Martin's Seven Kingdoms resemble England during the Wars of the Roses,with the Stark and Lannister families standing in for the Yorks andLancasters.The story of these two families and their struggle tocontrol the Iron Throne dominates the foreground; in the background isa huge, ancient wall marking the northern border, beyond whichbarbarians, ice vampires, and direwolves menace the south asyears-long winter advances.Abroad, a dragon princess lives amonghorse nomads and dreams of fiery reconquest.
There is much bloodshed, cruelty, and death, but A Game ofThrones is nevertheless compelling; it garnered a Nebulanomination and won the 1996 Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel. So, onto A Clash ofKings!--Nona Vero From Publishers Weekly In a world where the approaching winter will last four decades, kings and queens, knights and renegades struggle for control of a throne. Some fight with sword and mace, others with magic and poison. Beyond the Wall to the north, meanwhile, the Others are preparing their army of the dead to march south as the warmth of summer drains from the land. After more than a decade devoted primarily to TV and screen work, Martin (The Armageddon Rag, 1983) makes a triumphant return to high fantasy with this extraordinarily rich new novel, the first of a trilogy. Although conventional in form, the book stands out from similar work by Eddings, Brooks and others by virtue of its superbly developed characters, accomplished prose and sheer bloody-mindedness. Although the romance of chivalry is central to the culture of the Seven Kingdoms, and tournaments, derring-do and handsome knights abound, these trappings merely give cover to dangerous men and women who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals. When Lord Stark of Winterfell, an honest man, comes south to act as the King's chief councilor, no amount of heroism or good intentions can keep the realm under control. It is fascinating to watch Martin's characters mature and grow, particularly Stark's children, who stand at the center of the book. Martin's trophy case is already stuffed with major prizes, including Hugos, Nebulas, Locus Awards and a Bram Stoker. He's probably going to have to add another shelf, at least. Major ad/promo. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to the Hardcover edition. From Library Journal The author of such sf classics as The Armageddon Rag (1983) marks the beginning of a new fantasy series about a world where the summer and winter seasons can span generations. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to the Hardcover edition. From Booklist The first volume in Martin's first fantasy saga, A Song of Ice and Fire, combines intrigue, action, romance, and mystery in a family saga. The family is the Starks of Winterfell, a society in crisis due to climatic change that has created decades-long seasons, and a society almost without magic but with human perversity abundant and active. Martin reaches a new plateau in terms of narrative technique, action scenes, and integrating (or not injecting) his political views into the story. He does not avoid a dauntingly large cast and a daunting number of viewpoint shifts, but these are problems seemingly inseparable from the multivolume fantasy genre. Accordingly, one doubts there will be any other comfortable entry point into this example of the genre except at the beginning. Judging by this beginning, however, it promises to repay reading and rereading, from first volume to last, on account of its literacy, imagination, emotional impact, and superb world-building.Roland Green--This text refers to the Hardcover edition. Review 'A Game of Thrones grabs hold and won't let go. It's brilliant.' Robert Jordan'Such a splendid tale. I couldn't stop till I'd finished and it was dawn.' Anne McCaffrey'Colossal, staggering... Martin captures all the intoxicating complexity of the Wars of the Roses or Imperial Rome in his imaginary world... one of the greats of fantasy literature.' SFX'Fantasy literature has never shied away from grandeur, but the sheer-mind-boggling scope of this epic has sent other fantasy writers away shaking their heads... Its ambition: to construct the Twelve Caesars of fantasy fiction, with characters so venomous they could eat the Borgias.' Guardian--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. Review The major fantasy of the decade . . . compulsively readable.—Denver Post We have been invited to a grand feast and pageant: George R.R. Martin has unveiled for us an intensely realized, romantic but realistic world.—Chicago Sun-Times A Best Book of 1996: Martin makes a triumphant return to high fantasy . . . [with] superbly developed characters, accomplished prose, and sheer bloodymindedness.—Publishers Weekly, starred review A splendid saga . . . . Inventive and intricately plotted.—BookPage Magic . . . George R.R.Martin's first fantasy epic [is set] well above the norms of the genre.—Locus Such a splendid tale and such a fantasticorical!I read my eyes out and couldn't stop 'til I finished and it was dawn.—Anne McCaffrey
| 出版社 | Bantam USA |
|---|---|
| 作者 | George R.R. Martin |