A Game of Thrones – George R.R. Martin

A Game of Thrones
George R.R. Martin

Summers span decades. Winter can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne has begun.

It will stretch from the south, where heat breeds plot, lusts and intrigues; to the vast and savage eastern lands; all the way to the frozen north, where an 800-foot wall of ice protects the kingdom from the dark forces that lie beyond. Kings and queens, knights and renegades, liars, lords and honest men… all will play the Game of Thrones.

First published in 1996, A Game of Thrones is the first novel in George R.R. Martin’s epic fantasy saga,  A Song of Ice and Fire. This first novel was recently turned into a successful TV series by HBO, and as a result the series has seen something of a renaissance, becoming almost as popular (to my untrained eye) with commuters as Stieg Larsson’s Girl With A Dragon Tattoo series. Currently five volumes of this saga have been published, with a further two planned. Let me tell you now, each book is MASSIVE. I considered reviewing all of the books published so far, but once you are past the first book it is pretty impossible to say much without giving away or hinting at the mind-melting twists and turns along the way. Fore-warned is fore-armed: Don’t get too attached to anyone, as Martin seems to take a rather sadistic pleasure in killing off characters you just wouldn’t expect, and often horribly.

So, you’ll want to know what it’s about then? A Game of Thrones is set in the fictional world of Westeros, and sets up a dynastic power struggle in which NO ONE IS SAFE. Seriously folks, I cannot stress this fact enough. Without spoiling too much of what happens, Eddard Stark, the lord of Winterfell is commanded by his old friend, and King of the realm to travel with him to King’s Landing and act as his Hand. The novel is very reminiscent of medieval Europe, but with many elements unique to this fantasy world thrown in. If you’re not sure what the Hand of the King might be, think of Jafar from Aladdin, only without the wisecracking parrot sidekick.

The novel is told through the viewpoints of several different characters (mainly from the Stark family of Winterfell in this first one) and I found this was a device I really enjoyed. Reading the action through the eyes of a range of characters keeps the pace and narrative fresh in a long book, and I actually tore through this, reading it in just a few days. A particular favourite character of mine is Arya Stark, beloved as I am of fierce little girls who refuse to fit the mould. There were certain characters whose viewpoints I looked forward to, and Arya was certainly one of them. I also love Daenerys Targaryen, set up as a rival to the existing order; but a fantastic, layered and exciting character. Although Martin’s world throughout the saga is rife with misogyny and some quite brutal treatment of women – rape is often referred to very casually which sparked my ire, as this seems like lazy world building to me – he has created a number of fascinating and powerful female characters to go alongside the more typical male heroes and anti-heroes of his story. A lot of this novel deals in fairly typical fantasy tropes, but this often seems to be Martin toying with you before he throws the rule book out of the window

Apart from that, I can’t really tell you too much about what happens, as the enjoyment comes from the regular chapter cliffhangers. At least half of Martin’s characters would have been right at home in Slytherin, and this novel sets up much plotting, back stabbing and general trouble for the rest of the saga.

I really loved this book, although I did sometimes feel like it took itself a little too seriously, but perhaps that’s my prejudice for not taking the fantasy genre as seriously as I should. This is pretty well written in the main, and certainly can’t be criticised for delivery on plot, excitement and intrigue. And food. Oh my sweet summer child, Martin does not seem able to stop describing the food his characters eat, in mind-numbing detail. If you were wondering what Cersei Lannister broke her fast on at the beginning of Game of Thrones, I can guarantee a few books down the line you won’t give a monkey’s.

I have to confess, as a final note, that in spite of being a total badass; the fact that there was a character called Jon Snow made me repeatedly chortle and imagine him in a range of colourful ties, presenting the news. I am sorry (well, not really) if I’ve now ruined that for you too.

A Game of Thrones is definitely worth a read if you fancy dipping your toe in the pool of fantasy literature, but be warned it can get pretty nasty, and you may feel guilty that actually, that’s half the fun.

Rating: ★★★★★