A Song of Ice and Fire - Book 1 A Game of Thrones

[Ahtims]

Regards, death so far (view spoiler)[
Viserys-for the sudden, brutal and unexpected way he was killed
(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)]
Reg. Bran
(view spoiler)[I like him a lot possibly because of the hardship he faces with courage. I like Tommen too, though Joff's brother, and a product of incest too, he's quite gentle (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Anirudh]

@Manju,

1) No. Like I mentioned it the previous post that is who he is. I liked him for it :) Every character can't be the same :)

2) No such foreshadowing. It was just a way to get the pups. The comment made by the character is just random and nothing more. This is not malazan :P:P

3) I think it is one of the best endings in the genre. Most of his book have an awesome ending :)

4) More history IS revealed later on in the next books. There is a huge secret regarding the starks probably. Nothing specific has been said so far but a few hints here and there have been dropped.

[Em Lost In Books]

Anirudh wrote: "@Manju,

1) No. Like I mentioned it the previous post that is who he is. I liked him for it :) Every character can't be the same :)

2) No such foreshadowing. It was just a way to get the pups. The..."

(view spoiler)[1) I know but a little change couldn't have hurt. not even a change but a little wait on Ned's part and we might have a different story.

2) may be. but Catelyn was pretty worried about this whole "sign" thing.

3) I love that ending. as i said I liked Dany very much and I liked how she got the dragons. she is true and only heir to the Iron Throne.

4) okay. I am curious now. (hide spoiler)]

[Em Lost In Books]

One person whose POV you most admired and why?

one person whose POV you'd have loved to read and why?

[Ahtims]

Arya -exciting things always happened

[Anirudh]

I have to say Tyrion and Arya in this book.

And about ned (view spoiler)[ He was never part of politics. His family always stayed in the north and was not privy to information about the throne. So he could not know who would betray whom. And like Tyrion said, he was too honourable for the game of thrones. (hide spoiler)]

[Anirudh]

1. What do you think about the Wall? And the stories about it?

2. Which was the most surprising moment in the book? Use spoiler tag please :P

3. This book has POV instead of chapters. Was it good or bad?

[Ahtims]

1. Wall seems to be the demarcation between order and chaos, civilized and uncivilised, living and dead. It seems to be an impenetrable boundary which keeps people safe. Beyond the wall lies the great, perhaps unknown wilderness. And only the bravest of the brothers go beyond. I found the wall exciting and challenging. I loved to read about its height and width.
2. Mobile app doesn't permit spoiler tags. So refraining
3. I love reading POV stories. Makes the narration more exciting. Monotony of continuation is lessened, especially if and when dull parts intervene. And the author's skill in depicting various characters is highlighted.

[Houssemhf98]

best book series :D

[Anirudh]

1. Indeed. The wall was built with purpose. As the story progresses the significance of the wall is further revealed.
It is the greatest structure build by men

2. I liked the POV style too. It is refreshing and great for re reads. You can only read POV you wish to read as one continuous journey of a character.

[Em Lost In Books]

@Anirudh:

1)I agree with Smitha. She has defined it beautifully.
(view spoiler)[may be in old days being a brother at the Wall had been a big thing but now no one is eager to join the watchwhat excited me more than anything else was the concept of Others. Blue eyes, dead but not dead. How aniimals repel them except direwolves. It is ironical how great houses are fighting for the Iron throne unaware of this deadly danger. (hide spoiler)]

2 There were so many. Hard to choose one but I think I liked this one the most. (view spoiler)[Eddard's death. (hide spoiler)]

3. I liked the writing styles and POVs but I thnk I am still stuck with Abercrombie's Heroes style.

[Em Lost In Books]

Oh this order at Wall remind me of another book where there were multiple orders and once a kid joined any of them he/she was forgotten by their family.

[Anirudh]

@Smitha, manju

(view spoiler)[
1. Yes that's true. Like she said it is a division between chaos and civilisation. But there is a lot more to it than what initially appears. Like they say, the wall was not built to keep men out.

The wall and what lies beyond is one of the biggest reasons I love this series. It is spectacular and mysterious. When I saw the wall in the tv series it felt amazing. It has a lot more significance than what people remember now.

