A Song of Ice and Fire
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A Song of Ice and Fire
Well, I suppose I'll get the ball rolling, then. For those unaware, A Song of Ice and Fire is a series of books by George R. R. Martin. Currently, it stands at 5 novels, with two more planned. Its epic, so I'll be brief.
Imagine a medieval world. Knights and great Lords joust, the land has been at peace for ten years. The summers can last years, the winters a lifetime. In the south, the politics being played out makes the Byzantines look tame. In the cold North, the Nights Watch guard a wall hundreds of feet high, made of ice and magic. Winter is cpming, and north of the wall, evil is brewing. In the south, murder, treason, incest, and rebellion play out with old dynastic struggles.
The first book was Game of Thrones, and it introduces much of the story. It gives us charaters to like, such as Ned, Tyrion, Jon, and Dany, and those to hate, Joffrey and Jaime. Wont give too much away, but this book introduces the origins of the civil war that is narrated for the following books, Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, and Feast for Crows.
All this time, there is the evil beyond the wall. An ancient enemy, not seen for 8000 years, is marshalling it's forces, to bring the Long Night and end the reign of man in Westeros.
There is also a third storyline, featuring the last remnant of the old royal line in exile, plotting the return to the kingdom stolen from their father.
The fifth book deals with the end of the civil war and the consequences of it.
Martin is an exceptional writer. His characters have full backgrounds, developed histories, and believable. The dialogue is realistic and the imagery is beautiful.
It can get hard to follow, and every now and then he unneccessarily uses archaisms such as two and twenty that, in the modern world, just serves to drag me (at least) away from the story.
But Martin also challenges us. He makes us form opinions about characters, then forces us to to change them. But he has a habbit of killing people I like.
As a series, I rate 9/10. Its good enough that, having read each of these rather large, epic books virtually one after the other, I'm actually reading them all over again. One after the other. Right after finishing the uber-epic fifth novel, A Dance with Dragons.
If you read it, let me know what you think
Imagine a medieval world. Knights and great Lords joust, the land has been at peace for ten years. The summers can last years, the winters a lifetime. In the south, the politics being played out makes the Byzantines look tame. In the cold North, the Nights Watch guard a wall hundreds of feet high, made of ice and magic. Winter is cpming, and north of the wall, evil is brewing. In the south, murder, treason, incest, and rebellion play out with old dynastic struggles.
The first book was Game of Thrones, and it introduces much of the story. It gives us charaters to like, such as Ned, Tyrion, Jon, and Dany, and those to hate, Joffrey and Jaime. Wont give too much away, but this book introduces the origins of the civil war that is narrated for the following books, Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, and Feast for Crows.
All this time, there is the evil beyond the wall. An ancient enemy, not seen for 8000 years, is marshalling it's forces, to bring the Long Night and end the reign of man in Westeros.
There is also a third storyline, featuring the last remnant of the old royal line in exile, plotting the return to the kingdom stolen from their father.
The fifth book deals with the end of the civil war and the consequences of it.
Martin is an exceptional writer. His characters have full backgrounds, developed histories, and believable. The dialogue is realistic and the imagery is beautiful.
It can get hard to follow, and every now and then he unneccessarily uses archaisms such as two and twenty that, in the modern world, just serves to drag me (at least) away from the story.
But Martin also challenges us. He makes us form opinions about characters, then forces us to to change them. But he has a habbit of killing people I like.
As a series, I rate 9/10. Its good enough that, having read each of these rather large, epic books virtually one after the other, I'm actually reading them all over again. One after the other. Right after finishing the uber-epic fifth novel, A Dance with Dragons.
If you read it, let me know what you think
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- Zyonn
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A Song of Ice and Fire
I just burned through the tv adaptation in a week and loved it... I thought about picking up the books before, and after reading your reviews I'll get on it. I've got a lot of downtime these days between changing diapers, so I'll let you know soon what I think.
EAT MY PHOTONS, SMALL-HEADS!
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A Song of Ice and Fire
Ace. Well worth picking them up. I missed the series though. Now I have to wait till it gets over here on dvd :-(
The written word is one of the most precious things known to man.
We have barely reached a point where most appreciate this.
Wr addre nearing the point where were loose this
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- tupelope
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A Song of Ice and Fire
There are other ways to get shows
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- Zyonn
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A Song of Ice and Fire
I've started on the first book, and from what I've read so far the tv series doesn't stray far from the novel - even the dialogue is the same. The only exception is that I found Catelyn less likable, more petty, in the books... maybe that'll change. I'm still glad I'm reading the books though - all the characters and their houses have such intricate past connections to each other, and that was hard to explain/follow in the show. Fantastic to watch but as always, I'm getting a lot more out of the written version. Thanks for recommending!
