5 Reasons You Should be Reading “A Song of Ice and Fire.”

The first book in A Song of Ice and Fire

Full disclosure…putting it all out on front street…I’m not a high fantasy reader.  Truth be told, I’m the kind who reads pulp sci-fi with reckless abandon and shameless bravado.  At any given time you can spot yours truly with some science-fiction book that has some featureless spaceship/spaceman/spacedinosaur on the cover and a title with too many adjectives.  The amount of money I’ve spent on one-shot throw away sci-fi novels is rivaled only by the amount of money I spend on coffee and cigarettes.

However…a very good friend of mine from the day j-o-b provided me with his old, beat-up, oft-read copy of George R.R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones and I’ve spent the last three months knowing NOTHING but the struggles of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros and I’m truly more satisfied with this series of books than most others I’ve read.

“Yes Jason, but why should I bother with this drivel?” ~ Internet Dickwad

Excellent question, good sir or madam.

1.)  It’s expansive.

Jon Snow and Ghost

A Song of Ice and Fire is the overall collective name of the in-progress saga by George R.R. Martin.  So far there are four installments;  A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, and A Feast for Crows (with the fifth volume due this July.)  Each installment is over 1000 pages on its own and the level of detail is nothing short of impressive;  a huge world, many different cultures, languages, kingdoms, A BAJILLION different names, places, events.  Believe me, kids…there is no lack of content to satisfy your geek quotient.

2.) It’s deep.

Jaime Lannister on the Iron Throne

The characters in these books are anything but one-dimensional.  As the reader, your loyalty is tested as much as any mercenary or knight-to-be in the story.  You love a character, soon after you hate said character, you can’t wait for the character to get-what-for, but when he/she/it DOES die, you’re mad and want to throw your book at your children (or your dog….maybe your goldfish…something.)  More than that, though, I find the plot and characters to be penetrating. I’ve found myself dreaming about the inhabitants of Westeros, thinking about the books when I should be working or writing my own stuff, and having hard core nerdiscussions with whoever will listen.  This level of character development is rare and oft unappreciated.

3.) It’s Hot.

Queen Cersei Lannister

Fair warning…this book (and this article) contains adult language.

Y’know, kids, not everyone always has clear-cut Judea-Christian values instilled in them from birth.  In fact, sometimes people just get horny.  The amount of sexual activity in this world (much less the descriptive scenes) is trivial and chaste compared to our own world, but in real life nobody TALKS about it.  Martin, however, spares no expense in his word currency with the liberal use of “cocks” and “cunts” and the sexual relations always cause more harm than good.

4.) The Author

George R.R. Martin (and his beard)

I mean, look at this guy…tell me you don’t want to hang out with him.  Look me in the eye and say this cat isn’t awesome.  George R.R. Martin’s extensive library (both in and out of A Song of Ice and Fire) has achieved substantial critical acclaim, and he has even been called The American Tolkein by more than one source.

And he’s got a sweet bitchin’ beard.

5.) It’s popular

Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister

A Game of Thrones, a ten-hour HBO miniseries based on Martin’s first installment, starts on April 17^th on HBO.  The countless Emmy Award winning HBO to be exact, and let’s face it: HBO originals are awesome.

More importantly, HBO doesn’t choose poor source material.  This highly-anticipated miniseries features Sean Bean, Mark Addy, Lena Heady, Peter Dinklage, and many many more that are all cast perfectly.  You can scope out the first 15 minutes online for free.

In closing, it’s very rare the book that makes me care this much.  I totally understand that this type of story may not be your flavor, but you’re only shorting yourself by not at least taking a stab at the first book.  Gripping story, real intrigue, and plenty of messed-up situations.  You don’t want to miss this ride because after all…Winter is Coming.

Love ASoIaF? Despise it? Tell us what’s up.