The Others are fascinating. It is still unclear what they are or what they want. Next book is about them.
Maybe that's why Direwolves are the sigil of House stark. It was Brandon Stark who built the wall after all. And they are descendants of the first men.

2. Yes I think that shocked many people :D Especially those who watched the tv series without reading the book. Because the actor playing the role was famous :D

3. I like both this and the heroes style narration :) (hide spoiler)]

[Anirudh]

Manju wrote: "Oh this order at Wall remind me of another book where there were multiple orders and once a kid joined any of them he/she was forgotten by their family."

Which book?

In the book most of the old history has been forgotten by people and those who do not live in the north don't even know what the wall and the nights watch are for. That's why (view spoiler)[ the watch is in such a bad shape (hide spoiler)]

[Ahtims]

@Anirudh & Manju,
Yes, I keep imagining how the wall and the stark sky and the beyond would look like. One day, I would watch the TV series..
Am almost three quarters through book 2 and am trying my best not to muddle up the two books and put up the book 2 details here which would be considered spoilers. So not adding more.
I would really like to know the facts behind all the non human factors of the series.

[Em Lost In Books]

@Anirudh & Smitha

I want to know more about others but its only first book. So I am hopeful that there will be more and in detail in upcoming books.

(view spoiler)[when the dead man tried to kill Mormont it was a surprise yet shocking at the same time. Why he tried to kill him and how he becaame undead again? I am curious about this.

2. Whats your most surprising momennt?
(hide spoiler)]

[Em Lost In Books]

Anirudh wrote: "Manju wrote: "Which book?

In the book mos..."

Blood Song.

[Em Lost In Books]

PSmith wrote: "@Anirudh & Manju,
Yes, I keep imagining how the wall and the stark sky and the beyond would look like. One day, I would watch the TV series..
Am almost three quarters through book 2 and am trying m..."

I am starting season 1 next week.:)

[Anirudh]

You definitely should. Despite being a tv show the scenery is spectacular. Mainly because instead of relying on visuals effects they actually shot in real locations.

ha ha I know the feeling :D I am double checking everything before posting :D I don't want Manju murdering me :D

Non human factors? such as? There are many and have different facts.

[Ahtims]

Major spoiler coming up regarding non human factors - not sure whether all have been introduced in book 1 itself. So read at your own peril
(view spoiler)[
the others
children
mud people
dragons - how they originated
ancestors, or some races like that...
the scenes encountered by Dani in some ?magical land - where there were rooms and staircases which turn only towards the right
Pirates, not totally human...
the dead people who attacked in the first book - are they same as "others"? (hide spoiler)]

[Anirudh]

@Manju, (view spoiler)[ Well nobody knows anything about others. You must wait till winds of winter is released :P

as to why the wights wake up? still have to wait.

I watched the tv series first so the most surprising was bran being pushed off the window. It was a complete shock! By the time Ned died I knew that anything could happen in this book :D (hide spoiler)]

Yet to read blood song.

[Anirudh]

No they are not from book 1!!

[Ahtims]

Ah, good that I put up a warning.

[Anirudh]

@only for Smitha, the ones you mentioned, they are given little trivia in each book but I don't what you mean by (view spoiler)[ not totally human pirates.

dead people are wights. they are just zombies. Others are an entirely different species. they are not human. Wights are dead humans. (hide spoiler)]

[Ahtims]

okay, thanks :)
(view spoiler)[
the one who asked Dany to marry him, who was supposed be very rich and who was trying to turn her away from her quest for the throne. He didnot seem entirely human to me. I forgot his strange sounding name.(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Anirudh]

1. Do you like the direwolves?

2. Which is the character you despise the most?

3. What do you think about the setting of asoiaf. The long summers the longer winters etc. The general geography of the land

4. How good was the politics in the book?

5. Which House impressed you the most so far?

[Ahtims]

I too want to watch. Almost everyone has. :/

[Ahtims]

Thanks, Abhay :-)

[Ahtims]

Yes, I too wondered the same. How loyal they would be.
By the way wondering whether black brotherhood it needs a spoiler tag; or is it mentioned way in the beginning?
(I don't remember )

[Anirudh]

@Abhay, Himalaya? :D

(view spoiler)[ The wall was built about 8000 years ago from present time and the nights watch established. Then it was considered noble to join. But now all history has passed into legend so nobody remembers what their purpose is. So no one volunteers. Hence it's filled with criminals.

