6 reviews for A Game Of Thrones
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A Game Of Thrones
by George R. R. Martin
Description:
Book 1 of A song of Ice and Fire. Summers span decades. Winter can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne has begun. As Warden of the north, Lord Eddard Stark counts it a curse when King Robert bestows on him the office of the Hand. His honour weighs him down at court where a true man does what he will, not what he must and a dead enemy is a thing of beauty. The old gods have no power in the south, Stark’s family is split and there is treachery at court. Worse, the vengeance-mad heir of the deposed Dragon King has grown to maturity in exile in the Free Cities. He claims the Iron Throne.
About The Author
George Raymond Richard Martin (born George Raymond Martin; September 20, 1948), often referred to as GRRM, is an American novelist and short-story writer in the fantasy, horror, and science fiction genres, a screenwriter, and television producer. He is best known for his international bestselling series of epic fantasy novels, A Song of Ice and Fire, which was later adapted into the HBO dramatic series Game of Thrones.
Martin serves as the series' co-executive producer, and also scripted four episodes of the series. In 2005, Lev Grossman of Time called Martin “the American Tolkien”, and the magazine later named him one of the “2011 Time 100”, a list of the “most influential people in the world.
Skryf Review
“Amazing Reading”
Sejal
Before I read this book, I had read some reviews which had me wondering if this one would be something I’d like, reviews from people whose opinions I trust. I am willing to read anything though, so the book stayed on my “TBR Someday” mental list… Until I decided to read it along with some friends. Friends who then got me so excited to read this that all of my reservations were hanging by a thread and blowing in the breeze. I loved the writing as well. In fact, it worked so well for me that I barely even noticed it – which to me is a great thing. I don’t want to notice the writing – I feel like if I do, the author should have done better at making it invisible. The subtleties in the writing were awesome, especially the voices of the characters in their point of view narration – not their dialogue, but their interpretation of things going on around them. The foreshadowing was so perfectly done that I didn’t even realize it was being used, even though it was serving its purpose and making me into that little bundle of nerves, until it was mentioned.
Naman
A Game of Thrones is recommended if you plan to become a hardcore Westeros nut. Martin’s fantasy world is massive, and the TV series cuts out a bunch of stuff. I already knew the book’s plot from watching the TV show, but while reading it I had a bunch of “Oh, he’s that other guy’s son? Oh, that guy they keep talking about is the king’s brother? Oh, those two really didn’t murder that other guy?”-type moments. You miss out on those details if you stick solely to the TV series.
Abbas
A friend and I were talking about Tolkien one night after a sesh of Call of Cthulhu and he came at me with the insane standpoint that George RR Martin’s breed of fantasy is superior, though indebted to, Prof. Tolkien. I immediately informed my friend that he was once again proving the ineptitude of his intellect. Tolkien is the father of modern fantasy and the ultimate writer within the genre. This is not opinion but fact. That said I was intrigued and promised said friend to look into this infidel that he was willing to prop up above the Professor. Anywho, I think the best description I gave of this book to a friend was “equal parts LOTR and DUNE with a heavy dose of Penthouse letters. Seriously. Lines about glistening wet
members and quivering quim. Well maybe not the quim. But isn’t quim an amazing word?Because Martin wrote for television (new Twilight Zone and Beauty and the Beast among others) the books have this nice episodic feel. Each chapter is driven by a different character. Really great plot twists. He loves killing off the characters that you love and forcing you to love the characters that you hate. If you have any even cursory interest in the fantasy genre read these books. He may not be Tolkien, but the hobbit looking mother fucker is damn close.
Tisha
I want to give A game of Thrones five stars, but alas, I cannot. It is a fantastic epic tale with engaging heroes, and nasty villains that one would enjoy to slap silly. I found myself emotionally invested in the fate of the Stark family. Unfortunately, the book contains some glaring problems.
I must temper these critisicms by adding that the series does have redeeming value, and I am still forging through the second book. Sure, I roll my eyes every time Martin’s pen drifts down a pornographic tangent, but the meat of the book is legitimately entertaining. It’s so entertaining that I considered giving it 5 stars, yet so distracted that I considered awarding it only 3.
Pooja
When the King comes to Winterfell, Ned Stark soon finds himself given the post of Hand to the King by King Robert. All is not well in Winterfell, however. Stark’s son is gravely injured and signs point to the King’s wife’s family, the Lannisters. Stark will soon find out that when you play the Game of Thrones, you either win or die…That’s about all I can say since I don’t want to give too much away. This book is a monstrous tome but it didn’t feel like it. There’s always something going on and everyone better watch their backs. After all, Winter is Coming…