A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1) in The Sword and Laser

Jun 12, 2011 Brad rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: sword-and-sorcery-opera, fantasy

I am finished. My real review will be coming soon (and here it is), but here's the last installment of my reading journal for those who are still interested. This star rating reflects my feelings about the last quarter of the book and may not be my final rating for the book in its entirety. Since I am writing about the book as I go, there will necessarily be spoilers, so don't continue if you want to avoid them.

My Game of Thrones Journal: volume iv

Arya -- I sure hope Syrio’s not dead yet. That ...more

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Apr 12, 2011 Brad rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, sword-and-sorcery-opera

I am nearly half way through now, so I thought it was time to put up the second installment of my reading journal. My star rating is always where I at in the book at the time of writing. It's going to fluctuate. Since I am writing about the book as I go, there will necessarily be spoilers, so don't continue if you want to avoid them.

My Game of Thrones Journal: volume ii

Tyrion--I really enjoyed his discussion with the Lord Commander, and Mormont’s request for more troops. The others are coming, ...more

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Mar 23, 2011 Brad rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

I am a quarter of the way through the book; this is the furthest I've reached in four tries. I've been keeping a reading journal, and I feel compelled to share my feelings despite my lack of knowledge of what's to come. My star rating is where I am at now. This may change in subsequent installments. I don't know why any of you would want to read this, but then I would probably love to read this from some of my friends on here, so you never know. Enjoy ,,, or not.

My Game of Thrones Journal: volum ...more

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May 15, 2011 Brad rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: sword-and-sorcery-opera, fantasy

I am closing in on the end, so here's my third installment of my reading journal. My star rating is always where I am at in the book at the time of writing. It's going to fluctuate. Since I am writing about the book as I go, there will necessarily be spoilers, so don't continue if you want to avoid them.

My Game of Thrones Journal: volume iii

Eddard-- Now that was an ass whooping! Nicely done, Jaime. Already Catelyn’s rash decision is paying dividends for her family, as is Ned’s mouth costing hi ...more

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May 27, 2012 Jessica rated it it was amazing

Shelves: five-stars, favorites, fantasy

I will tell you all the truth: I do not like fantasy. Truly. I don't know if I'm still scarred by the summer I forced my way through all of Tolkien, but I do know that the barest mention of elves or knights or fair maidens will send me scurrying away. In addition, I'm not a fan of political intrigue, nor of really long books that start really long series. So why did I try this one?

I don't like the feeling of dismissing an entire genre based on a few bad apples, so I was looking for some good fan I will tell you all the truth: I do not like fantasy. Truly. I don't know if I'm still scarred by the summer I forced my way through all of Tolkien, but I do know that the barest mention of elves or knights or fair maidens will send me scurrying away. In addition, I'm not a fan of political intrigue, nor of really long books that start really long series. So why did I try this one?

I don't like the feeling of dismissing an entire genre based on a few bad apples, so I was looking for some good fantasy. I knew about Game of Thrones from the tv show (which I haven't seen) so I clicked on the page. I read the first few reviews and noted a few others like me - not fans of fantasy - who had liked the book. I took it with me out of town and gave it a try (this may or may not have led to me reading at 3 am in a hotel bathroom so I wouldn't wake my husband... I'm not saying!)

Simply put, this is a great book. It isn't without flaws, but none of those flaws bothered me in the least while I was reading. I loved all the characters, even the ones who seemed unloveable at first(Sansa!) The female characters were well drawn - not just for a fantasy, but in general. Martin chooses to tell the story POV style, with each chapter a different character. I loved that because it allowed the characters to feel real.

The plotline is interesting - political intrigue with some light fantasy (there is magic and fantastic creatures, but they aren't the focus of the story, nor do they solve all the problems/cause all the wars.) The politics did not bore me, though I confess by the end I was forgetting who belonged to which house (there are too many names that begin with T!)

My favorite character, without a doubt, was the dwarf Tyrion. He was wonderfully grey (neither evil nor good) and his dialogue felt more real than any of the other characters (they were not bad, but occasionally trended towards the overly formal language often used in these novels.)

I'm looking forward to the next in the series - and I'm thinking of trying some other fantasy novels soon! ...more

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Apr 17, 2011 Anthony rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy

I won't bother anyone with a synopsis. I am not a huge fantasy guy but like the basics. Lord of The Rings, The Hobbit, the first book to the Wheel of Time series before it got ridiculous, Phillip Pullman, Neal Stephenson, etc. I have to say that I enjoyed the book. I was bummed with the death of certain characters but I am looking forward to the next book. It took me a while to get through it. I stopped for a while then go back into it then really cranked out the last couple hundred pages. I sta ...more

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Sep 05, 2011 jordan rated it it was amazing

Don't mock unless you've tried... ...more

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Aug 03, 2010 David rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

Now an excellent HBO series this book opens the Songs of Fire & Ice saga splendidly introducing the land, families, religions and moving matters along at a fair old lick. Not bad for an 800+ page book. Whilst nothing can rival Lord of the Rings this is certainly a gripping saga and I will be back for book two.

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