A Review of George R.R. Marting's A Song of Ice and Fire: "A Game of Thrones"

Credit: Brookfield Public Library

I wrote about all ten episodes of the television adaptation of George R.R. Martin's first book of his A Song of Ice and Fire series. I became increasingly captivated and captured by the characters of Westeros during the first season. Suddenly, the episodes weren't enough for me as a fan of the story. I felt like some characters weren't on-screen enough. I missed important pieces of exposition because beautiful women were having sex as one character delivered an exhaustive monologue about a fight he lost as a boy. Other scenes of exposition involved male characters in the middle of intercourse or post-coitus so bare breasts were present. Naturally, I was distracted and missed meaningful context, and the exposition was no ordinary exposition (nothing like the exposition in procedurals).

So, I'd sit down to write my review and barely write about these bits of exposition, even though they were important to the present narrative. I'd also fumble character names. I totally missed the significance and implications of Gregor murdering Ser Hugh, and I was unaware of his place amongst Tywin's army. My reviews of the series were equally disastrous and worthwhile. Perhaps if I re-watched the episode before writing a review then I'd fumble less details but I increasingly felt out of the loop as the series progressed. I bought the set of four books and read "A Game of Thrones."

Obviously, this won't be a typical review because I already wrote over 10,000 words on the TV show. My opinions on the story and its characters didn't change during the book (well my opinion did change with regards to one or two characters). Instead of an actual review, I'm going to list my thoughts about the book and the changes made because of TV:

• George R.R. Martin's writing is superb. He's prone to re-using the same allusions throughout the book; however, the repeated allusions isn't an issue. Martin's balance between exposition and active storytelling is excellent. The historical exposition's as engaging as the parts with the active characters. Tolkien (and I apologize for using Tolkien's name but my knowledge of the fantasy genre's non-existent) never achieved the balance Martin does between boredom and active storytelling. I remember how long it took the hobbits to leave The Shire in the book. Things happen fast in "A Game of Thrones." Almost a year, or more than a year, passes by the end of the book.

• More on his writing: Martin's style spans genres. He's as good describing battles as Tolstoy was in War and Peace, and he evokes as much emotion as Tolstoy does when it comes to matters of the human heart. Of course, I'm not suggesting Martin's literary equivalent is Leo Tolstoy because Tolstoy was a titan of literature. I had goose bumps during the final chapter of the book. Martin builds to the conclusion masterfully. I hear the sharp cracking of the logs as the fire becomes more intense because of Martin's active descriptions. There's an old adage in creative writing--make descriptions active and actions descriptive (I'll provide examples of how Martin excels with these two principals later). The dialogue's so strong throughout the book. Each character's voice is distinctive, unique and (most importantly) strong. Cersei, for example, doesn't appear in the book as much as she appears in the show but her appearances leave a lasting impression. I think of the scene between she and Ned in the godswood (the infamous 'you win or you die' conversation) and I have a strong image of the beautiful Cersei, in her hunting clothes, sitting casually with Ned, and their conversation contrasts that image. His ability to diversify his style is one of the reasons why the book's such a good read.

• Bran became one of my favorite characters in the book. In the show, Bran had less of a presence. I enjoyed the chapter that described his awakening. I liked how he flew through the land of Westeros, watching over his siblings and father. During those dream flights (for lack of a better term), he saw the present circumstances of his siblings (and in some cases the future) so the reveal of his foreshadowing abilities came quite late in the TV show. The three-eyed raven never received definition in the show but I don't fault Benioff and Weiss for that because it's difficult to film Bran's flight and conversation with the raven. The chapter when he and Rickon find each other in the crypts is just as good as filmed but it's no longer and more involved. When the raven delivers the note with news of Ned's passing, it resonates more because of how Martin portrays Rickon and Bran's anxiety along with Maester Luwin's. 

• Dany's arc eluded me during the series. I read various critics who complained about the progression of Dany's arc throughout the series because it felt too quick without her internal monologue. Well, her internal monologue would've helped clue me in on her arc. The moment I understood in the book was when she thought about the dosh khaleen, and how she wished to avoid the dosh khaleen. She loved Drogo but her fate wasn't with him. She'd been defined and preceded by the Targaryen men before her, and it was time for her to crack her own shell and become the dragon mother.

• I really enjoyed the detailed history of the rebellion against the Mad King. Robert's anger towards Rheagar over Lyanna felt more personal because the books had the time to intrdouce and give life to Lyanna. I liked the complexity of the rebellion--how Robert and the Lannisters weren't honorable in the usurption and how they murdered innocent children. The revelation that Jamie sat on the Iron Throne before Ned removed him for the sake of Robert's never got a mention in the series, if I recall correctly. The revelation is certainly I wished the show focused on more because it added more depth to the Lannister-Stark feud (again, for lack of a better word). 

• Arya is my favorite character in the story. She has the potential to be the most awesome character in A Song of Ice and Fire. She already is that, of course. I loved her chapters, especially the one when she encounters the monsters in the dark. The scenes between she and Ned were wonderfully written and always moving. The knowledge that only she and Jon closely resemble their father in looks packed more emotion into her memories of Jon, and into the chapter when she watches Joffrey ask for her father's head. 

• The only two Stark children without their own chapters is Rickon and Robb. Rickon makes sense because the character is 3 years old (later 4). I'm not sure why Robb's adventures are only told through the lens of other characters. I assume he'll have his own chapters in A Clash of Kings, especially if Theon gets his own.

• Tywin's anger towards King's Landing following Jaime's capture was fantastic, especially his anger with the council. I'd like to think Pycelle, Varys and Littlefinger should watch their backs but they're three steps ahead of everyone else. I love how different each perspective is in the book. I love that a Lannister's as pissed as the reader and audience at Cersei, council and the damn King Joffrey. 

• The read was as fun as watching the show, even though I knew all that would happen, which is a testament to George R.R. Martin's vision and skill as an author. Also, Benioff, Weiss, Cogman and their crew and directors deserve massive amounts of credit for their fantastic job in adapting the novel--not an easy task. Bravo.

I won't write about A Clash of Kings until the second season premieres in the spring of 2012.

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