A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Winter is on its way. It is the solemn motto of House Stark, the northernmost of the fiefdoms that serve distant King’s Landing’s ruler, King Robert Baratheon. In Robert’s stead, Eddard Stark of Winterfell is in charge there. His proud wife, Catelyn, his sons Robb, Brandon, and Rickon, his daughters Sansa and Arya, and his renegade son, Jon Snow, all reside there in peace and comfort. Wildings and worse are hidden behind the towering Wall in the far north; during the long summer, these strange creatures were only myths, but as the seasons changed, they proved to be all too real and all too terrible.
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
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Nevertheless, a more immediate danger looms to the south, where Jon Arryn, the King’s Hand, passed away inexplicably. The lovely but cold Cersei, Robert’s queen, his son, the cruel, conceited Prince Joffrey, and the queen’s brothers Jaime and Tyrion of the mighty and wealthy House Lannister—the first a swordsman without equal, the second a dwarf whose stunted stature belies a brilliant mind—are now riding north to Winterfell. Everyone is making their way to Winterfell and a crucial meeting that will alter the destiny of entire kingdoms.
Prince Viserys, the descendant of the extinguished House Targaryen, which once governed all of Westeros, is planning to usurp the throne with an army of savage Dothraki, whose allegiance he will buy with the one resource he has left: his lovely but helpless sister Daenerys.
Three plot lines are present in the book. The first, and one that receives the most attention, is the Kingdom of Westeros, with its political system, potentially damaging family secrets and the start of conflict following the death of the monarch. The second plot involves the Wall and the Night Watch’s ongoing battle to protect Westeros from wildlings and other dangerous creatures that live outside the Kingdom’s borders. The third is set outside of Westeros and tells the tale of Daenerys, the last Targaryen, and the beginning of her ascent to power. The first story is unmistakably the central conflict, while the second and third stories receive a bit less focus but are just as significant to the overall narrative.
This story isn’t like the normal fantasy material you might find elsewhere. This is neither a story of sword and sorcery, heroes and wizards enacting the classic Good against Evil scenario, or of a poor farm child learning that he comes from a noble background and is destined for greatness. Instead, politics and political intrigue take centre stage in this book, with a little bit of magic and the unknown added for flavour.
The absence of magic in this book, despite the fact that magic exists in Martin’s universe and that he suggests it can be a very potent force, is perhaps the most glaring plot flaw when compared to other fantasy novels. This makes the rare occasions when it does appear to be incredibly important. Because Martin modelled “A Song of Ice and Fire” on the Battle of the Roses, more emphasis is placed on politics and the succession problem following the death of Westeros’ king. This results in a tale that has a decided fantasy atmosphere while avoiding the usual fantasy tropes.
Although political intrigue may be the main topic, the book is far from dull or unduly preoccupied with plotting. All of this political turmoil results in wars, fights, beheadings, and conquest, and Martin describes them all incredibly effectively and convincingly. Martin has crafted a truly grim universe, and he doesn’t hold back when illustrating how horrible life can be for his people. In comparison to most novels, rape and violence are both prevalent and are shown in a much blunter, starker way. In the event of combat, you will witness characters meet horrifying deaths, and the conquest’s rewards are not glossed over.