Direwolves are cool indeed :) And they are very majestic. Just like the starks they are ancient.

Viserys I pitied first then hated. In the show they made him look like a complete fool. (hide spoiler)]

@Manju, I think I missed this before from your post but Dany has no right on the iron throne.

[Anirudh]

@Abhay, you didn't read the books? I love the whole long winters thing. Only the north remembers the true winter. The rest have forgotten.

Yes I love the whole politics thing. It is not subtle but it's very brutal.
Hand of the king is like the minister. Since the king usually drinks and hunts and does nothing else. The Hand takes care of work.

It probably existed. A lot of royal lines were not interested in day to day affairs of the court.

[Anirudh]

You should try the books. They are awesome.

It does. One never knows who is on what side :) Sometimes You can't tell how many sides are there :D

[Anirudh]

Abhay wrote: "Yes yes sure thing.

Haha true that :D By when does GRRM plan to finish this series? Heard there's been a long gap since his last book released. He isnt keeping well or something?"

No idea. He's been writing it for long. He's well, just not releasing the book :/

[Em Lost In Books]

@Anriudh:

1) I love Direwolves. they're all so loyal to their masters.
(view spoiler)[They're a fierce animal and every other animal was scared of them. though it was Ghost who got the most attention with his heroics at Wall, every other was good too. Ghost's ability to be around Others also played a very important part in discovering Other's ability to become undead. (hide spoiler)]

2) Cersei Lannister. (view spoiler)[she is vile, cunning and full of hatred. Hers is the POV that I would have love to read. (hide spoiler)]

3)World building was good. people from different places have different cultures and religious beliefs.

4) Politics is one of most interesting aspects of the book. (view spoiler)[with every chapter all the equations kept changing and above all Martin kept killing every significant character making it hard to guess things as always the unexpected happened. First Robert and then Ned. Execution of Ned was the biggest surprise considering what he was promised. I am still not sure it was Cersei or Joff. (hide spoiler)]

5) Stark House of course.(view spoiler)[ every one except Rob and Rickon got their own chapters. beside that their story of descendance was most impressive other than the Targaryen. (hide spoiler)]

[Anirudh]

@Manju,

(view spoiler)[ 1. You should see them in the tv show :) They used real dogs in season 1. Awesome looking dogs :)
Yes They are surprisingly close to their masters. And 2 played key roles in the book. Ghost is quite scary :D The direwolf is the sigil of House stark, it is fitting that they should each have one :) And Ghost being the way he is and belonging to Jon is somehow fitting too.

2. You will in later books but not now. Yes she is a ruthless creature. But characters are complex here. You can never know who does what.

3. Yes the old gods were awesome. the trees with carved faces etc was very interesting. The first men, the andals, lot of history in the series.

4. Yes I know. Everyone tries to backstab everyone else. It is quite amazing how well he has written that part. Till the last page you will not know who is betraying whom
Ned's death was a shock to quite a lot of people. Especially tv show watchers. :) And it was Joff not Cersei

5. Stark is an ancient house and they are really different from the rest. Because of the harsh north weather everyone thinks northern men are tougher than others. :) They played a key role in history when they built the wall. (hide spoiler)]

[Em Lost In Books]

@Anirudh

(view spoiler)[I've never read about wolves as pets. Its kind of refreshing about this new kind of pets.

But in this book she won the most hated character specially when her doings had effected so many people and harmed them in irreparable ways.

Yes there wasn't much about other Gods but Starks and Dothraki gods and their beliefs about them, Martin has described them beautifully.

Every death is so shocking. I didn't believed at first that Robert's death was not the result of any plan. No one is honest everyone is always planning.

But they're tough and only people who are honest. Someone who has honor code and strictly follow it too.(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Anirudh]

Manju, (view spoiler)[ Having wolf as companion is there in a few books like wheel of time etc

Yes. Her first priority is her and her children's safety. She will do anything for that. Tyrion calls it her one redeeming safety :D

The old gods and the new are the two main beliefs and the lord of light from across the sea. You can see that in their oaths. Old gods were followed by The First Men (North people) and Andals worshipped the seven.

Dothraki have their great stallion. I love it how they call the grass land the dothraki sea :)

It was a plan. Not a complete one but that was the intention. In a way Ned was responsible for Robert's death as he gave cersi chance to act.

