTR as a fairy tale-type story and GOT as a very cool soap opera with swords. I love them both. Happy reading!

I want to get into this book, but tax season is upon us and I can only engage in one complicated thing at a time.

Check out my webcomic, updates every Thursday: http://reddkaiman.blogspot.com/2013/0...

If you're thinking of getting into this, I'd strongly advise against it until Martin finishes the series. I read the first three books in '99 or so, and waited for the next book to be released so I could continue the series.

And waited.

And waited.

And waited.

...until I completely forgot about the series. When the HBO series came out, I found book 5, and someone mentioned that it was going up to book 7.

Think on that a second: 12 years to write two books. By the time he's finished, children born when book 5 was published will be graduating college.

Hold off until the end is announced. You'll save yourself some grey hairs.

I am not a fantasy reader but it was lying around my apartment and it hooked me. It doesn't read like LOTR or anything like it. I tried reading Wheel of Time and I couldn't stay focused.

SoIF is well worth the time I read through the first one in like 2 weeks and I am a super slow reader

NC 17 soap opera.

I enjoyed the first 2 books.

But the 3rd and 4th cheesed me off so much I doubt I'll read the rest.

Nessaralindaran wrote: "NC 17 soap opera.

I enjoyed the first 2 books.

But the 3rd and 4th cheesed me off so much I doubt I'll read the rest."

Really? I thought the 3rd book was the best one so far

I feel he cheated the reader. As a writer you set up certain expectations as to what the book will be about early on. If he wanted the story to go as it did, I feel the first book should have been very different.

Nessaralindaran wrote: "I feel he cheated the reader. As a writer you set up certain expectations as to what the book will be about early on. If he wanted the story to go as it did, I feel the first book should have bee..."

I really enjoy the fact that you have no idea where the book is going to end up

Michael wrote: "I really enjoy the fact that you have no idea where the book is going to end up ."

Me too - I hate having a good idea where the book will end up early on. With this series I don't think anyone ever knows what is going to happen. Hooked.

Nessaralindaran wrote: "NC 17 soap opera.

I enjoyed the first 2 books.

But the 3rd and 4th cheesed me off so much I doubt I'll read the rest."

Interesting. I liked 1, thought 2 just meandered--an awful lot of words for not much plot. 3 seemed back on track to me, but 4 was so awful for me I started flipping pages and will never return to the series. Books 2 and 4 are 80% people walking. If you can accurately summarize every single plot event of a 700 page book in 300 words, it's moving too slowly.

But I never loved any of them and don't see why they are so popular.

I too like the way you can never tell how the story's gonna go. With a click of a finger everything can change, and characters you you thought were in it forever are suddenly gone.

I do, however, think that you have to be a bit of a hardcore fan to get through book 4 (feast for crows) it is a bit hard going, but it does give you the story from different points of view and tells what else is happening in the world while the Starks and lannister's are at each other.

Thanks everyone for telling me what you think of the book! Now I know what to expect from it . . .

you can always watch an episode or 2 of the HBO series. they follow the plotline of the books really well for being a tv series. then you'll know if you wanna plow through 700 pages.

Michael wrote: "I really enjoy the fact that you have no idea where the book is going to end up"

Agreed! At times I felt upset that certain characters I loved died unexpectedly, but overall, I feel that that very unexpectedness is what keeps me hooked to the series.

it starts out ok but by the end of book one it is all getting a bit old. by the end of book 2 it's just cold porridge, i gave up at that point

It is a fantastic book but nothing like LOTR. They are like oil and water. To me GoT is far better than LOTR but... If you are NOT an adult I wouldn't recommend it.