EAT MY PHOTONS, SMALL-HEADS!
- sedge
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A Song of Ice and Fire
I got the books for Christmas (partly as a result of the recommendations here), and am absolutely loving them. About a third of the way through the 2nd on at the moment.
Not sure if I'll watch the TV series afterwards - I generally find that TV/film adaptations of books I like are disappointing.
Not sure if I'll watch the TV series afterwards - I generally find that TV/film adaptations of books I like are disappointing.
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A Song of Ice and Fire
The tv show, from the little ive seen, is accurate enough. Obviously, with the books being as immense as they are, some things change a bit....
But glad to see the message spread :-)
But glad to see the message spread :-)
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- Earth
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A Song of Ice and Fire
Youve done all of them?
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- frattastan
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A Song of Ice and Fire
Now I'm tempted to buy those
In this world there are two kinds of people: those with loaded guns and those who dig. I dig.
- wabbitslayah
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A Song of Ice and Fire
They're great. Though "good" doesn't always win
- Tim
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A Song of Ice and Fire
I love the books. I'm in about the middle of A Dance of Dragons right now.
Unlike most modern fantasy, the books keep some realism in how things are resolved. Good does not always win. The good do die young, and characters that you thought could never die suddenly get killed by some sort of twist
Unlike most modern fantasy, the books keep some realism in how things are resolved. Good does not always win. The good do die young, and characters that you thought could never die suddenly get killed by some sort of twist
Spoiler Alert
I would suggest it for anyone though. Amazing books.-
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A Song of Ice and Fire
I like how sympathy grows for characters you start off hating. I grew to like the Kinglayer...
The written word is one of the most precious things known to man.
We have barely reached a point where most appreciate this.
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- wabbitslayah
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A Song of Ice and Fire
That was a spoiler Tim..... I would put it inTim-Opolis wrote:08 Feb 2012, 01:56I love the books. I'm in about the middle of A Dance of Dragons right now.
Unlike most modern fantasy, the books keep some realism in how things are resolved. Good does not always win. The good do die young, and characters that you thought could never die suddenly get killed by some sort of twist
[snip]
I would suggest it for anyone though. Amazing books.
Code: Select all
[spoiler=SPOILER ALERT][/spoiler]
- Tim
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A Song of Ice and Fire
Yes. At first I had huge hate for Jamie Lannister, but he has turned into quite a character.Spartan Termopylae wrote:08 Feb 2012, 09:26I like how sympathy grows for characters you start off hating. I grew to like the Kinglayer...
Another one of my favorites is Tyrion Lannister. That guy is a badass
- Tim
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A Song of Ice and Fire
I just finished A Dance of Dragons
Spoiler and Evaluation ahead
So now I wait anxiously for the Winds of Winter while watching the series on HBO for the hell of it.
Spoiler and Evaluation ahead
Spoiler Alert
So now I wait anxiously for the Winds of Winter while watching the series on HBO for the hell of it.
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A Song of Ice and Fire
Did they release a special X-rated version and not tell me?Spartan Termopylae wrote:08 Feb 2012, 09:26I like how sympathy grows for characters you start off hating. I grew to like the Kinglayer...
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A Song of Ice and Fire
I think i left out a letter there......
The written word is one of the most precious things known to man.
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- Tim
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A Song of Ice and Fire
If you want it to be the kinslayer then it can be Tyrion
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A Song of Ice and Fire
Ah, shuddup. You all knew who i meant :-P
The written word is one of the most precious things known to man.
We have barely reached a point where most appreciate this.
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- Tim
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A Song of Ice and Fire
We did
But it's fun to be trollish
But it's fun to be trollish
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A Song of Ice and Fire
Evil. Dont like you any more
The written word is one of the most precious things known to man.
We have barely reached a point where most appreciate this.
Wr addre nearing the point where were loose this
We have barely reached a point where most appreciate this.
Wr addre nearing the point where were loose this
- Zyonn
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A Song of Ice and Fire
Jaime ended up being one of my favourites, too! I was all edge-of-my-seat about how his part of the story ended in Dance of Dragons. I also loved Daenaerys' story line... I finished the series about a month ago after you guys recommended it (it's true, I mentally devour books). It seems like the author only puts out books every 5-6 years though. I know good things take time but I hope the next one is out soonish.
EAT MY PHOTONS, SMALL-HEADS!
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A Song of Ice and Fire
The last one was meant to be out sooner...and parts of it were cut from the previous book
The written word is one of the most precious things known to man.
We have barely reached a point where most appreciate this.
Wr addre nearing the point where were loose this
We have barely reached a point where most appreciate this.
Wr addre nearing the point where were loose this