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I've read all the books, and I have to say, I'm really not a fan.

I came to the books from the T.V. show, and in my opinion, it's one of those rare events where the T.V. show is BETTER than the book.

By the time I got to A Dance with Dragons, I just couldn't be bothered, too much crap....Dany not willing to use her dragons even though everyone wants a piece of her ass, the flippant way in which Martin builds up characters and kills them.....yeah it was "entertaining" in the first instance with Ned Stark, because you didn't see it coming...but come on, what a one trick pony this guy is.

And don't get me started on his writing style....if anyone has ever read David Gemmells books, you may agree that David manages to create a scene in your head with two or three sentences, Martin attempts this in paragraphs....describing lichin on rock, and how trees grow....rather then creating a scene, he merely bores you.....I speed read through alot of his books just to get to the point.

Reading the books has convinced me to give next seasons show a chance, but I'm going nowhere near his books from now on.

I started the books years ago and was looking forward to ADD about three years ago. Now after this spoilers I don´t feel like plowing through several thousand pages to remember who was who, who hated who, who betrayed who... to much work just to enjoy a couple characters, specially if Martin has thrown new characters for the shake of it.

What a way to scuttle a good series. On the other hand I also recomend the Malazan Book of the Dead. Yup 10 books in the story and thousands of characters but at least they are already written.

M.

dogma wrote:

Da Boss wrote:
Even if he isn't dead, I'll be pissed because it's a cop out. And I get the feeling those raised from the dead are not really human anymore, and are part of the "problem" with the world. The ice and the fire both bring people back, and it ain't natural y'hear me!

That'd all be fine, except that the book seems to be building towards some hero arising and stopping the Others.

I get the feeling that's part of the point. If I recall correctly The Prince That was Promised is the reincarnation of a strange, unidentified figure who comes out of nowhere to save the day, only to vanish; all under very supernatural circumstances. The major supernatural forces of ASoIF seem to ebb and flow in opposition to one another, occasionally coming into direct conflict, but never really hanging around too long after they do. I could definitely see Jon fitting into that mold after being resurrected.

After thinking about this (and visiting a few fan forums), I'm convinced that this is spot on.

Let's look at the prophecy for The Prince That Was Promised: "When the red star bleeds and the darkness gathers, Azor Ahai shall be born again amidst smoke and salt."

My thoughts:







On the subject of who is actually "evil" I have to say that Cersei handing people of to Qyburn for him to do all kinds of hideous stuff to is pretty evil.

Delephont wrote:I've read all the books, and I have to say, I'm really not a fan.

I came to the books from the T.V. show, and in my opinion, it's one of those rare events where the T.V. show is BETTER than the book.

By the time I got to A Dance with Dragons, I just couldn't be bothered, too much crap....Dany not willing to use her dragons even though everyone wants a piece of her ass, the flippant way in which Martin builds up characters and kills them.....yeah it was "entertaining" in the first instance with Ned Stark, because you didn't see it coming...but come on, what a one trick pony this guy is.

And don't get me started on his writing style....if anyone has ever read David Gemmells books, you may agree that David manages to create a scene in your head with two or three sentences, Martin attempts this in paragraphs....describing lichin on rock, and how trees grow....rather then creating a scene, he merely bores you.....I speed read through alot of his books just to get to the point.

Reading the books has convinced me to give next seasons show a chance, but I'm going nowhere near his books from now on.

I agree mostly, though I loved the first two GOT books. They definitely went downhill rapidly. I'm halfway through Dance and I'm not really feeling it anymore. The guy made me wait too long, I pre ordered DWD literally years ago, and now I just cant help but feel like Martin is a dick head.

David Gemmel is my absolute favourite author if I have to pick one. I own every single one of his books, and I even ebayed the two graphic novels they made, I just loved the guy. I started reading his stuff after my dad gave me Lion of Macedon when I was about ten.

His stuff is all similar, but it really sung to me as a lad, I think its one of the reasons I joined the RM! Its really great stuff, full of flawed but noble hero's and violence, and Its one of the reasons I got into fantasy at a young age. I mean, I've since read Stephen Donaldson and Tolkien and well, you name it, pretty much everyone as my book collections huge these days, but that stuff was too heavy for me when I was 10, I remember my Dad giving me Donaldns first when I was a boy and just thinking "huh?" But I loved LOM after ten pages, so I credit Dave with getting me started in the first place.

fething tragic that guy snuffed it when he did. :(

Legend, when you actually examine the style of writing, was very poorly written. In terms of structure, it is appalling - for example, there are several instances of having severa Point-of-View characters in the same paragraph. The events that take place are tacky and cliched, for example the Deus ex Machina to save the day is beyond cliched into sickly, the girl and the hero being reunited despite death is just... urrgh...

Still though - I don't care. I love every page and I have read it dozens of times. Despite the flaws, the words go directly from the page to your imagination without the brain having to disentangle them from overly wordy prose and create wonderful pictures in the mind. The story is simplistic, but includes every element of bravery, redemption, love, romance, heroism, duty and action you could hope for. The characters sound cliched, but are so well written, they come alive, and you care deeply about each and every one of them in a way I care about very few others. At the end, all you want is to read more about Dros Delnoch. I have read every book by David Gemmell, and whilst his technical skills improved, he never wrote a better story or created a better character than those of Legend. Only the moment when Waylander says "Let me see the boy" stands up to Legend. (And I cried at that bit...)

On account of recommendations here I bought the Malazan Book of the Fallen series in two eBay lots, excepting only book 10 and the second series by a different author.

Cost me £33 so far.

I know nothing about them as yet. However it was implied that the first book is confusing but it gets easier (and better) later.
Some reviews say the author canot write female characters, this true? Has he got better as the series ran.

I really enjoyed the Malazan Book of the Fallen although it suffers (for me) with the same problem of the Game of Thrones - some of the people I have no interest in and have to force myself to read their bits as its often important for the others.

re Dances with Dragons - not got yet - but friends who have have told me some of the important bits about my fav Dany which has royally annoyed me. I was hoping this new book would (as the title suggested to me) be mainly about her and her preperations for war / the actual invasion -Then dealing with the consequences of her actions and intent.

Apparerantly thats the total opposite of what happens :(

I had sort of assumed the Jon / Dany lnk up was the obvious one which was why I thought Dany / Tyrion would be more interesting...... but if the spoilers above are true, I am quite happy that that character is out of the equasion.

I would be quite happy for a proper devestation of the Kingdoms by the Others only for Dany to come and sort them out with her Dragons.......