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A review by jgolomb
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
5.0
"A Game of Thrones" is a deep, broad and compelling work of medieval-style fantasy. I'm not a reader of much fantasy, but after watching a preview of the new HBO series (starting in April 2011), I found myself drawn in by the mystique, texture and composition of the story.
The twisting and extensive story is equal parts medieval historical fiction and fantasy. The book is long at over 700 pages, many taken up with well-crafted character development and exposition. The scenery, outfits, and activities are very middle ages European: well-hewn swords, knights in armor that gleams in a multitude of metallic shades, both honor and treachery are driving motivations for characters at all levels of the social stratosphere. There's a wee bit of magic, a zombie or two, and no fantasy-themed story can go too long without dragon lore.
The characters and backstories are plentiful and complicated. Martin has written detailed histories on all of the royal houses in an appendix and it will take more than a few references in your reading to get your arms around and feel comfortable with who's who and which houses are allies and which are enemies.
The core of the story revolves around the mysterious death of a key advisor to the king. His wife sends a message to her sister suggesting that the death was murder. This plot point is only a small device used as a launching point for the exploration of Martin's incredibly rich universe. Two houses are at odds...House Stark, led by the infinitely honorable, patient and noble Eddard Stark, and House Lannister, led by the irrepressibly conniving Cersei, Queen of the Seven Kingdoms and inheritor of a bloodline of dubious quality.
"Game of Thrones" is heavy...in details, exposition, in character development, and in world-building. It's not light reading, but it's fulfilling. "Thrones" is the first in a series by Martin and while some stories are built and resolved within "Thrones", very little is truly concluded. I find my mind drifting back To Martin's world a few days after I finished reading, and I think it won't be long before I return to the land of "Thrones".
The twisting and extensive story is equal parts medieval historical fiction and fantasy. The book is long at over 700 pages, many taken up with well-crafted character development and exposition. The scenery, outfits, and activities are very middle ages European: well-hewn swords, knights in armor that gleams in a multitude of metallic shades, both honor and treachery are driving motivations for characters at all levels of the social stratosphere. There's a wee bit of magic, a zombie or two, and no fantasy-themed story can go too long without dragon lore.
The characters and backstories are plentiful and complicated. Martin has written detailed histories on all of the royal houses in an appendix and it will take more than a few references in your reading to get your arms around and feel comfortable with who's who and which houses are allies and which are enemies.
The core of the story revolves around the mysterious death of a key advisor to the king. His wife sends a message to her sister suggesting that the death was murder. This plot point is only a small device used as a launching point for the exploration of Martin's incredibly rich universe. Two houses are at odds...House Stark, led by the infinitely honorable, patient and noble Eddard Stark, and House Lannister, led by the irrepressibly conniving Cersei, Queen of the Seven Kingdoms and inheritor of a bloodline of dubious quality.
"Game of Thrones" is heavy...in details, exposition, in character development, and in world-building. It's not light reading, but it's fulfilling. "Thrones" is the first in a series by Martin and while some stories are built and resolved within "Thrones", very little is truly concluded. I find my mind drifting back To Martin's world a few days after I finished reading, and I think it won't be long before I return to the land of "Thrones".