GRRM, eh ok

[Neon]

Given the great acclaim all of you have for Martin & this series, I may risk being stoned/caned out of the forum, but...

Did anyone not like The Game of Thrones? Maybe this type of fantasy just isn't my cup of tea, but to me the book was extremely long and difficult to get through. I didn't really like many of the characters except Jon, and he was pushed to the background. And as far as the actual plot/action/intrigue... it just didn't light any sparks. I will likely finish the series out later, but probably not for a while.

(I seem to recall seeing a similar thread a while back, but couldn't find it when I looked today)

 

[AryaUnderfoot]

Consider this my stone/cane flying toward you, you stupid stupid stupid!

My twin was the same way- she read Game of Thrones and wasn't intrigued. That's one more reason why I consider her to be evil/not as cool as me. I say, give the next book a chance. You just may be pleasantly surprised. Jon's one of my favorite characters, but the others and their stories will grow on you as well. Just think- then you could talk to all of us about GRRM and how great he is. Doesn't that sound enticing?

 

[polymorphikos]

I must admit that, having never read any GRRM, these forums can often get a bit cold and lonely. Now I know how my sister feels when I talk about Bond movies.

 

[Lacedaemonian]

Thomas you are too cool.

AryaUnderfoot - You are a twin, need I mention the obvious connotations associated with twins and ASOIAF. I fear twins.

Neon, I suppose the book is not for you mate. It was Brian who posted similar comments but I aint sure which thread. There was also the issue with the Amazon review - blood was about to be spilled before that thread was closed down.

 

[Lord of Winterfell]

It would be pretty boring if absolutely EVERYBODY like GRRM's series. There are bound to be some who don't warm up to it. But you know what, these folks are remarkably few. I would go as far to say that ASoIaF is the most popular of the ongoing fantasy epics right now. More popular than Jordan, Goodkind, Erikson, Gemmell, etc.

Just look at the number of posts in the GRRM section of this board. This series is HOT right now. A quick visit to other general fantasy sites (eg. SFFworld) shows that Martin discussion is "where its at". Jordan fans are a dwindling species it seems... not surprising if you are one of the unfortunate souls who read any of the last few books.

Why all the hubbub for ASoIaF? Because its good... in fact its the best of the field right now.

A few detractors can't stop the momentum this series is building...

 

[dragonqueen]

Well I can't have an opinion on that, since I'd never heard of this author till the other day, but I'm half way through a short story of his in Legends and it seems very good, so I think I'll have to find his novels

 

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy]

Actually A Game of Thrones didn't totally work for me either. The setting didn't intrigue me, and political maneuverings aren't really my thing. Martin is certainly a skilled author, and he me quite hooked with htis book for a while, but I have to say that I soon ceased to care.

 

[Neon]

Yea I kinda feel left out not being able to take part of all the discussions. And you're right, I would say he's the hottest fantasy author out on the market right now. I definitely respect the new angle he's trying to carve into fantasy and seems a great writer, yet just doesn't do it for me . But then again, it's very possible as I continue to read I'll grow into his style.

 

[Lord of Winterfell]

Wouldn't worry about it Neon. Plenty of other fantasy out there for ya'.

 

[Brian G Turner]

Indeed, plenty of authors covered here - and any that are not, are welcome to be introduced.

I've mentioned before that although I enjoyed his scene writing and character, I stopped reading the series after volume 2 because I felt too frustrated reading Point of Views that seemed unfocussed from the story.

I can't help but wonder if GRRM has lost control over his books, and that he's just going to end up doing a Jordan by creating a long and wandering series that doesn't really go anywhere.

 

[shaggydog]

I loved the books, but I lent the book to a friend and he returned it to me saying that he couldn't pass over the feast in winterfell, and he said (the bloody ba___rd) that it was like a soap opera. I did kick and punch and shout him,we had a lot of fun arguing that day...
a soap opera... it still sound in my ears...

 

[Jinglehopper]

New to the forums. Hi everybody.

In response to Neon, I can't really understand the not liking G.R.R.M. but it takes different strokes to move the world or something like that. After reading tons of generic fantasy, it was refreshing to read AGOT and be swept up in political intrigue. The Starks were a great bunch of characters, and I was amazed Martin was able to eliminate MAJOR characters and not have me close the book in disgust. I won't spoil anything here but there are a few events in the three books that I could not believe were happening and yet I loved every moment.

