Scan barcode
A review by supeskenobi
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Thirty one years ago, a semi-famous Sci-Fi writer turned TV Script writer, sat down and wrote a scene wherein a boy called Bran; witnessed an execution and found a dead direwolf and its pups in "the summer snows". Five years later, this became the first chapter of the first book in the then "A Song of Ice and Fire" trilogy, called "A Game of Thrones". Since that book was released, and thanks to the incredibly popular adaptation from HBO, "Game of Thrones", the world has been captivated by the Starks, Lannisters, Targaryens, Dragons and White Walkers.
To state that this book is brilliant, would be somewhat underselling it. This book (and series as a whole) is the magnum opus of a crazed, Conscious Objector who has the writing speed of a sloth on marijuana. What George R.R. Martin has done, is superb. If Tolkien was the grandfather of what we call "modern fantasy" then Martin is the grandson, and a worthy carrier of the title of "greatest fantasy author of modern times".
To say this book is without fault, would not be true, either. Sex scenes can be highly uncomfortable to read (I usually glance/skip over) due to the age of one of the characters and some of the descriptions can drag on a bit too much. However these complaint pale in comparison with what is at hand here. A story about "the human heart in conflict with itself." as William Faulkner once said.
This book is full of fantastic characters, most of whom exist within a morally grey area. Human beings acting like human beings and not two dimensional things that solely exist purely to get the plot to go where the writer wants the plot to go, YES I AM LOOKING AT YOU DAVID AND DAN!.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. 4.75/5
To state that this book is brilliant, would be somewhat underselling it. This book (and series as a whole) is the magnum opus of a crazed, Conscious Objector who has the writing speed of a sloth on marijuana. What George R.R. Martin has done, is superb. If Tolkien was the grandfather of what we call "modern fantasy" then Martin is the grandson, and a worthy carrier of the title of "greatest fantasy author of modern times".
To say this book is without fault, would not be true, either. Sex scenes can be highly uncomfortable to read (I usually glance/skip over) due to the age of one of the characters and some of the descriptions can drag on a bit too much. However these complaint pale in comparison with what is at hand here. A story about "the human heart in conflict with itself." as William Faulkner once said.
This book is full of fantastic characters, most of whom exist within a morally grey area. Human beings acting like human beings and not two dimensional things that solely exist purely to get the plot to go where the writer wants the plot to go, YES I AM LOOKING AT YOU DAVID AND DAN!.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. 4.75/5