I realize I’m joining this bandwagon extremely late, and this is probably old news to you, but I’ll say it all anyway. For several years I listened to the varying opinions on this work and the series as a whole. Some said, “Don’t bother with the books, they’re super tedious. Just watch the show.” Others said, “The books are way better. Skip the show.” And one even said, “The books are very poorly written.”
Finally, one day in Barnes & Noble bookstore, as the smell of newly bound pages overwhelmed my senses, I found myself face to face with the first book. I read a few pages, and intrigued by the writing style, decided to buy a copy and see for myself if the book is in fact “poorly written” or “tedious.”
I found myself immersed in the detailed world of George R.R. Martin’s creation. While there were moments where some of those details seemed unnecessary and even interrupted the flow of the writing, it was never what I would describe as “tedious.” If you want tedious, try the books I had read just prior to A Game of Thrones. These were Outlander, King Arthur, and The Space Trilogy Books 2 & 3. Now those get longwinded, I kid you not.
Martin’s characters are complex and he develops them well. He is careful to represent the brutal medieval setting of his epic tale in a gritty way. Then there’s his realistic, daring, signature move of making main characters killable. Overall, it didn’t disappoint. His writing style is enjoyable, the detail immersive rather than tedious, and the arc of the story builds to a satisfying peak.
If you love epic adventure and peering into the minds of characters, this one’s for you. You know, if you haven’t already gotten to it. =)
Have you watched or read Game of Thrones? Do you prefer the book or the show?
Read-Write-Etc 