As far as other fantasy goes, I'm surprised no one mentioned Tad Williams. Martin himself has said that he was inspired by Williams

I am a huge fan of Tad Williams. Although I loved Tolkien for many years, I had pretty much stopped reading modern fantasy, since so much of it was awful derivative stuff. Then I tried Tad's DRAGONBONE CHAIR, and sat up and said to myself, "Yes! This genre can be terrific, in the hands of a good writer." http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/SSM01.html [middle of page]​

The Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series (of which The Dragonbone Chair is the first volume) is one of the best fantasy trilogies I've read and his Otherland sequence was also very intriguing, although more Sci-Fi. It's got enough Fantasy mixed in though, it's about a super-internet in which one gets completely immersed in other worlds (Oz, ancient Troy, and a perfect MMORPG to name a few) virtually indistinguishable from RL.

I'm currently reading the first volume of Tad's next fantasy series, Shadowmarch. So far, it's taking me a while to get into but the seed are there for another great story.

Sorry about the long post, but i wanted to make a good 1st impression, lol.

 

[hodor]

Welcome to the forum Jinglehopper.

I can understand how some people might not like GRRM. I know there are fewer of them than not and, though I am a huge fan, it doesn't bother me. I know there are Goodkind fans out there and I am not one of them. I really appreciate the Martin series because it deviated from the typical fantasy with style and story. I had gotten tired of the same old stuff just with a different kind of story.

 

[shaggydog]

Sorry about the long post, but i wanted to make a good 1st impression, lol.
you made it, mate!
be welcome! (if you introduce yourself in the introductions thread you'll find a warm welcome!)

 

[AryaUnderfoot]

AryaUnderfoot - You are a twin, need I mention the obvious connotations associated with twins and ASOIAF. I fear twins.

Maybe that's one reason why the whole thing between Jaime and Cersei makes my skin crawl. Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. Incest with a twin is almost worse than incest with a regular bro or sis. And besides, let's just consider my twin as my direwolf right now, since she's downright vicious.

As for what others have said about how boring it would be if everyone loved the books, I agree. Although I can't fathom hating them, I have to admit that I won't recommend them to just anyone, because I don't want to fight with them over their tastes in literature.

 

[hodor]

Aye Arya I agree. I have recommended the books to my wife (who is french and reads mainly in french); I had a hard time doing this because she, having her masters in medieval history, reads mainly historical non-fiction. She, however, picked them up and had a hard time putting them down. Took her a bit longer than me but that was mainly because she is not used to reading long novels in english. She loved them though.

 

[Jinglehopper]

Wow, quick response on this forum, lol.

Hodor, Martin draws so much from history, I find it telling that your wife loved the books. He must be doing a good job of representing the medieval period if a scholar of that period loves them so much.

ps. I love your avatar, i laugh everytime i see it.

I also agree with the general sentiment that it's better that not EVERYONE loves ASOFI. It makes those who do that much cooler!

And on a strictly personal note, I'm so glad I found these forums so I can now have something else to do at work besides waiting for A Feast For Crows to come out.

 

[AryaUnderfoot]

And on a strictly personal note, I'm so glad I found these forums so I can now have something else to do at work besides waiting for A Feast For Crows to come out.

Welcome Jinglehopper!

Yeah! I'm "working" too right now. This forum definitely helps the day speed up.

 

[Winters_Sorrow]

Welcome Jinglehopper!

Yeah! I'm "working" too right now. This forum definitely helps the day speed up.

what?
this doesn't qualify as work??
blood, sweat and tears go into some of these posts!!



(and the arguments can rage for days, across forums! )

p.s. welcome Jinglehopper - hope you enjoy moaning about publishing dates for AFFC like the rest of us!

 

[AryaUnderfoot]

what?
this doesn't qualify as work??
blood, sweat and tears go into some of these posts!!

Oh believe me, I know! It took a lot of self-restraint during my argument about Sansa with Hodor to just let it go. And then I spent the next couple of hours with it in the back of my mind as I worked, itching to reach out to my copy of Storm of Swords on my desk and blow him out of the water with some really good supportive quotes. Down, Arya!!!