Game of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire (Book - 1)

The awards won by the book speaks for itself :

Lang is pretty simple : story line is pretty ok : not as complicated as the lord of the rings (with lesser characters.i recommend to read the book first the watch the TV series Game of Throne aired on HBO . However some of the character in the book have been omitted in the series.

* Locus Award – Best Novel (Fantasy) (Won) – (1997)
* World Fantasy Award – Best Novel (Nominated) – (1997)
* Hugo Award – Best Novella for Blood of the Dragon (Won) – (1997)
* Nebula Award – Best Novel (Nominated) – (1997)
* Ignotus Award – Best Novel (Foreign) (Won) – (2003)

This here is a fantasy series that is a cut above the rest.. After reading the Lord of the Rings i thought that was the most definitive piece of fantasy fiction, but once i got started on this it was a revelation of epic proportions..believe me, once you start to read it, there is no putting it down...after completing the whole 5 bookss and the the Dance with dragons, i was still not satisfied and am direly waiting for the Winds of winter...

Also in terms of money, this boxed set is a really good deal. You wont regret buying it.

The best book in the fantasy fiction genre.

I found it really simple to read not as tough as LOTR ...or The Wheel of Time! The plot, the theme or call it the storyline ~> you will be surprised. A definite page turner with lots of twists and turns ... I'm so happy to read it first and then watched the HBO 10 episodes on this one later :) :) :)

Highly recommended to all fantasy fiction fans. I heard the series won couple of awards too...

Now looking forward to read the second part ...

Upfront, I must tell you guys that I’m not much of a reader. I only read in my spare time, which mostly includes fiction like sci-fi, fantasy. Although, after reading the book first of the fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire, I think I’m becoming one quickly. This book is THAT good! It brings out the bibliophile inside. And now I’m a big fan of the franchise, having watched the inspired HBO TV series.

The plot involves three main story-lines which are interconnected to each other. Martin introduces a fictional continent called Westeros (and it’s seven kingdoms) in a fictional world where only three continents exist or are known & mapped, others being Essos and Sothoros. Story is told by view point of some major characters.

Out of the three main story-lines, one concerns the seven kingdoms which are ruled by a king named Robert Baratheon who overthrew House Targaryen fifteen years before the events of the book with the help of his friend Eddard Stark and Jon Arryn, the man who fostered both. Second main story-line involves the events of the Wall – a massive construction situated north of the Westeros which prevents the dark forces that lie beyond-the-wall from entering the realm and a military order created to hold it called Night Watch. The writer clearly draws inspiration from Medieval Europe and War Of The Roses. The final main story-line concerns the remnants of House Targaryen – a young exiled prince and his 13 years old sister who her brother barters to a mighty savage house-lord hoping he and his army will help him take the Seven Kingdoms back from Robert Baratheon who they understandably call the Usurper.

Writing of the book is very vivid and take my word, it’s really hard to put the book down once you’ve started reading. The world Martin has created is rich, immersive and has very diverse characters, few you’ll love, few you’ll hate and on few you’ll be undecided. There is just the right amount of humor to keep the interest going if things get a bit too serious. I never really got bored, the language never feels insipid.

Funny, witty and inspirational dialogues, amazing character depth, engaging story-line and grey characters contrary to the usual black and white of other fictional writings makes this a must. Well, if you love reading fiction even a bit, just get it.

Hand on my heart,I will say this is the most wonderful novel I have read till now.R.R.Martin surely knows the pulse of the readers.The way he introduced each character is itself amazing.As the story goes you would fall in love with one character or the other.The way he describes transforms you into a different world rather to a world of kings,kingdoms and knights.
He slowly draws the kingdoms to war and describes how Eddard Stark's family gets shattered.Now and then there is pinch of magic in the story.The tale of the Dothrakis is a quite different one.May be the author will merge them into the main story in the second one of the series(I didn't read the second one yet). The description of the cruelty of the Lannisters is good.
There are a few drawbacks too.As soon as you start loving a character the author slowly decreases its role and puts it in a grim fate as though he has read your mind.
To end with its a beautiful epic of the fantasy world and sure is a feast for the lovers of this kind.