The Northmen stick to old traditions and are honourable people for the most part. And since they take no part in capital politics they don't do backstabbing etc. (hide spoiler)]

[Anirudh]

1. What do you think of daenerys stormborn? Her journey? (view spoiler)[ and what about her changing relations with Khal Drogo? (hide spoiler)]

2. (view spoiler)[ Did Bran Stark getting pushed down shock you? Were you expecting anything like that? (hide spoiler)]

3. What do you think about,

a. Grand Master Pycel
b. Littlefinger
c. Varys
d. Tywin Lannister?

[Em Lost In Books]

why don't Dany has no right to the Iron Throne?

[Anirudh]

Because it was claimed by conquest by House Baratheon. Only way she has any claim now is if she defeats other contenders

[Em Lost In Books]

1) I love Dany. her journey from Dragon Princess to a Khaleesi was remarkable. (view spoiler)[she was so scared in the start of the book. had no courage to say no to her brother, who was her only alive relation. Someone she looked upon to take care of her. but what he did? he married her to a savage (Drogo seemed one when he was introduced in the book). No matter how her brother insulted her but she never uttered a word. and then slowly she started to gain confidence, may be its the fact that she was a Khaleesi now or that she was carrying a child or may be both. but her confidence did her wonders. & I really hated her for believing in that temple priestess.

She was afraid of Khal Drogo in the start and who wouldn't be. she was only 13 year old and thanks the God she was not Arya. In her own way Dany was special and slowly but surely she won the hearts of Dothraki's. She took her time in getting close to Drogo and putting her faith in him. (hide spoiler)]

2) (view spoiler)[it was shocking atleast for me. I wasn't expecting that. you're not supposed to do that with a kid but on the other hand what he witnessed was a secret which must be kept a secret on any condition. but in the end poor boy paid dearly for being bored. I was expecting him to tell the truth once he came to his senses but he forgot everything. that was sad. (hide spoiler)]

3) Pycel: (view spoiler)[he was truly loyal to Cersei. but I don't blame him to be a pet of queen. Robert was not a good King. he was more into battles and all this sitting on the throne and hearing the trials, giving judgments bored him. & someone who was close to the king would be aware of this fact. they would also know slowly Robert's power was diminishing. So who can blame Pycel if he put his loyalties in Lannisters? Jamie was there, and every one know the power of Tywin. (hide spoiler)]

Littlefinger & Varys:(view spoiler)[they both were playing a very dangerous games. they both knew almost of everything that was happening in the King's Landing but still they chose to keep their mouth shut. I think again for the same reason that I stated above. but they remain neutral, observing the power shifting. whoever sits on the throne their loyalties lies with him. (hide spoiler)]

Tywin:(view spoiler)[I so wanted to meet this man. for almost 75% of the book his bravery tales or should I say how he scared people overpower everything else which say something about him as he was not present in a single scene. & then finally I get to meet this man. He was a power hungry vulture. first Jamie was everything for him and once he got captured he told Tyrion that he was his son, whereas it was always a shame for Tywin to see Tyrion as his son. a very evil character. (hide spoiler)]

[Anirudh]

(view spoiler)[It is tragic what happened to Dany. She was used as a trading chip by her own brother. In comparison Drogo was much more nice to her than her own brother. I liked her confidence too (Superb performance by Emily clarke in tv series) The way she won over Drogo, to discover that he was not as beastly as she thought, the naming of her child, eating horse heart, everything was cool :)
she had no way of knowing that the priestess would do that. But khal drogo was foolish enough to allow it

Yes she was a different creature from Arya :)

2. That was a real turning moment. Something that set aside asoiaf from other novels. It really showed that anyone can get hurt, anyone can die. All the general rules of writing a novel are thrown off the window :) He was a boy who was in the wrong place at the wrong time and paid the price for it.
I loved the way summer protected him :)

3. Pycel is a cunning old man :D Robert in fact did not rule at all and most of the stuff was taken care of by Jon Arryn, hand of the king. Robert was a great warrior and a horrible king. But compared to some of the previous kings he was pretty good :D
Pycel played it wisely and did not declare himself to anyone in public. He has changed his allegiance once before during Robert's rebellion, he did it again

4. Littlefinger and Varys are two very different men with two very different ambitions, despite looking similar in nature. This is more visible as the story progresses. They are considered little fish by others because they are not noble born, only to their peril.

5. Tywin is a powerful character. He is very ruthless and at the same time very political he is never vindictive. But as they say a lannister pays his debts. He does not hurt people for the sake of it. And he is the true power behind the crown. He is no more evil than any other character. All that matters to him is his family name. He hated Tyrion the most because of his looks . (hide spoiler)]

[Anirudh]

@Psmith

I am not sure in which one it was so removed :)

[Ahtims]

Okay. Am removing my above comment too... :)

[Ahtims]

Anirudh wrote: "1. What do you think of daenerys stormborn? Her journey? [spoilers removed]

2. [spoilers removed]

3. What do you think about,

a. Grand Master Pycel
b. Littlefinger
c. Varys
d. Tywin Lannister?"

What do you think of daenerys stormborn? Her journey? (view spoiler)
I didn't particularly like her in Book 1, though she showed considerable improvement of characters and spunk. I didnot like her liking her old forced -upon -her husband. I feel she adopted the savage kind of way after joining the dothkari tribe, whom I don;t like because of their weird customs and weirder sounding names and deeds. I was totally repulsed towards the end

2. (view spoiler)
(view spoiler)[ It didn't shock me. I was expecting something like that though I knew he would live. What else can you expect from Cersei and her brother? (hide spoiler)]

3. What do you think about,

a. Grand Master Pycel - He was okayish, he did what he had to. He was scheming a lot, but in his position he has to.
b. Littlefinger (view spoiler)[ I felt bad the way he was treated by Catelyn's father though I am not sure whether he would have made a better match for her. Possibly he felt hurt and insulted, and grew up to be the character he is. Possibly, his is an ingrained character. But I remember him being partial towards Catelyn and her daughters later on in the book. So still, he has some amount of better nature. (hide spoiler)]
c. Varys - I sort of pity him for what was done to him.
d. Tywin Lannister? - a sturdy old man, very calculating, very stiff. I am in awe of him. I don't remember him being cruel and vindictive as some of his children.

[Anirudh]

(view spoiler)[The dothraki, called savages are in fact more civilised than people of westros. Their customs may be weird but so are westros customs. Dany had to change herself in order to survive. Ironic that her barbaric husband became civilised and her princely brother became a barbarian

2. But to throw a kid like that :) I didn't expect it. I was surprised :D

3. I don't like Pycel. Quite an annoying fellow
Littlefinger is a complicated character. Can't say much as it will be a spoiler but he is complicated

Varys is the spider, everyone fears him. But yes what happened was sad

Exactly. He is a man who does what he thinks is best for his house. But he does not kill people for pleasure. A perfect man to rule a house or become the hand of the king. (hide spoiler)]

[Ahtims]

Anirudh wrote: "The dothraki, called savages are in fact more civilised than people of westros. Their customs may be weird but so are westros customs. Dany had to change herself in order to survive. Ironic that he..."

I didn't think that way about dothraki. It shows how much influence external appearances and names exert many a time.

[Em Lost In Books]

Anirudh wrote: "It is tragic what happened to Dany. She was used as a trading chip by her own brother. In comparison Drogo was much more nice to her than her own brother. I liked her confidence too (Superb perform..."

1) (view spoiler)[ true. Even being an outsider in the Dothraki community, Dany's journey was great. Dotheaki had to follow her because she was wife of Khal. But it was how she made the hearts and respect of people made her confident. With every little win be it in terms of her relationship with Khal or fellow Dothraki warriors made her think of more of herself and she was not scared anymore. Not even of her brother. Morning was a big help. (hide spoiler)]

3) (view spoiler)[ I know Robert was not a good king but he was a bigger fool in putting his faith in wrong people. Do you think he was aware of Cersei and Jamie? (hide spoiler)]

4)(view spoiler)[I know how much he despised Tyrion so it was shocking when he called him his son and order him to go to Cersei. (hide spoiler)]

[Anirudh]

You people are quoting my spoiler :P

[Em Lost In Books]

@Smitha:(view spoiler)[Drogo was not that bad. But once Dany get to know the man it was not hard for her to love and respect her husband. (hide spoiler)]