Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones
George R. R. Martin

I had a hairdresser ask me how I could have possibly put this book down and start reading other books when I had trouble getting into it at first.  Apparently your mileage may vary with this, was the lesson I got.

So, yes, obviously, I had trouble getting into this book.  It doesn't help that it has slightly fewer characters than a Suikoden game.  I have to say, watching an episode or two of the TV series helped.  I've only seen one or two episodes of the TV series, though.  It helped put a face to the at first endless parade of new characters being introduced, and afterwards I was ready to give the book another go (and apparently putting aside all hope of ever finishing the Iron Warriors omnibus.)

There's a dramatis personae at the back of the book, which I didn't notice was there until I was done with the book.  It would have helped immensely to know it was there.  Or if it had been printed at the front, so I could have known whom the Westeros equivalent of Hetman of Genome Brigade 321 Gilead was.

I've already finished the second book, which addresses at least some of my complaints about the first book, which is largely the lack of characterization or character development.  It's much improved in A Clash of Kings, but throughout Game of Thrones, I felt confined by some of the characters, especially since the whole story is divided into chapters as seen by specific characters.  I can't say how many times I skipped ahead in a Sansa chapter to see who would be next out of frustration with Sansa being frustrated.  The only characters that actually seem to grow throughout the book are Arya Stark and Jon Snow, both of whom only seem to grow when they resign themselves to being stuck with life having dealt them a shitty hand and can't mulligan it.

Another frustration is some major characters never have a "chapter," and spend a lot of time "off camera," leaving me, two books in, wondering just what kind of character some people actually are, since we only see them through other characters reporting far-away actions and reminiscing about how great/terrible they are.

Overall, once you get over the initial hump, the book glides along on all cylinders, and the court intrigue and medieval combat actually becomes gripping and compelling, in spite of the oft too archetypal heroes and villains.  (Most of whom eventually improve anyway.)

Grade:  B+