Not looking for spoilers, but....

[Musky]

I have never been a big reader of fantasy. Wizards, elves, etc., have never much interested me. My interest in fantasy, however, was piqued when I started visiting this site, and seeing how many here say really positive things about Martin, I bought A Game of Thrones and have read about 350 pages. I'm enjoying it well enough, and it seems to be picking up speed.

I've not read many threads here to avoid obtaining too much information and spoiling the book. I have noticed that fans of these books seem to have their favorite characters. Early on I have found Jon Snow, Arya Stark, the young, now pregnant, Daenerys Targaryen, and the Hound to be interesting. I enjoyed the section where The Hound tells Sansa Stark how his brother burned him as a young boy. He's been an interesting character in his limited involvement to this point in the book. I hope to learn more of The Hound and his brutal brother Gregor, The Mountain That Rides.

Anyhoooo, that should show the book has caught my interest and I'm pleasantly surprised. I did, however, buy a paperback on the cheap at Half Price books and reading the thick little thing is bugging me to no end. I'll definitely buy the followups in hardcover.

Since I have not looked at all at the sequels, I have a question about the time line of the series. Does it move through time at a decent clip, or will say Arya be only like eleven years old after I have read three or four of these and the thousands of pages that entails? I fear that I'm going to lose interest in this series due to its length unless it covers at least a couple or three generations.

I wouldn't mind a couple of teasers before I devote myself to this lengthy multi-book epic.

Thanks.

 

[Boaz]

Musky, Welcome to the GRRM threads...

I'm glad you're wary of reading here, most of us, well... me especially, do not post big spoiler headers at the beginning of our posts. We/I just assume that if you're this far, then you know what we're talking about.

I find the Hound an interesting figure also. His character unfolds as the series goes on.

As to your concern regarding the timeline. Arya is not eleven in book four... she's ten. I don't know the end, but I doubt the story covers multi-generations, except through flashbacks, memories, and dreams.

 

[Musky]

As to your concern regarding the timeline. Arya is not eleven in book four... she's ten. I don't know the end, but I doubt the story covers multi-generations, except through flashbacks, memories, and dreams.

Wow. It seems she's like eight or nine in the first book. Looks like Mr. Martin can churn out some words. Since she's now training with swords, I pictured her a fierce warrior woman at the head of a huge army by about book four. So much for predicting where the series may go. LOL.

Well, I'll get through the first and see what I think. So far, so good.

 

[Werthead]

A Game of Thrones starts in early 298 AL (After the Landing) and Book 4 ends about 3-4 months into 300 AL, so the first four books cover a period of roughly two years (A Clash of Kings covers nearly a year of that by itself).

The two prequel novellas take place a lot earlier, The Hedge Knight in 209 AL and The Sworn Sword in 211 or 212 AL.

 

[Boaz]

Musky, I think Stark Winter's post #36 on page 3 of Fed Up Yet??? may interest you.

 

[vervain_ashe]

I've read the four books so far, and I can say for a certainty, that one thing you will NOT be is bored with the books or characters. There's always stuff happening and it all seems to coincide with other stuff, so it keeps your interest peaked. Hope that helps!