George R R Martin's Song of Ice and Fire

[TheComedian]

Discovered this series this summer and it was truly phenomenal. For me, it was a level above any other fantasy series I've ever read. It does have a certain "gritty, graphic" style that would not appeal to say my grandmother, but I would put Song of Ice and Fire on par with Shakespeare and Doestoevsky. The first novel Game of Thrones I believe is in production as an HBO series. Because of HBO's quality tv series I think they could possibly do Martin's work justice. Any other readers?

[EmperorNorton]

Amazon suggested I should check out Martin's Song of Ice and Fire last spring and since the first volume was cheap and I had some time to kill I was responsive to that suggestion.
I found the first volume to be entertaining enough to order the second and the second entertaining enough to order the third and the fourth.
The latter decision I regretted a bit, though, as the Song has lost appeal to me the farther it went on. To me it looks like Martin has confused "long" with "epic". He tells a drawn-out story to just tell a story and he does that quite well, but A Song of Ice and Fire does not reach the level of quality of high literature. The comparison to the Bard of Avon just makes me shake my head and even in the closer contest between Martin and Tolkien I'll give the nod to ole John Ronald Reuel.

[JGonspy]

I just started reading this a few weeks back and have been really enjoying it. The first book was assigned to me in one of my classes and I found it incredibly entertaining. I've decided to read the next three this summer when I don't have to deal with any additional reading. Considering the response to the book in my class, it seems to be quite popular as well. Or at least I can't remember the last time a debate about a book in class was filled with so much emotion.

I would not put this near Shakespere however, though I would say I prefer over what little Tolkien I've read. Then again, I can't stand Tolkien so maybe that isn't saying much.

Also, to anyone who wants to discuss the plot of the later books, please remember spoiler tags. I really want to avoid ruining anything until I get around to them. I know it's loosely based on the War of the Roses, but I'm trying to pretend I forgot those history classes for a little while.

[The BoyBlunder]

I still prefer Raymond E. Fiest's work.

[theanalogkid]

I like this series. Rumor has it the next book should be out this year.

[Popinjay]

I was always a bigger fan of his work on the Wildcards series of books (obvious if you recognize the source of my screen name here), it's just some of the other writers that ruined the books for me with their slash-fan-fiction-level of unnecessary perversion (Melinda Snodgrass, I'm looking at you here).

[Grumpygoat]

Martin is easily my favorite novelist; Tolkein's prose is lacking, Cook's characters are insipid, Jordan's are one-dimensional, Brust's substance lacking, but Martin really can write a good yarn.

The one problem is that his books have started meandering and really have no end in sight - there are supposed to be three more books, but it took something like five or so years just to get the fourth one out, which wasn't all that great. I think he lost a lot of his steam after the third book, sadly.

That said, the first three books in the series are my favorite fantasy reads. I'd peg him as the best fantasy author out there, period. Characters are three dimensional and real, the plot's engaging, and there's just so much going on in his books that's easy to miss if you're not looking. His description's are evocative (particularly with food) and his actual writing style is highly readable.

So, yeah. I'm a big fan of Martin. I just hope he finishes the series up before dying like Jordan. I'm also looking forward to the HBO series - I can see it difficult to pull off, but there's really too much to satisfactorily put into just a movie.

[monkeyshines]

He's entertaining but he isn't on par with Shakespeare. My favorite fantasy fiction is still T.H. White's Once and Future King as well.

[MAXIMUM]

why are we comparing him to shakespeare? does any modenr author compare to him?

[CaptainNifty]

I am currently taking sign-ups for A Game of Thrones mafia game. So if you like the series, or mafia, click the sign-up link in my sig.

[Gargantua]

I really enjoyed the books so far. I like fantasy that's heavy on the political intrigue and this series is very strong there. I'm a little distressed by the non-arrival of the latest book. Pub date still seems to be pretty well indefinite.

I can see where he could possibly take this the interminable route, rather like Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series, which started out with some very good books and then petered out. I think success went to his head, once he realized what a huge hit he had on his hands and he decided to go from a five or six book series to stretching out as long as he could to milk the cash cow. I gave up on after six or seven books when I realized that after reading an 800 page book he had advanced the overall plot of the series about ten pages worth. I don't see this series as being that bad yet, but I agree that the potential is there if Martin's not careful.

[Terman8er]

I like this series. Rumor has it the next book should be out this year.

HA HA HA!!! If only...

[Terman8er]

why are we comparing him to shakespeare? does any modenr author compare to him?

Yes, I can understand them w/o having to grab me old English translator.


Goodness I loathe shakey-spear. :)

[Ignatz_Mouse]

I generally dislike medieval made-up-world fantasy novels, but I really like these books.

I agree that the last one was disappointing, but I'm hoping that was because of the split two books, and that the pace picks up again afterwards.

I didn't think it was meandering at all until the last book.

[zyxba]

These are my favorite fantasy novels I have read. The characters are engaging and human, and things happen. I was honestly surprised numerous times throughout the series, and that is a rarity for me.

[Grinner]

I like this series. Rumor has it the next book should be out this year.

I do like the fact that this post was two years ago and the arrival of said book is still in the "rumor" category.

Okay, like is probably not the right word - more "find humorous" :laugh:

[Gargantua]

At this point, I'd have to go back and reread the series anyway. I have only the vaguest recollections of what was going on. But I'm not starting over again until I know I can finish it this time.

[Quebbster]

At this point, I'd have to go back and reread the series anyway.
I do that pretty much any time a new book comes out in a series I'm following anyway.
Which nowadays isn't that often.