A Game of Thrones
Hardcover Book : 736 pages
Publisher: Bantam ( August 01, 1996 )
Item #: 10-010487
ISBN: 9780553103540
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.25 x 1.25inches
Product Weight: 29.0 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
My Review 
February 25, 2013
As the fantasy genre of today seems to be trending more and more towards the dark and gritty and more based on historical realities, George R.R. Martin's A Game of Thrones sets the bar on how well this model can work. I have seen criticisms around the web that talk negatively about the brutal depictions of events in the novel, the negative treatment of women and children and the overall dark tones of the novel. To all of these criticisms I say, pick up a history book. Life in the middle-ages was not all sunshine and rainbows. We may like to romanticize medieval times, but the harsh facts are that life was not easy and for most people it basically sucked.
I think that Mr. Martin has crafted a grand epic here that manages to represent a lot of the harsh realities of the historical time-frame that his world is related to while still managing to craft a story that is his own and still contains many of the fantastical elements that lead people to turn to fantasy over historical fiction. His characters are strong and, while the women are treated pretty unfairly, some of them manage to stand out as strong characters in their own right.
A great start to a series that I look forward to continuing soon. I would highly recommend giving it a try unless you're easily upset by graphic violence and gore. If you're looking for fairies, unicorns and rainbows, you won't find them here. Unless the fairies are having their wings plucked, the unicorns are pulling siege equipment and the rainbows are being covered in clouds of despair!
Reviewer: Stefan
1,2,3 Best Ever?
January 20, 2013
If you view "Game of Thrones," "A Clash of Kings," and "A Storm of Swords," as a trilogy, it may very well be the best fantasy trilogy ever! As the intro to the trilogy, Game of Thrones never loses your attention. And just for the record, YES, the book is about 20 times better than the HBO Series!
Reviewer: Rob
Better before HBO 
November 13, 2012
I like watching the series on HBO, and then ordered the book. Unfortunately, the series is so in tune with the book that I knew what was going to happen. I would of enjoyed it much more if I would have read it first.
Reviewer: Vicky
October 02, 2012
I'm going to steer a little out of left field compared to other reviewers on this book. I'm not really into fantasy books or series, though once in awhile something will come along and grab my attention. I think my review in some small degree may be hindered because i watched the show first and then read the book. This book is all over the place..Entirely too long and such little amount of events going on..Way too many characters..Some of these characters play such a small part in the story, that their names should never even have been given. Yes, i had an upper hand by seeing the series first, but i would hated to have tried to decipher this book and it's characters had i not seen the show first. This book had it's interesting moments, hands down, but it's just too long for the things that happen, or don't happen i should say. I hope that the other books are not the same way. I can handle books that are big, but only when they have something going on!
Reviewer: Josh
October 02, 2012
I'm going to steer a little out of left field compared to other reviewers on this book. I'm not really into fantasy books or series, though once in awhile something will come along and grab my attention. I think my review in some small degree may be hindered because i watched the show first and then read the book. This book is all over the place..Entirely too long and such little amount of events going on..Way too many characters..Some of these characters play such a small part in the story, that their names should never even have been given. Yes, i had an upper hand by seeing the series first, but i would hated to have tried to decipher this book and it's characters had i not seen the show first. This book had it's interesting moments, hands down, but it's just too long for the things that happen, or don't happen i should say. I hope that the other books are not the same way. I can handle books that are big, but only when they have something going on!
Reviewer: Josh
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