'A Song of Ice and Fire' series by George R.R. Martin is an escape into a fantasy world, reflecting the middle ages, filled with numerous characters - some that you love and some you hate. It is a story replete with politics, war, gore, love, tragedy, death, glory, honor, allegiance, betrayal, dragons, and magic.
I am amazed at the number of characters that the author has penned and the many he has layered so beautifully with details. Its hard to imagine how the he kept track of the timeline of all these characters. Apart from the characters, there is the map of an entirely new world detailed along with its own history, geography, religions and people.
In the 5 books released so far the story mostly happens in the continents of Westeros and Essos.
During the time the story happens, the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros are ruled by one King from the 'Iron Throne' in Kings Landing. Westeros has varied landscapes. It has different regions under the control of 'Houses' (big and small), each with their own sigil and legacy. The small houses often serve as bannermen to the lords of the big ones. The description of the landscapes and some of the enigmatic and imposing castles of Westeros are enchanting.
There are also a band of cold dead creatures called the 'Others' rallying 'beyond the Wall'. The 'Wall' is the huge man made ice structure in the North, that is guarded by the sworn brothers of the Night Watch. The Wall and the Nights Watch stand between Others (their coming often referred as 'Winter is coming') and the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. Then there are the 'Wildlings' (freefolk) who don't care for the laws of the seven kingdoms and live beyond the wall, their common enemy being the 'Others'.
To the east of Westeros, in the land of Essos, there are free cities, slaver cities, Dothraki lords and fallen kingdoms of the past (Valyria, the land of the dragon lords which lies in ruins now). There are ruins and there are mystical creatures.
I love that the books are written in the point of view of characters scattered around the continents of Westeros and Essos. The story is always from the perspective of what that character knows at that particular time and hence never definite. Sometimes you know more than the character knows, and sometimes you get to know different pieces and different perspectives of the same event from different characters. The context keeps shifting while the pieces come together, and that, I think is the beauty of the books in the series.
The other thing I love is the many different diverse female characters in the series. (There are interesting male characters as well. Ned Stark, Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister and Jaime Lannister to name a few. But I especially like how well the female minds are characterized). All very different, and stay true to their nature throughout. I think it is really brilliant that he was able to sketch the varied minds - their outward aspect as well as their inner monologue. The virtuous and striving ruler Daenerys Targaryen, fierce and headstrong Arya Stark, brave and loyal Brienne, vicious and ambitious Cersei Lannister, protective mother Catelyn Stark are all my favorites. All of these characters have their point of view in the narration and each of their journey, their choices, love, endurance, yearning and turmoil fills you with frustration and fascination.
The first book starts in the land of Westeros where King Robert of House Baratheon, rules the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros from the 'Iron Throne' in Kings Landing. He had rebelled against the House Targaryens 16 years ago and successfully over thrown them. He visits his friend Ned Stark of House Stark in the North, after the death of his 'Hand', asking him to be the Hand of the king. The conspiracy in the death of the hand rolls the dice for the series of events that the House Stark get caught up in. The fight for the claim of the Iron Throne begins and hence starts the 'Game of Thrones'. And you get sucked in with it.
There are so many things happening in the book. It's like looking into a medieval world through the minds of few characters. There are shaky allegiance formed, deadly betrayals and brewing vengeance. The characters, loved and hated, get killed off alike. Many of them caught in complex, deadly predicaments. And you get lost with them in this intriguing epic fantasy.
There is no one hero or one villain. (except, in my head, Jon Snow is the hero).
The question really is, who gets to sit in the iron throne finally with so many of them claiming their rights. I wonder if finally Daenerys Targaryen brings democracy to the middle ages and that's how the story ends. ha ha!
Awaiting desperately for the next book (book 6) in the series...
I am amazed at the number of characters that the author has penned and the many he has layered so beautifully with details. Its hard to imagine how the he kept track of the timeline of all these characters. Apart from the characters, there is the map of an entirely new world detailed along with its own history, geography, religions and people.
In the 5 books released so far the story mostly happens in the continents of Westeros and Essos.
During the time the story happens, the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros are ruled by one King from the 'Iron Throne' in Kings Landing. Westeros has varied landscapes. It has different regions under the control of 'Houses' (big and small), each with their own sigil and legacy. The small houses often serve as bannermen to the lords of the big ones. The description of the landscapes and some of the enigmatic and imposing castles of Westeros are enchanting.
There are also a band of cold dead creatures called the 'Others' rallying 'beyond the Wall'. The 'Wall' is the huge man made ice structure in the North, that is guarded by the sworn brothers of the Night Watch. The Wall and the Nights Watch stand between Others (their coming often referred as 'Winter is coming') and the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. Then there are the 'Wildlings' (freefolk) who don't care for the laws of the seven kingdoms and live beyond the wall, their common enemy being the 'Others'.
To the east of Westeros, in the land of Essos, there are free cities, slaver cities, Dothraki lords and fallen kingdoms of the past (Valyria, the land of the dragon lords which lies in ruins now). There are ruins and there are mystical creatures.
I love that the books are written in the point of view of characters scattered around the continents of Westeros and Essos. The story is always from the perspective of what that character knows at that particular time and hence never definite. Sometimes you know more than the character knows, and sometimes you get to know different pieces and different perspectives of the same event from different characters. The context keeps shifting while the pieces come together, and that, I think is the beauty of the books in the series.
The other thing I love is the many different diverse female characters in the series. (There are interesting male characters as well. Ned Stark, Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister and Jaime Lannister to name a few. But I especially like how well the female minds are characterized). All very different, and stay true to their nature throughout. I think it is really brilliant that he was able to sketch the varied minds - their outward aspect as well as their inner monologue. The virtuous and striving ruler Daenerys Targaryen, fierce and headstrong Arya Stark, brave and loyal Brienne, vicious and ambitious Cersei Lannister, protective mother Catelyn Stark are all my favorites. All of these characters have their point of view in the narration and each of their journey, their choices, love, endurance, yearning and turmoil fills you with frustration and fascination.
The first book starts in the land of Westeros where King Robert of House Baratheon, rules the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros from the 'Iron Throne' in Kings Landing. He had rebelled against the House Targaryens 16 years ago and successfully over thrown them. He visits his friend Ned Stark of House Stark in the North, after the death of his 'Hand', asking him to be the Hand of the king. The conspiracy in the death of the hand rolls the dice for the series of events that the House Stark get caught up in. The fight for the claim of the Iron Throne begins and hence starts the 'Game of Thrones'. And you get sucked in with it.
There are so many things happening in the book. It's like looking into a medieval world through the minds of few characters. There are shaky allegiance formed, deadly betrayals and brewing vengeance. The characters, loved and hated, get killed off alike. Many of them caught in complex, deadly predicaments. And you get lost with them in this intriguing epic fantasy.
There is no one hero or one villain. (except, in my head, Jon Snow is the hero).
The question really is, who gets to sit in the iron throne finally with so many of them claiming their rights. I wonder if finally Daenerys Targaryen brings democracy to the middle ages and that's how the story ends. ha ha!
Awaiting desperately for the next book (book 6) in the series...
No comments:
Post a Comment