Ben
Ben is a lifelong Nintendo fan who likes to build websites, and make video games. He buys way too much Lego.
A Game of Thrones
A couple of months ago, shortly after I was passed a book baton, I was walking home from work when I passed a book shop. I had finished the book I was reading that morning and needed something to read so in I went. As normal the Sci-Fi/ Fantasy section beckoned and what did I find? One of the books mentioned by the person who passed me the baton, A Game of Thrones (written by George RR Martin). I’m always open to trying new authors so I bought it and have been engrossed ever since.
The book is classic epic fantasy with a huge cast of characters, murder, intrigue, massive battles and all the usual guff. But, unlike this blog, it is written so well that you can’t help but keep reading. After a slow(ish) start, where all of the lead characters are introduced, A Game of Thrones picks up pace swiftly. Each chapter is written from the point of view of a different character which is a nice approach and gives different perspectives on the events going on. Like all good epic fantasy the ‘hero(s)’ are regularly hurt with some of the leads meeting an early end which makes things very interesting.
Whilst the story is compelling I really hope this series doesn’t turn into another Wheel of Time deal. For those who don’t know the Wheel of Time series is a massive (at least 10 books so far) ‘epic’ fantasy story. It started off quite well, but now seems to be dragging it’s feet. There are so many characters spread around the world that the last book I read was 500+ pages of nobody doing anything. Each group of characters had two or three chapters to do everything before the next group was reintroduced. I’m convinced the series will never end. The fact that the earlier stories are being re-released in different formats just just shows the publisher seems to be milking the story for all it’s worth.
A Game of Thrones is actually the first book in a series (no idea how many there will be), and I’ve already read the second; A Clash of Kings (Song of Ice & Fire). I’ve ordered the third, which is so big it got split in two, and am waiting for it (them) to be delivered.
I want to find something comparable. I’ve read everything by Robin Hobb (and some of her earlier work under the name Megan Lyndholm) and loved it all, but looking around there is nothing else that compares. I’ve already mentioned Robert Jordan, and have read most of the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. David Eddings seems childish in comparison with his overly stereotyped male characters, and female characters who are all exactly the same. I’m currently reading my first Steven Erikson book, but so far there’s no competition – I guess Mr Martin has set the bar too high.
I’m glad I introduced you to it:) It really is a fantastic series; a great story, wonderful characters and most importantly some absolutely fantastic writing.
Wheel of Time, in comparison, fits the other extreme; unbalanced, poor writing, labourious, childish and utterly unoriginal (and I say all that, despite having read and bought every book in the series as yet). It’s a fun read but I wouldn’t even really mention them in the same breath.
Robin Hobb probably comes closest but the two are really as different as orange and apples.
Sadly I agree; the series has really spoilt me. Maybe I should write something on this…
Oh, and slightly off-topic here, you’re now featured on CSS Thesis. Congratulations.
I only mentioned the Wheel of Time series because it’s another example of epic fantasy that I’ve read. I enjoyed the it to start with but it seems to have lost it’s way in the more recent books, the same goes for the Sword of Truth series actually.
Thanks for the congrats – I noticed Css Thesis in my referrer logs the other day. I think someone has submitted me to Unmatched Style as well, since I got about 100 hits from them at the weekend and can only assume I was on their ‘recently submitted’ list. FWIW I was on Screenspire a couple of days ago as well 🙂
Now that you’re in there, you can let us in on the big secret: who did you have to bribe to get in there? I’ve got a sack full of money here ready to grease someone’s palms:)
Seriously speaking now, you deserve it 100%. this is a lovely, elegant and individual design; an inspiration to us all!
I didn’t bribe no-one 🙂
I’ve always held back from submitting this site to design showcases but when I noticed unmatched style in my referrer logs I figured I’d see if anyone was interested so submitted it to screenspire. A few days later I appeared in cssthesis. I guess they visited screenspire and liked what they saw.
Just noticed I’m on design shack as well – never even heard of that site before…
It sounds like a good read, I’ll shall try it. I’ve been into the Dan Brown’s. The strories are terribly repetitive but I just can’t ecape them. They haunt me while I sleep, the forcw my tears to weep. Actually, the only time opn of them has made me cry was when I thought I saw Silas at my door *shudders*.