(Edited to be a bit less s***e, as the book deserves much better than my paltry attempt, plus I can spell a bit better now!)
Now it's not often that a book can make you keep your faith in an author for such a long time. About 4 years, this is the time that separates a Storm of Swords and G.R.R.Martins next book a feast for Crows. Now i'm not usually a very patient person, but I would wait another 4 years if he could produce anything close to the continuing master-piece that is the Song of Ice and Fire series. Not only has he encapsulated a whole world so lavishly detailed into one set of books, he pulls it off with style, sheer ravishing style.
The series so far is;
A Game of Thrones
A Clash of Kings
A Storm of Swords (One book in the US, split into two in the UK) - Part 1 / Steel and Snow - Part 2 - Blood and Gold
A Feast for Crows
A Dance of Dragons
The Words of winter
A Time for Wolves (Though this title is purely speculation, Martin initially thought he would not have to write seven books!)
So the setting, his world is called Westeros into which many character threads are woven, all with stunning ease. The main protagonists are wide and varied. Many are the houses that inhabit the lands of Westeros, in the harsh North there is the noble house Stark surrounded by a frozen land peopled by allies both loyal and treacherous. The golden haired Lannisters claim dominion over the East by way of their vast amounts of Gold, the Greyjoys of the iron islands hold sway over the seas, and from their islands fortresses they strike out to ravage the land around. The Arryns of the east sit secure in their mountain strongholds, the Tyrells, the Martells of Dorne, the lords of Hightower, the list could go on. Yet all of these Families and great houses give there allegiance at the foot of the Iron chair, the resting place of the King, Robert of House Baratheon. That is essentially how the first book begins; the events at the end of this one are vastly changed. The back story is long and arduous and is given references throughout the book, when characters remember events that reflect the situation they are in.
With such a huge cast of characters you might think it would be hard to keep track of them all, yet Martin's method of writing causes such factors to dissipate easily. That's what makes this a truly wonderful read, he simply disregards the rules of fantasy, killing off characters with a whim. The emotional effect this had on me was stunning. G.R.R.Martin writes his characters so well that you easily fall in love with them, and for all there flaw's you often find yourself forgiving and forgetting past deeds. Martin has a very wicked sense of humour and often has very shocking scenes punctuated by humour or some wry comment from a character
So why read this book, the fantasy elements in this are not very starkly portrayed, okay there's magic a plenty and strange goings on, yet in a way to make them seem secondary to the realism that pervades the book. This obviously has roots in Mediaeval Europe with the heraldry and history that gives the book a sound chivalric feel. This could easily as a consequence be called a romantic history novel, or alternate history, or something along those lines.
Another aspect of the book which is a nice touch is how Martin uses the name of the POV as the heading for each new chapter. So for instance in the book I've reviewed some of the POV'S are Catelyn, Arya and Tyrion. They each get a certain amount of spaces within the book, and often events take on a different eye when viewed through the viewpoints of various people, you get their detailed perspective, their take on what they are seeing, and often brilliant glimpses into the world around them.
Read them now as you will be quite lucky in having the four books to delve into.
The best book in existence quite possibly - I could never review it as I simply am not worthy! Or I'd give away loads of spoilers... BTW the sixth book is called 'The Winds Of Winter' - http://www.georgerrmartin.com/bibliography.html < and there's the proof. :) tom
Advantages: You won't want to stop reading and you will want to read it again. Disadvantages: You shouldn't read it without reading books 1 and 2 first.
Advantages: You won't want to stop reading and you will want to read it again. Disadvantages: You shouldn't read it without reading books 1 and 2 first.
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