Khaleesi, I’m halfway through A game of thrones. I didn’t like the beginning much because there were no likeable characters so I decided to shrug and root for the Lannisters as the closest thing to magnificient bastards. But by now there are loads of awesome characters (you, Arya Stark, Jon Snow) and the book is delicious, though not nearly horrible enough yet (maybe something about that hound and that mountain...). I like the grey and black morality, the psychological realism, the varied cultures, the “toss the reader in and wait 200 pages to mention variable-length seasons” style, the descriptions (seriously, that guy describes food and clothes and it doesn’t bore me). It sticks very closely to the conventions of fantasy for no discernable reason (I’d do away with the prologue and slip the plot-relevant bits elsewhere), but that didn’t bother me past the beginning. Most people should read it.
I have a boyfriend who occasionally calls me “Khaleesi”, lol. (Best Term of Endearment EVER!)
I obviously love Game of Thrones, but am having difficulties making it through my current re-read (so that I remember stuff when I read Dance with Dragons). When you finish the book(s), there is also the HBO series, which does a rather amazing job.
I think that the purpose of the prologue is to send the message that magic and other arcane phenomena are real (if rare) things that happen in this world, so that people don’t call bullshit at the end when suddenly dragons.
Khaleesi, I’m halfway through A game of thrones. I didn’t like the beginning much because there were no likeable characters so I decided to shrug and root for the Lannisters as the closest thing to magnificient bastards. But by now there are loads of awesome characters (you, Arya Stark, Jon Snow) and the book is delicious, though not nearly horrible enough yet (maybe something about that hound and that mountain...). I like the grey and black morality, the psychological realism, the varied cultures, the “toss the reader in and wait 200 pages to mention variable-length seasons” style, the descriptions (seriously, that guy describes food and clothes and it doesn’t bore me). It sticks very closely to the conventions of fantasy for no discernable reason (I’d do away with the prologue and slip the plot-relevant bits elsewhere), but that didn’t bother me past the beginning. Most people should read it.
You just made me grin SO BIG! Super-upvote!
I have a boyfriend who occasionally calls me “Khaleesi”, lol. (Best Term of Endearment EVER!)
I obviously love Game of Thrones, but am having difficulties making it through my current re-read (so that I remember stuff when I read Dance with Dragons). When you finish the book(s), there is also the HBO series, which does a rather amazing job.
I like what he did with the Sansa character, actually (well, not much in the latest book, but in the one before that).
Also, if you can afford it, the audiobook version is apparently quite good, and convenient if you drive a lot.
I think that the purpose of the prologue is to send the message that magic and other arcane phenomena are real (if rare) things that happen in this world, so that people don’t call bullshit at the end when suddenly dragons.
[OT]
For your amusement: Damn It Feels Good to be a Lannister (Mildly NSFW, but shouldn’t have spoilers if you’re already halfway through book 1)
On the subject of mildly NSFW Game of Thrones humor, 8-bit AGOT