From the Bookshelf of The Great Hugo Read…

A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1)

George R.R. Martin

Start date: March 1, 2014

Finish date: March 31, 2014

Why we're reading this: Martin's series has been nominated for three Hugos, and it's likely that at least one of books six or sev…more
[close] Martin's series has been nominated for three Hugos, and it's likely that at least one of books six or seven will be nominated. So for those of us who haven't read them, it's probably best to get started early.

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Dec 23, 2010 Alison rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy

I picked this book for a variety of reasons. My brother toyed with giving me the set for Christmas, and I'd heard good things in anticipation of the HBO adaptation of the series A Song of Fire and Ice.

I don't know if it's a chicken-or-egg thing, but one thoroughgoing thought I kept having was that while the book wasn't as gripping as I'd hoped, it sure would make for serviceable Sunday night television.

Told from a rotating third-person perspective (in total, a cast of maybe 7 or 8), the novel in I picked this book for a variety of reasons. My brother toyed with giving me the set for Christmas, and I'd heard good things in anticipation of the HBO adaptation of the series A Song of Fire and Ice.

I don't know if it's a chicken-or-egg thing, but one thoroughgoing thought I kept having was that while the book wasn't as gripping as I'd hoped, it sure would make for serviceable Sunday night television.

Told from a rotating third-person perspective (in total, a cast of maybe 7 or 8), the novel introduces the reader to the Seven Kingdoms and its lordly inhabitants primarily through the Stark family, the head of which, Ned Stark, is responsible for installing what is now the ruling order in the kingdom, King Robert. "A Game of Thrones" refers to the ways that the powerful amass and fortify their power, with the Starks representing the most reluctant and (I guess) the most righteous participants.

I love novels set in geographical settings I'm unfamiliar with (for example, I've purchased maps of Britain and Sweden to chart the goings-on in the Sherlock Holmes stories and Stieg Larsson novels, respectively). In this way, Martin lays out the (obviously) fictional Seven Kingdoms beautifully. By the end, I felt I had a grasp not only on the lands, but the many, many players that factor into the "game".

There were many different pieces that worked for me as a reader (heart the direwolves & the Night Watch). In trying to do a decent review, I'm reminded of more enjoyable elements than I might have initially guessed. The main problem (and this is no small problem) is that there are characters I just could not stand. Some of the more minor ones are as wooden as is necessary to advance the story, and I'm ok with that. But especially towards the middle of the book (which really dragged), there were times that I'd see a certain character's name at the beginning of a chapter, and I'd roll my eyes [I'm thinking primarily Sansa & eventually even Ned, problematically]. There are those I truly loved (Ned's bastard son Jon Snow most of all, duh), but plenty of others - fan-favorite Tyrion in particular - eventually grated.

In the final third of the book, much of my gripes were alleviated, and I lapped up the mayhem happily. As I said before, I think this will make a compelling and nuanced television show because some of the stiff writing can be really rounded out by what I hope are great performances from quality actors.

Am I going to keep reading? Yes, probably. I'm not eager to pick up another 800 page imperfect book any time soon though because, just like in a television show, I'm afraid that the beginning of the second book will suffer from the dull hangover of a well-crafted season finale. ...more

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