A Song of Fire and Ice

[museme87]

Has anyone read the A Song of Fire and Ice series by George R.R. Martin? I keep seeing this series popping up everywhere, but I know next to nothing about it. The editorial reviews section of Amazon calls Martin the "American Tolkien", which, quite frankly, isn't a selling point at all for me, lol

Comments

[betta329]

I am on the 4th book. I'm a huge fantasy nerd, but I really don't like Tolkien as I think he's a windbag most of the time. I know blasphemous, but there you have it. If LOTR was written today with the current entertainment needs of sex, intrigue, lust, deception, power, backstabbing, and murder, this book would be it. Martin spends a lot more time than Tolkien ever did in the character development rather than world building, which is nice. It's dirty and gritty, challenges taboos, makes you want to kill everyone, makes you want to glomp everyone. There are parts that are pretty heavy and dry, but my God does this book get you going. I finished over 1500 pages in a little over 7 hours staying up until 4 in the morning because I couldn't put it down. I haven't raged this hard over plot elements and discussed what's gonna happen since Harry Potter. I'm really into this and kinda love and hate Martin and how ruthless he is. It is really epic.

[museme87]

Tolkien a windbag? *Gasp!* Surely, not Tolkien. Tolkien is so a windbag. Actually my biggest problem with Tolkien is that he doesn't do much character building, so it's reassuring that Martin does.

I've got to say that your review has me pretty convinced to read it. It seems like our literary tastes align well (at least concerning fantasy).

[betta329]

I apologize for the delayed response. My biggest complaint with Tolkien is he spends a god awful amount of time on describing the forest and how everyone is walking and tired, and second is his complete lack of character development. No one changes over the course of the book.

It is truly amazing. I have not been this angry and invested in a book series for a long time. I would say Harry Potter, but I was pretty invested in House of Night until recently and I don't give a crap about it anymore. I really loved the Jessica Darling Series. I love pretty much anything Lorelei James touches. And I absolutely am loving The Night Circus, but I was a huge Time Traveler's Wife book not movie fan.

[betta329]

I also love The Hunger Games.

[museme87]

and second is his complete lack of character development

Preach it, bb! I could not agree with you more. :)

I've not read any of the other books that you listed, besides The Hunger Games. I did a post about my impressions on the series, but ultimately the series fell apart for me. I still was totally invested in reading it! Don't get me wrong, but it's my opinion that Collins got worse with every book she released and come the third, she lost sight of who her characters were. Just my interpretation, though. :) I know it's a rather unpopular opinion.

[betta329]

I had a hard time getting into the first book until they got to the games and then couldn't put it down. The whole thing with Peeta and the fake baby in book 2 was really meh with me. I don't like Gale and I think Katniss is stupid most of the time. I really liked the games in 2, and that ending! And CInna! I'm gonna cry again.

Then there's all this whining in Mockingjay and Peeta is stupid, but actually grew a pair and that's kind of cool. I didn't see her as the hero she was in the first book. She wasn't willing to go to any lengths. And I was PISSED when Prim died. I liked the series because of the social commentary and the setting, the side characters were pretty amazing, too, but Katniss and all of them pissed me off so much that I was underwhelmed by the ending. I thought the books were supposed to be about the world and not one little snot nosed piss ant advertising propaganda girl as she tries to live up to her rep.