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Astrocyte

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A Song of Ice and Fire https://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php?topic=29750.msg378491#msg378491
« on: August 10, 2011, 12:45:28 pm »
PLEASE PUT PLOT DETAILS IN SPOILER TAGS!

Okay, I just finished the first book and I've seen half the Game of Thrones TV series, so now I'm only 4 books and 5 TV episodes behind the rest of the world.

My take so far: The appellation "Harry Potter for grown-ups" is accurate, imo. J.K. Rowling is not the world's greatest writer, but she created a world that's absolutely absorbing. Martin is also not the world's greatest writer -- he tends to overexplain one minute and then cram a handful of crucial details into offhand dialogue the next, and he could stand a thesaurus (if I had to hear about this one more @#$% time -- ) Daenerys doing something "protectively" about her "soft swell"

But he's got two big things going for him. One is the realism of all the intrigues -- so far, nothing's come across as arbitrary; the tangle of personal relationships, group and individual goals and ideals, big and small deceptions, and logic overruling emotions (or vice versa) has been entirely authentic to me. The other is that there are almost no clear good guys and bad guys. Nearly every "bad" guy has some admirable or even likeable quality, and every "good" guy has some great flaw or awful secret. E.g., no matter how much you hate the Lannisters, you can't help but root for Tyrion a little bit. And
even though Ned tries so freakin' hard to be the good guy and do the right thing, he's so persistent and naive about it that he blatantly endangers his family and eventually gets himself killed.
What do you think? Are you reading the books or watching the TV show? How do you like it so far?

Offline Rastafla

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Re: A Song of Ice and Fire https://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php?topic=29750.msg382162#msg382162
« Reply #1 on: August 19, 2011, 05:03:55 pm »
I'm waiting for this series to be complete before starting reading it. The realism and gritty reality of human nature that so many reviews have spoken off seems really nice.
People say that if you liked Black Company is a big chance that you'll like these books too.
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Astrocyte

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Re: A Song of Ice and Fire https://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php?topic=29750.msg387256#msg387256
« Reply #2 on: August 31, 2011, 05:05:04 pm »
Ah, maybe I should pick up Black Company then!

Warning for anyone who hasn't picked up the series yet: DO NOT go to the wiki. They make no effort to hide major plot points, so even reading the capsule summary at the top of the page can give you major spoilers.

Another flaw: the author names almost every person who appears in the book, even if they're relatively insignificant -- so it's easy to get totally lost in the sea of characters and not have any idea which ones are the important ones. I'm pretty sure the author was just trying to reflect real-life relationships (think of all your family, then all your friends, then all your acquaintances, then maybe the shop clerks or mailmen or neighbors you don't really "know" but are familiar to you -- it's a lot of people), but it can be REALLY confusing at first. Luckily the author (or editor) recognizes this and includes an appendix of all the characters in the back of each book, ridiculous as it is to need an appendix to keep them all straight. The TV show also helps, by giving you faces to put with names.

Now finished the TV series and just finished the second book. It was better than the first (though I wouldn't recommend skipping the first).

Offline coinich

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Re: A Song of Ice and Fire https://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php?topic=29750.msg387309#msg387309
« Reply #3 on: August 31, 2011, 06:47:02 pm »
Even GRRM admitted he created too many characters in an interview.  Good thing one of his hobbies is killing them off...

Its been great, and I've read all the books, but the last especially seemed to have a few plot threads that didn't appear to add much to any overarching story.

Astrocyte

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Re: A Song of Ice and Fire https://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php?topic=29750.msg387316#msg387316
« Reply #4 on: August 31, 2011, 07:03:36 pm »
Good thing one of his hobbies is killing them off...

Offline Winter Is Coming

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Re: A Song of Ice and Fire https://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php?topic=29750.msg453151#msg453151
« Reply #5 on: January 26, 2012, 10:49:02 pm »
Hey! I think I found a few kindred spirits! :)

Offline semibalanus42

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Re: A Song of Ice and Fire https://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php?topic=29750.msg478202#msg478202
« Reply #6 on: April 09, 2012, 02:13:04 am »
This is bar none my favorite fantasy series and I have read quite a few.  House stark is awesome and winter is indeed coming.  However, don't count out the dragons or the deformed lion. 

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Re: A Song of Ice and Fire https://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php?topic=29750.msg486446#msg486446
« Reply #7 on: April 24, 2012, 08:04:16 am »
A Song of Ice and Fire... Yeah, this is my one of my favorite fantasy series as well. The backstabbing realism, as well as the dynamic and round characters make this story so immersing.

This is bar none my favorite fantasy series and I have read quite a few.  House stark is awesome and winter is indeed coming.  However, don't count out the dragons or the deformed lion.

haha I definitely wouldn't count out the dragons  :D They definitely will play a major role when winter hits..
Hm. I remember leaving off on book 4 because I got really busy about a year ago.. haven't picked it up since. Maybe I should start up again!  :) Maybe when I'm less busy..

Offline King Freezo

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Re: A Song of Ice and Fire https://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php?topic=29750.msg497937#msg497937
« Reply #8 on: May 14, 2012, 12:31:04 am »
GRRM has created one of the greatest Epic Fantasy novel series of our time. The current generations are blessed that we have a chance to be the first to experience his writings, Tolkien being the last.

I personally find the characters are well formed and well placed throughout his expansive setting. Each is with purpose, great or small.
The human narrative is also very real, which is a great change from the typical fantasy narrative of goblins hiding around every corner.
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Re: A Song of Ice and Fire https://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php?topic=29750.msg506871#msg506871
« Reply #9 on: June 02, 2012, 02:12:59 pm »
GRRM is able to make every one flawed, with out resorting to cartoonish OTT plot devices, yea sure the lannisters are ruthless for example but as the story progresses you start to understand their motives and desires even Cersei seem human....

Truly a master story teller.

 

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