A Song of Ice and Fire (some spoilers inside, watch for SPOILER warnings)

[instantdeath999]

I know we have some fantasy literature fans on this forum, so I thought I'd open a discussion for this series, by George R.R. Martin. I just started reading it last week, coincidentally, because I had no idea about the upcoming television series, airing sometime later this month.

Anyone read it? I'm fairly new to the fantasy genre, only having really read Lord of the Rings (rereading it now, I'm older and find I appreciate it more than my first read a few years ago), and Stephen Kings Dark Tower series (which isn't exactly traditional fantasy). I decided to go for an acclaimed work, and found its apparent "realistic fantasy" style interesting, and figured it would be a great contrast to what I've read. I'm only about 100 pages in, but it's great so far.

And of course, the TV series. I'm currently undecided on whether I want to catch it when it airs, or wait until I finish the first book. I heard that each season will be about one book, so I should be fine watching the first few episodes if I'm over halfway through the book by then.

[DerLindwurm]

I thought you were talking about Within Temptation's new album.

[CJHobbes]

A couple of my friends are huge fans of the series. Martin's new novel is due out in June, I believe it'll be #5. As for myself, I think I've started reading Game of Thrones about 6 times now. Each time I get about 150 pages in, then put it down for a few months. There's so much happening and so many characters, I forget who's who and what's what and have to start all over.

But from what I've read, I can see it shaping up to be a good story. It seems much grittier and unforgiving than the LotR books, which is great. I just need to sit down and power through the books one of these days.

[Der_Lex]

I've read it, and it's my second favorite fantasy series (or third favorite if you count Discworld, although I see that more as a loose collection of stories).

It's really good stuff, only marred by the fact that Martin really needs to dedicate more time to writing and less on cons/travel/side projects, because otherwise we'll never see it finished. He's not exactly the youngest and fittest author out there and he's already mentioned in an interview that unlike Robert Jordan, he's leaving no notes on how the series should end in the event of his death.

[CrazyIvan]

It's by far and away my favorite fantasy series of all time, and that's saying a lot. I've read more fantasy novels that I care to admit, and I truly think that Martin brings the best of all worlds to the table.

The only nitpick that I have is basically the same as Lex's. While I understand that putting together novels as complex and twisted as Martin's takes a long time to get right, it's absolutely unforgivable that it's taken him so frickin' long to get to the next book. ESPECIALLY since book 4 has little or no coverage of the "main" characters. Sorry if that's a bit of a spoiler... it's still a good book, but for those that haven't gotten that far, just know that book 4 focuses mainly on "everyone else".

I have also been watching the HBO series like a hawk, and I must say that the recent 14 minute clip was simply awesome. Just... perfect. I really think the show creators and writers have nailed this one, and I couldn't be more excited for the series to start up. The only thing that kinda' ticks me off is that I don't have cable, and therefore don't have HBO. And with HBO's archaic battle against any and all digital streaming of their network, I'll be left having to... errr... find the shows through other means.

[Der_Lex]

The only nitpick that I have is basically the same as Lex's. While I understand that putting together novels as complex and twisted as Martin's takes a long time to get right, it's absolutely unforgivable that it's taken him so frickin' long to get to the next book.

Especially when an author like Steven Erikson (who holds my personal 'favorite fantasy series of all time' title, currently reading his latest), whose books and setting are even more complex than Martin's, manages to actually finish a mammoth 10-book series in twelve years, a period in which Martin has written what, three books?

One thing that I've noticed while reading the author's notes in Martin's Dreamsongs short story retrospective is that the man, as a writer, could be accused of having some form of ADD: almost every story is supposed to part of a bigger cycle that never came to be. Martin's simply too easily distracted by shiny new projects to stick to any long-term series. If A Song of Ice and Fire hadn't become as popular as it has, I doubt it would have ever been finished, but right now Martin's pretty much stuck with it, and I wonder if he regrets that sometimes. He's much more a short story author at heart than someone for multi-volume epics.

I have to admit I personally really liked book 4, though, but that's because I really enjoy the politics of Westeros and the insights we got into the Iron Islands and Dorne. I don't enjoy the Daenerys storyline quite as much, but I hope book 5 will change that.

Also, for those who are into board games which require a LOT of strategy, planning and brainpower and who have at least 3 friends to play with, the A Game of Thrones boardgame by Fantasy Flight Games is well worth picking up. It's in my top 3 favorite boardgames.

[Sayburr]

Loved the books to this series. AND, Martin has announced a release date for the next book on his web site. JULY 12! The best thing about the series is it is unpredictable. I have read many, many fantasy novels in my lifetime and most are pretty predictable. I remember Eargon. There was a lot of hype about it, but it read just as you would expect a fantasy novel to read… but, A Song of Fire and Ice is one where you just can’t assume anything…well, except the death of the first king since the title is “game of thrones”… but, once that happened it just amazed me the number of plots and plot twists.

The Daenerys storyline is also not one of my favorites, but I do like what she did when building up her army. I didn’t expect that until Martin foreshadowed it a little too much. I an actually looking forward to she how she grows in the next book.

Steven Erikson’s is the next series I plan on starting. Right now the entire series can be purchased from Science Fiction Book Club for about $104. Just trying to talk myself into hitting that submit button.

[Der_Lex]

Steven Erikson’s is the next series I plan on starting. Right now the entire series can be purchased from Science Fiction Book Club for about $104. Just trying to talk myself into hitting that submit button.

I could try to talk you into it as well, but I think I've already sung his praises more than enough on here.
If you have the cash to spare, though, do pick up Ian Esselmont's books as well. He's the co-creator of the Malazan setting and some of the plot lines and characters from Erikson's books actually carry on (or have smaller appearances) in Esselmont's books. I haven't read his latest yet, but I strongly, strongly recommend reading Esselmont's Return of the Crimson Guard before Erikson's Toll the Hounds (one of the later books).

And Eragon is just plain awful. Derivative dreck expressed in purple prose that makes it seem like Paolini uses a thesaurus to 'fancy up' every other word. I've read other bad fantasy before (Terry Brooks and Terry Goodkind come to mind), but Paolini is in his own layer of awful that he only shares with a (fortunately) select group of writers like Dan Brown.

[CrazyIvan]

I actually enjoy the Daenerys storyline. At least, I enjoy thinking about where the series is headed. BIG TIME SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!

Those that haven't read the books in their entirety should turn away.

All gone?


Okay, I personally think that the real story of the series is not who takes over control of the Seven Kingdoms, but who will rise to face the wildlings and Others from the North after the wall fails. The throne is just a red herring. I predict that Dany will lead the attack on her dragons with Bran and Tyrion as the other two riders. Martin has just made way to big of a deal of Tyrion's special saddle and Bran's carrier to not lead somewhere. Plus, I think Jon is actually the true heir to the throne as he is Rhaegar's rape child from Lyana that Ned just raised as his own, and will lead the fight on the ground. I'm sure Jamie and Brianne will figure in somewhere, and I'm sure both will die fighting (just to piss of the readers).

At least, those are my predictions in a nutshell.

PS Is there any way to change font color? 'Cause I would prefer to make the above paragraph "highlight to read".

[Sayburr]

I strongly, strongly recommend reading Esselmont's Return of the Crimson Guard before Erikson's Toll the Hounds (one of the later books).

OK, I will keep that in mind. His books are not in the SFBC, so I will have to get them from somewhere else... I only buy hardbacks... yeah, I am anal like that, but I usually only buy books I plan to read more than one time.