I found it very interesting look at life and politics during the high middle ages. I understand that it was based largely on the War of the Roses and you can see certain parallels.
I love the inter-relationship between characters, the only thing I dislike (if you can call it that) is the story of Denerys, which doesn't seem to be going anywhere.
George Martin is an excellent writer and his ploting and storytelling beats most of today's fantasy writers. Only thing is, he's slow. I mean A Storm of Swords came out 2 years ago and we're still waiting for Book IV and it doesn't seem to be coming out anytime soon.
I'm inspired to set a RPG in the world and maybe one day...
A CCG is already coming out, so I presume the RPG is not far behind.
I have read the first book and was not all that vastly impressed.
First of all I feel the need to say that I not only have nothing against long novels or series per se. I have read LotR several times, including the Silmarillion. I am also a fan of "War & Peace" and Patrick O'Brien's Aubrey-Mataurin series. So long books do not scare me, nor do sizable casts of characters.
Yes, there are a LOT of parallels between the general scope of the story and the Wars of the Roses. You have a semi-stable nation essentially divided between two powerful families -- one of them is the Lannisters, so you don't need real notes to recognized the WotR connection. Yo.u have a dangerous northern border territory. You have a crookback (okay, Richard III wasn't REALLY hunchbacked, but it fits the general popular image all the same). You suddenly have lots of private armies popping up to do battle while the central government is up for grabs and all but implodes. Yeah, enough parallels to make many people sit up and take notice.
One of the problems that the author falls prey to, however, is the determination to include more characters and sub-plots than Charles Dickens or Anthony Trollope. His style is not that bad, especially given what he could be compared to, but there is simply far too much going on in the novels. There is no feel of focus or design. Instead of paring down to important tales, you have a wide, sprawling cast of characters, many of whom seem to bear no strong relation to each other. Equally the armies appear out of the dust -- suddenly one side is on the ropes, only to find out three chapters later that they have a larger army and a more powerful strategic position, but with no logic to back this up. "Main characters" are killed at the drop of a hat, seemingly only to provoke a heart-felt reaction.
There is magic in this world, but the author is almost apologetic about it. This magic is not consistent in how it is used or what it is capable of. Essentially it serves as a plot device to get from Point A to Point B. I generally find that sad in novels. I never get a notion that the magic, in any form, is truly wedded to the world.
There are a lot of people who disagree with me on this topic. The books are terrifically popular. Popular, however, does not necessarily mean the same thing as good (or "bad", for that matter). I you are interested, give them a go. While I won't bother to read any more of them (just like I stay away from Robert Jordan), you may enjoy them.
Personally, I'll wait for the next Guy Gavriel Kay novel. He is a fantasy author I tend to enjoy.
Funnily enough my GF (the LGT) gave me Game of Thrones and Tigiana last year for my birthday. Both as books she really loved. Tigianna was fun and all, but other than a few interesting ideas, it left me flat overall. I didn't hate it, but it didn't sing to me.
As such I waited about 4 or 5 months before I picked up GoT. Well at the start I thought "Oh boy, here we go again...boring...yawn...hey this Tyrion guy is pretty interesting... I like the War of Roses thing going on... Wow! I just finsihed the book in 3 days!" For Christmas she gave me Clash of Kings, I read it in two days. Then I read it again.
Last week, one of my players, who I turned on to the series loaned me Storm of Swords. I felt it really started slowly, and then it picked up in the middle and i finsihed the last 2 thirds in 2 days.
Daenerys was getting right up my nose until this book. Now I get it.
Oh and Jon Snow and Tyrion are such the Targaryen's it isn't even funny.
3 heads of the dragon? I say Daenerys, Jon and Tyrion fit the bill
I understand Rampage's problems qwith the book and agree with some (disagree with others) but I don't wish to argue opinion about the book. Argueing tastes is as silly as arguing religion or politics. But I would say this. Popular may not equal good, but popular doesn't equal bad either.
That said, the last time I saw a series of books burn through my friends/rpg group like this was many years ago and it was called The Belgariad
I am making a D&D campaign, and it is heavily influenced by this series. I mean I love this whole War of Roses take, and frankly I woudl rather read this than half the crap that passes for fantasy that is out there. Don't get me started on the Forgotten Realms novels
I think i will check out the CCG, which says something as I gave them up about 5 years ago.
Registered User
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote