Jurjen’s Reviews > A Game of Thrones > Status Update

Even in the dark room, Bran could feel his brother's smile. "And afterward, we'll ride north to see the Wall. We won't even tell Jon we're coming, we'll just be there one day, you and me. It will be an adventure." "An adventure," Bran repeated wistfully. He heard his brother sob. The room was so dark he could not see the tears on Robb's face, so he
reached out and found his hand. Their fingers twined together.

Insane how efficiently Martin sets up the characters with very determinable personalities, character conflicts and dynamics, the setting of a location, and the plot itself within just a few pages with some of these early chapters. The introduction of kings landing and the wall, back to back, was a particularly good example of that.

Also hes the master of dialogue in the genre, matched by maybe Abercrombie and Lynch?

George is so efficient in his character work. Jon II works as well as it does (saying goodbye to Bran/Cat telling Jon it should have been him, the goodbye with Robb, and Jon giving Arya Needle--all of that within 6 pages!!) because of the extremely efficient and believable character writing in the first few chapters.

And the plotting, pacing and worldbuilding is just as efficient. Such an impressive book