A Song of Ice and Fire

[Harsin]

Im not usually much of a fan of large multi-part fantasy epics, but I took a chance on this book and it (and the other parts released) was one of the most pleasant surprises I've had with a book lately.

It has the usual magic and dragons trappings, but all that is kept firmly in the backdrop to a gritty vivid world explored from the perspective of multiple characters. Most pleasing is that unlike virtually all his peers Martin seems willing to move the plot forward and kill characters without compunction - a refreshing change to virtually every other fantasy series I've read where the authors usually seem obsessed with maintaining some status quo so they can keep the money train rolling.

Anyone else read this series.

I've not, but it sounds very good. I see that readers of the Farseer Trilogy bought it, so that would bode well.

Does it come with a ponderous 'thees' and 'thous' "of anciente tymes" type of prologue, or are we spared that particular cliché too?

Cheers

EDIT: Amazon rather intriguingly have a special offer for some of the books with the as-yet-unpublished next book in the series.

[Harsin]

There is quite a detailed history and past relationships between characters that you gradually learn of, but I thought it was inserted into the plot very well rather than the usual "and lo in the third age Lord Teugfqi'fvwyv'wqofgv did slayeth the evil Shadow King by collecting the Eight Gems of Truth and the Sword of Power" type crap that plagues the genre. It's also refreshingly free of loads of daft multi-syallable names which are one of my main bugbears with fantasy (especially names with apostrophes stuck in for no apparent reason).

Speaking of the Farseer Trilogy, it reminded me of that in that the world feels quite grounded and there is a strong focus on character, with things like magic and dragons very much relegated to the background.

Yeah, I think I'll buy them then. Cheers.

I loved books 1 and 2 of Farseer but thought she totally lost the ball on the 3rd book. It made me think of Gormengast but without the excuse of her having seen the horrors of concentration camps. I've never been so dissappointed in a series of books, I think.

But I digress. Cheers for the heads up.

[Guest 35149]

Had to cancel my order for the latest SoI&F book, as according to Amazon it won't be out until September next year (originally mooted for Spring last year). A very good series, but not one to jump in to if you want to know how it'll all end any time soon.

[Guest 1052]

Fantastic books with multiple 'main' characters, many twists and turns and he isn't afraid to bump off some important people either, been waiting for the next book for ages

[TonyG]

Totally agree, a stunning series of books so far, easily the best fantasy-series i've read. Populated with numerous intriguing characters, where no-one, no matter how important they seem to the plot, is safe... My only grumble is the huge gap between the last novel & the upcoming one. Reading his reasons for the delay of the next novel on his website, George R R Martin's Website shows he at least is trying his hardest to put out as good a book as he can.

Highly recommended

[JonLaidlow]

Originally Posted by TheoGB

Yeah, I think I'll buy them then. Cheers.

I loved books 1 and 2 of Farseer but thought she totally lost the ball on the 3rd book. It made me think of Gormengast but without the excuse of her having seen the horrors of concentration camps. I've never been so dissappointed in a series of books, I think.

But I digress. Cheers for the heads up.

I agree - third book of Farseer is a bit of a disapppointment. I soldiered on (after a break) with the next two trilogies, and they are better again.

J

To be honest I have an unread copy of The Liveship Traders volume 1 (or was that the title of the first volume of the next trilogy?) at home. I couldn't make it past the first two or three pages.

[Werdna007]

Coincidently, my sister-in-law just recommended this series to me today (she is reading them translated into French).

After her recommendation and this thread, I have put in an order for the first 4 of SoI&F.

Thanks for the heads up.

[LeftHandedGuitarist]

Just bough the first book in the series today, A Game Of Thrones, based on the recommendations here. This better be good, 'cause if its not... I know where you live!

[Guest 4779]

Very, very good. (Game of Thrones)
Also try ''Fevre Dreams'' by George R. Martin, nice spin on the vampire genre.

[Lujan82]

Absolutely amazing set of books. Best I've read so far in the Fantasy genre. Supposed to be based loosely on the War of the Roses. (Lannister=Lancaster / Stark=York etc.)

Must Read.

[LeftHandedGuitarist]

I'm somewhere around 12 chapters into A Game Of Thrones and I'm hooked. Thanks for the recommendation! The mini-chapter style focusing on individual characters is what Kevin J. Anderson ripped off for his 'Saga Of Seven Suns' series, but it's done to much greater effect here.

I'm just a little way into the book and so far there's been lots of swearing, sex, violence, unexpected occurences, character development, depth and a plot that's actually moving along. Fantastic!

At first I was a little worried that it was going to get all bogged down with far too many character and place names, but they're beginning to become lodged into my mind as I read and it's not distracting me from understanding what's going on.

[Guest 35149]

If you're that far into the first book, then you'll be pleasantly surprised at just how much your opinion of various characters can change during the course of the books. You'll also possibly be pleasantly surprised when some (typically untouchable in the genre) protagonists can come a cropper later on. Nothing in this series is black & white, and nobody is innocent, not even the children.

[Guest 11760]

Anyone know when the next installment is due - is there supposed to be two more?

[Guest 35149]

http://www.thedvdforums.co.uk/forums...83&postcount=7

[Guest 23494]

Just an update,
A new sample chapter of the fourth book has been posted on his website;

http://www.georgerrmartin.com/

click on the samples section

[TonyG]

Uh Oh! ... The author recently provided an update to his progress on the 4th novel....

"I have more than thirteen hundred pages in final draft form and another hundred or so in roughs or fragments, but there are still some chapters yet to write....."

Flippin' eck! ... STOP Already!!! ... I forsee receiving a telephone-directory-sized novel from Amazon by 2010!

[Guest 35149]

The third book was in two parts, I guess the fourth "book" will be a trilogy of its own.