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published 1996; hardback 1996, Spectra
A Game of Thrones, Book One of "A Song of Ice and Fire," by George R.R. Martin. Yet another pretentious-sounding fantasy epic -- another drop in the flood overflowing bookshop shelves. So why pick this particular book out of the masses?
Because it's bloody good, that's why.
A Game of Thrones has a fairly typical fantasy setting: a late medieval, knights-and-ladies kind of kingdom, with a wider and exotic world around it. This realm, where seasons last for years, is ineptly ruled and a struggle for power is about to erupt into the open. Over the sea, the heir of the previous dynasty, Viserys Targaryen, is struggling to win back his crown by marrying his sister Daenerys off to a powerful nomad chieftain. In the north are the family the story focuses on, the Starks, who are reluctantly drawn into the web of politics and plots. Even further north, the ubiquitous otherworldly forces of evil are gathering. As the story grows the plots branch out and intertwine with increasing complexity, and the reader is drawn deeper and deeper into the tale.
Martin's story is intricate, gripping and original, but his greatest strengths are his memorable characters and a rich, assured writing style. The descriptions are vivid but controlled, and many of the book's images, like the gigantic black skulls of the Targaryen dragons, are very striking. The characters are just as impressive; the list of interesting figures is too long to go through here. Suffice to say that some, like Tyrion Lannister and Daenerys, may become fantasy classics.
Virtually none of these people are wholly good or evil, which is refreshing in a fantasy novel. Queen Cersei Lannister, for example, commits many of her crimes to protect her children, while Eddard Stark is a honest and honourable man -- at times to the point of hurting others. All have human and understandable motives for their actions, which adds to the reality of Martin's world. Even "The Others," despite being the clichéd threat from the ancient past, are ominous and mysterious enough to hold the interest of a rather cynical reader like myself.
There are also some rather disturbing scenes scattered throughout the book, such as a woman breastfeeding a six-year old boy, along with some graphic sex and violence. Some people may find that this reduces their enjoyment of what is supposed to be a pleasant escape from everyday life. Others will see it as adding more maturity and emotional power to the story. My position is somewhere in between -- you'll have to come to your own conclusions.
Finally, if you still doubt the quality of this book, note that A Game of Thrones has been praised heavily by fantasy giants like Anne McCaffery, Tad Williams, and Robert Jordan, among others. They, if anyone, should recognise a good fantasy book when they read one. You most likely will too, because A Game of Thrones is one of the best contributions to the fantasy genre in years. Go out and read it.
Review by Tane Aikman
Reviewed August 8, 1997